Varsfontein Stud’s homebred stallion Erik The Red came up with a fifth first crop winner when his daughter Red Amber won at the Vaal on Thursday.
The two-year-old was making her third start, with Red Amber having finished seventh on debut before running second next time out.

Trained by Fanie Bronkhurst, Red Amber ran on strongly to break her maiden by a long neck in the Take A Bet Wina Numba Numba Maiden Plate (F and M) (1200m).

Bred by Clifton Stud, Red Amber is out of the Visionaire mare Three Trees.

Thursday’s winner was an R180 000 buy from the 2024 National Yearling Sale.

Currently South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire of 2024-2025, Erik The Red is also the sire of early winners Tenjiku, Polar Light, King Harald and Vikings Revenge, as well as the stakes placed Reigning Alice.

A son of Captain Al and the Western Winter sired G1 winner Covenant, Erik The Red had yearlings make up to R650 000 at the recent  National Yearling Sale.