Varsfontein Stud’s exciting sire Master Of My Fate made news at Kenilworth on Saturday when his talented son Twist Of Fate became his sire’s first graded winner when victorious in the G3 Cape Classic over 1400 metres.

The Joey Ramsden trained colt defied a lay-off, wide draw and top weight to make all in the R250 000 contest, under a fine ride from jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe.
The latter took Twist Of Fate to the front and the pair ran on strongly to record a facile one and a quarter length win at the expense of SA Nursery second Cirillo, with previously unbeaten Listed Sophomore Sprint winner Pleasedtomeetyou three lengths away in third place.

The 3yo Twist Of Fate, who hails from his sire’s first crop, has now won four of eight outings and earned R441 600 in prize money.

He is the first stakes winner produced by the Counter Action matron Crescent Lily, whose two victories included the Breeders Guineas.

One of the best 2yos of last season, Twist Of Fate’s previous efforts included a win in the 2018 Listed Somerset 1200 and a third, to Equus Champion Soqrat, in the G1 Premiers Champion Stakes.

He looks a major contender for the G1 Cape Guineas later in the season.

Master Of My Fate’s stellar female line was also to the fore this weekend. Close relative, and G1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes winner, Covenant, is the dam of Solemn Promise, who broke her maiden at just the second time of asking on Saturday.
Trained by Geoff Woodruff, and ridden by Gavin Lerena, the 3yo Solemn Promise followed up a debut third by shedding her maiden by three parts of a length over 1600m at Turffontein.
The regally bred Solemn Promise, a half-sister to 2017 G1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion second Varallo, is bred and owned by Varsfontein Stud.

Covenant, in turn, is a half-sister to Equus Champion and multiple G1 winner Promisefrommyheart –the dam of Master Of My Fate.

Currently South Africa’s Leading Second Crop Sire by earnings, the dual G2 winning Master Of My Fate’s first crop also includes G1 performer Goliath Heron, the highly rated filly In The Stars and recent eight and a half length scorer Dirty Harry.