Varsfontein Stud’s leading young stallion Gimmethegreenlight enjoyed a truly memorable day on Saturday.
Not only did his top-class daughter Green Plains score an impressive win in the G2 Highlands Stud Camellia Stakes on Champions Day, but Gimmethegreenlight sons Surcharge and Cash Time ran second and fourth in the day’s G1 SA Derby –the final leg of South Africa’s Triple Crown.
A daughter of the G1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winning sire, Simona, went close to giving Gimmethegreenlight yet another big race win when beaten a short head into second in Saturday’s G1 Castle Tankard at Borrowdale.
Champion trainer Sean Tarry is the conditioner of top-class 3yo filly Green Plains who destroyed a high class field of fillies and mares when romping home to a 4.4 length win in Saturday’s R400 000 Camellia Stakes over 1160m.
Bred by the Gary Player Stud, and a R350 000 buy from the 2016 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, Green Plains had previously stamped herself a high class filly when victorious in the G2 SA Fillies Nursery last year. The three-year-old, who has now won or placed in eight of her 11 outings, has amassed prize money of R896 250 with Saturday’s graded win.
Gimmethegreenlight is also responsible for one of Gauteng’s top 3yos in the form of Surcharge, who recorded his third consecutive runner up finish in a Triple Crown race when beaten 1.5 lengths into second place in Saturday’s SA Derby. Bred by Varsfontein Stud, the G3 Tony Ruffel Stakes winning Surcharge has now banked prize money of in excess of R1.5 million!
Gimmethegreenlight also looks to have a very smart two-year-old to his credit in the form of Crown Guardian. A good winner on debut, the Moutonshoek bred colt ran a close up third in Saturday’s Listed Somerset 1200, beaten just over three lengths, and he looks destined for bigger and better things.
South Africa’s Champion First Crop Sire in 2015-2016, Gimmethegreenlight has enjoyed another superb season this year, with his other notable runners including such high class fillies as Rose In Bloom and Green Top, and the above mentioned pair of Green Plains and Surcharge.