New Cape sire Always In Charge got a handsome boost to his pedigree when his own sister Charge D’ Affaires scored a handsome win on Wednesday.
Trained by Vaughan Marshall, who also handled Always In Charge, the two-year-old Charge D’ Affaires romped to a decisive two and a half length over 1200m at Scottsville in the style of a filly going places.
Owned by Wehann Smith and Braam Van Huyssten, Charge D’ Affaires was a R1.7 million purchase from the 2017 Emperors Palace Select Yearling Sale.
She is a remarkable 11th individual winner produced by G1 Oaks d’Italia runner up Polar Charge, best known as the dam of Equus Champion and G1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion winner Always In Charge, the remarkably durable British campaigner Captain Lars and G2 Choice Carriers Championship third place finisher Alascan Maiden. That trio were all sired by Captain Al –sire of Charge D’ Affaires.
Captain Al, whose sons Captain Of All and William Longsword have both proved popular since retiring to stud, has been enjoying another stellar season in 2017-2018, with his runners including such G1 winners as Snowdance, Undercover Agent, Sergeant Hardy and Tap O’ Noth.
Polar Charge is a sister in blood to top sprinter and outstanding stallion Pivotal, whose progeny have made waves all around the world this season. Pivotal is the sire of leading young sires Siyouni and Farhh, the sires of 2018 French Oaks winner Laurens and G1 Investec Derby runner up Dee Ex Bee respectively, and also features as the broodmare sire of this year’s G1 winners Cracksman, Olmedo and Rhodendron.
The sire of more than 130 stakes winners, Pivotal is the sire of nearly 30 G1 winners, with his progeny including such stars as African Story, Sariska, Kyllachy, Golden Apples, Halfway To Heaven and Regal Parade.
Always In Charge, who will stand his first season at Klipdrif, was a G1 winning champion at two and was one of the very best two-year-olds produced by his champion sire Captain Al (who has been Leading Sire of 2YOs in South Africa on no fewer than eight occasions).
Shares are available to the champion, who earned close on R2 million in earnings, for R65 000.