Mauritzfontein’s increasingly successful stallion Ideal World has been in tremendous form of late, with his progeny winning good races all round South Africa, and the regally bred son of Kingmambo was at it again on Sunday when his son Dark Moon Rising won the Listed Kings Cup at Grevyille.

Bred by Dr Ian Heyns, the gelded five-year-old Dark Moon Rising produced a fine turn of foot when splitting runners to get up and win the 2019 Kings Cup by a head from millionaire Matador Man, with classy Australian bred filly Roy’s Riviera taking third and 2018 Kings Cup second Platinum Prince finishing fourth.

Trained by Paul Lafferty, Dark Moon Rising (who had contested the 2018 Vodacom Durban July) had finished runner up in the Listed Michael Roberts Handicap previously and also finished second in the 2018 G2 World Sports Betting 1900.

Now a six time winner, Dark Moon Rising’s Kings Cup win took his earnings to over R670 000.

His sire Ideal World, whose progeny include a pair of G1 winner Met winners in Rainbow Bridge and Smart Call respectively, has had a good run of late, with his other recent winners including Lakeside Handicap Multi Gold.

The sire of 35 stakes horses (and counting), Ideal World has an exceptional draft on offer at the 2019 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale. His 19 strong National draft includes a filly (Lot 23) out of Jet Master’s G1 winning daughter All Afire, a filly (Lot 35) out of a stakes placed daughter of champion Rat Burana, and full sisters (Lots 469 and 231) to both Cape Speed (G3 Track And Ball Derby) and Zante (G3 Track And Ball Oaks).