Ridgemont Highlands’ sensational resident sire Rafeef made headlines at the Vaal on Thursday when the son of Redoute’s Choice came up with a pair of smart looking two-year-old winners.
Juvenile fillies by Rafeef won the first two races on Thursday’s card, with Troppo Veloce victorious in the first race, and her paternal half-sister Leaving Las Vegas landing the spoils in race two.
Fifth on her only previous start, the Ashley Fortune trained Troppe Veloce built on that first effort when she ran out a convincing winner of Thursday’s 4Racing Welcomes You Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000 metres.
Under Ryan Munger, Troppe Veloce drew off in the closing stages to win smoothly by two and a half lengths.
Bred by Piemonte Stud, the filly is out of the Elusive Quality mare Aljawhara.
Rafeef filly Leaving Las Vegas made the perfect start to her career when she made a winning debut to land the TAB Telebet 0861 000 822 Maiden Juvenile Plate (1000m) on Thursday.
The Tony Peter trained filly stayed on strongly to score by a length and a half.
Bred by Klawervlei Stud, Leaving Las Vegas is out of the Trippi mare Seeking Venus and she is thus bred on the same Rafeef/Trippi cross as G2 Topbet Mike O’Connor Joburg Spring Challenge winner William Robertson.
Leading First and Second Season Sire of his year, Rafeef has two lots on offer at this month’s Cape Yearling Sale.