Varsfontein Stud’s promising homebred stallion Erik The Red has enjoyed plenty of success with his two-year-olds this season.
Not only is Erik The Red the sire of Red Spice and Roskilde, the first two home in the G3 Ridgemont Cape Of Good Hope Nursery, he is also responsible for G2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Nursery runner up Griselda.

The son of Captain Al came up with another smart two-year-old winner when his son Viking Leader won the Listed Ridgemont Gatecrasher Stakes (1400m) at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
The Michael Roberts trained gelding made a mockery of his 40-1 starting price when staying on strongly, under Rachel Venniker, to score by over three-parts of a length.

Bred by Varsfontein Stud, Viking Leader came into Saturday’s race off a facile maiden with the gelding having won two of four starts.
Viking Leader, who races for Melanie L Roberts, Mr J Te Riele & Mr G R & Mrs I Schulze, is a half-brother to this season’s high-class three-year-old Note To Self.
The Gatecrasher Stakes winner, who is out of the Judpot mare Guiding Light, was a R275 000 buy from the 2025 Cape Yearling Sale.

Viking Leader is not only by Erik The Red but he hails from the same family as his sire himself.

Viking Leader, closely inbred to Secret Pact, is one of 14 two-year-old winners this season for his multiple graded stakes winning sire.