Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd’s outstanding sire Vericingetorix had a wonderful season in 2023-2024, and the champion son of Silvano’s good run has continued into the new season.
Vercingetorix had a pair of winners at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday, where his sons Plus Four and Holding Thumbs won races three and five respectively.
The Maine Chance resident went close to having a treble on Saturday, with Vercingetorix filly Champagne Kisses running second in the first race.
Trained by Candice Bass-Robinson, four-year-old Plus Four broke his maiden convincingly when victorious in Saturday’s Older Male Charles Dickens & Older Female Saartjie Maiden Plate over 1400 metres.
Under Aldo Domeyer, the gelding powered into the lead 200m from home and stormed away to score by two and a quarter lengths.
Bred by La Berg Stud, Plus Four is out of the Jet Master mare Shadows On The Sun, and is thus bred on the same cross as the likes of African Warrior, Rascallion and Padre Pio.
Vercingetorix is also the sire of classy gelding Holding Thumbs, who made a big impression on Saturday. Under Denis Schwarz (unbeaten on Holding Thumbs), the Glen Kotzen-trained gelding made it back-to-back wins when romping home to win impressively by three and three-quarter lengths.
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Holding Thumbs, who had contested the G3 Schweppes Politician Stakes last season, has now won three of nine starts.
Vercingetorix is also sire of 2024 G1 Mercury Sprint winner Surjay, who was crowned Cape Racing’s Champion Sprinter for 2023-2024 on Saturday.
Runner up on South Africa’s General Sires List last season, Vercingetorix was responsible for 14 black-type winners who won 18 stakes races in South Africa in the 2023-2024 season. His stars of last season included Oriental Charm and Cousin Casey, the first two home in the G1 Hollywoodbets Durban July, as well as the aforementioned Surjay.
The former Equus Champion has 15 lots on offer at the upcoming August Two Year Old Sale including a colt (Lot 29) out of champion Alboran Sea, and a half-sister (Lot 109) to G1 Cape Racing Presents The Cape Guineas winner Russian Rock.