Champion Eight On Eighteen, a three-parts brother to Drakenstein Stud’s blue blooded new stallion Snow Pilot made a big impression when he made a winning five-year-old debut at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday.
Making his first start since winning the July 26th G1 HKJC Champions Cup, the Justin Snaith trained entire was sent off the 13-10 favourite for Saturday’s Race Coast Incentives Powered By Hollywoodbets A Stakes (1400m) and duly obliged.
Under a confident ride from regular rider Richard Fourie, Eight On Eighteen ran on strongly down the inside.
Despite appearing beaten close home, the champion rallied again to win a shade cosily by a short-head.
The winning rider described Eight On Eighteen as a “very great horse. He is a ferrari, an absolute racehorse!”
Bred by Drakenstein Stud, the five-year-old races for Nick Jonsson and Johann Rupert.
Out of the Captain Al mare Sempre Libre, Eight On Eighteen was a R700 000 buy from the 2023 National Yearling Sale.
Eight On Eighteen, who has earned more than R8 000 000 in stakes, has won seven of 17 starts, with his wins including four grade one wins. Winner of five graded stakes in total thus far, Eight On Eighteen was crowned Horse Of The Year and Equus Champion 3YO Colt/Gelding/Champion Middle Distance Horse in 2024-2025.
Like Snow Pilot, Eight On Eighteen is a son of Lancaster Bomber and his dam Sempre Libre is a three-parts sister to the dual G1 winning dam of G1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot.