Moutonshoek’s blue blooded sire The United States looks to have some very exciting two-year-olds this season, and the son of Galileo’s good run continued on Wednesday.
The United States filly Keukenhof made the perfect start to her career when she made a winning debut at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.
Trained by Dean Kannemeyer, Keukenhof turned Wednesday’s www.tabgold.co.za Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) (1200m) into a one horse race.
Under Craig Zackey, the two-year-old romped home to win as she liked by more than four and a quarter lengths.
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Keukenhof was a R350 000 purchase from the 2024 National Yearling Sale.
The filly, who is out of the Trippi mare Dawn Calling, is bred on the same The United States/Trippi cross as top-class filly Sheela.
Also the sire of impressive recent debut winner Malibu, The United States went close to having a juvenile double on Wednesday.
His two-year-old daughter Dark Matter made a promising debut when she finished third in the first race at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.
The inform The United States hails from an outstanding family, whose numerous top-class members include the top-class three-year-old Henri Matisse.
The latter, whose third dam Mill Princess ranks as the fourth dam of The United States, finished with a flourish to make a winning start to his three-year-old campaign in the Ballylinch Stud “Red Rocks” Stakes at Leopardstown recently. Henri Matisse was just getting going and swooped fast and late to beat Comanche Brave by half a length. Making his first competitive appearance since his success in California in early November, Henri Matisse had to concede 3lb to each of his rivals in this seven-furlong Group Three and was a 6-4 favourite under Ryan Moore.
A son of Wootton Bassett, Henri Matisse took high rank in the juvenile division last season, winning four of his six starts including victory in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar.

Coral trimmed Henri Matisse’s odds for the Betfred 2000 Guineas at Newmarket to 12-1 from 16-1 and his trainer Aidan O’Brien said: “We couldn’t let them all go to the Guineas first time out, so that’s why we had to start them earlier. He’s obviously a very smart horse and does quicken very well. He’ll improve plenty.”
Closely related to another smart three-year-old in the form of Trinity College, The United States has eight lots on offer at the National Yearling Sale.