Maine Chance Farms’ resident stallion, and South Africa’s reigning champion sire, Silvano had a quick Thursday double at the Vaal this week.
His beautifully bred son Silver Spine, who is out of G1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Sparkling Gem won Thursday’s first race, a maiden plate over 1200 metres, in good style.

Bred and owned by Drakenstein Stud, Silver Spine impressed with a three and a quarter length romp for trainers Mike and Adam Azzie and the 3yo gelding looks capable of building on his first win.

Amanika, a 3yo filly bred by Oldlands Stud, gave Silvano a quick double when she broke her maiden in courageous fashion for champion trainer Sean Tarry in the third race on Thursday.
Second at her previous outing, the progressive looking Amanika, sent off tote favourite for the 1400m maiden race, ran on gamely to land her first win by a long head.

Her sire Silvano, Champion Sire in South Africa in both 2012-2013 and 2016-2017 , is enjoying another cracking season in 2017-2018. His offspring include such graded stakes winners as Bella Sonata (G2 Joburg Spring F&M Challenge) and Strathdon (G3 Cape Summer Stayers), as well as a large number of promising 3yos.

This is reflected in the fact that Silvano has four sons nominated for the G2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas (he is also broodmare sire Guineas entrant Wonderwall) and two daughters entered in the G2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas, set to be run at Turffontein next month.