The now Gelykfontein Stud based Visionaire gained a handsome boost to his pedigree following the running of Tuesday’s G3 New Kent County Virginia Derby.

The 2022 Virginia Derby was won by Visionaire’s close relative Capensis, with that son of Tapit sent off favourite for Tuesday’s $305 000 race.
Sixth on the outside early as Royal Patronage set fractions of :23.24 and :47.62, Capensis swung into action on the second turn, moving into fourth shortly after six furlongs run by Royal Patronage in 1:11.42. Wide into the stretch, the Tapit gray wore down the early leader and pace-pressing Catnip by midstretch and drew off by two lengths.

Capensis was one of five winners on the day for inform jockey Irad Ortiz.
The Virginia Derby marked the second win in three starts from Capensis, who won first out by five lengths at Belmont Park July 2 before a close sixth-place finish in his first start against winners in allowance company at Saratoga for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.
The regally bred Capensis is out of G1 Santa Margarita Stakes winner Tara’s Tango, an Unbridled’s Song half-sister to the now Karoo based Visionaire and fellow graded stakes winners Madison’s Luna (G3 Hutcheson Stakes) and Scarlet Strike (G3 Providencia Stakes).

South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire of 2014-2015 and Leading Second Season Sire the following season, Visionaire is currently sire of eight stakes winners headed by Equus Champion Good Traveller and fellow G1 winner Takingthepeace.