Varsfontein Stud’s leading young stallion Gimmethegreenlight enjoyed another memorable weekend this past week, when the 2012 G1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner was represented by an impressive four timer.
The son of More Than Ready went close to having a five timer this weekend, with his classy daughter Rose In Bloom narrowly beaten into second place in the Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes on Saturday. Winner of the Listed Irridescence Stakes at two, Rose In Bloom has now banked over R500 000 in earnings, with her other recent smart efforts including a third, to Snowdance, in the G1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes.
First of the sire’s runners to strike was the Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein bred O’ Keeffe, who picked up her second career win when successful for trainer Andre Nel over 2000m at Greyville on Friday night.
Gimmethegreenlight then enjoyed a cross province double on Saturday, with his pair of winners headed by an impressive victory from two-year-old Hit The Green. The latter, who has been entered for Saturday’s G2 SA Nursery, justified 5-10 favouritism when romping home to victory over 1000m at Turffontein for trainer Mike de Kock.
Fourth on debut, Hit The Green is bred on the same Gimmethegreenlight/Captain Al cross as G1 Premiers Champion Stakes winner Gunner.
Gimmethegreenlight, whose Varsfontein Stud bred and owned daughter Love Of My Life broke her maiden by 3.25 lengths at Kenilworth on Saturday, enjoyed a juvenile double over the weekend, with Hit The Green’s win followed by that of Gimme A Brake Nate, who scored at Scottsville on Sunday. Trained by his owner Nathan Kotzen, the filly stayed on well to record a three parts of a length maiden win over 1500m.
Bred by the Heritage Stud, Gimme A Brake Nate was a R25 000 buy from the 2017 Cape Yearling Sale.
Gimmethegreenlight, South Africa’s Leading First Crop Sire of 2015-2016, looks poised to have a memorable weekend this week, with fancied runners (Surcharge and Green Top) in the G1 SA Derby and G2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks respectively.
He also enjoyed success at last week’s Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale, where Gimmethegreenlight sired yearlings made up to R900 000.