Turffontein's Khoekhoe Opens Stakes Account in Super Impose Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday October 3

Winless in three starts since pocketing the $450,000 winners cheque for The Showdown at Caulfield back in April, the Matt Cumani-trained Khoekhoe opened his stakes account when defeating a field of promising young stayers in Saturday’s Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m) at Flemington.

Fred's smile says it all - Khoekhoe in full flight (Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)

Given a picture perfect ride by Fred Kersley, the 3yo son of Turffontein held the challenge of the lightly raced Tavistock gelding Young Werther by a long-head with a further three-quarter of a length back to the Savabeel gelding Albarado in third.

“it’s huge, he is a real stable star he did very well at two and we were thinking a possible Guinea path but he always struck me as a horse that wanted a bit further,” Cumani said.

“We diverted from a Guineas path after two fairly ordinary attempts at the shorter distances but he was always finishing off really well so I was quite confident going into today.”

“We thought we would go back to the way he liked to be ridden, which is pretty quiet, but he actually broke so well Fred just went with him and put him in a beautiful spot, great ride by Fred he timed it perfectly.

Cumani would not commit to a start in the Victoria Derby.

“I think he could get up to 2500m in time but not this prep,” he said.

“We will see how he pulls up from this, but he still has plenty of maturity to come. Going up to 2500m might just bottom him out so I would like to keep him to this distance around 2000m and we will build on that.”   

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There is not a lot to be learned from the pedigree of Khoekhoe to suggest he would be a Derby horse.

He becomes the seventh stakes-winner for Blue Gum Farm’s handsome stallion Turffontein (Johannesburg) a dual Group 1 winner over 1200m and 1400m.

Right said Fred (George Salpigtidis/Racing Photos)

Purchased by his trainer for $50,000 out of the Hollylodge Thoroughbreds draft at the 2019 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, Khoekhoe is the seventh winner from as many to race out of the Cape Cross mare, Walvis Bay who won two races over 1000m.

Her dam, Spring Pass (Anabaa) is a granddaughter of Passing Gull (Arctic tern) who is a half-sister to Razyana the dam of Danehill.

Walvis Bay has shown a great return on her purchase price of $19,000 at the 2009 Inglis Australian Easter Broodmare Sale.

She had a Reward For Effort filly make $28,000 out of the Hollylodge Thoroughbreds draft at the 2020 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.

After not being served in 2018, the daughter of Cape Cross visited Spendthrift Farms young I Am Invincible stallion Overshare last spring.

Turffontein stands for just $6,600 at Blue Gum Farm

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Race Result - Super Impose Stks LR 1800m

Flemington Track: Good(3) Time: 1:49.69
1
Khoekhoe
- 3c Turffontein (AUS) x Walvis Bay (NZ) (Cape Cross (IRE))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: Fred W Kersley 57.5
2
0.2
Young Werther
- 3g Tavistock (NZ) x Romantic Time (NZ) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: D Oliver 57
3
1.0
Albarado
- 3c Savabeel (AUS) x O'Fille (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: M Zahra 57
4
1.9
Johnny Get Angry
- 3g Tavistock (NZ) x Luminova (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Denis Pagan Rdr: Lachlan King 57
5
2.2
Tell Me Again
- 3c Scissor Kick (AUS) x Sussuro (AUS) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: L Nolen 57
6
2.5
The Pres
- 3g All American (AUS) x Satan's Dancer (AUS) (Dylan Thomas (IRE))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: M Rodd 57
7
4.3
Celestial Sol
- 3c Fighting Sun (AUS) x Lady Phoebe (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Craig Williams 57
8
4.4
Alcyone
- 3c Teofilo (IRE) x Purple (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: John Allen 57.5
9
4.7
Bak Da Man
- 3g Reliable Man (GB) x Bak Da Princess (NZ) (Danske (NZ))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: D Yendall 57
10
4.8
Oceanography
- 3c Ocean Park (NZ) x Hanabananah (AUS) (King Charlemagne (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: B Melham 57
11
7.8
Born To Succeed
- 3c Snitzel (AUS) x Miss Match (ARG) (Indygo Shiner (USA))
Tnr: Saab Hasan Rdr: W Pike 57
12
8.5
Laughing Grizzley
- 3g Sebring (AUS) x Banc De Fortune (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: C Newitt 57
13
10.0
Frankie Two Angels
- 3g Medaglia D'Oro (USA) x Kassama (FR) (Nayef (USA))
Tnr: Denis Pagan Rdr: J Mott 57
14
16.0
Johnny Buccaneer
- 3g Vancouver (AUS) x Caribbean Blue (AUS) (Astronomer Royal (USA))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: M J Dee 57
15
18.5
Wise Counsel
- 3c Toronado (IRE) x Circus Polka (AUS) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Jye McNeil 57.5
16
24.5
Reliable Dude
- 3g Reliable Man (GB) x Merayaat (AUS) (Viscount (AUS))
Tnr: M Ellerton & S Zahra Rdr: Jamie Kah 57
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