Group 1 Durban July Success For Son Of Australian Bred Gimmethegreenlight

Dane Squance - Sunday July 6

Although not having previously sired a winner of South Africa’s greatest race, the Australian bred, South African-based sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) added a 13th individual Group 1 winner to his record when the Dean Kannemeyer trained The Real Prince (SAF) added Saturday’s R5m Group 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July (2200m) to his record.

Having come close in previous years with Got The Greenlight (twice) as well as Bless My Stars, the Varsfontein Stud-based Gimmethegreenlight was not only an outstanding racehorse, winning the Group 1 Queen’s Plate (1600m), but has sired 77 stakes winner to date, securing Champion Sire status in South Africa in 2020-21 and 2022-23.

Advertisement

Produced off a slightly unorthodox race preparation, The Real Prince won the Listed Jet Master Stakes (1600m) at the end of the Cape Summer season in February, before a spell. Resuming in the Group 2 Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m in early May, he worked home late to finish in fourth, just a length and a quarter off the winner.

Not seen at the races for nine weeks and stepping up to 2200m for the first time in his 10-start career, the 4yo gelding started on the third line of betting behind the short-priced favourite and triple Group 1 winner Eight On Eighteen (Lancaster Bomber) followed by last year’s Durban July winner Oriental Charm (Vercingetorix).

Settling in a mid-field position under jockey Craig Zackey, The Real Prince looked comfortable in the run which was in stark contrast to race leader Oriental Charm who would not settle, but in the process ensured a solid tempo.

As the field reached the home turn and fanned across the track, Richard Fourie appeared eager to take Eight On Eighteen to the lead where he sprinted clear of the chasing pack.

Zackey has managed to get himself off the rail, and was tracking every move the favourite made, charging to his outside in the straight before the pair battled down the straight.

The Real Prince got the better of the Justin Snaith trained Eight On Eighteen on the line, in the process giving Zackey his first win in the famed race, while Kannemeyer secured his fourth victory in the race.

“It’s incredible,” beamed Zackey post-race.

“I think if he had one run in-between, he would have won a bit more comfortably, but there were no races that suited him and we couldn’t afford the penalty.”

“I knew he was the best horse in the race and if he stayed, he’d be hard to beat.”

Born and raised at Varsfontein on behalf of Lady Christine Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables, The Real Prince is the second elite level winner for his Group 1 winning dam Real Princess (Trippi), joining Champion Sprinter Gimme A Prince (Gimmethegreenlight), a three-time Group 1 winner.

The story of Gimmethegreenlight is an interesting one with the late Hassen Adams securing the colt as a weanling from the draft of Vinery Stud at the 2009 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale for just $155,000.

Bred by David Bentata, Gimmethegreenlight is out of the winning Canny Lad mare Yes She Can Cancan, a sister to the dam of the Group 2 winner Greggers and the Group 3 winner Girl Guide.

13th Group 1 winner for Gimmethegreenlight - Image Varsfontein Stud

Yes She Can Cancan is the dam of five winners from five to the races, all stakes performers, with Gimmethegreenlight being a half-brother to the Group 1 Coolmore Classic winner Ofcourseican (Mossman), who is in turn the dam of the Group 3-winning, Group 1 Caulfield Cup third placed Persan (Pierro).

While it looks as if Gimmethegreenlight will finish second this season on the South African’s General Sires’ Table, the lightly raced The Real Price looks capable of further improvement which could aid the son of More Than Ready to another Champion Sire title next season.

In Australia, Gimmethegreenlight is best known as the sire of the former Chris Waller trained Yulong Prince (SAF) who won the Group 1 Cantala Stakes (1600m) during the 2020 Flemington spring carnival for owners Yulong.

Covering 85 mares in his first season at stud when standing at Yulong in Victoria, Yulong Prince was then transferred to stand at Glen Eden Stud. Having had just three runners from his first crop to race, it will be interesting to track their progress.

Advertisment
More Reading...
First Godolphin Winner for Maher
Champion trainer Ciaron Maher saddled his first winner for Godolphin at Kembla on Thursday and he did it with a blue-blood colt by Too Darn Hot (GB).
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for last season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end this season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 7
Here is the full list of 36 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Racing’s Night of Champions August 28
45 of the top horses in Australia will be recognised for outstanding performances during the 2024/2025 racing season at Racing’s Night of Champions.
First Foal for Hilal Delights Grangewilliam Stud
The first foal by Grangewilliam Stud’s Group Two winner and multiple Group One performer Hilal arrived on Thursday morning with a filly born out of the well-related No Nay Never mare La Frox.
Extremely Good Week!
It’s been a memorable week for Star Thoroughbreds having sold their multiple Group winning mare Olentia for $2.6million and then the purple and white stars were back in the winner’s circle at Canterbury on Wednesday carried by 3YO Extreme Choice colt Estremo.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday August 6
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Zoustar Entering the Zenith
The dictionary tells us Zenith is an astronomical term —describing the highest point in an arc travelled by a star, planet or another celestial body- and in the case of this story it’s planet Zoustar!
Wootton Bassett Set to Blast Out of Winter
Many people may have anticipated Wootton Bassett (GB) would have been our Champion Australian First Season Sire last season and while that didn’t quite eventuate, he did finish the season with a wealth of horses holding spring potential and several were in action at the trials this morning.
Melbourne Cup on Radar for Sons and Lovers
Joseph O’Brien knows what it takes to win a Melbourne Cup and that was mentioned as a possible goal for progressive young stayer Sons and Lovers, who won the Group III Ballyroan Stakes (1m4f) at Leopardstown overnight.