South African Winners for Joburg and Giant
30th December 2007
Australian bred horses won two races in South Africa over the weekend with success for both Commisssionerstreet (2c Johannesburg - Cast Your Fate, by Bletchingly) and Pallio (3f Giant's Causeway - Tuscan Sky, by Gulch) at Kenilworth and Turffontein.The Charles Laird trained two year-old Commissionerstreet saluted in the 1000 metre maiden plate at Kenilworth on Saturday after finishing third when making his debut on December 16. Commissionerstreet improved with the run under his belt to score easily by three lengths after racing prominently throughout.
Secured from the Coolmore draft at the 2007 Magic Millions Yearling Sale for $510,000 by Charles Laird, Commissionerstreet was the most expensive yearling sold in Australia in 2007 by Johannesburg.
Commissionerstreet is a half-brother to a couple of Group Two winners in Belle Femme and Flying Babe, his dam being the very good producer Cast Your Fate.
A daughter of renowned sire Bletchingly, Cast Your Fate is a winning three-quarter sister to dual Group One winner Sharscay, a $1million earner whose major wins came in the STC Canterbury Guineas and VATC Underwood Stakes.
Cast Your Fate has a yearling colt by Fastnet Rock and produced a filly to the same sire this spring.
A world champion two year-old of his generation, Johannesburg had been a regular visitor to Coolmore Australia for the last four years, but was whisked back to America prematurely after the outbreak of EI covering only a small number of mares prior to his departure.
Also successful was another Charles Laird purchase in Pallio (pictured as a yearling) , a three year-old filly by Giant’s Causeway, who broke her maiden at the second time of asking over 1400 metres.
She scored by a neck, having finished third on debut on December 1 over 1160 metres and obviously appreciated the slightly longer journey.
Pallio was secured by Laird at the 2006 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Tyreel Stud for $200,000.
She is the first foal of the Gulch mare Tuscan Sky, a half-sister to stakes-winner First Stage from the family of numerous Group One winners incuding Chief’s Crown (USA), Chris Evert, Sightseek, Tates Creek, Winning Colors, Tap Dance City and South African Group One winner Lambent Light.
Tuscan Sky has a yearling filly for 2008 by Royal Academy.
