French Juvenile Winner for Johannesburg

23rd November 2008

Versatile sire Johannesburg has produced Graded winners on both sides of the Atlantic this year and featured at Saint-Cloud in France on Saturday with a debut juvenile winner in Avventura (2f Johannesburg x Castele Gardens, by Common Grounds).

She stalked the pace in second position behind the clear leader before assuming control at the quarter mile marker and holding off all challengers to score by a length and a half in the seven furlong maiden.

Trained by Jean-Marie Beguigne, Avventura was a 40,000 euro yearling purchase from the Deauville October Sale and is a half-sister to stakes-winner Burnt Ember from the family of Group One winners Twilight Agenda, Refuse to Bend and Media Puzzle.

Johannesburg has enjoyed a good year with widespread success, Avventura one of a number of his European based progeny to make their mark including Group One winner Sageburg and slick juveniles fillies Stefer and African Skies.

On the American front, Johannesburg has been in the frame with Graded winners Eaton’s Gift, Looky Yonder and Ten Meropa.