Plenty to look forward to in Gauteng Classics!
Racing fans are in for a treat on Saturday. Not only does Saturday see the first leg of the Triple Crown take place in the form of the G2 TAB Gauteng Guineas, but the G2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas, the first leg of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara, will also take place at Turffontein.
Sean Tarry Racing is no stranger to enjoying success in Triple Crown and Triple Tiara races, and the yard will, once again, field runners in both the Gauteng Guineas and Gauteng Fillies Guineas.
The stable's numerous Triple Tiara stars include the likes of Rain In Holland, Siren's Call, and Return Flight, while Sean and his yard saddled the likes of Legal Eagle, Pomodoro, and Al Sahem to win one leg of the Triple Crown itself.
Below are a few of Sean Tarry Racing's runners to have shone in at least one leg of either the Triple Crown or Triple Tiara.
RAIN IN HOLLAND: f Duke Of Marmalade - Imvula, by Aqlaam
The Drakenstein Stud-bred and -owned filly provided the Tarry yard with a memorable milestone when she won the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara of 2022. South Africa's Champion 2YO Filly of 2020-2021 (when she won five in a row, including the G1 Thekwini Stakes), Rain In Holland proved even better at three. After winning the G2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas by two and a half lengths (where her beaten rivals included subsequent dual G1 winner Desert Miracle), the star filly went on to win the G1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic by an emphatic three and a quarter lengths, before claiming the third leg of the Triple Tiara, the G2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks, by three parts of a length.
Rain In Holland, who ended her three-year-old campaign with an easy win in the G2 4Racing Gerald Rosenberg Stakes, was subsequently named Equus Champion 3YO Filly of 2021-2022. She went on to win the G1 Woolavington 2000 at four, before retiring to stud, having won 11 of 22 starts with earnings of R3,528,500.
SIREN'S CALL: f Elusive Fort -Siren's Cove, by West Man
Siren's Call was very unlucky not to win all three legs of the Triple Tiara in 2015. The Peter de Beyer-owned filly, who hailed from an exceptional crop of fillies, downed stablemate Trophy Wife when she won the 2015 G2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas. Siren's Call went on to land the G1 SA Fillies Classic next time at the expense of another top-class filly, Same Jurisdiction. Her luck, however, ended in the G1 SA Oaks of 2015, where Siren's Call lost a shoe at the start. Despite this mishap, the filly showed plenty of heart in finishing a close-up second, beaten just a head behind Pine Princess.
Siren's Call retired to stud having won or placed in nine of ten starts and she earned R2,575,775 in prize money. At stud, Siren's Call has produced four winners, notably the Tarry-trained dual G3 winner Sound Of Warning (by Trippi) and Listed Settlers Trophy winner Call To Unite (by Vercingetorix).
LEGAL EAGLE: g Greys Inn - Young Sensation, by National Emblem
South Africa's Horse Of The Year in 2015-2016 and 2016-2017, the mighty Legal Eagle picked up his first G1 victory when he saluted in the G1 SA Derby of 2015. The son of Greys Inn romped home in that third leg of the Triple Crown to thrash runner-up Deputy Jud by a convincing three lengths. Legal Eagle's stablemate, French Navy, had won the 2015 G1 SA Classic but proved no match for Legal Eagle in the Derby, with French Navy finishing a well-beaten third. The brilliant Legal Eagle, who would retire from racing with more than R12.239 million and eight Equus Awards to his name, would go on to win another seven G1 races—three runnings of the Horse Chestnut Stakes, three runnings of the L'Ormarins Queen's Plate, and the 2016 Champions Challenge.
RETURN FLIGHT: Pomodoro - Heading Home, by Special Preview
A daughter of the yard's G1 SA Derby/G1 Vodacom Durban July winner Pomodoro, Return Flight was Equus Champion 2YO Filly of 2017-2018. Herself a bargain priced yearling, Return Flight, winner of the G1 Thekwini Stakes at two, went on to claim the last two legs of the Triple Tiara in 2019. When she won the G1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic, Return Flight accounted for G2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas queen Nafaayes by just over three-parts of a length. The strapping filly would go on to win the G2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks in style, with Return Flight romping home to score by nearly two lengths. The daughter of Pomodoro would go on to claim the G2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes, and would retire having won six races and earned more than R2.28 million in prize money.
AL SAHEM: Silvano -Alderry, by Al Mufti
The regally bred Al Sahem was bred to be good—by multiple champion sire Silvano, he was produced by G2 November Charity Mile winner Alderry. A full brother to the smart Al Mutawakel and 3/4 brother to Listed Jacaranda Handicap winner Seehaam, Al Sahem showed high-class form in each leg of the Triple Crown. After finishing second in the first two legs (G2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas, G1 SA Classic), Al Sahem picked his biggest win when he landed the G1 SA Derby by a length and three quarters. He would go on to finish second, beaten just a head by Marinaresco, in the 2017 G1 Vodacom Durban July.
POMODORO: Jet Master—Golden Apple, by Northern Guest
A son of champion Jet Master and G2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Golden Apple, Pomodoro was as versatile as he was talented. He showed plenty of courage when dead-heating for first with Royal Bencher in the 2012 G1 SA Derby, with Pomodoro having finished a close second in the G1 SA Classic prior to that Derby effort. The bay would go on to confirm his class when he provided the Tarry yard with their first July success, when Pomodoro won the 2012 Vodacom Durban July. On that occasion, Pomodoro accounted for such high-class performers as Solo Traveller, Gold Onyx, Beach Beauty, Pierre Jourdan, Top Seller, and Jackson. Retired to stud, Pomodoro became South Africa's leading first-season sire of 2017-2018, and he has sired the likes of Return Flight, Russian Rock, Black Thorn, Cirillo, Golden Belle, Epsom Girl, Mount Pilatus, and Pomodoro's Jet.
SMILING BLUE EYES: f Dynasty -Sage Blue, by Badger Land
A half-sister to Equus Champion and dual G1 winner, Russian Sage, Smiling Blue Eyes reeled off a hat trick of wins at three. Following a near six-length maiden win, the filly went on to claim the G3 Fillies Mile by a length over classy stablemate Tambalang. Smiling Blue Eyes made it back-to-back graded wins when she romped home to a more than two-and-a-half-length win in that season's G2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas. Those beaten by Smiling Blue Eyes in the Fillies Guineas included Orchid Island, Redberry Lane, and Safe Harbour.
FRENCH NAVY: g Count Dubois - Redoubtable, by Elliodor
Equus Champion 3YO Colt/Gelding of 2014-2015, French Navy showed top-class form at three. After finishing fourth in the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes, he went on to finish runner-up, behind champion Harry's Son, in the G2 Gauteng Guineas. French Navy picked up his first G1 win when he stormed home to claim the G1 SA Classic by three parts of a length, with Harry's Son only fifth. He would go on to confirm his class when finishing third, to Legal Eagle, in the G1 SA Derby, before French Navy stamped his championship claims with a one and a quarter length triumph in the 2015 G1 Daily News 2000, beating the likes of Ertijaal and The Conglomerate. The talented and courageous French Navy would earn more than R5.128 million in a career that saw the gelding finish 1-2-3 in seven G1 races.
IKIGAI: c Vercingetorix - Al Shiba, by Al Mufti
The well bred son of Vercingetorix made a cracking start to his career, winning on debut before finishing second, behind the high-class pair of Astrix and True To Life respectively, in his following two starts. Ikigai went on to win three in a row, culminating in a fluent, one and three quarter length win in the G2 Gauteng Guineas. On that occasion,Ikigai accounted for such stakes winners as Frosted Gold and Green Laser, as well as G1 winners Astrix, Eden Roc and Bohica. By one of South Africa's top stallions, Ikigai was produced by the Al Mufti mare Al Shiba, a winning half-sister to G3 Champion Juvenile Cup winner Jet Set Go.
BLESS MY STARS: f Gimmethegreenlight -Star Express, by Silvano
A close third in the G1 Thekwini Stakes at two, a classy filly Bless My Stars progressed well at three to show high-class form. After a sixth-place finish in the 2023 G2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas, Bless My Stars was given a fine ride by S'Manga Khumalo to land the G1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic by a short head over the talented Feather Boa. Bless My Stars would clinch an Equus Award after finishing third in the G1 Hollywoodbets Durban July and landing the G2 Riding High Together Gold Bracelet. She has been exported and is currently racing in North America.