Black Swan Stud Busy few days ahead

Yet another 3rd place with Fynbos.
On Wednesday at Greyville two runners.
Race 4 *Miss Jacqueline. Won a relatively weak race and now in handicap company. Should run a fair race, but a wide draw. Heartsease and Chelsea Flower seem very well in at the weights and look hard to beat.
Race 7 * Just For Laughs. May need the run slightly, but should be good enough to run in the first three in this field.

No show from our runners during the week, except a flying 4th by Versailles at Fairview.
On Saturday at Kenilworth three runners.
Race 1 Secretary of State has her second start. Has a very tough draw to overcome and 1400m still on the sharp side for her. Outside place chance.
Race 7 Sound of Warning. Bred in partnership with Drakenstein, this is a very tough field. Rio Querari and Real Gone Kid should fight it out, but she could run a place.
Race 8. *Pretty Betty and Major Attraction take their chances in the Majorca. Good draws but very strong field headed by Captain’s Ransom. Betty gets a good draw for a change, and we are expecting a much better effort. We have fitted padded shoes to take a bit of sting out the ground. She is fit and well and likely to be up handy. Small place chance.
Sunday JP Twothousand runs in the 3rd at Turffontein. Narrow loser last time and if this race is not too soon after his previous, has a strong winning chance this field.

The highlight of the year for us was another great performance by our stallion, Elusive Fort’s best son, Kommetdieding in adding the Met to his already impressive CV.
He has nothing more to prove, and it will be interesting to see whether the connections will send him off to stud at the end of the season.
He will have a much tougher task in the July this year giving weight to all and sundry, so really strange that he has been priced up the early favourite.

The yearlings have arrived at De Grendel for the CTS Premier sale. We have 2 fillies and 2 colts on offer, all lovely physical specimens.
Lot 61 Colt. Gold Standard- Ideal Lady
Lot 72 Colt Pathfork- Konfessional
Lot 170. Filly. Quasillo- Victorine
Lot 176. Filly. Canford Cliffs - White Rose
Videos on the CTS website.

Not much on the racing front with JP Twothousand carded for his 3rd outing in just 2 weeks on Saturday at Turffontein. On Tuesday Encryption in the 5th and Mhlabeni in the 8th at Fairview.
Elusive Fort has Sprinkles taking on Desert Miracle in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas. Tough task at level weights, but at least has a decent draw.

Lot 176 Canford Cliffs was a star 🌟

Imagine how big Canford cliffs would have been if he didnt have to bump Frankel

Lot 61 R100k Sharon Kotzen. Buyers are still “ wait and see” regarding Gold Standard. This is a bargain buy.
Lot 72 R225k P Somasundram. A smart colt with a strong pedigree.
Lot 170 R80k Sharon Kotzen. Another bargain buy.
Lot 176 R150k Paul Peter. Lovely filly. After a couple of smart juvenile winners, this sire is now on the buyers list.
Thanks to the purchasers and underbidders.

Good runs by JP Twothousand and Veni Vidi Vicci both narrowly beaten.
Encryption and Mhlabeni a few lengths back in their races.

Top effort by Sprinkles for Elusive Fort

We have *Grey Princess in the 7th at Fairview. She is coming to the end of her racing career but hoping she can pick up another race before she retires. This looks quite tough for her.
*Mistress of Means in the 8th. Tough draw to overcome but is in with a chance with a bit of luck in the running. Consistent form on turf. Europeana looks the one to beat.
3 runners at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Secretary of State in the 3rd. This is the trip she needs so expecting improvement.
Exceeder in 5th. Game and consistent and an ew chance. The 3 yo Chollima carries a big weight but on class is the one to beat.
*Treasure Hunt in a very competitive race in 8th. Tough draw to overcome but is fit and well and expecting a decent run.
*Drama Queen runs in 7th at Scottsville. 1kg under sufferance but a handy galloping weight, and has an ew chance in a very competitive race.

A very game run by Treasure Hunt, just touched off. Nice to see her stay on over the mile, and an excellent effort from a wide draw.

Thursday at Vaal, JP Twothousand again running, race 4. This will be his fourth run in as many weeks. Knocking on the door and again should be competitive if he copes with the hectic schedule. Forgotten Time looks the main danger unless one of the first timers pops up. The 2.5kg claim may do the trick.
At Fairview on Friday , *Cape Point in race 3 and Mhlabeni in race 5. Cape Point back on the turf, and should have no problem with the trip. On his CT form should be in with an ew shout, Aeneas and Joe Harman look the two dangers.

JP Twothousand another good run but again found one better.
Fair runs into the money by Cape Point and Mhlabeni.

Friday at Fairview, *Jean Paul runs in the 2nd. Carries a low weight in this maiden handicap, and he needs to show something or move on.

Saturday at Kenilworth, Major Attraction in the Pri du Cap. 1400m is her best trip, and I expect her to be in the money, but a tough race to win. Princess Calla the one to beat.
Two unraced babies in the sales race (8th). Aussenkehr has two siblings that ran well on debut, and is likely to be the more precocious of the two. Full brother Lanza was a decent sprinter before being sold to Mauritius. Two thirds of the field are unraced so it’s a lottery, although Shifting Path looks the one to beat of the raced runners, and Certainly should also be respected.

The ever busy JP Twothousand is carded for his fifth run in as many weeks in the 1st at Turffontein on Sunday. Not the strongest lineup and should again be a contender
We sent *Pretty Betty to Jhb straight after the Majorca and she runs in the Acacia Stakes. This race may come a bit soon for her to be fully adjusted to the altitude, and it’s her first time on a right hand turn. I had hoped for more rain as softer ground will suit her. Luyolo knows her well and will look after her. Not sure what to expect, but am hoping for a decent effort as this is not nearly the strength that she took on in the Paddock and Majorca.

I guess most people were not happy with Jean Paul winning at 66/1 - If its any consolation I just had my usual sentimental few rand ew that I put on every one of my runners. I'm not a fan of Maiden handicaps, but he made the most of the light weight. A good ride by the appie on a horse which has a history of over-racing, to keep him rolling with the added benefit of the tailwind and the shorter trip.
JP Two Thousand gave us a double for the weekend, and these two winners brought our 2018 (3 yo) crop to 10 winners from 14 foals (71%).
Previous crops winners to foals have achieved 2017 = 76%; 2016 = 69%; 2015 = 74%; 2014= 72%; 2013=79%
We are very proud of these stats, and in particular the consistency from year to year.

Major Attraction was no match for Princess Calla at level weights, but added to her page with another graded race place.
The two babies no show and maybe were a bit rushed into the sales race.

The amazing achievement of the weekend was veteran trainer Piet Steyn winning both the colts and fillies Cape Nurseries with his cheapies, and then running second in the BSA sales race for good measure. Certainly shows that the small trainer and owner can indeed take on the behemoths.

I was hoping for rain for Pretty Betty in Jhb, but unfortunately her race postponed due to the lightning delays.
Hopefully things will go smoothly on Saturday.
We also have Indigo Fields in race 5 at Greyville on Wednesday. Looks an open contest as is usual for fillies handicaps on the poly.
We have a first timer, Elusive Jewel running in race 1 at Fairview on Friday. On breeding she will need much more ground.

Another good win by Indigo Fields, and she looks like she could win a few more. At this stage is winning sprints but should have scope over further.
Pretty Betty was handy but got tired the last 300m and needs a bit more time to adjust to the altitude.
Sprinkles gave Elusive Fort another gr 1 second place, and unfortunately Big Burn’s race was cancelled.

Two runners this week. Exceeder runs in the 4th at Durbanville on Wednesday. He should have no trouble with the step up to 2400m and must have an ew shout in a competitive race.
*Grey Princess runs in the 6th at Fairview. Not well drawn again, and she may need to be retired soon.

The National Yearling Sales 28/29 April catalogue has been published online and we have a smart draft of 7 . More details on those closer to the sale, but visitors to the farm in Robertson are always welcome to view them before they leave for Jhb.

Good run by Exceeder in 2nd- the winner had come down a lot in the ratings and after 3 sprints was too good at the weights back over its correct distance.

Two runners at Fairview on Tuesday.*Miss Jacqueline runs in the 4th. A competitive handicap, but I give her an ew chance. She has settled in well in PE and she can go on either the poly or the turf.
*Encryption runs in the 6th- a tough Pinnacle Stakes and a wide draw to overcome. She is not too badly in at the weights with the filly allowance, and if she gets some luck in the running can earn a cheque again. Marmara Seas looks the one to beat.
On Wednesday at Kenilworth, three runners. *Fynbos runs in the 5th- an open race. She has the worst of the draw but a repeat of her last effort should again see her in the money. *Treasure Hunt in the 6th- just caught last time in a similar lineup. Has run well at Durbanville and an ok draw. Again a very open race but I think that she has a decent ew shout.
*Gentleman runs in the 7th. A somewhat better effort last time. gets a nice draw and on best form can be in the money. Ragnar Lothbrok was way too far out of his ground last time after a bad start, but if he gets away on terms should be too good for this field with a top jockey and a good draw.