Australian bred horses have competed very successfully in South Africa over the years and a significant number of Aus bred mares are now at stud over there and one of them is the dam of talented three year-old Royal Aussie, who captured the R7.5million World Sports Betting Gold Rush (1600m) at Kenilworth in South Africa on Saturday.
From the first crop of Royal Mo (USA), a Group III winning son of Uncle Mo, Royal Aussie is the second winner from Abelia, an unraced Smart Missile mare that was purchased for just $20,000 from the Arrowfield draft at the 2015 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale and sent to South Africa.
Trained by Justin Snaith, Royal Aussie showed serious potential at his previous start when fourth Group I Cape Guineas (1600m) behind super star colt Charles Dickens and went into the lucrative Gold Rush as one of the leading contenders.
Ridden perfectly by Richard Fourie, Royal Aussie settle handy in the run and when the field entered the home straight he drifted towards the outside rail. Fourie maintained his position before taking the lead and holding off the late charge of the Christophe Soumillion ridden Dave The King, who had finished fifth in the G1 Cape Guineas.
Royal Aussie has been super consistent with three wins and four placings from just eight starts and his first prize cheque for this win was R5m.
This year’s Gold Rush was open to graduates of the 2021 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, with 16 ticket holders securing their ‘slot’ for R400 000 each.
Royal Aussie also has an Aussie in his ownership and races for Dane Squance, who co-owns the exciting colt with Champion South African owner Suzette Viljoen and Dr Jill Warner.
His pedigree will be very familiar to local breeders as his dam Abelia is a half-sister to Group II winner Time for War, stakes-winner Lord Olympus and stakes-placed Lord Cecil from good producer Lady Zabelia
This is the immediate family of Group I winners Lucky Owners and Mosheen and a little further back is Australian Horse of the Year Might and Power.
The family appears at Inglis Classic with Lot 227 to be offered by Kingstar Farm a Deep Field filly from winning Snitzel mare Age of War, another daughter of Lady Zabelia.
