RMG ON THE US TRIPLE CROWN TRAIL!


Wilgerbosdrift’s late sire Rich Man’s Gold, who has done so well as a broodmare sire in South Africa of late, could feature prominently in a similar position on the 2018 US Triple Crown series.

Rich Man’s Gold’s champion daughter Isola Piu Bella is the dam of the unbeaten A P Indy mare Kinda Spicy, who won her only two racetrack outings. At stud, Kinda Spicy has made her mark as the dam of the very talented US three-year-old, and US Triple Crown hopeful, Avery Island.

The latter, a colt by Street Sense, made it three wins from only five outings when he won the G3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday. Sitting just off the early speed in the classic prep contest, Avery Island drew clear under jockey Joe Bravo to post a two length win at the expense of G1 Champagne Stakes hero Firenze Fire, with promising Tapit colt Marconi back in third.

Avery Island, who picked up a valuable ten points on the Road To The Kentucky series for his latest win, had previously won the G3 Nashua Stakes and finished second in the G2 Remsen Stakes. He has now banked $365 332 in stakes.

His second dam, one of RMG’s best daughters, Isola Piu Bella, was a former Chilean Horse Of The Year, whose wins included the G1 Chilean St Leger.

She won a total of nine of 17 outings, with Isola Piu Bella also winning the G3 Sixty Sails Handicap and G3 Sabin Handicap in the USA.

Rich Man’s Gold, whose plethora of high class runners in South Africa included champion Kildonan and Cape Derby “winner” Money Bags, is enjoying increasing success as a broodmare sire.

The son of Forty Niner is also damsire of local G1 winners Athina, Brave Mary, Louis The King, and Wagner, as well as such talented graded winners as Coral Fever, Whistle Stop and Neptune’s Rain.

He is also broodmare sire of the very smart Hong Kong based Nassa (by Wilgerbosdrif bred superstar Dynasty), who won the G3 SA SA Ladies Purse in 2017, as well as the short-lived G2 Al Rashidiya winner Forries Waltz.