Inform Travers Stakes winner Flower Alley, sire of, among others, South Africa’s reigning Horse Of The Year Princess Calla, had a double at the Vaal on Thursday.Not only did Flower Alley’s daughter Opera Glass win the fifth race at the Vaal, another daughter of the Wilgerbosdrift based sire, Primrose Path, claimed the sixth race run on Thursday.
The Stephen Moffatt trained Opera Glass scored for a ninth time in her career when running out a courageous winner of the Equus Champion Breeder Drakenstein Stud FM 86 Handicap (F&M) (1800m) on Thursday. Under a strong ride from Gavin Lerena, the six-year-old appeared beaten close home but fought back gamely to win by a short-head, with another daughter of Flower Alley, Raratonga Rose finishing third.
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Opera Glass, who is out of the Fort Wood mare Loupe, has now earned over R750 000. The mare, whose previous wins include the 2022 Listed Racehorse Owners Association Spook Express Handicap, has now won or been placed in 27 of her 45 races.
Primrose Path came from the back of the field to win Thursday’s Equus Champion Older Female Princess Calla FM 75 Handicap (F&M) (1800m) in convincing fashion. Under a confident ride from Gavin Lerena, the Fanie Bronkhurst trained filly stormed away from her field to win going away by a length and three-quarters.
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Primrose Path, who is out of the Jet Master mare Express Queen, has now finished first or second in each of her last five starts.
Flower Alley, whose runners have earned more than $46 000 000 in prize money, is currently sixth on the South African General Sires List.