Easter star Run Fox Run (Foxwedge) defeated what has been described as one of the strongest South African sprint fields of the past century with victory in the G1 Kenilworth Flying Championship overnight.
The sprinting star was always destined for G1 success, winning her first five starts – two at Stakes level – and took a seven-wins-from-10-starts record into last night’s feature.
The Brett Crawford-trained 5YO mare sat on the speed before careering away over the final 200m to secure a valuable G1 success.
She now sits in the upper echelon of South African sprinters of the past 20 years and being lightly raced, appears to have many more wins in her.
Run Fox Run becomes the 55th G1-winning Inglis graduate since 2018 and continues a stunning recent run of international success which also includes Stakes wins in Hong Kong, New Zealand and Singapore.
Crawford teamed up with Craig Roscoe at the 2017 Easter Yearling Sale to purchase Run Fox Run for $420,000 from Mill Park, who also bred the mare.
“She was a queen at Easter and one we just had to take back to South Africa. From day one she showed us she was a G1 filly and has been a model of consistency at the highest level,’’ Crawford said.
“We have been patient with her, she’s a 5YO that's only had 11 starts, winning eight of them culminating in the Group 1 today. She is just a superstar and the fastest horse in South Africa.’’
The Kieswetter's of Ridgemont Stud have had unbelievable success out of the Inglis sales. On top of Run Fox Run, they purchased Whisky Baron for $50,000 from Easter who won South Africa's biggest race the G1 Sun Met, Chevauchee a multiple Stakes winner aswell as promising stakes-placed filly Mushi Sterek.
For Chris Watson of Mill Park Stud, Run Fox Run’s G1 victory was another highlight in the successful career of broodmare Victory Cry, purchased by the farm for just $34,000 at the 2010 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale.
“I remember her very fondly as one of the better-looking fillies that we have ever put through a sales ring,” said Watson.
“The underbidder was desperately disappointed at missing out on her, thinking she was sure to be a top filly and he has been proven right.
“She has been sparingly raced and only ever tackled elite company so hopefully there is more to come, while her win is a good update for her Shooting To Win relative (lot 540) who is part of our strong draft for this year’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.”
Run Fox Run wasn’t the only Inglis graduate to enjoy success at the big meeting overnight, with fellow Easter star Atyaab (Dundeel) winning the G2 Kenilworth Cape Stayers.
The Zietsman Oosthuizen-trained Atyaab is already a top-grade winner, becoming Dundeel’s first G1 success when claiming the Cape Derby at the corresponding carnival two years ago.
Atyaab, now a three-time Stakes winner, is a $260,000 Shadwell purchase from Arrowfield at the same Easter Sale at Newmarket in 2017 that Run Fox Run was purchased from.
The dual South African success came after popular galloper Behemoth (All Too Hard) showed he was in for a big autumn campaign with an arrogant first-up victory in the Listed Durbridge Stakes at Morphettville yesterday.
Behemoth, a dual G1 winner in the spring, is eyeing off more top-level success this preparation in the Futurity Stakes, as well as a possible start in the $5m All Star Mile.
The now 5YO is a $120,000 Great Southern Sale weanling purchase for Heritage Bloodstock from Tyreel Stud, who also bred the galloper.
Tyreel will present a draft of eight yearlings at next weekend’s Classic Yearling Sale, for which inspections at Riverside begin on Tuesday.
The Sale takes place form February 7-9.
To view the Classic catalogue, CLICK HERE.
To view the Classic parade schedule, CLICK HERE.
