Although not having previously sired a winner of South Africa’s greatest race, the Australian bred, South African-based sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) added a 13th individual Group 1 winner to his record when the Dean Kannemeyer trained The Real Prince (SAF) added Saturday’s R5m Group 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July (2200m) to his record.
Having come close in previous years with Got The Greenlight (twice) as well as Bless My Stars, the Varsfontein Stud-based Gimmethegreenlight was not only an outstanding racehorse, winning the Group 1 Queen’s Plate (1600m), but has sired 77 stakes winner to date, securing Champion Sire status in South Africa in 2020-21 and 2022-23.
Produced off a slightly unorthodox race preparation, The Real Prince won the Listed Jet Master Stakes (1600m) at the end of the Cape Summer season in February, before a spell. Resuming in the Group 2 Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m in early May, he worked home late to finish in fourth, just a length and a quarter off the winner.
Not seen at the races for nine weeks and stepping up to 2200m for the first time in his 10-start career, the 4yo gelding started on the third line of betting behind the short-priced favourite and triple Group 1 winner Eight On Eighteen (Lancaster Bomber) followed by last year’s Durban July winner Oriental Charm (Vercingetorix).
Settling in a mid-field position under jockey Craig Zackey, The Real Prince looked comfortable in the run which was in stark contrast to race leader Oriental Charm who would not settle, but in the process ensured a solid tempo.
As the field reached the home turn and fanned across the track, Richard Fourie appeared eager to take Eight On Eighteen to the lead where he sprinted clear of the chasing pack.
Zackey has managed to get himself off the rail, and was tracking every move the favourite made, charging to his outside in the straight before the pair battled down the straight.
The Real Prince got the better of the Justin Snaith trained Eight On Eighteen on the line, in the process giving Zackey his first win in the famed race, while Kannemeyer secured his fourth victory in the race.
“It’s incredible,” beamed Zackey post-race.
“I think if he had one run in-between, he would have won a bit more comfortably, but there were no races that suited him and we couldn’t afford the penalty.”
“I knew he was the best horse in the race and if he stayed, he’d be hard to beat.”
Born and raised at Varsfontein on behalf of Lady Christine Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables, The Real Prince is the second elite level winner for his Group 1 winning dam Real Princess (Trippi), joining Champion Sprinter Gimme A Prince (Gimmethegreenlight), a three-time Group 1 winner.
The story of Gimmethegreenlight is an interesting one with the late Hassen Adams securing the colt as a weanling from the draft of Vinery Stud at the 2009 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale for just $155,000.
Bred by David Bentata, Gimmethegreenlight is out of the winning Canny Lad mare Yes She Can Cancan, a sister to the dam of the Group 2 winner Greggers and the Group 3 winner Girl Guide.
Yes She Can Cancan is the dam of five winners from five to the races, all stakes performers, with Gimmethegreenlight being a half-brother to the Group 1 Coolmore Classic winner Ofcourseican (Mossman), who is in turn the dam of the Group 3-winning, Group 1 Caulfield Cup third placed Persan (Pierro).
While it looks as if Gimmethegreenlight will finish second this season on the South African’s General Sires’ Table, the lightly raced The Real Price looks capable of further improvement which could aid the son of More Than Ready to another Champion Sire title next season.
In Australia, Gimmethegreenlight is best known as the sire of the former Chris Waller trained Yulong Prince (SAF) who won the Group 1 Cantala Stakes (1600m) during the 2020 Flemington spring carnival for owners Yulong.
Covering 85 mares in his first season at stud when standing at Yulong in Victoria, Yulong Prince was then transferred to stand at Glen Eden Stud. Having had just three runners from his first crop to race, it will be interesting to track their progress.
