Rafeef – The Future Looks Bright
Another race day, another Rafeef winner! Clinton Binda traveled from Johannesburg and saddled the first winner at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Monday when the handsome Fish Eagle underscored his consistent Gauteng form with a fluid opening win.
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein, the Hollywood Syndicate Race Fish Eagle descends from Canford Cliffs Stakes winning mare, Fish River, who raced with such success under the Mike de Kock banner.
Chase Maujean leads Rafeef’s son Fish Eagle to an easy win at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Monday (Picture – Candies Lenferna)
The high-profile Rafeef roadshow continued in Turffontein on Saturday as Ridgemont Highlands’ rampant Gr1-winning son by Redoute’s Choice celebrated his 11th Stakes winner thanks to the striking result of undefeated Leaving Las Vegas in the Gr3 Pretty Polly Stakes.
Rafeef daughter leaves Las Vegas to win Saturday’s Gr3 Pretty Polly Stakes (Image – JC Photos)
An impressive winner, Leaving Las Vegas displayed tremendous speed and the courage to hold favorite Elegant Ice in check with a degree of authority in the finish.
Bred on the same Rafeef Trippi cross as Ridgemont Highlands bred Gr2 winning millionaire William Robertson, a contender for next Saturday’s R1 Million Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, Leaving Las Vegas joins Rafeef’s scintillating current 2 year old Harvest, which includes undefeated Bloodstock SA Sales Cup winner Outlaw King and recent impressive debut winner Midnight Fusion.
Rafeef wins the Gr1 Computaform Sprint
Rafeef, South Africa’s 2020/21 Champion First Season Sire, now boasts 11 stakes winners from his first three crops and has captured the imagination of industry stakeholders with his exceptional ability to infuse his offspring of both sexes with the will to do so really excited to win, and the ability to hit her heart.
Rafeef was certainly a revelation in the breeding stable, his first Gr1 winners from 1000m to 2450m and a multitude of winners made him a blue chip option for any breeder.
The Australian bred starling has 19 lots walking the ring at this year’s National Yearling Sale.
Craig Carey from Ridgemont Highlands is delighted with Rafeef’s progress and believes he will only get stronger.
“It is so rewarding for the team that a beautifully bred, high performing racehorse has made the seamless transition from the track to the stud farm. He is undoubtedly one of South Africa’s most exciting stallions now – and it’s still early! We have two Rafeef offspring in our 2023 National Draft. The handsome, tall, strong stallion (#335) is very much in his sire’s form and his daughter (#133) is out of a field winning daughter by VAR. She shall fly! We look forward to the sale on April 21st and 22nd,” said Carey.
