SA connections part of Australian double

The partnership of Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock posted a good double at the Sale Racecourse in Victoria, Australia, on Sunday, both winning by short-heads under jockey Lachlan King to make their wins even more exciting.

The first winner, Peshwa, has strong South African connections. He was bred by Gaynor Rupert’s Drakenstein Stud from Tapit out of Greta G, was bought at the Inglis East Sale and is owned by Rupert in partnership with ASSM Steel (Arun Chadha and Warne Rippon), C Vrantsis, Janlynn Racing (Mgr: Mrs J Thomas) & B A Burge.

He’s a good-looking grey who was gelded after his April debut and improved over 1600m. Mathew reported: “He had one run as a colt and is naughty so we gelded him and he made the expected improvement. It is wonderful to have won a race for Arun and Warne, their first winner in Australia, and for Drakenstein.

“There was merit in Peshwa’s win, and he has more improvement to come. We bought his younger half-brother this year, he is by So You Think out of a Brazilian-bred mare and we are excited about him too.”

Paul Moroney and Catheryne Bruggeman.

He commented on Dream Hour: “He’s a lovely horse by Dawn Aproach, sent to us by Melbourne-based bloodstock agents Catheryne Bruggeman and Paul Moroney. We have a good relationship with Catheryne through our travels in England and via Declan Cronin. She’s a hoof expert, like Declan and us have a passion for horses and racing. When she moved to Australia Catheryne and Paul were able to support us.

“Dream Hour is owned by Javven See and a syndicate of friends, based in Singapore. He was also gelded after his first run and shows lots of promise. This was a fantastic double for our team.”