A proper family affair!

Three-year-old Union Square, Saturday’s impressive G2 Jonnsons Workwear Dingaans winner, has an interesting family history.

His granddam is Front House (IRE), by Sadler’s Wells, bought for Mary Slack at the 2006 Goffs Sale in Ireland  by Mike de Kock and Form Bloodstock’s Jehan Malherbe.

She raced in South Africa, winnig the 2008 Gold Circle Oaks, and, exported to Dubai, won the 2009 Dubai City Of Gold.

Jehan and Mike, post-Dingaans. Another family member Johnny G reflects on his winning bets.

Front House was sent to stud in Ireland, jointly owned by Mary and Coolmore, where her first foal was Square Dance (Oasis Dream), purchased by Mike and Jehan at Tattersalls in 2012.

Square Dance, imported to South Africa to stand at Mary’s Wilgerbosdrift Stud, produced two early winners in Parterre and Do Si Do, with Union Square (Rafeef), being her fourth foal. He was bought at the 2021 Bloodstock SA National Yearling Sale.

Malherbe commented: “We also bought Union Square’s sire, Rafeef, in Australia, a multiple G1 winner and now an outstanding sire. So we bought and raced Union Square, his sire, his dam and his granddam, shows our age,” Malherbe quipped.