Espumanti keeps on giving!

Wilgerbosdrift Stud’s Dansili mare Espumanti was a gift that won twice at Grade 2 level as a racer; and she’s kept on giving as a broodmare with 2022 Durban July winner Sparkling Water (Silvano), smart filly Champagne Cocktail (Silvano) and now Spumante Dolce (Vercingetorix).

Espumanti’s latest running foal stepped from her Maiden fillies win over 1400m into an open MR80 handicap over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday and acquitted herself with big promise, putting her male rivals to bed by 3.50-lengths.

Celebrating Spumante Dolce’s win: Brad Ralph (left); Raymond Danielson, David Dlamini, Mike and Mathew de Kock.

Mike de Kock commented: “She is very professional. For her to have a run in the Fillies Guineas she had to put this field to sleep today and, on this, she’ll take her place. We’ll have Quid Pro Quo to beat, but she’s a proper filly. Well done to Mary Slack and Brad Ralph, who own her in partnership. I think Spumante Dolcce will be competitive in the Triple Tiara races.”

Jockey Raymond Danielson, who partnered Espumanti herself to her first two wins, said he was suitably impressed too. “Spumante Dolce was half asleep, but when I got down in the seat, she knew what to do, she quickened well. She gave me a good feel. it seems like she has a lot of talent.”

The stable has another potential feature winner in four-year-old Silvano filly Forgiveness, who made it four wins from 13 starts with a powerful win in an open MR88 Handicap over 1800m.

Forgiveness ran on strongly to win, she’s getting better.

She’s improved with maturity, in the mould of many of her sire’s progeny. Mike believes she is good enough to earn black type with a high-level win. He said: “Forgiveness has had her issues, I expected her to need the run today. She caught me by surprise, I didn’t expect her to win like she did. She has a tremendous amount of ability. Well done to my partners Robert Bloomberg and Allan Mellor.”

Jockey Gavin Lerena, who rode the winner in Bloomberg’s familiar orange-and-blue silks, said: “There is not much of her, but she’s an honest filly and won a very nice race against the boys today. Well done to the partners.”