A multiple Grade 1 winner in his native South Africa, and the 2023 champion sprinter, Isivunguvungu (SAf) (What a Winter {SAf}) made his North American debut a winning one with a gutsy effort in the Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs.
Victorious in the G1 Mercury Sprint last July in Greyville, and also able to claim the G1 Jonsson Workwear Computaform Stakes earlier that year in April at Turffontein, he also picked up a placing at the highest level via a blanket finish to run third in the G1 Pongracz Cape Flying Champions Stakes to start his 2023. Second this year Jan. 6 at Kenilworth for his final start at home for Peter Brian Muscutt, Isivunguvungu spent the last several months in some stage of the import process and then having to work back into form at Fair Hill once released to new trainer Graham Motion.
All things considered, class was still class, and the betting public was not dissuaded by the lengthy gap in his resume, sending him off as the 2-1 favorite on the back of a five-strong string of bullets at that training center. Unconcerned by the early contact at the start, Isivunguvungu tracked the leading flight through :21.91 and :44.27 splits before cutting the corner to take the inland route home. Taking charge and holding firm, he hit the wire a neck best over MSW Nothing Better (Munnings). Maya Prince (Astern {Aus}) motored in to claim third.
#5 Isivunguvungu makes his U.S. debut a winning on in the Da Hoss S. at @colonialdowns for trainer @GrahamMotion with @francojockey aboard! 🇺🇸
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/YDdzKGp2sI
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 7, 2024
“I can't say enough about what a good effort this was today,” Motion said. “He spent two months in quarantine at the beginning of the year. He is a very special horse. He has a big following in South Africa and I am so happy for those guys. Super happy for the Hollywood Syndicate. Manny [Franco] gave him a great ride. He's a lovely horse.”
Motion added, “They've just lifted some of those [quarantine] restrictions [on South African horses]. I think we are going to see a lot more [of them], especially after the performance of this horse. South African horses by nature are very tough.”
The Breeders' Cup is the end-goal for Isivunguvungu, but the conditioner admits he and the owners still need to plan what the route there will look like. “We have to decide if we are going to run him again; we have to decide if he is going to be able to get in the Breeders' Cup, which is what we'd really like to do. There's a fine line now with this guy. I think he's done enough fitness wise to get there without another race, so we'll just decide.”
Isivunguvungu has a pair of winning sisters in Bat Out of Hell (Saf) (Querari {Ger}) and Thing Called Love (Saf) (Rafeef {Aus}), who thus far has been the dam's last produce after the mare recorded no offspring since the latter. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
DA HOSS S., $153,000, Colonial Downs, 9-7, 3yo/up, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.58, fm.
1–ISIVUNGUVUNGU (SAF), 122, g, 6, What a Winter (Saf)–Miss Tweedy (Saf), by Tiger Ridge. O-Hollywood Syndicate; B-Narrow Creek Stud (SAF); T-H. Graham Motion; J-Manuel Franco. $90,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. Sprinter, MG1SW-SAf, 16-7-4-2, $195,221.
2–Nothing Better, 126, g, 7, Munnings–One True Love (Ire), by Duke of Marmalade (Ire). ($47,000 Ylg '18 FTKOCT; $230,000 2yo '19 OBSAPR). O-Colts Neck Stables LLC; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Jorge Duarte, Jr.. $30,000.
3–Maya Prince, 124, g, 5, Astern (Aus)–Maya Princess, by Street Sense. ($25,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $50,000 2yo '21 EASMAY). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-R. Larry Johnson; B-Lynn B. Schiff (KY); T-Michael J. Trombetta. $16,500.
Margins: NK, 1HF, HD. Odds: 2.00, 3.30, 8.20.
Also Ran: Sweet Cherry Pie, Dream Shake, That's Right, Chiseler, Cruzin Man. Scratched: Alexis Zorba (GB), Bear River, Carotari, Determined Kingdom, Mister Mmmmm, Run Carson.
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