South Africa

Grade I-producing sire Laoban is off to a fast start in Kentucky as he nears the completion of his first book at WinStar Farm. Meanwhile, his son Keepmeinmind, one of two graded winners for the son of Uncle Mo, readies for his bid in Saturday's GI Preakness S. "He has settled in and is doing really well," WinStar's President and CEO Elliott Walden said. "He's going to breed around 140 mares this year." The transition from Laoban's original stud farm, Sequel Stallions in New York, to WinStar was a breeze,...

A filly by Gimmethegreenlight (Aus) out of MGSP Strawberry Ice (SAf) (Western Winter) topped the Cape Premier Yearling Sale on Sunday. Already named Strawberry Light (SAf) (lot 172), the filly was offered by Lammerskraal Stud and bought by Bjorn Nielsen for R1,100,000 (US$73,776/£52,977/€61,720). She is a half-sister to Flying Ice (SAf) (Go Deputy), a winner of the G2 Gold Bracelet. Sharing second billing at R800,000 was a What a Winter (SAf) colt named Stratospheric (SAf) as lot 171 and a filly by Trippi (lot 106). The former, a member of...

Phumelela Gaming and Leisure (PGL) went into Business Rescue May 8, and a Post Commencement Finance ('PCF') deal has been agreed to with Mary Oppenheimer Daughters Pty Ltd ('MOD'), reported Sporting Post. One of the conditions of the deal outlined by MOD was that the PCF Board initiate Business Rescue. Charles Savage was appointed by MOD to act as an intermediary between the two entities. Previously facing bankruptcy (TDN, May 4), the injection of PCF will allow PGL to meet its financial obligations for the duration of the Business Rescue...

Horse racing in South Africa has been temporarily suspended from Mar. 27 to Apr. 16, after a presidential directive was issued on Monday. The upcoming suspension is part of a three-week coronavirus lockdown, as cases in that country hit 554 on Tuesday.

The 159th running of the R1.5 million L'Ormarins Queen's Plate WFA at Kenilworth Racecourse--a Breeders' Cup 'Win And You're In' race--was anything but ordinary. The field had barely arrived at the start when a grass fire broke out across the road from the track. With the prevailing wind sending billowing clouds of smoke across the tracks, the horses were placed in a hold, while the effect of the smoke was considered. When loading finally commenced, it appeared that Pack Leader (SAf) (Philanthropist) and Twist Of Fate (SAf) (Master Of My...