Victoria’s South African connection struck again with New Predator in the G2 Drill Hall Stakes (1600m) at Greyville on Friday.

New Predator (3c New Approach – Head Over Heels by Fastnet Rock) ran out an easy winner against older horses in the Drill Hall Stakes which is a traditional pointer to Durban’s Champions Season.  “I think the world of this horse and this was just a prep run,” jockey Weichong Marwing said.  “I was happy to lead and I knew he would fight all the way.”

Three Bridges Thoroughbreds has followed the colt’s progress closely since buying his dam for $52,500 at last year’s Magic Millions National Sale.

The Eddington nursey will sell a Fighting Sun – Head Over Heels colt at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale on Monday, May 30 and the mare is back in foal to Three Bridges resident Unencumbered.

Another Aussie export pencilled in for higher honours in South Africa is last-start G2 Fillies Nursery (1100m) winner Fursa.  She was sold by Seymour-based Yarran Thoroughbreds for $48,000 at the 2015 Inglis Melbourne Premier.

Fursa (2f Hard Spun – Red Princess by Red Ransom) is trained by Mike De Kock for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa and was coming off a four-length maiden win at Vaal.  “She’s improved since then and ran on powerfully off a cracking pace,” De Kock declared.  “It was encouraging because she needs further.”

Yarran’s Andrew & Robyn Hine sold a Snitzel – Red Princess colt (as agent) to Diamond Lodge for $155,000 at this year’s Melbourne Premier.  Expect to see him catalogued for the NZB 2YO Sale at Karaka in November.

Red Princess is in foal to Snitzel again and was knocked down for $160,000 at the Inglis Broodmare Sale last Tuesday.  She was purchased by a Victorian breeder through agent Tim Stakemire.

NEW PREDATOR