Halfway to Heaven Gets Third Group 1 Winner
Image:
Description:
Photo: Courtesy Wilgerbosdrift Stud Farm
Halfway to Heaven has produced three top-level winners from three to race
South African broodmare Halfway to Heaven took another step toward blue hen status Feb. 22 as Golden Ducat became her third top-level winner from as many foals with a victory in the ARF Commemorative Cape Derby (G1) at Kenilworth.
The previous two offspring of the dam, a 12-year-old daughter of Jet Master owned by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein, are Rainbow Bridge, a 5-year-old gelding by Ideal World who was successful in the World Sports Betting Champions Cup (G1) and Sun Met Celebrated With G.H. Mumm (G1), and Hawwaam, a 4-year-old colt by Silvano who has landed the Premier's Champions Challenge (G1), South African Classic (G1), and Daily News Two Thousand (G1).
Golden Ducat, a gelded son of Philanthropist trained by Eric Sands for Wilgerbosdrift, was sent off a 10-1 shot for the Cape Derby over 10 furlongs, having finished fourth in a Pinnacle Plate over 7 1/2 furlongs at Kenilworth last time out.
It was only the fifth start, and first beyond a mile, for the chestnut, who races for his breeders after injuring a hock as a young horse.
Sands said: "Halfway to Heaven has been very good to me. I'm not sure if what she's done has been done before and if it will be done again.
"I've won the Derby before with an immature horse, avoiding feature races with a light prep. He was prepped in a Pinnacle Plate and ran way above his rating."
Halfway to Heaven's ascent to brilliant broodmare is all the more remarkable for her history.
As detailed in a Racing Post article by Michele MacDonald last year, she nearly drowned in a flood, later injured herself crashing through a poll fence, and on yet another occasion got loose in a vineyard and lacerated herself on wires.
Halfway to Heaven has a 2-year-old filly by Silvano named In Limbo and a yearling colt by the same sire named Celestial City. She has a Querari foal at foot.
The mare, a group 3 winner at Kenilworth herself, is out of the unraced Rambo Dancer mare Pas de Basque, who in turn is out of the listed-placed Our Elegant Girl, a daughter of Our Casey's Boy, a grade 1-placed son of Blushing Groom.