Lammerskraal Stud’s wonderful broodmare Sweet Virginia, who is proving as effective at stud as she was on the racetrack, could be represented in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile on December 10th.
Her son Horse Of Fortune, who raced in South Africa under the name of Strongman, is one of 14 runners set to do battle in the HK$23 000 000 contest, with his rivals including 2016 Mile winner Beauty Only, triple G1 winner Roly Poly and G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile runner up Lancaster Bomber.
A son of Stronghold, Horse Of Fortune has won six times in Hong Kong, with his wins including both the G3 PremierPlate and G3 SA SA Ladies Purse, and he finished just 2.5 lengths off the winner in the G2 The BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Mile last time out.
Remarkably, Horse Of Fortune is one of two sons of Sweet Virginia who were exported to Hong Kong, with her Winter Guineas placed son Vilikazi (by Visionaire) also ending up in Hong Kong. Sweet Virginia has had winners in three different countries, with her son Mighty Emperor a multiple scorer in Singapore.
She is also the dam of this season’s top class 3yo Do It Again (by Twice Over), who won his first two races in a row before finishing a close third in the G2 Selangor Cup. Do It Again, a R1.1 million buy from the 2016 National Yearling Sale, looks a likely contender for both the G1 Cape Guineas and Derby this season.
A triple Graded stakes winner whose wins included the G3 Winter Derby, G3 Winter Classic and G3 Final Fling Stakes, Sweet Virginia foaled a lovely Visionaire filly earlier this season and she is back in foal to Twice Over.