Milestones for Johannesburg

30th July 2007

Former world champion juvenile Johannesburg has passed a couple of milestones in siring his tenth stakes-winner worldwide in France on Sunday and taking the title of leading Australian first season sire by individual winners.

Unbeaten three year-old colt Sageburg (3c Johannesburg - Sage Et Jolie, by Linamix) made it three wins from as many starts when he saluted in the Listed Prix Ridgway at Deauville over 2000 metres.

Unraced at two due to injury, Sageburg made a winning debut at Chantilly on June 18 before adding a conditions event at Longchamp to his resume before stepping up to Listed company.

Prepared by Andre Fabre for HH The Aga Khan, Sageburg stalked the pace and then accelerated in impressive style, coasting clear to win by two and a half lengths.

From an outstanding French family, Sageburg is from the French Group Two winner Sage Et Jolie, a full sister to Group One winners Sagacity and Sagamix, winner of the Arc de Triomphe.

In Australia, Johannesburg has proven the most prolific source of individual first crop winners this season, his tally including 12 led by metropolitan performers Turffontein, Lost Oscar, Springboks, Confidence Reef, etc.

His Coolmore companion Rock of Gibraltar was next with 11 winners on a par with the Australian bred Falvelon.

Another Coolmore freshman in Choisir took the title as Champion Australian First Season sire by earnings, but the performance of Rock of Gibraltar to sire five individual Australian stakes-winners was also a major highlight.