Memorable Weekend for Joburg
19th May 2008
Former world champion juvenile Johannesburg enjoyed a red letter weekend with a Group One winner in France in Sageburg, plus a couple of smart stakes-winners in North America to give him a Black Type treble.The Alain de Royer-Dupre trained entire Sageburg (4h Johannesburg x Sage Et Jolie, by Linamix) upstaged his stablemate Darjina to score a powerful win in the Group One Prix d’Ispahan over 1800 metres at Longchamp on Sunday.
A first up third in the Group One Prix Ganay on April 27, Sageburg improved from that effort to travel in third place for much of this race before taking over from Darjina and going on to win by two and a half lengths, prompting connections to consider a trip to Royal Ascot where he is entered for the Group One Prince of Wales Stakes.
A Listed winner last year when prepared by Andre Fabre, the HH Aga Khan owned Sageburg has blossomed in the care of his new trainer, his overall record an impressive four wins and three placings from seven starts.
Sageburg is bred to be a classic style of turf horse being from the Group Two winning Linamix mare Sage Et Jolie, a full sister to Arc de Triomphe winner Sagamix.
Johannesburg also tasted success with speedy three year-old Eaton’s Gift (3c Johannesburg x Kit’s City, by Carson City) winner of the Matt Wyn Stakes at Churchill Downs and also a new stakes-winner in four year-old mare Private Dreams (4m Johannesburg x Private Colors, by Private Account), a runaway winner of the Hastings Park Handicap at Emerald Downs.
The Jerry Hollendorfer trained Private Dreams galloped right away to win the six furlong sprint by five and three-quarter lengths in taking her overall record to three wins from six starts.
Private Dreams becomes the 17th stakes-winner worldwide for Johannesburg, whose dual Group One winning son Scat Daddy will be available to Australian breeders this spring.
