IT WORKED

Breeding champion racehorses is not a case of pressing numbers, even in the event one has access to big money. And then when they are diminutive and top-class, it’s more of an enigma.

When Sean Tarry’s Mrs Geriatrix won the R400 000 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Gr2 Golden Slipper on Hollywoodbets Durban July day, she maintained her impeccable record, which includes a Gr1 strike, and took her earnings as a 2yo to over R1 million.

A R200 000 2022 National Yearling Sale graduate, the Clifton-bred Mrs Geriatrix is out of the Kahal mare Velvet Glove, whose breeder Peter Blythe described once described as ‘not too good’.

But despite producing a likely Equus champion, Peter Blyth is not going back to the well.

He told Turf Talk recently that the cover fee of R220 000 in total (a R50 000 nomination fee and R170 000 live foal) was too high for him to consider sending Velvet Glove back to Vercingetorix next season.

She is currently in foal to Master Of My Fate. Her Act Of War filly was sold at this year’s BSA National Yearling Sale for R280 000.

Mrs Geriatrix did not reach her reserve at the BSA National Yearling Sale last year and was later bought for R200 000 after Tarry had been approached.

Jenny Blyth said after Mrs Geriatrix’ recent victory: “We were glad when she was sold, but now we regret it!”

However, she went on to say how thrilled they were that she was doing so much for racing.

The enthusiastic syndicate who own her, the Magical Lady Syndicate, are doing a lot to attract women to the game.

Peter Blyth admitted he was continually ‘gobsmacked’ by how good Mrs Geriatrix – her dam Velvet Glove by Kahal was unplaced in six starts. He spoke of the great blood behind her which he believed emanated from his Model Man mare Vogue.

Velvet Glove, who is by Kahal out of Vogue, is a full sister to Gr 2 winner Prince Of Kahal, a halfsister to Gr 2 winner Fort Vogue (Fort Wood) and a half-sister to Gr 3 winner Whatalady (Jet Master).

Vogue, who is out of Foveros mare Thousand Nights and who was a five times-winning Gr1 runner up, was a half-sister to twice Gr1 Gold Cup winner Highland Night (Badger Land) and to Gr1 winning speedster Warm White Night (Western Winter), to Gr2 winner Prince Asad and to Listed winner and Gr1 Gold Challenge third-placed Night Watch.