Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

Royal Colours

David Thiselton
The Royal colours of Lesotho were seen at Clairwood yesterday – for the first time in South Africa since the 1960’s - when Dennis Drier sent out the King Letsie III owned National Emblem filly, Uzime.
Uzime is King Letsie’s first ever horse in training. He has leased the grey filly and races her in partnership with Summerhill Stud.
Drier said yesterday that it was a great honour for him to train a horse for the King and was looking forward to the day His Majesty could be on course to see Uzime run.
King Letsie’s father, King Moshoeshoe II, owned and trained the last known runner in the Royal colours, Zagie, who won the Van Riebeck Day Handicap at Bloemfontein.
Jockey Club records show that King Moshoeshoe II had six winners in the 1963-64 season, including Prince Fox, a horse of some talent.
King Letsie’s association with Summerhill Stud came about after his Prime Minister had paid a visit while staying at the nearby Brookdale Health Hydro in Nottingham Road.
The Prime Minister recommended King Letsie visit the champion stud which he duly did.
King Letsie was described yesterday by Mick Goss of Summerhill as an avid horseracing fan who follows racing daily on Tellytrack.
The King purchased a mare after his visit to Summerhill called Skagway by Saumarez. She is in foal to Sarge and has a foal by Solskjaer.
The King has recently bought a second mare by Al Mufti.
Lesotho is well known for their Basotho ponies, which were used as war horses in the Boer War and which subsequently made excellent trail horses and polo ponies.
King Letsie, who has a law degree and has studied at Bristol and Cambridge Universities in England, became King in 1996 after his father’s death.
He lists horse riding as one of his favourite pastimes.
Uzime finished twelfth in her debut yesterday, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1000m, but is sure to come on for the run.

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