David Thiselton
The Tawny Syndicate have two lively contenders for classic trophies in their homebreds Valentino Balducci and Trust, with the former winning the Gr 3 TAB Starling Stakes on Saturday and the latter running a somewhat unlucky second in the Gr 3 Betway Graham Beck Stakes.
Valentino Balducci was bred by Tawny Syndicate co-founder “JJ” van der Linden and is part-owned by him together with another Tawny Syndicate co-founder Larry Nestadt and also with Tawny Syndicate member Martin Lieveaux.
Trust was bred by Larry Nestadt under the Tawny Syndicate banner and he part-owns him together with Gary Player and Ralphs Racing.
The Valentino Balducci story started when Tawny Syndicate bought the Bosworth Farm Stud-bred Byword filly for R105,000 at the National Two-year-old Sale in 2016.
Goede Hoop was owned by “JJ” and Larry together with SM Nathan and CL Clucas.
Trained by Robbie Sage, Goede Hoop, who was out of Fort Wood maiden Nautical, won four races from 1800m up to 2400m.
Goede Hoop was sent back to Bosworth Farms Stud and covered by their underrated resident stallion Skit Skizzle, who is by the legendary Jet Master.
The first foal was Gideon’s Daughter, who is owned by Fellsmere Pty Ltd (Nom: Ms N Zwane) and trained by Alan Greeff. She won four times in the East Cape before fetching R10,000 at an August Online Sale this year, purchased by Leon Lotter.
Robbie Sage trains the second foal, Valentina Balducci, who is also by Skit Skizzle.
She won her first two starts over 1160m and 1450m before finishing an 8,95 length sixth in the Gr 2 Betway Jo’Burg Fillies and Mares Spring Challenge over 1450m. However, she jumped from a wide draw that day and had too much to do in the straight after being dropped out.
On Saturday in the Gr 3 TAB Starling Stakes over 1400m on Turffontein Standside she had another tough draw of eight out of ten and started at 14/1 odds.
The difference was this time Kaidan Brewer, who has ridden her in all four of her starts, decided to take her to the front.
She enjoyed herself in front and set a fair clip and then kicked well at the top of the straight.
Ovation Star came to challenge her and there was a prolonged tussle between the pair.
Brewer managed to change whip hands in the final stages and after giving her a smack with the left hand she found extra and won by a length.
The Gr 3 Fillies Mile on Betway Summer Cup day looks the obvious target for the filly, who has now accumulated R270,156 with her three wins in four starts and she has already got valuable bold black type.
Trust is by Heavenly Blue and is out of the Frankel may Frankly.
He is a full brother to his useful Candice Dawson-trained stablemate Truth.
Trust won by a length on debut over 1200m on the Turffontein Inside track and the form worked out well as the promising pair Monkey Puzzle and One Eye On Vegas have both come out and won since.
On Saturday, Trust, who was drawn eleven out of 15 in the Gr 3 Graham Beck over 1400m, was taken out early by the favourite Tin Pan Alley, who jumped inwards.
The stipendiary steward report stated, “Shortly after the start, MIAMI MOUNTAIN (C Murray) and TRUST (S Moodley) were bumped in by TIN PAN ALLEY (G Lerena), which jumped inwards leaving the stalls. As a consequence of this, MIAMI MOUNTAIN (C Murray) became momentarily unbalanced.”
This forced Serino Moodley to drop Trust to the back, although he then found the rail and made up a few places.
Trust had to negotiate quite a lot of traffic in the straight coming from near the back, but when seeing daylight at the 250m mark he lengthened his stride impressively and began making inroads in to Tin Pan Alley’s lead.
He was catching Tin Pan Alley fast, but it was too late and he had to settle for a 0,60 length second, a fine run in just his second career start.
The Betway Dingaans over 1600m looks the obvious target for Trust.
His sire Heavenly Blue won the Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m, but Trust’s full brother Truth has turned out to be a sprinter.
However, Trust does look a different type to Truth with not as much speed and he gave the impression on Saturday that he would see out the mile. He is an exciting classic prospect at present.
The Tawny Syndicate have a lot to look forward to with these two horses, while the 119-rated Truth, whose ownership partners are the same as Trust’s, won a 1000m Pinnacle Stakes event in fine fashion last time out and looks set to have a good sprint campaign.
