Guineas Day Double For Sandown Stud

Sandown Stud enjoyed a memorable double at Hollywoodbets Greyville on WSB Guineas day when their alumni Vasilikos and Colour Master won the first and third races respectively.

Promising two-year-old Vasilikos, bred at Sandown Stud on behalf of Shadwell Stud, showed the benefits of gelding and experience when he ran out a courageous winner of the first race at Greyville this past Saturday.

Under Muzi Yeni, the Paul Matchett trained Vasilikos dug down deep to land the Bonamanzi Maiden Juvenile Plate (1000m) by a short head, while besting well backed first-timer Imposing in the process.

Runner up last time out, Vasilikos was making his first start at Greyville on Saturday and he looks sure to have more wins in the tank.

A son of prominent sire Querari (whose two-year-olds continue to impress), Vasilikos was a R200 000 buy from the 2021 National Yearling Sale.

The gelding is out of the talented Hard Spun mare Estidraaj – who won twice and finished second in the G2 Gold Bracelet. The well bred Estidraaj’s granddam is none other than dual G1 winner, and former Equus Champion, Mythical Play.

Sandown’s second success on Saturday came when the Sandown bred Colour Master ran out a convincing, three-parts of a length winner of the The Independent On Saturday Personal Finance Maiden Plate over 2300 metres.

Under Gavin Lerena, the Yogas Govender trained three-year-old pulled out more in the closing stages of Saturday’s race to shed his maiden in smart fashion.

A gelded son of Varsfontein Stud’s successful sire Master Of My Fate (also sire of Saturday’s G2 WSB Guineas winner Zapatillas), Colour Master had been beaten just half a length when third on his previous start.

A half-brother to 2021 G3 Cape Racing Champagne Stakes winner Phil’s Dancer, Colour Master was a R200 000 purchase from the 2020 National 2YO Sale.