Australian
bred three year-olds scored a winning double at Turffontein in South Africa on
Thursday with a brilliant debut victory for San Fermin and a return to form for
Group I placed Naafer.
Group I placed last season at two when second in the South African Nursery
Stakes, the Mike de Kock trained Lonhro colt Naafer was having his first run
back from a break.
He won the Citizen Pinnacle Stakes over 1160 metres against older horses by
half a length.
With two wins and two seconds from six starts, Naafer looks set for a good
campaign.
Naafer was a $560,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Shadwell from the Mill Park
draft and is the second winner for stakes-winning Exceed and Excel mare Very
Discreet.
Bred by well-known South Australian breeder David Peacock, he comes from the
famed 'Discreet' family that has produced numerous Black Type winners including
the Group I winner Maybe Discreet.
Mill Park sold the current two year-old
from Very Discreet, a colt by Dawn Approach (IRE), for $360,000 at
Inglis Easter this year to Darren Weir/ John Foote Bloodstock.
Winning the first race on the program, a 1400 metre maiden, by a commanding
seven lengths was the Mike Azzie trained Charge Forward filly San Fermin.
A $100,000 Magic Millions purchase for her trainer from the Arrowfield draft,
San Fermin is the second winner from unraced Redoute's Choice mare Choice
Blend, a half-sister to triple Group I winner Bentley Biscuit.
Choice Blend has foaled this spring producing a colt by Real Impact (Jpn).