Sandown Stud’s inform stallion Pathfork has had a wonderful season in 2023-2024, and Pathfork enjoyed another big payday when his son Royal Victory won the G1 World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge at Turffontein on Saturday.
It was a second G1 win for Royal Victory, with the four-year-old having won the G1 Betway Summer Cup in November.
Trained by Nathan Kotzen, Royal Victory was making just his second start since winning the Summer Cup but showed his class with a convincing win in Saturday’s R2 000 000 contest.
Under Muzi Yeni, the gelding looked flat-footed turning for home, but Yeni coaxed more from his mount and Royal Victory stormed home to score by half a length.
Bred by Dr Marianne Thomson, Royal Victory has now won 5 times from 17 starts, for stakes of R4 845 250.
Royal Victory, who is out of the Kahal mare Kailani, was a R90 000 buy from the 2021 National Yearling Sale.
He was one of two winners for Pathfork on Saturday, with the Distorted Humor son also the sire of Why Not Jackie, the winner of the ninth race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
Ireland’s Champion 2YO of 2010, Pathfork has had a fantastic season in 2023-2024, with his other flagbearers including G1 Wilgerbosdrift H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes winner Main Defender. The latter, who has won four graded races this season, has earned more than R2.259 million in stakes.
Pathfork has a single lot on offer at the 2024 National Yearling Sale a half-sister (Lot 233) to the smart performer Sovereign State whose stakes-winning granddam is a full-sister to triple G1 winner Set Afire.
