Ridgemont Highlands’ prominent sire Rafeef came up with his seventh stakes winner when his three-year-old daughter Franca, a member of her sire’s first crop, captured the Listed East Cape Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Fairview on Friday.
Runner up in the Listed Milkwood Stakes last time out, the Alan Greeff trained Franca reversed the form on her Milkwood Stakes conqueror, and stablemate, Glacier Gold with a convincing display on Friday.
Under Sandile Khathi, Franca was always travelling strongly, and hit the front 100m from home while staying on to land her first black type race by a length.
Bred and owned by the Scribantes, Franca has now won six of 18 starts, with her earlier wins also including the Aloe Handicap earlier this year.
Out of the Red Ransom mare Afnaan, Franca is the fifth stakes winner to have emerged from her G1 Computaform Sprint winning sire’s first crop, with Rafeef’s early big race winners including G1 WSB SA Derby winner Aragosta and G1 Computaform Sprint winner Master Archie.
South Africa’s Leading Second Crop Sire for 2021-2022, Rafeef also has a cracking crop of two-year-olds to his name this season, with his juveniles headed by G1 Gold Medallion winner Thunderstruck and unbeaten Listed TAB Perfect Promise Sprint winner Who Do You Love.
Original article by Cape Breeders Club
