South African Import Isivunguvungu Takes Da Hoss, Eyes Breeders’ Cup

Manny Franco wins three undercard stakes on New Kent County Virginia Derby Day.

Making his North American debut, Hollywood Syndicate’s South African import Isivunguvungu was an impressive victor in the $150,000 Korbel Da Hoss Stakes. The Group 1 winner was transferred to trainer Graham Motion at the beginning of the year with a run in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in mind.

“I can’t say enough about what a good effort this was today,” Motion said. “He spent two months in quarantine at the beginning of the year. He is a very special horse. He has a big following in South Africa and I am so happy for those guys. Super happy for the Hollywood Syndicate. Manny (Franco) gave him a great ride. He’s a lovely horse.”

Ridden by Manny Franco, Isivunguvungu covered the 5½ furlongs over firm turf in 1:02.58, holding off the hard charging Nothing Better by a neck. Along with wins in the Colonial Cup and Kitten’s Joy, Franco bagged three undercard stakes, along with a second in the Rosie’s Stakes.

“The sky is the limit for (Isivunguvungu) and I am happy to be able to ride him today,” Franco said. “The horse in front of me was getting out so I just had that in mind. When it was time to go I just tapped him on the shoulder and my horse was there for me. I’m happy to get the opportunity to ride him today.”

The 6-year-old paid $6.

“They’ve just lifted some of those (quarantine) restrictions (on South African horses),” Motion said. “I think we are going to see a lot more South African horses, especially after the performance of this horse. South African horses by nature are very tough. Huge credit to Hollywood Syndicate for taking a gamble on bringing him over here. I feel very lucky to have him.”

Last year’s Da Hoss winner Nobals went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

“November is not that far off, and he ran a big race today,” Motion said. “We have to decide if we are going to run him again; we have to decide if he is going to be able to get in the Breeders’ Cup, which is what we’d really like to do. There’s a fine line now with this guy. I think he’s done enough fitness wise to get there without another race, so we’ll just decide.”

Under the confident handling of Manny Franco, Augustin Stables’ Truly Quality ran down Webslinger in the final stages of the 1½-mile $150,000 Visit RVA Colonial Cup to make his first stakes try a winning one.

Trained by Jonathan Thomas, the 4-year-old gelded son of Quality Road traveled the 12 furlongs in 2:25.16, beating the post time favorite Webslinger by 2½ lengths and setting a new track record, sharving nearly two full seconds off the previous mark of 2:27.04.

“He’s starting to find himself,” Thomas said. “He’s really relaxing early in his races, which is great. He’s got good tactical speed. He’s out of a young mare Truly Together, his half-sister Mouffy is a stakes winner. It’s exciting to get that mare off to a good start. With a rider like Manny Franco it’s very easy. You just leg him up and let him use his instincts. We were lucky to have him today.”

“I played it by ear because it was a short field,” Franco said. “I just made sure to break good. I was thinking either be on the lead or be really close. I had horse all the way around.”

Bregman Family Racing and Swinbank Stables’ Governor Sam took the $125,000 Richmond Times-Dispatch Rosie’s Stakes in dominant fashion, winning by two lengths. Trained by George Weaver, the Improbable colt made it back-to-back Rosie’s victories for the connections with No Nay Mets winning the 2023 edition ahead of running in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

With Paco Lopez aboard, Governor Sam traveled the 5½ furlongs in 1:03.51, making the Rosie’s his second stake score along with the Tyro. The odds-on favorite paid $3.80.

“He broke well and I got him to the lead,” Lopez said. “He was traveling so comfortably that I knew I had enough horse at the top of the stretch. He’s a nice horse but would still need to move forward (to compete in the Breeders’ Cup).”

Out On Bail edged out Ghostly Rose for second.

“I had a good trip, close to the speed,” Franco, Out On Bail’s jockey, said. “I broke running, dropped in a little bit, when I came out the winner had the jump. In the stretch, I hit the clear but I thought I was second best.”

In the 1-1/16 miles $125,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Kitten’s Joy Stakes, Godolphin’s Siesta Key outdueled Aristotle to the wire. Trained by Brad Cox, the Into Mischief colt out of Cocoa Beach clocked in at 1:44.66, winning by a nose.

With Manny Franco in the irons, Siesta Key settled near the back early and saved ground throughout, which proved to be an advantage in the late battle against Aristotle, who traveled wide in the far turn.

Sent off as the favorite, Siesta Key paid $4.20.