South African Star Truth And Beach Bomb are said to be thriving at their new home as they prepare to launch their North American campaign for coach Graham Motion.
Isivunguvungu, the 2023 South African sprint champion and dual Group 1 winner, and Beach Bomb, winner of the Paddock Stakes (G1) in January, arrived in the United States in March with the goal of competing in the Breeders’ Cup World Championship at the end of the year. Del Mar This fall, the pair will undergo a strict two-month quarantine before officially joining the Motion stable at Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Maryland.
A storm is coming @BreedersCup ⚡️
South African G1 champion ISIVUNGUVUNGU – named after the Zulu word for storm – is taking part @GrahamMotion to pursue Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint glory! 🇿🇦
📸 @ChaseLiebenberg pic.twitter.com/RWnhTCuPdN
— World Horse Racing (@WHR) March 3, 2024
Despite the challenges of quarantine, both horses have adapted very well to Motion’s training program.
“Because they were quarantined for two months and they barely got out of the cage for those two months, we had to be careful not to push them when they came back to training. They were really starting from scratch,” Motion said. “They seemed to adapt to everything very well. They didn’t seem to have any trouble with the track and the way we train here.”
Hollywood Syndicate’s Isivunguvungu, which means “Storm” in the African dialect of isiXhosa, has charted five workouts on Fair Hill’s Tapeta surface since June.
We know he has a large and loyal fan base who will be delighted to see how well South African Grade 1 Champion ISIVUNGUVUNGU settles in at Fair Hill! photo.twitter.com/bhXkmDXmG4
— Herringswell Stables (@HerringswellStb) June 16, 2024
“He’s a really great horse,” Motion said of the 6-year-old. Winter is really gelding. “He’s very straightforward. I’ve only ever ridden him alone and so far he’s taken to everything with ease.”
The move said that the Da Hoss Stakes, 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf on September 7 at Downs Colony“looks like a good place” for Isivunguvungu, who is ultimately eyeing the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1T).
“I like Da Hoss, he’s 5 1/2 furlongs, that’s what he’ll have to do at Del Mar, and I think he’ll be ready then,” Motion said. “I want to run these South African horses in September and then go straight to the Breeders’ Cup. There’s a chance they could run again in October, but in a perfect world I’d like them to run once and then go to the Breeders’ Cup.”
Passing the torch? 🕯️
South Africa’s Horse of the Year, PRINCESS CALLA, relegated @DrakensteinStud 3YO BEACH BOMB in G1 Paddock Stakes 🇿🇦
The mare has secured a #WE entry point @BreedersCup Grass for mares and mares! 🇺🇸pic.twitter.com/3vVNInyj6B
— World Horse Racing (@WHR) January 6, 2024
Beach Bomb, bred by Drakenstein Stud, has booked his place in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) with a win over South African Horse of the Year Princess Calla in the Paddock Stakes, a Breeders’ Cup Challenge event. The 4-year-old daughter of Lancaster bomber also only active on the Fair Hill Tapeta, with four gusts recorded so far.
“Like (Isivunguvungu), she takes it all in stride,” Motion said. “She’s quite a small mare. She’s not as big as him – he’s quite stocky. But she’s very professional – we haven’t missed a beat with her so far.”
The move said that the John C. Mabee Stakes (G2T) September 7 at Del Mar and the EP Taylor Stakes (G1T) September 14 at Honeysuckle are two “reasonable” options for Beach Bomb if she keeps up the pace.
Isivunguvungu and Beach Bomb were among 11 South African thoroughbreds on the flight to North America in March. Princess Calla, who was narrowly beaten at the Paddock, was one of those passengers. Purchased privately by John Stewart’s Resolute Racing, the South African champion mare will be sent to trainer Chad Brown with the Breeders’ Cup as her primary target. The five-time Group 1 winner has run two works at WinStar Farm in Lexington since arriving in the United States.
