ARGONAUT sails into new waters

Argonaut (Gold Circle)2007 Equus Champion Two Year Old Colt, Argonaut is getting ready to commence his racing career in Australia. After spending a mandatory period in quarantine, he will begin his racing career in Australia in a partnership with Blue Gum Farm which is situated near Melbourne.

Argonaut’s performances to date have drawn rave reviews from various international racing commentators. Many people rate him as the most exciting horse to come out of South Africa since the legendary Horse Chestnut.

Easily winning his debut over 1400m at Turffontein in March, and his impressive performance at Scottsville in the Group 1 Gold Medallion Stakes over 1200m. Bursting out of the pack he mowed down the field and just failed by a neck, to catch eventual winner Seventh Rock. Even though he had to settle for second, it was the manner in which he ran that garnered much attention.

About six weeks later, Argonaut got his reward with his first Group One win at Greyville in the Schweppes Golden Horseshoe over 1400m. In a performance worthy of his champion status he was asked by Champion jockey Mark Khan to go, and boy did he respond. This beautifully bred son of Champion sire, Western Winter, set off and accelerated to win by two lengths from his very game stablemate, Profit Report.

Watch Argonaut winning the Schweppes Golden Horseshoe 2007.

As if this wasn’t enough to confirm his amazing talent, and that we were witnessing a champion in the making, Argonaut blasted his way through the field in the Meydan Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600 m at Clairwood, going away to win by a staggering five lengths and in an unbelievable time of 1:34.48. Any critics that he might’ve had were silenced for good, even South Africa’s leading turf paper, Sporting Post commented “Wow”. Enough said.

South Africa’s loss is certainly Australia’s gain, and the only consolation we have is that he was born and bred in  Africa and has the continent’s blood coursing through his veins.

Posted by Megan Romeyn