South African stars Isivunguvungu and Beach Bomb are reportedly thriving in their new home as they prepare to launch their North American campaigns for trainer Graham Motion.
Isivunguvungu, South Africa's 2023 champion sprinter and a dual group 1 winner, and Beach Bomb, victorious in the Paddock Stakes (G1) in January, arrived in the United States in March with the year-end goal of competing in the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar this fall. The pair had to undergo a rigid two-month quarantine before properly joining Motion's stable at Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md.
A STORM is bound for the @BreedersCup ⚡️
— World Horse Racing (@WHR) March 3, 2024
South African G1 winner ISIVUNGUVUNGU - named after the Zulu for storm - is joining @GrahamMotion to chase Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint glory! 🇿🇦
📸 @ChaseLiebenberg pic.twitter.com/RWnhTCuPdN
Despite the challenge of the quarantine, both horses have adapted remarkably well to Motion's training program.
"Because they've been quarantined for two months and they barely got out of their stalls in those two months, we had to be careful not to rush them when they went back into training. They were literally starting from scratch," Motion said. "They seem to have adjusted to everything very well. They don't seem to struggle with the track and the way we train over here."
Hollywood Syndicate's Isivunguvungu, which means "Storm" in the African dialect isiXhosa, has charted five workouts over Fair Hill's Tapeta surface since June.
We know he has a very large and dedicated fan base who will be happy to see how well South African Grade 1 winner ISIVUNGUVUNGU has settled in at Fair Hill! pic.twitter.com/bhXkmDXmG4
— Herringswell Stables (@HerringswellStb) June 16, 2024
"He's a really cool horse," Motion said of the 6-year-old What A Winter gelding. "He's very straightforward. I've only ever breezed him on his own and so far he's done it all easily."
Motion said that the Da Hoss Stakes, at 5 1/2 furlongs over the turf Sept. 7 at Colonial Downs, "looks like a good spot" for Isivunguvungu, who is ultimately eyeing the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T).
"I like the Da Hoss, it's 5 1/2 furlongs, it's what he's going to have to do at Del Mar, and I think he'll be just about ready by then," Motion said. "I'd like to run these South African horses in September and then go straight to the Breeders' Cup. It's possible 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? 🕯️
— World Horse Racing (@WHR) January 6, 2024
South Africa’s reigning Horse of the Year PRINCESS CALLA goes down to @DrakensteinStud 3YO BEACH BOMB in the G1 Paddock Stakes 🇿🇦
The filly has secured a #WAYI spot into the @BreedersCup Filly & Mare Turf! 🇺🇸pic.twitter.com/3vVNInyj6B
Drakenstein Stud's homebred Beach Bomb earned her ticket to the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) with a victory over South African Horse of the Year Princess Calla in the Paddock Stakes, a Breeders' Cup Challenge series event. The 4-year-old daughter of Lancaster Bomber has also worked solely over the Fair Hill Tapeta, with four recorded breezes to date.
"Just like (Isivunguvungu), she's handled everything very easily," Motion said. "She's quite a slight filly. She's not very big like he is—he's quite stout. But she's very professional—we haven't missed a beat with her so far."
Motion said that the Sept. 7 John C. Mabee Stakes (G2T) at Del Mar and the Sept. 14 E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine are the two "logical" options for Beach Bomb if she continues to stay on schedule.
Isivunguvungu and Beach Bomb were among a flight of 11 South African Thoroughbreds to journey to North America in March. Princess Calla, narrowly beaten in the Paddock, was one of those passengers. Acquired privately by John Stewart's Resolute Racing, the South African champion older female will be sent to trainer Chad Brown with the Breeders' Cup as the main objective. The five-time group 1 winner has posted two works at WinStar Farm in Lexington since her stateside arrival.
