Protest Gives Encosta Another G1 Winner

A protest decision in South Africa has given retired champion sire Encosta de Lago his 26th G1 winner.

The Australian-bred 4YO Mac de Lago (Encosta de Lago x Macavelli Miss, by Vettori) landed the biggest prize of his career in the G1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge at Greyville on Saturday after a dramatic finish.

Trained by Weiho Marwing, Mac de Lago was awarded the weight-for-age 1600m contest in the steward’s room after first past the post Trip To Heaven was relegated to second. It was his first Group win after starting in 11 successive Group races.

Mac De Lago was purchased for $65,000 as a yearling by James Bester Bloodstock for South African owner Hassen Adams after he was foaled and raised at Coolmore Stud.

He is the best of three winners from G1 winning Vettori mare Macavelli Miss and is the 110th stakes-winner by Encosta de Lago, who is currently fifth on the Australian General Sires premiership by earnings in a season that has featured his Australian G1 winners Chautauqua, English and Vanbrugh.

Encosta de Lago is also leading the Australian Broodmare Sires list by earnings, his daughters having produced the winners of over $15 million prizemoney highlighted by 15 stakes-winners.

Mac De Lago is now a contender to start in the Durban July, South Africa's biggest race over 2200m on July 2.

South African results bought more joy for Coolmore Stud on Saturday with an Australian-bred two-year-old by So You Think winning at Kenilworth.

Turbulent Air, a colt by So You Think from Express Air (Piccolo) beat older horses at his second start over 1400m for leading trainer Justin Snaith.

Turbulent Air was another James Bester yearling purchase in Sydney for $150,000 from Eureka Thoroughbreds and is the first winner for his dam Express Air, a G2 Queensland Guineas winner.

Turbulent Air is the fourth individual first crop winner by So You Think.