Gavin van Zyl’s dual Group One winner Along Came Polly is one of 16 horses confirmed to enter quarantine this week for an overseas career in America.
Along Came Polly is the only one among the confirmed 16 not bound for Mike de Kock’s operation in Dubai. Others are expected to join the group booked to depart for quarantine in Mauritius on Friday including the Geoff Woodruff-trained Yorker.
Along Came Polly has been sold to Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky. She is expected to have a racing campaign before starting a breeding career.
Van Zyl said, “It is sad to lose the blood to South Africa, but the dollar talks.”
The three-year-old Judpot filly was owned by Brian Burnard and under Van Zyl’s guidance won the G1 Thekwini Stakes as a two-year-old and the G1 Empress Club Stakes this year, both over 1600m at Greyville and Turffontein.
The horses heading to De Kock’s Dubai stable are Via Africa, Red Ray, Contador, Whistle Stop, Rock Cocktail, Pylon, Umgiyo, Captain Lars, Atomic Rush, Alareef and the two-year-olds Banadeer, Forries Waltz, Mastermind, Shahrasal and Ad Idem.
The flying four-year-old mare Via Africa is being transferred to de Kock from her former trainer Duncan Howells.
Howells supports the decision her connections have made to place under her De Kock’s care after guiding her to 10 wins including three G1 victories
“Ï have far too many horses at Ashburton to be able to travel and oversee her and Mike knows the environment well, so it is the right decision to have moved her over to him,” he said.
“She will now have a break of six months or so and I think that will do her a world of good. If she comes back to her best she will be competitive overseas.”
Meanwhile De Kock’s international sprint star Shea Shea is in full work at Newmarket in preparation for his second crack at the King’s Stand Stakes at Ascot on June 17.
The six-year-old Shea Shea hasn’t raced since the Dubai World Cup meeting on March 29 when he was beaten a neck into third by Amber Sky in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan.
Shea Shea was narrowly defeated by Sole Power in the 2013 King’s Stand Stakes.
