When Golden Ducat powered home to land the G1 ARF Commemorative Cape Derby on Saturday, he became the third G1 winner, from as many foals, produced by Wilgerbosdrift’s remarkable broodmare Halfway To Heaven.

South Africa’s Broodmare Of The Year in 2018-2019, the G3 Prix Du Cap/Off To Stud Handicap winning Halfway To Heaven (Jet Master –Pas De Basque) had previously struck success with her first two foals Rainbow Bridge (Sun Met, WSB Champions Cup), and Hawwaam (The Premier’s Champions Challenge, SA Classic, Daily News 2000) both already multiple G1 winners.

Halfway To Heaven is one of just eight mares, since 1940, to have bred three G1 winners in South Africa, with no mare having bred more in that period. Tellingly, five of the eight mares to have bred 3 G1 winners in this country won stakes races, with just one failing to win.

Other mares to have thrown 3 G1 winners in South Africa since 1940 lies below:

AVE MARIA (Stakes winner)

            Israfeel –SA Oaks

            Jelal Shah-Sa Guineas

            Kerason- July

FIRST LISA (Stakes winner)

            Divine Fashion-Garden Provionce

            Counter Action-Champions Cup

            Perfect Order-Paddock St

JULIE ANDREWS (Gr1 winner)

            Principal Boy –July

            Col Pickering-Hawaii St

            Grease Paint- Sa Oaks

LOYAL LINDA (placed)

            Gold Flier- Smirnoff

            Successful Bidder- Gold Challenge

            Trust Antonia- Allan Robertson

MARITIME (3 wins)

            Top Gallant- SA Guineas, Cape Derby

            Sea Cottage-7 Gr1 wins

            Naval Escort- July

REACTION (Stakes winner)

            Nervous Tension- Cape Guineas

            Hifrac-SA Derby

            Response-Cape Guineas

TECLA FIELDS (winner)

            Circle Of Life-Garden Province

            African Lion- Champions Cup

            Zebra Crossing- Met

Halfway To Heaven is clearly in elite company –and she could outperform the mares above with her still to race foals!