Windhoek blows away the field at Sandown

Cape Cross’s four-year-old son Windhoek has been extremely consistent this year, winning or placing in all four of his starts. On 4 July, he added another Stakes win to his record when justifying favouritism to take the ten-furlong Gala Stakes on the opening day of the Eclipse meeting at Sandown.

Settled in mid division under Kieren Fallon, Windhoek was always travelling well and once asked to quicken two furlongs out, soon put the race to bed as he eased to the front and won by two lengths.

This was his fifth career victory, with his other Black type win coming in last year’s Listed Newmarket Stakes at HQ. He also won the valuable Xpress Handicap at Meydan and has been Group-placed twice this year.

Bred by Horizon Bloodstock and now running in the Godolphin blue, Windhoek is out of the Stakes-placed mare Kahlua Kiss and is from the family of G1 winner Poliglote and Special Ring.

He is one of 14 Black type performers this year for his sire, who is also responsible for the ill-fated G1 performer Lesstalk In Paris plus a further six runners who have placed at Group level. Cape Cross was also indirectly responsible for the winners of both the Derby and the Oaks, with his daughter Ouija Board producing dual Derby winner Australia and his son Sea The Stars siring Oaks winner Taghrooda.