Cape Cross landed his 36th Group winner on Friday June 17, when his three-year-old son Namibian took the G3 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot. A consistent and progressive colt, he has improved for each step up in trip, relishing this two-mile test on rain-softened ground. This was his trainer Mark Johnson's sixth win in the race from the last 11 years, with his last victory coming in 2009 through Halling's son, Holberg.
Bred by Hascombe and Valiant Studs and sold for 60,000Gns as a yearling, he is out of the Stakes-placed mare, Disco Volante, herself a daughter of the Champion, Divine Danse.
A race later, another son of Cape Cross took the honours when Manassas landed the ultra-competitive Buckingham Palace Handicap over seven-furlongs. This took Cape Cross' tally of Royal Ascot winners to three after Julienas won the Royal Hunt Cup on Wednesday.
Now sire of 36 Group winners, Cape Cross is famous for siring outstanding Champions the world over. In Europe he has Sea The Stars and Ouija Board, while in New Zealand he sired the great racemare, Seachange, between them all they won 20 G1 races.
