'Storm' warning - South African star eyeing Breeders' Cup first

Isivunguvungu and Beach Bomb will bid to give South Africa its first Breeders’ Cup triumph when they respectively contest the Turf Sprint and Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar on Saturday.

A dual Grade One winner in his homeland, Isivunguvungu, which translated from Zulu means ‘storm’, made a perfect start after shipping to Graham Motion’s Kentucky barn from Johannesburg, landing the stakes-level Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs under Manny Franco, who keeps the ride on the five-year-old.

Beach Bomb, a daughter of multiple South African Graded-race winner Beach Beauty, has earned on both starts for Motion, latterly when third in a Grade Two at Santa Anita.

Keeping a close eye on the pair on Thursday morning, Cambridge-born Motion said: “Isivunguvungu will have Manny in the irons again which is great news because he’s developed a great feel for the horse. I would have preferred them to be drawn wider, but this horse has only two gears, which are fast and rapid.

“I think Manny will ensure the horse is carried forward which is important because you don’t want to get stuck down the inside.

“Isi did his final bit of work at Fair Hill over four furlongs on Friday and shipped here on Saturday morning. Today he went to the paddock and the gate. When he arrived I didn’t want to do too much with him because he was champing at the bit, and that’s why he’s just had the one run.

“Beach Bomb I felt needed more than one race and I was delighted with her effort at Santa Anita. She did a four-furlong breeze with my two-year-old runner here on Saturday.

“She’s very tough and as opposed to Isi there was only a small window in which to ready her.

“I decided that as long as Isi ran well it wouldn’t be necessary to run him again, but with the filly it was a different scenario and she is a mile-and-a-quarter horse.

“She wasn’t ready until the end of August and I have to pinch myself to believe that we got them here with the preparations I’d hoped for.”