New sponsor for Garden Province

Gold Circle is pleased to welcome Ridgemont as the new sponsor of the Grade 1 Garden Province Stakes run annually over 1600m at the Hollywoodbets Durban July race meeting.

Prize money for the 2023 renewal of the Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes has been increased to R1.25-million.

The prestigious Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes ranks among the most important weight-for-age races for fillies and mares in South Africa. The 2019 winner, Celtic Sea, carried the colours of the Beck family who purchased Highlands Stud in 1985. Under their care and stewardship, Highlands Stud became synonymous with breeding quality thoroughbreds and was for many years the home of multiple champion sire Dynasty.

Gold Circle CEO Michel Nairac commented: “The Garden Province Stakes is a high-quality race with a proud heritage and it is fitting that a Stud Farm with an equally proud history of breeding high-class thoroughbred racehorses over so many years, is now the headline sponsor.”

In 2017 Highlands Stud was purchased by Wayne Kieswetter and the Ridgemont era was born. Since the purchase of the farm the Kieswetter family has endeavoured to assemble a broodmare band of the highest order and resident stallions include exciting Rafeef, multiple Grade 1 winner and successful sire Canford Cliffs, and new acquisitions Malmoos, Real Gone Kid and New Predator, all of which boast five-star pedigrees and showed exceptional talent on the tracks.

“We are delighted and privileged to be sponsoring one of the most highly regarded Grade 1 races on the national racing calendar, and partnering with Gold Circle and Hollywoodbets in what is the pinnacle raceday of Champions Season," said Craig Kieswetter.

"The announcement of our proud association with the Garden Province Stakes, a contest that has been the stage of some of the most memorable elite-level fairer-sex battles over decades, dovetails seamlessly with the recent launch of our new generation logo and branding. Ridgemont’s commitment to, and passion for thoroughbred horseracing, makes this a perfect fit. We look forward with great anticipation to Saturday 1 July!”