BLACK THORN is a gelding by Pomodoro, out of the Dynasty mare Ebony Rose. Bred by Klawervlei Stud. He is in training with Mike de Kock.

Name: BLACK THORN
Sex: Bay Gelding
Foaled: 17/10/2017
Sire: Pomodoro
Mare: Ebony Rose (Dynasty)
Breeder: Klawervlei Stud
Trainer: Mike de Kock
Previous Trainer: Sean Tarry
Record: 30-6-12
First run for Hollywood Syndicate: 13/11/2021
Record for Hollywood Syndicate: 21-4-8

UPDATES – Black Thorn

March 9th, 2024
Raced over 2400m in the Aquanaut Handicap (Listed) at Turffontein on the Standside track. Finished 8th out of 10 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: A very disappointing run.

January 27th, 2024
Raced over 2800m in the Cape Stayers (Grade 3) at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Finished 6th out of 13 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Things never mapped out for him during the race. He was caught three wide and then made an early move to get closer. I feel he ran a gutsy race with all that went wrong from the start.

January 6th, 2024
Raced over 2500m in the Chairman’s Cup (Grade 3) at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Finished 6th out of 11 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: A good run. The jockey may have gone a bit too early up the straight.

November 25th, 2023
Raced over 3200m at Turffontein on the Standside track. Finished 5th out of 7 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He was given a poor ride in a very slowly run race.

October 28th, 2023
Raced over 2400m at Turffontein on the Standside track. Finished 2nd out of 9 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Good second, after running just a week apart and this was his second run after a break.

October 19th, 2023
Raced over 2400m at the Vaal Classic track. Finished 2nd out of 6 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Great run finishing second. He gave 12kg to the winner and was in need of the run.

July 30th, 2023
Raced over 3200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville in the Grade 3 Gold Cup. Finished 7th out of 14 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He may have been one run short for this race, however not a bad performance.

July 1st, 2023
Raced over 2200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville in the Grade 3 Splashout 2200. Finished 4th out of 15 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Good run after a long break.

January 7th, 2023
Raced over 2500m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in the Grade 3 Merchants On Long Chairman’s Cup. Finished 9th out of 14 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He is not moving well, but he didn’t disgrace himself and is better than that. He will be going for a break at Ridgemont for a few weeks.

20230107 Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Express Clip Race 10 won by CROME YELLOW – YouTube

December 3rd, 2022
Raced over 2500m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in the Grade 3 Drakenstein Stud Cape Summer Stayers Handicap. Finished 7th out of 11 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Great run, running on well from a long way back. Good prep run for his next race.

October 29th, 2022
Raced over 2400m at Turffontein in the Listed Java Stakes. Finished 11th out of 11 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He was pulled out the race at the top of the straight by jockey Keagan de Melo. He came back sound and nothing to report from the vet.

October 15th, 2022
Raced over 1800m at Turffontein on the Inside course. Finished 6th out of 10 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Keagan de Melo said that he moved up like a winner and then emptied out. He needed the run quite badly and is getting ready for his next start.

August 27th, 2022
We are proud of an excellent KwaZulu-Natal season, culminating in a fourth in the Gold Cup after travelling too well early. We will give him an easier time and then build him up to the Summer feature season.

July 30th, 2022
Raced over 3200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the turf in the Grade 3 Marshalls World Of Sport Gold Cup. Finished 4th out of 15 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Good run. He over raced in the early part of the race, which could be why he didn’t quicken up in the straight.

July 2nd, 2022
Raced over 3000m in the Grade 3 DStv Gold Vase at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the turf. Finished 1st out of 9  runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Good gutsy win.

318 – BLACK THORN produces a special victory in the Grade 3 DStv Gold Vase on Hollywoodbets Durban July day. He was switched off near the rear of the field, quickened up well and won going away. He was ridden to perfection by Winning Form-sponsored jockey Keagan de Melo and is trained by Sean Tarry. Well done to the breeders Klawervlei Stud.

June 2nd, 2022
311 – BLACK THORN holds on where it matters most to win Race 7 at Turffontein this afternoon. This outing will bring him on nicely for his race on Hollywoodbets Durban July day. He was ridden to victory by Keagan de Melo and is trained by Sean Tarry.

April 30th, 2022
Raced over 3200m at Turffontein in the Grade 3 The Citizen Gold Bowl. Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He ran his heart out and was beaten by a better horse on the day. The 3rd horse was 10 lengths back.

April 2nd, 2022
Raced over 2850m at Turffontein. Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Ran his heart out just to be beaten by a better horse on the day.

March 5th, 2022
Raced over 2400m at Turffontein. Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Grant van Niekerk felt that he will be a better horse on good going.

February 15th, 2022
Raced over 2400m on the Vaal Classic course. Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He was dropped right out of the race to the back from a poor draw. Sean Tarry was not expecting the pace of the race  to be so slow and he did ask Gavin to drop him in. He ran on very strongly to finish 2nd from such a hopeless position in slow run race.

December 29th, 2021
Comment from trainer Sean Tarry:
A very pleasing win, he pulled up a little jarred in his one knee but he is sound now. I may prep him for the Aquanaut on the 5th of March. Hopefully we could possibly find one run for him in between then, toward the end of January or early February. I am mindful of his rating and would like to get him into the race with bottom weight.

December 18th, 2021
256 – BLACK THORN showed class when winning Race 5 over 2400m at Turffontein Racecourse this afternoon. He is now a four time winner from eleven starts. Sean Tarry trains the son of Pomodoro and he was ridden to victory by Gavin Lerena.

November 13, 2021
He was an easy winner in Race 8 over 2400m at Turffontein today. He is now a three-time winner and there is more to come from him. He is trained by Sean Tarry and was ridden to victory by Craig Zackey. Well done to the breeders Klawervlei Stud.

October 8th, 2021
BLACK THORN was acquired by the Hollywood Syndicate from Sean Tarry, following the withdrawal of owner Chris van Niekerk from the sport.