Rafa’s Boy is a gelding by Rafeef, out of the Tale Of The Cat mare Flame Cat. Purchased by the Hollywood Syndicate at the BSA August Two Year Old Sale 2021, he was bred by Blue Sky Thoroughbreds.
Name: Rafa’s Boy
Sex: Bay Gelding
Sire: Rafeef (AUS)
Dam: Flame Cat (AUS)
Damsire: Tale Of The Cat (USA)
DOB: 14 August 2019
Breeder: Blue Sky Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Gareth van Zyl
Previous Trainer: Sean Tarry
Purchased: August Two Year Old Sale – 2021
Pedigree: See Here
Record: 26-3-11
Status: Retired (29/01/2026)
UPDATES – Rafa’s Boy
January 29th, 2026
Rafa’s Boy has been retired after yesterday’s run. He will go to Hollywoodbets Life After Racing and Nicole will find a good home for him.
December 28th, 2025
Raced over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the turf. Finished 3rd out of 7 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: A good honest run. He does prefer to lead but the horse on his outside went quicker then him and then eased up when he got in front of him which he did not enjoy.
November 18th, 2025
Raced over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack. Finished 3rd (dead-heat) out of 9 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He was given a good ride to be placed on the fence. He had every chance. He is better on the turf at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.
October 27th, 2025
Raced over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack. Finished 3rd out of 9 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: A good gusty run to finish third. He should win soon.
September 14th, 2025
Raced over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Finished 6th out of 8 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He was given every chance, but I feel he didn’t enjoy the soft ground.
August 3rd, 2025
Raced over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the turf. Finished 6th out of 10 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: The weight got to him and I feel he is a better horse at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.
July 9th, 2025
Raced over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Finished 2nd out of 10 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: A good second, found one better on the day.
June 16th, 2025
676 – RAFA’S BOY closes off the meeting over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville this afternoon and gives Hollywood Racing a quick double. The son of Rafeef was given a confident ride by Hollywood Racing-retained Jockey Sean Veale. It was an outstanding day for Hollywoodbets-sponsored Trainer Gareth van Zyl who saddled SIX winners. Race Replay / Interview.
June 16th, 2025
Raced over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Finished 1st out of 14 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: A good win, leading from start to finish. He has definitely improved since wearing blinkers and dropping back to 1000m.
April 30th, 2025
649 – RAFA’S BOY wins a good race over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville this afternoon. He was given a confident ride by S’manga Khumalo and is now a two-time winner. The son of Rafeef is trained by Hollywoodbets-sponsored Gareth van Zyl and is bred by Tinus Gericke. Race Replay / Interview.
April 2nd, 2025
Raced over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Finished 3rd out of 11 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: A very good run finishing close up. He should win soon.
February 24th, 2025
Raced over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Finished 8th out of 15 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Good run, his not far from winning.
January 19th, 2025
Raced over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Finished 3rd out of 8 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: A good run wearing blinkers for the first time. Jockey Ant Mgudlwa feels a 1000m will suit him better with blinkers as he travelled hard in the early part of the race.
December 15th, 2024
Raced over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Finished 8th out of 11 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He needs 1200m where he can lead.
November 10th, 2024
Raced over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the turf. Finished 4th out of 9 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: A good run, he is not far off from winning.
October 1st, 2024
Raced over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the turf. Finished 10th out of 13 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He must have race six-wide throughout the turn. I would ignore that run.
September 1st, 2024
Raced over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Finished 3rd out of 12 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: A good run. His jockey (Serino Moodley) feels he will be better over 1000m as he has so much speed and prefers to stride along.
August 7th, 2024
Raced over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the turf. Finished 8th out of 13 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He went way too quick in the early stages. I never expected him to show much after going that fast.
July 10th, 2024
Raced over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Finished 2nd out of 11 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: A good second. He is starting to find his form, and is not far off from winning.
June 23rd, 2024
Raced over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Finished 5th out of 10 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: A good run. He needs a bit further.
May 11th, 2024
Raced over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the turf. Finished 5th out of 9 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Good first run after a long break.
October 18th, 2023
Raced over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville Polytrack. Finished 8th out of 9 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He pulled up lame after his race. The problem is his knee, so his gone to Life After Racing for a break.
July 19th, 2023
Raced over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Finished 2nd out of 6 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Good run, he was a little unlucky with an inexperienced apprentice.
June 7th, 2023
Raced over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville Polytrack. Finished 6th out of 8 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He over-raced in the early part. He is a better horse when allowed to stride along in front.
May 13th, 2023
426 – RAFA’S BOY wins Race 2 over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville this afternoon. He was sent to the front from his wide draw and fought back well to hold all challengers at bay. The son of Rafeef was given a perfect ride by Sporting Post-sponsored jockey Athandiwe Mgudlwa. He is trained by Gareth van Zyl and is bred by Tinus Gericke.
April 16th, 2023
Raced over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Finished 5th out of 9 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He over raced in the early part of the race. He also needed the run badly and will come on a lot from the run.
March 5th, 2022
Raced over 1000m at Turffontein. Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He missed the start and was very green. Anton Marcus said that he is still very immature and will improve a lot from the run.
Breeding
The dam, Flame Cat(AUS), 5 wins, R599,625, at 2 to 3, 1000 – 1200m, placed 11 times, inc. 2nd Pretty Polly S, Gr.3, Ruffian Stakes, L, 4th Golden Slipper, Gr.1, SA Nursery, Gr.1, Half sister to BORDER REBEL(AUS); dam of 2 previous foals; 2 runners; 2 winners inc.:
Rapid Fire (17 f. by Querari (GER)): 2 wins, R217,000, at 2 to 3, 1000m, placed 6 times,inc. 3rd SA Fillies Nursery Gr.2.
Flame Up (16 f. by Oratorio (IRE)): winner, R114,950, at 3, 1000m, placed 10 times.