Klawervlei Stud’s homebred G1 Cape Guineas winner WILLIAM LONGSWORD (Captain Al) has made a flying start to the New Year and kicked off with an eye-catching pair of winners at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

William Longsword gelding ASARULUDU defied a wide trip when romping home to a facile win in the Maiden Plate on Sunday.

Under Rachel Venniker, the Michael Roberts trained three-year-old pulled well clear in the closing stages of Sunday’s 1200m race to win as he liked by more than two and three quarter lengths.

Bred by Dr Veronique Kritzinger, the lightly raced Asaruludu was making just the third start of his career, with the gelding having finished second in each of his two previous starts.

He races for Messrs H V Hattingh, L R Kohne, N Volschenk, Mesdames E M Hogg & Carolyn L Roberts.

His sire struck again in the very next race when William Longsword filly SAYULITA ran out a convincing winner of the Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1600 metres.

Trained by Duncan Howells, the three-year-old stayed on nicely under Jason Gates to shed her maiden by nearly two lengths.

Bred by the Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud, Sayulita, runner up last time out, races for Messrs B L Waterston, D C Howells, Ravi Naidoo, S D Tait, Mrs B E Tait & SA Punters Forum Syndicate (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mr Deva Govender).

William Longsword looked unlucky not to have success on L’Ormarins King’s Plate day, where his progressive three-year-old son BILLY SPELLBOUND appeared most unlucky to get beaten into second in the ninth race on the card.

His G1 winning sire has four lots on offer at Thursday’s Cape Premier Yearling Sale Powered by Tattersalls.