Klawervlei Stud’s homebred stallion WILLIAM LONGSWORD (Captain Al) had a great season in 2023-2024, and his fine run continued into the new season when William Longsword gelding BACK IN BUSINESS won the Listed Betway Spring Spree Stakes (1200m) at Turffontein on Saturday.

Trained by Joe Soma, five-year-old Back In Business had won three of his first four starts, and bounced back to his best last time out when romping home to score by two and a quarter lengths over 1450m at Turffontein.

Under Muzi Yeni (unbeaten in two starts aboard Back In Business), the son of William Longsword turned Saturday’s Listed contest into a one horse race, with Back In Business storming home to get up close home and win, going away, by over a length and three quarters.

Bred by Klawervlei, the classy Back In Business races for ANOA (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Andria Dannhauser).

His sire went close to having a double at on Saturday with William Longsword gelding WILLIAM WEST beaten just half a length when third in the ninth and final race at Hollywoodbets Durbanville.

William Longsword, whose flagbearers last season included such graded stakes winning sprinters as DYCE and RULERSHIP, is from a very much inform family. His half-sister, G1 South African Fillies Sprint winner REAL PRINCESS (Trippi), is not only dam of dual G1 winner GIMME A PRINCE (Gimmethegreenlight), but also ranks as the dam of exciting filly GIMMIE’S COUNTESS (Gimmethegreenlight) and the smart gelding THE REAL PRINCE. The latter, an impressive winner on debut, has won two of just three starts, and is clearly loaded with ability.