Malan du Toit worked his magic again in the weeks leading to February 2025, when Greenlight Legend turned the corner for owner Robert Bloomberg. (Thanks to Pauline Herman for the photo).
Bloomberg relayed the story of this filly on Instagram, following her first win on 7 February 2025, as below:
“I would never have thought that I would get emotional about winning an Open Maiden against some exceedingly poor opposition in Gqeberha. For those that don’t know, Greenlight Legend when odds-on favourite at Greyville (midway through 2023) had the handler close the gate on her flank, basically trapping her in the mechanism. Apart from being injured, she was extremely traumatized. There followed a tale of failure and frustration during which time Sharon Rivalland nearly lost her hand. When we tried to get the filly into the starting stalls and her flank touched metal, she would urinate everywhere out of sheer terror. Her hormones went into overdrive, and at one stage, she even started producing milk.
“I eventually persuaded Tony Rivalland to send her to the famous horse whisperer, Malan du Toit, in Cape Town. After 2 months on Malan’s farm and thereafter in conjunction with Paddy Kruyer, Malan’s wizardry and Paddy’s horsemanship prevailed. 14 months after her terrible ordeal, she loaded and jumped out of the Monty Roberts blanket at Durbanville. We gave her two sprints, and then one run over a mile, all of which she needed badly as she was patently unfit. She then ran an amazing 3rd when part of the Monty Roberts got attached to Richard Fourie’s boot and only came loose at the top of the straight. After then finishing unplaced over 2000m, which was possibly too far, my partner, Mary Liley, wanted out when I told Tony and Paddy that I wanted to move her to Alan Greeff. Even travelling to races in a float was torture for her with her being so claustrophobic, whereas at Fairview they stabled on-course. Obviously, getting her there was a sweat. Like me, though, Tony never stopped believing in her and took over Mary’s share.
“Alan, who is a master with fillies, has done a marvellous job, and Richard was just great. He was so kind to her from the time he mounted her and he never pulled his stick once in the entire race. She literally could have won by lengths. Richard, was praiseworthy in the extreme about her, and with the confidence she would have gained from this facile win, she looks set for a bright future in the windy city. If you a punter, follow her.
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(A follow-up post, after Greenlight Legend won again on 14 March 2025):
“Five weeks ago, I posted a story about the trials and tribulations of a filly, Greenlight Legend, and her triumph over adversity. Journalist Robyn Louw was so impacted by her story that she put together a beautiful video which can be viewed on the Racing Today Facebook page.
“For those who recall the recap of her last win, I said that punters should follow her. Well, she followed up her maiden win with another facile win today. It certainly wasn’t without her usual drama, as she kicked the wall on her way to being saddled, spreading a plate in the process. I’m not sure whether she enjoyed the earmuffs either, and then of course she did her customary back-kick once loaded. She jumped well, was switched off, travelled well throughout, and quickened well, winning easing up. I don’t believe she will be stopping here.
“Congrats to my partners Tony Rivalland, thanks and well done to trainer Alan Greeff for an amazing job, and to Richard Fourie for riding her so superbly, and not to forget trainer Patrick Kruyer and master horse whisperer, Malan Du Toit, without whom none of this would have been possible!”