It is only the middle of March and Mooi River is already a very cool place to be on a very wet and rain-filled day on a trip to meet Al Miqdaam - a strongly built son of Danehill who has had only two runners on the track - and both winners - including the exciting and handsome chestnut in Tony Rivalland's yard, Al Ciberano, bred by Robert Smith.
Marie and Lenny Taylor discuss the stallion as we wait for the handler to fetch him, in the rain. Marie explained that their main motive to buy him was his pedigree, being a son of Danehill, out of a Gr1 winning Dont Say Halo(USA) mare, St Clemens Belle.
St Clemens Belle(AUS) is out of British mare St Clemens, by Canadian sire London Bells out of American mare Emotional by Sensitive Prince - truly an international pedigree. She has visited sires' of the highest quality, including Exceed And Excel, Fusaichi Pegasus and Sharmadal - all of those progeny of which were sold on at the Inglis Easter Yearling sales.
St Clemens Belle achieved seven wins from 2 years of age over 1000m to 1600m. She won the WATC Stakes Gr1, the MVRC Champagne Stakes Gr2, Bill Stutt Stakes Gr2, SAJC Smoke-Free Stakes Gr3, VRC Hilton on the Park Sprint Handicap Listed as well as the MVRC Silver Jubilee Stakes Listed. Her half-sister Sanctus is a Stakes Winner too, producing three decent horses with 11 wins between them.
Under the third dam is Be My Princess, another Stakes Winner who won six times and produced Turffontein Goldfields Sprint Handicap Listed winner, Flying Princess.
Al Miqdaam, standing a staunch 15.3 hands and possessing a masculine handsome head from his famous sire, is St Clemens Belle's first foal. My King Oath, by Exceed And Excel went on to become a 6-time winner [pictured below left as a yearling], whilst St Clement Danes by Sharmadal won four times.
Al Miqdaam was purchased by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and began his racing career in Australia. He ran in seven Barrier Trials over five months, winning two, placing second twice and a third and fourth, and changing trainers in between.
Three months after being in a different yard, he placed twice more and was sent to South Africa, sent out for his first start a month short of two years later at Scottsville. Ridden by Keagan Latham, he finished second for trainer Mike De Kock over 1000m. He only raced four more times, twice finishing just short of the placings and preferring shorter trips over 1000 - 1200m, once finishing just behind Art Of War.
The handler arrives with Al Miqdaam in hand, a very imposing stallion walking swiftly but gentle in disposition and very much in the form of Danehill.
He fusses with the stallion bit in his mouth constantly, gaping it open and trying to put his tongue over the bit, which he eventually does. Marie Taylor explains what a gentle and kind temperament he has and isnt used to the bit in his mouth; he is passing on his good temperament to his foals and even when it comes to covering he is a gentleman.
To minimise his fussing, the bit is removed and he stands quietly while this is done. He is an intelligent horse, and relaxes as he circles the green lawn with the rain pouring down.
Lenny mentions that the stallion has been supported extensively by owner/breeder and KZN Breeders director Roy Moodley - who sent all of his mares to be covered by Al Miqdaam, making it 55 mares recieved in total last season. Judging from his current stats of just two horses to run and win, it is anticipated we might be hearing a lot more from Al Miqdaam.
As previously mentioned, Al Ciberano has had nine runs, three wins and four places. Bred by Robert Smith who registered just three horses of that breeding year, all by Al Miqdaam, Robert has retained a share along with trainer Tony Rivalland and owners Messrs G N Cumming, I Deetlefs and I M & M G Horsfield.
Winning over distances of 1000m - 1200m, Al Ciberano is out of Muhtafal mare Carry It Far. A pedigree loaded with speed, she is out of a Northern Guest/The Minstrel mare, with sires Glenstal, Salmon Leap and King's Lake found under her fourth dam.
Her two year old Al Miqdaam colt named Captain Red has also entered training with Tony, word is they are expecting good results from Al Ciberano this season.
KZN Breeder and trainer Lola Crawford, of Greenhill Farm, trained Al Miqdaam's second winner - a filly named Shikra also owned and bred by Robert Smith. She is out of a Northern Guest mare Birdstrike and has won once, and placed just out of the money in fifth position four times and in the process gave Al Miqdaam and Robert Smith a double.
After snapping a few photos of a soaked Al Miqdaam, he welcomes a rub on the forehead and enjoys the attention thoroughly. His service fee is available on application from Lenny Taylor on 084 433 2216 or email ltaylor@lantic.net.
The Winners To Date - Two Runners Two Winners on One Evening
Al Ciberano
Shikra
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