A Legend Retires

The retirement of multiple Group One winning sire Dynaformer, revives memories of an incredible sire whose numerous Group One winners captured the racing public’s imagination and changed the face of racing forever.

A tall strapping son of the legendary Roberto (17 hh), Dynaformer was a multiple Group 2 winner with total earnings of US$ 671,207. However it was as a sire that he has achieved his greatest success, with 20 Group One winners. One of his most famous of these, was the iconic Kentucky Derby winner, Barbaro, whose decisive victory in the famous race catapulted him into the public spotlight. Barbaro’s subsequent breakdown in the Preakness, and his lengthy but ultimately unsuccessful battle to recover from what was at the time, thought to be a life-threatening injury left an indelible impression on racing fans, and it didn’t do his sire Dynaformer any harm either.

His ability, thanks to his powerful pedigree and affinity with Northern Dancer and Mr Prospector, turned Dynaformer into a classic staying sire, with the added bonus of stamina and courage.

Dynaformer’s sire, Roberto, was a truly great racehorse, winning over a variety of distances from 7 furlongs (1408 m to 1 mile (2,423 m) and he was named Champion Colt in Ireland for two consecutive years (1971 & 1972) and Champion Three Year Old Colt in England (1973). This phenomenal ability to race over a variety of distances has been fortunately passed down to his grandsons.

KZN is fortunate to have two descendants of Dynaformer’s sire, Roberto here at stud. One of those was the late and much lamented Cataloochee, winner of multiple Group One sprint races, and Champion Equus Colt of 2005. “The Cat” as he was affectionately known was retired to champion breeders Summerhill Stud with earnings of over R800 000. He quickly set about stamping his sires authority, and was the leading second crop sire by winnings. Cataloochee’s sons and daughters have been consistent winners and place getters, you need only think of Oochee Agent, winner of the 2010 Pretty Polly Stakes (Gr.3), the seven-time winner, Richinstyle, and the talented filly, Speed Dial (who is with Gary Alexander) as some of his best advertisements.

The other grandson of Roberto is The Sheik, who stands at Scott Brothers. A multiple Group One winner, thanks to his victories in the Cape Derby, Queen’s Plate and Gold Challenge, he is another wonderful advertisement for the Roberto/Hail To Reason line, and its incredible ability to produce winners over a variety of distances. The Sheik was retired to stud with earnings of over R1 million, and he has already given notice with some impressive offerings in the form of, the Group Three placed Asian Affair and Carina Coleman and the Spook Express Handicap (Listed) winner Sheikitupbaby.

Dynaformer’s retirement due to infirmities once again highlights the enormous ability and potential of the Roberto line to shape the current racehorse scene here in South Africa, and hopefully produce a stayer worthy of his grandsire’s title.