Eightfold Path’s impeccable pedigree is coming to the fore as the common denominator of two international Gr1 winners – his fourth dam, a broodmare named Hardiemma, has now produced through her descendants the Gr1 Melbourne Cup winner Prince Of Penzance, and two days ago Johannes Vermeer, the winner of the Gr1 Criterium International in France.
Eightfold Path is himself a Gr3 Prix Eclipse winner over 1200m, a product of two Champions – a son of Giant’s Causeway out of multiple Gr1 winner Divine Proportions.
A phenomenal sire and sire of sires, Giant’s Causeway made news in South Africa on the weekend when Alec Laird’s Bouclette Top(ARG) won the Gr2 Charity Mile over the weekend at Turffontein, and a previous winner of the Gr3 Tony Ruffel Stakes.
Divine Proportions, by Kingmambo, won five Gr1 races and probably was one of the best mares raced for the Niarchos family, alongside Miesque. Eightfold Path is her first foal and he bears a striking resemblance to that of his Champion Two and Three year old dam.
Prince Of Penzance will be especially remembered as his jockey Michelle Payne became the first female to win Australia’s exclusive staying race in 155 years, the Gr1 Melbourne Cup, and in a heartwarming story, Michelle’s brother Steve, who has Down’s Syndrome is a strapper in the yard and looks after Prince Of Penzance.
Going off an unbelievable odds of 100-1, Prince Of Penzance is sired by Pentire – his third dam is Hardiemma, the fourth dam of Eightfold Path. The French-bred Johannes Vermeer’s pedigree connection comes in the fifth dam being Hardiemma – her daughter in this case is Um Lardaff, a full sister to sire Shirley Heights and a full-sister to Eightfold Path’s third dam, Milleme.
Eightfold Path has developed a reputation amongst breeders for producing foals that are bigger than average and he has upgraded his mares, good looking babies with great substance and bone below the knees.
The only son of Giant’s Causeway currently at stud in KZN and South Africa, this is Eightfold Path’s third season at stud – his first foals will be available on auction in 2016.
Amongst the progeny from various farms to come through is a half-brother to Gr2 Umkhomazi winner Harry Lime.
Eightfold Path stands at Scott Bros’ Highdown Stud for a fee of R10 000, a special concession of “2 for 1” is on offer.
Video of Eightfold Path winning the Gr3 Prix Eclipse in France