Kjell Foundation have enjoyed brilliant success from their small band of Thoroughbred mares, and Al Vino looks to be another mare to potentially fill the shoes of the late and great Salaam – the type of broodmare that comes along once in a lifetime and can almost visit the stable teaser to produce a Group winner.
Who could forget the finish in the Gr2 Camellia Stakes with the two full sisters – Eastern Greeting and Kalaam – challenging each other to the 1160m finish at Turffontein, where they almost dead heated to finish a nose apart for the same trainer and the same connections – an incredible feat indeed!
Kwinta is another full sibling, the Gr3 winner taking home the KZN Breeders Awards in 2016 for Outstanding Older Female and Outstanding Sprinter. Needless to say, with such outstanding records the fillies have found themselves snapped up by some of the leading Thoroughbred nurseries in the country for stud duties.
Michael Benson has always been a big fan of Kahal and enjoyed immense success with the son of Machiavellian, commenting that Kahal was a vastly underestimated stallion and one of the countries best.
Al Vino, bred herself by the Kjell Foundation has followed suit – the beautiful bay mare has produced two foals and two winners, and in December her colts won within a day of each other – the younger of the two, Wynkelder, doing so impressively on debut.
An imposing chestnut, her eldest son Kanonkop (named after a local vineyard) is a big strapping four year old who has secured his fifth recent career victory for Stanley Ferreira, and has placed four times.
From sixteen starts he has only missed a cheque four times for his owners – his breeder Mr Mike Benson and Mrs D E Turner. His last win came at the Vaal at odds of 20/1 on 22 December over 2400m, winning by a neck under Andrew Fortune and beating a well-bred field of horses.
On 21 December, Wynkelder stepped onto the Scottsville race track for the first time.
Purchased for R100 000 at the 2015 National Yearling sale, the aptly named Wynkelder is in training with Tony Rivalland and the three year old gelding won over the 1400m clear by almost a length and a half for his owners Messrs G N Cumming, Clint Larsson, A S Potts, trainer Tony Rivalland and Mrs Mary Liley, at massive odds of 50/1. Wynkelder will definitely be one to add to the watch list for the future.
Al Vino won three times at the track and placed eight times. Her dam line is brimming with Black Type down the page, her first dam producing six runners and six winners – three of them Black Type; in turn her progeny went on to produce the likes of Yer-Maan, Nordic Breeze, Ice Wine and Rushing Wind.
Al Vino is out of Montrachet by Foveros, in turn out of a Prince Tor mare Sauturne and the rest of the pedigree page includes Sweet Seduction, Noble Century and Captain’s Gal to name but a few.
After the untimely passing of the ultra consistent Kahal, Al Vino was sent to Mogok (a half-brother to Machiavellian by Storm Cat and the sire of American Gr1 winners The Apache and Gypsy’s Warning) and a 2015 filly, Marsanne, will be coming through.
Al Vino is back in foal this year to Bush Hill Stud’s very exciting young son of Galileo, Flying The Flag.