KZN have welcomed international breeder Michael Moroney to the KZN Breeding ranks, based in Ireland, Michael Moroney’s maroon and green racing colours in the name of the The Poet’s Syndicate have been a familiar sight on South Africa’s racetracks for some time already.

Michael has enjoyed many winners in South Africa and World Pool Gold Cup day proved the cherry on top, with his online sale acquired Pray For Rain winning the LHKIR In December Umngeni Handicap Listed, aptly with Lyle Hewitson aboard for father and trainer Carl Hewitson. It was Michael’s first international trip to South Africa and it paid off handsomely.

The son of Soft Falling Rain won again recently at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

Michael started off with a mare Magic Potion, and his first foal is a now gelded son of Hat Puntano, as yet unraced and in training with Carl Hewitson named Magic Hattrick. Magic Potion is by Malhub from the family of Luna Child, Ollivander and Sparkling Gem.

A smart acquisition who has produced a smashing Willow Magic colt at foot this season, is African Angel, a 2-time winning daughter of Mogok from the family of Irish Flame and Gr2 winner, Meadow Magic.

Michael has four more mares in foal this season – they include Rise (Noble Tune), a six time winning mare in foal to Danon Platina, New Orleans is in foal to Fire Away and Capriana, a grey by Toreador out of a Shaamit mare, is confirmed in foal to Eden Roc.

There is also Accidental Tourist, a 4-time winning daughter of Gimmethegreenlight out of a Jet Master mare, has been confirmed in foal to Eden Roc – an interesting mating, as Eden Roc’s half brother Sandringham Summit is by Gimmethegreenlight.

African Angel has been confirmed in foal to KZN’s exciting young son of War Front, Declarationofpeace.

Michael had a lot of fun with the above maiden mares mentioned, who won multiple races for The Poets Syndicate before their retirement to Winnie Fourie’s Grace Stables in Nottingham Road, where The Poets Syndicate’s horses are also pretrained. Winnie provides a full service for owners prior to their horses departing for racing stables, from foaling to sales preparation to pretraining from the farm, once known as the famed Invermooi Stud.

Welcome to Michael Moroney and we wish him all the best with his future breeding endeavours.

African Angel’s impressive Willow Magic colt this season.

Karon Totman is a relatively young breeder in the KZN Breeders ranks and she tells us a little more about her breeding operation, which she bases with Karin and Warwick Render at Bush Hill Stud.

“High Eagle Stud started at the beginning of the 2018 foaling / breeding season, with a few of the foundation broodmares from the great Scott Bros, who as we know never fail to produce some great horses.  

“The 2018 crop was our first which produced two colts and two fillies by Crusade, Capetown Noir and The Apache. “

“In January 2020, High Eagle Stud underwent some restructuring and reshuffling.  It was at this point that I decided to start again from scratch with a handful of select maiden mares and I moved High Eagle Stud’s home base to the well-renowned Bush Hill Stud. Warwick and Karin have been nothing short of amazing and I am so grateful for their ongoing assistance, advise and support.”

Karon goes on to say that she was hoping 2020 would launch High Eagle’s first year for sales, however with COVID striking in March 2020 ‘turned everything – including sales – upside-down!’ 

From the 2018 crop, NAUTICAL STORM opened the winners account in Zimbabwe, winning just her second start for trainer Thomas Mason.

Karon explains that Nautical Storm was High Eagle Stud’s first foal, born and bred by Scott Bros, raised by High Eagle Stud.  “She didn’t show much on her debut run and after a long rest, I wasn’t sure what to expect from her second run.  I think my neighbours heard me screaming her home!” says with a laugh.

“In the moment, I was so focused on watching only her that I actually missed half the race and only when I watched a replay a bit later, did I realise what a gutsy win it actually was! Being raised by High Eagle Stud was more than enough for me and I couldn’t be prouder of her.”

“It was a very emotional moment so I think it’s best for me to watch my babies race from home, behind closed doors! I can only hope that I get the honour & privilege of that indescribable feeling again in the future.”                

Karon talks about her Lot on offer at the November 2YO Sale, taking place at the TBA Complex this week. “We are very excited to present SIRENS OF SILENCE (colt by Crusade) on offer as Lot 15 from Bush Hill Stud as Agent.

The Crusade colt is out of In Moderation by Mogok, from the family of African Grey and Gr1 winner Scarena.

“Next year will be our first proper year for sales, which I am looking forward to but albeit a bit nervous! Our 2020 crop includes three colts – two by New Predator and one by Mambo In Seattle, and a filly by Willow Magic.”   

High Eagle Stud’s mares for the 2021 season have visited the likes of New Predator, Last Winter, Willow Magic, Act Of War and the grey son of Deep Impact, Danon Platina.

Karon ends off by saying, “We do have our own racing colours and one day it would be fantastic to race one or two of my own babies, however for now I need to keep my head out the clouds and my feet on the ground!”

We wish Karon all the best for her future and luck at the sales!

Winnifred Grace Fourie has been fascinated by horses since before she could walk. Growing up as a farm girl she had her first horse by age 6 and never grew out of her love for the animals.

Her father, ‘Smiler’ Fourie was a cattle auctioneer so Winnie was surrounded by animals and the buzz of the sales ring her entire life.

Winnie Fourie – connecting with her horses

“It’s difficult to truly know when my love for horses began. My passion for horses was always there within me since before I can even remember. All I know was that it was from a very young age and my love for horses continued to grow and still continues to grow today,” Winnie says with a smile.

“There of course have been times when I wasn’t involved with horses at all, when I was at school or studying at university. I would drive past and see the horses in the paddocks and wish I could be surrounded by them again. I was a farm girl at heart even then and I don’t think I ever grew out of it.”

Winnie only joined the thoroughbred industry at the age of 29. She had been working as management on a piggery when she decided she couldn’t do it anymore. Applying to an ad in the Farmers Weekly, a South African couple in the USA were looking for an intern on their very own stud farm.

“I sent my application through and a week later I got a call from them asking if I was interested. My visa was quickly sorted and off I went to the USA. That became my introduction to the Thoroughbred industry,” she says.

After arriving in the USA and being immersed in the world of broodmares, foals and yearlings. Winnie had found her passion.

“The mares and foals will always be my favourite aspect of the industry. I did a few yearling sales too and eventually travelled to New York for another internship with the well-known Becky Thomas and her company- Sequel Stallions. So really, my introduction to the industry began in America.”

The Grace Stables mares & foals heading to their paddock for the day

She spent fourteen years in the USA, seven as an Assistant Manager to Becky Thomas at Sequel Stallions in New York at her breeding stud.

After struggling with her Green card for a while, Winnie eventually moved to another stud farm, Stonewall Farm in New York, for the CEO of Calvin Klein.

“He always had a passion for horses, so when the opportunity came for him to get a farm of his own, he took it. I ended up working for him for five or so years.

“During that time, I really got to experience working with some top horses. At Sequel I had the pleasure of working with Freud (Storm Cat x Mariah’s Storm by Rahy) who is the full brother to Giant’s Causeway. He is still one of New York’s leading Sires!

“At Stonewall Farm, I was fortunate enough to work with a horse called The Lumber Guy, who ran second in the Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint. My time in America was truly well spent and I got to work with some incredible horses. When I came back to South Africa, I was able to use all the knowledge I had gathered over the years and I went to work at Klawervlei Stud for a short stint, just to help out at their quarantine station during the breeding season.

“After that I went to Scott Bros Farm and I worked with them for almost 5 years until the dispersal sale. I have now been fortunate enough to start up on my own with Grace Stables.

“Coming up with a name was a bit of a headache, and everything happened so quickly. My last day was on 31 July at Scott Bros and a week later I was out on my own. A client of mine came to visit Scott Bros in that final week, to possibly buy a horse or two. He told me that if I ever decided to go out on my own, he would support me.

“He ended up sending me twelve of his horses and I had one of my own in the stable. Off we went to Backworth Stud, who had offered to lease me stables and paddocks. It then seemed fitting to use the name Grace, which is my middle name. I’m a big believer and I have faith in the world, having grace that things will all turn out how they’re supposed to.”

Grace Stables located at Backworth Stud in KZN

While things haven’t been all smooth sailing for Winnie, when her first batch of horses left there was a lull at the yard.

Fortunately, Fanie Bronkhorst sent her a few of his mares and she then met another individual who has now shown her massive support and continues to send her mares, foals and youngsters.

“I know that with my clients’ support and through God’s grace, things will continue to grow, and the name Grace Stables has become the perfect fit.”

With the BSA 2 Year Old Sale in less than two weeks, Winnie will be sending three colts to the sale under the Grace Stables banner as a first time vendor.

Lot 307 is a colt by Crusade out of Enchantrix named Kimbolton Castle.

Winnie describes him as an impressive individual and while he is a second foal, his dam is a half sister to the mare Siren’s Call who has just produced the Gr1 performer and Gr3 winner Sound Of Warning. He is described as a tall, well-balanced and striking individual.

Lot 307- Kimbolton Castle (Crusade x Enchantrix)

Lot 218 is named Kodiak Island by Wings Of Desire out of an imported mare Vul Indlela from France.

He is a first foal and his dam was apparently imported by the Oppenheimers, as far as Winnie knows. He is a bit smaller being a first foal but she says there is something special about this colt. While his pedigree may not be as strong, all the colts in his family have performed well and been multiple winners.

Lot 218- Kodiak Island (Wings Of Desire x Vul Indlela)

Lot 25 is an unnamed colt by Mambo In Seattle out of Ikati. 

Winnie describes him as a seriously impressive colt, strong and compact. The breeding is what really drew Winnie to him. She points out that the Mambo In Seattle cross with Al Mufti on the dam’s side has produced multiple Group winners in the past. She expects it could be the same for this colt.

Lot 25- Unnamed (Mambo In Seattle x Ikati)

“Those are my three boys at the sale, they are all so different and they all offer something unique to all buyers,” Winnie tells the Sporting Post.

“We have also had the wonderful Snow Palace with us recently for a break, and she ran a lovely third after returning to work from her holiday. It was good to see her back in the money and actually show an interest in running again.

Snow Palace enjoying her break at Grace Stables before returning to work

“I always have and will continue to follow any horse I have spent time with over the years, from foaling them down to sales prep or even spelling. It is such a pleasure to see horses succeed and knowing that I have played a part, whether it be small or big, in their success.

“That is why it is so important to generate trust with every horse I work with. That is the main focus of Grace Stables – building a foundation based on trust and each horse will grow to be the best they can be!”

-sportingpost.co.za

A breath of fresh air to have such positivity in trying times!

When many other farms are reducing stock and even dispersing in these tough economic times which hasn’t been helped with the arrival of Covid19, Brett Van Laun is in the process of re-establishing Camargue Stud which formerly stood in Mooi River.

Brett has revived his families legacy, this time in the picturesque Caversham Valley in the KZN Midlands, which is situated in the vicinity between Lidgetton and that of the famed Michaelhouse school.

This particular area of the KZN Midlands, just south of Nottingham Road is no stranger to producing a good horse, with the likes of Gr1 winner Spiced Gold (the dam of Gr1 winner Chimichuri Run), Dubai winner Journeyman and even the recent Captain Tatters born and grazed on its lush mountainous lands with good water frontage and plenty of grazing.

When asked about how does he feel about the future of the Thoroughbred in South Africa, Brett replies: “I always swim upstream and see this as a huge opportunity to invest in the industry at rock bottom prices. I’m also hugely optimistic about the [Thoroughbred] industry and believe “I’m buying a share in the trough!”

An enthusiastic Brett says he loves the area and believes the results speak for themselves, “especially when you look at the Breeders titles and stats from small numbers in this province! Horses are in my blood and my younger years were spent growing up on a stud farm in Mooi River named Camargue Stud. I have continued my late Dad’s legacy and have kept the name Camargue Stud.”

Brett says he currently has accumulated 23 mares for the farm, “and still looking for more but we are concentrating on quality not quantity. We are boarding for clients and are honoured to have the owners of #kznbred Gr1 winners War Of Athena And Battle Force [both by Act of War], owned by Dr Rose Waterman-Wenzel and Roy Wenzel, Allan Mellor, the Step aside Syndicate as well as the Buffalo Syndicate all supporting us.

“Ive bought shares in Act of War, Captain of All and a service to Futura and Oratorio on the Cape Breeders auction. We are however still doing matings, so we are looking for shares in more stallions.”

When asked what foals were expected for their first breeding season, Brett replies that he is focusing on Stakes Winners or Stakes Producers. “We currently have three mares in foal to Querari – all Stakes Winners or Stakes producers – two in foal to Captain of All [the sire of Gr1 winner Linebacker], again out of Stakes winners, two Black Type mares in foal to What A Winter, three mares in foal to Act Of War and a Jet Master mare in foal to Erupt. We have a National Assembly Stakes Winner in foal to Canford Cliffs who is producing Group winners overseas.”

A farm rich in racing and breeding history, Brett provides a successful background into the Camargue Stud of old. “We started Camargue Stud in the 1980’s at our peak we had 120 brood mares and bred some great horses such as ARCSA award winning filly Special Key, and Gr1 winner Shoe Express for the Late Roy Eckstein. We also bred Lupine Lady who broke the 13 year old course record at Newmarket over 1000 meters. We produced two Broodmares Of The Year with KZN Breeders, namely Secret Key and Forewarned. 

Brett concludes, “We are passionate about horses and will be focused on individual attention whilst doing boarding of mares, yearling preparations, spelling, pre-training, backing of horses and working with problematic race horses.

In todays day and age with the modernisation of farms and the ability to provide immediate communication and experiences online, which has never been more prominent than it is now, Brett says that he wants their clients to feel part of the whole breeding experience and have provided for it.

“We have set up Webcams to watch live foalings, and will send regular videos of horses to our owners. Clients also have the opportunity to come and stay in our guest cottages so that they can be part of the great life a horse enjoys and thrives on at Camargue Stud!”

Congratulations to Brett and we wish him many winners in the future!

Brett can be contacted on brett@prop247.co.za

“This win was very special for Davin and I and the kids (Christopher and Gary) – we are really a small set up situated between Hilton and Howick.”

“We absolutely do it for the love of the breed and sport. We aren’t a commercial farm as such but we are very hands on, feeding the horses myself every meal, every day. I also foal down on my own and have foaled all of our babies.

“Aideen is our only runner at the moment. She is Irish Flame out of a lovely grey mare Wynnholme’s Star. I have a two year old Flying the Flag colt out of Wynnholmes Star on the farm and she has just foaled again to Flying The Flag, a very striking filly who is likely to be grey, which was our last foal of the season for the year.”

“We have a few horses in training, including the well bred Green Dream, by Gimmethegreenlight out of Royal Observer (AUS) – a half to Krishnies Jet (Oratorio) who has won and placed 11 times. She also has a Flying the Flag yearling colt on the farm.”

Just Perfect, by Just As Well out Lizzy’s Heritage is another. He is half to From the Ashes and King’s Empire, both performing well in Mauritius. Lizzie’s Heritage, closely related to Patchit Up Baby has a Capetown Noir yearling filly as well.”

The Grey Gremlin is a big grey colt by The Assayer out of Piece of London. His dam has a Capetown Noir yearling filly coming through.

“Another 2yo we have is by Irish Flame out of Bistro Belle, and yearlings we have a Captain Of All out of Princess Julietta, and a Potala Palace filly out of Bay Princess. Our other 2019 foal is a colt out of Magnifique by Flying the Flag, whose first two year olds will be hitting the tracks soon!”

We wish Annette and Davin Houston all the best in their future endeavours and many more visits to the winners box!

Based in Camperdown, and nestled between Summerveld and the Midlands, High Eagle Stud is a new farm with high hopes and bold ambitions.

Owned by Rosanne Torr and Karon Totman, the farm first came into being just last year, but lost no time in making its presence felt!

High Eagle Stud made headlines on facebook last week, when the farm’s Eightfold Path-Ramp Vamp filly won the BSA Foal Competition, and thus netting High Eagle Stud a free entry to a Bloodstock South Africa auction in 2020 in the process.

Rosanne says she and Karon are keen to focus on quality over quantity, and says of the farm’s hopes going forward, “our plan is to keep small, pay attention to detail and strive to produce yearlings that have been well handled since birth and easy to work with. Our aim is to support the KZN stallions as much as possible – KZN has some really amazing stallions that are not given enough credit or the support that they deserve. We do hope to become a successful & well-supported stud and we definitely hope to breed a few champions.”

She admits that Peter Gibson played a role in the mating which produced the Eightfold Path-Ramp Vamp filly (described by her connections as “very smart”), with the filly being a full-sister to the very smart performer The Rising Legend. The well bred Ramp Vamp (she is by Jet Master out of Majorca Stakes winner Display Model) is now in foal to the Dynasty sired Cape Guineas winner Act Of War.

Rosanne says the farm will be offering a small draft at next year’s sales, “We have 4 yearlings for the 2020 sales. A strong robust filly by Crusade out of a Mogok mare,who is well put together and a very solid type. We will also be offering a very racy filly by The Apache who is out of a mare who has already produced 4 winners. We also have 2 colts, a very smart colt by The Apache, and a Capetown Noir colt out of a Mogok mare. A tall racy colt, we think he is something special!”

High Eagle Stud will be using a number of KZN’s better and more promising stallions this season, with the farm’s mares visiting the likes of Act of War, Hat Putano, Willow Magic, Rabada, Lance, Mambo in Seattle, New Predator, Flying the Flag, The Apache and Mogok this season.

Currently the farm is home to approximately 18 mares, as well as one of the best bred stallions ever to retire to stud in South Africa.

Storm Cat horse Mogok is a much loved resident at High Eagle, with Rosanne saying of the son of Storm Cat, “We have always loved him and he holds a very special place in our hearts. He still covers a few select mares. He is the most affectionate stallion, and such a gentleman. He has settled in very well here despite having been at the Scott Bros for many years. In the beginning, we were a little worried about the change for him, but he honestly has taken it very well and is looking amazing and is very happy.”

We catch up with Peter Blyth of Clifton Stud based in Rosetta. Peter has had a lifetime with horses in various disciplines including polo, racing and breeding. He is assisted on the farm by his wife Jenny and Manager Christine Quinn.

Another little known fact is young and upcoming jockey Luke Ferraris is the nephew of Peter and Jenny.

How long have you been involved in the breeding of racehorses?

Clifton stud has bred racehorses since 1945 by my father.

What is the most enjoyable and rewarding part of your work? 

Watching the horses we have bred win at the races.

What is the hardest part of the job? 

I would say accepting the disappointments at sales can be a hard pill to swallow after planning matings and ensuring the horse gets to the sales with significant condition and expense.

When did the horse bug bite and how did you get involved with breeding Thoroughbreds?

My father bred race horses, as a hobby, so I grew up in the business.

Whereabouts is your farm situated?

Clifton Stud is currently situated 2,5 kms from Rosetta and 15 kms from Mooi River.

Tell us about your staff?

Having moved Clifton Stud from our family farm near Lothair in Mpumalanga ten years ago, we had to retrench all my old staff. Many had worked for me all of my life. Our new staff are currently with us for the ten years we have been breeding here in KZN.

Best horses you have bred? 

Classic Flag, the 1998 Durban July winner and Horse of the year in South Africa, trained by my brother in law David Ferraris. Our other special horses include Fort Vogue, Bezanova, What A Lady, Olympic Flag, Glenrossal, Covered in Snow, Duffi’s Call and Royal Desire.

Do you follow your horses racing careers after they are sold?

Yes definitely. One must know the results of the progeny so as to know whether to continue breeding with the mare and the sire.

Do you have any of your own horses in training now?

Yes I do. We had a lovely recent win with partners in the Kahal mare Rose Of Peru.

Tell us about how many mares you have currently on the farm and stallions? 

60 mares and two stallions, Crusade and Mambo in Seattle.

Which stallions currently are exciting you the most?

Mambo in Seattle who has produced many Gr1 horses including Same Jurisdication and recent export Majestic Mambo, and Flying the Flag in KZN. His two full sisters are both Gr1 winners with Coolmore and his foals are very impressive.

Which foals stand out for you this season?

We have a few! Crusade x Blue Nevada, Capetown Noir x Miss Coco, Willow Magic x Demitasse, Duke of Marmalade x Harold’s Gold, Capetown Noir x Irish Fairy & Irresistable Chris and Noordhoek Princess.

Any special yearlings to look out for next year at the sales and are there any specific sales that you like to support?

Our special yearlings for 2019 include Crusade x Casey’s Dance, Flying the Flag x Sauna’s Rose, Ideal World x Mystic Rose, Flying the Flag x Star Silvano, Capetown Noir x Miss Coco.

We like to support the National Yearling Sale, our regional KZN Yearling Sale and 2 Year Old Sales.

Tell us about what goes into planning your matings each year – physical, pedigree etc, what do you think is most important to breed the perfect specimen? 

The most commercial option, but physically mare and sire must compliment each other.

Tell us something about you that most people dont know?

Very shy with massive hang ups!!

What are your interests or hobbies outside of work?

Sport, wild life and going to the most remote places in the bush.

A lighthearted, feel good or amusing story to add? 

Having had the pleasure of doing the physical matings to the stallion, then delivering the resulting foals, rearing them, breaking them in, training them, saddling them up at the races and then leading some of them in as winners into the winners enclosure. So thrilling!!

An amusing story: doing summersaults next my polo pony, having been tripped up, and my pony was also summersaulting next to me at the Inanda polo ground in Jhb. Everyone stopped playing in fits of laughter because it looked so funny!!

One of my feel good moments was winning the Transvaal Polo Champs in 1971 for our home club called New Scotland Polo Club, situated on our old farm in Ermelo.

Summerview Stud is nestled in a quiet lane in the middle of Summerveld, the home to KZN’s bustling horse racing training centre that houses almost 2000 horses when the Champion Season, from March to August, is in full swing. 

A tranquil beautiful property owned by Gary and Colleen De Klerk which is also a stone’s throw away from Piemonte Stud. Gary and Colleen both have a deep love and passion for the Thoroughbred breed – Gary has been involved in owning racehorses for the past 30 years, whilst the “horse bug” bit Colleen as a child and she rode competitively from then, and still continues to ride today, more recently with retired mare, Speedy Guest.

Colleen laughs about the prospect of riding again and taking on retired mare Speedy Guest: “After her last foal, we gave her time to strengthen up, lunged her a bit and built her up as she hasn’t been sat on for over 10 years.

“We decided to go for a quite hack and I told my daughter Tash, ‘you get on her first so I can see what she does!!’ Tash walked her and did a little trot and she was absolutely fine, and we went for a little walk around the block. It was fun and I am very happy with her!” 

Their best bred horse to date is Caribbean Bay, a daughter of Mullins Bay out of Speedy Guest who is a 8-time winner and been placed 20 times.

Colleen continues with the story of the bay filly, Caribbean Bay. “We were going to send her back to Mullins Bay but sadly he died. We never got a bid for her at the 2012 KZN Yearling Sales. Dennis Drier said not to stress, bring her to me and I will train her for you. We sent her in, he backed her at their farm and from just three runs came a short head second and a fourth.

“We then received an offer to purchase her, and we sold her. She moved to Kom Naidoo and had three wins there, and was sold on further to Kimberley. Her nickname from Zietsman Oosthuizen is “Girly”. Caribbean Bay has done well at Flamingo Park. It seems that she really enjoys the sand surface.” 

A budding young farm with a very hands on personal touch – their horses were always bred, raised and sold from bigger nurseries in the Midlands, but in 2013 they decided to take a leap of faith, brought their mares and progeny home and sold at their first sale – the 2015 KZN Yearling Sale at Suncoast.

Starting with just three mares, they have now increased to 10 – visiting the Cape Mare Sale and purchasing privately from the leading farms in the country, which has resulted in a small band of choicely-bred mares and exciting stock coming through. 

Summerview Stud’s first sale with only three yearlings on offer saw the lovely grey Kahal colt Whitewater Rapids sell for R170 000, the Dennis Drier grey recently debuted and finished just 4.8 lengths off the winner, a very promising debut.

Whitewater Rapids is out of the grey mare Modern Minstrel by Modern Day – the mare is a half-sister to ARCSA Champion 3Yo Sprinter Damasco, and her other half-brother the Gr2 placed General Blake.

To date her first produce by Ravishing, Mandolin Rain, is a winner and placed and Whitewater Rapids looks promising from his first start. Modern Minstral has a beautiful grey Crusade filly named Steelheart that is being aimed at the National Yearling Sale in May 2017. She is a filly that oozes quality and scope and will be one to look for at the Nationals. 

Gary De Klerk talks about his start in the love of horse racing, with the first horse he owned being Debonair Dandy, a three time winner. “We bought him with Johnny Dawson and I introduced my father in law, Alan Gooderson, back into the game – he then bought Damasco and had incredible success with him.

“Then I bought Modern Minstral – we raced her and we had a few other good ones – I also bought the full brother to Damasco, Steel Gate which was with Clodagh Shaw – he won one and was placed seven times. His last run under Gift Funeka, he was cruising up to win and broke his leg about 50m from the finish so unfortunately that was a bit of bad luck, but we know how good Modern Minstral’s family was.”

“We began buying a few mares and decided to raise our horses on our own farm. We started with three mares, and now have 10, three years later. We have retired two this year – Modern Minstral and Speedy Guest, the latter which Colleen is now riding and enjoying her. Done Roamin’ is having a rest this year. We have purchased some mares in Cape Town to try and upgrade our stock. We have Over the Anvil, Swan Neck, Sawubona (who unfortunately died), and a Trippi mare, Harlem Nocturne.”

Gary talks about the beginning of the stud: “We started breeding with a mare called Speedy Guest and then we bought Done Roamin’, a daughter of Rambo Dancer which was a lucky acquisition for the farm. No one bid on her at the sale so we bought her.”

To date she has repaid the De Klerk’s with taking a chance on her. Her first foal, a lovely dark bay colt by Fort Beluga named Cedar Wood sold for R100 000 at 2013 National 2Yo Sale. He is a winner who also placed 10 times.

The next to come was Copper’s Pride, a handsome Muhtafal colt who sold to Duncan Howells for R160 000 at the 2014 KZN Yearling Sale. The gelding won two in a row and placed, was subsequently sold to Mauritius but sadly died before he was able to step onto the Mauritian tracks.

Gary continues: “Her next is a King’s Chapel filly with Dennis Drier called Queens Chapel. She will be running very soon and at the 2016 KZN Yearling Sales we sold a Kahal filly, Desert Wanderer.” 

“To date Harlem Nocturne has had an Elusive Fort filly and after the immense success of American dual Gr1 winner Liam’s Map who stands at stud at Lane’s End – bred on the Unbridled’s Song x Trippi cross – we decided to send her to Noble Tune at Rathmor Stud in 2016 – it only made sense to do so. We have some real lookers on the ground at the moment and we have given huge support to Crusade, Noble Tune and Flying the Flag. We believe they are going to do it.”  

Currently, Summerview Stud have eight foals on the ground, and include the likes of progeny by Gimmethegreenlight, Noble Tune, Crusade, Toreador (an underestimated stallion), the handsome Irish Flame, Elusive Fort, and Linngari.

Colleen continues about their lucky filly: “Our Gimmethegreenlight filly – we are very excited about her – she is just over a month old, and was a surprise as we had bought the mare Over the Anvil believing she wasn’t in foal.

“Of course it’s a proven cross – Fort Wood mares have produced Hack Green and Green Pepper with progeny by Gimmethegreenlight.  She was also the first foal that Tash and I foaled down on our own without assistance from our usual “midwife,” so she is very special indeed!”

Summerview Stud have five yearlings this year – two of them are currently being prepped for National Yearling Sale inspections – the steel grey filly by Crusade and a big handsome colt by Mambo In Seattle. 

Keep a look out for the red, white and black colours at the upcoming yearling sales of Summerview Stud where your purchase is likely to enter the winner’s enclosure! 

]]> https://kznbreeders.co.za/uncategorized/a-visit-to-summerview-stud/feed/ 2 https://kznbreeders.co.za/news/latest-news/visit-to-greenhill-farm/ https://kznbreeders.co.za/news/latest-news/visit-to-greenhill-farm/#respond Tue, 08 Sep 2015 08:00:00 +0000 http://kznbreeders.co.za/profiles/stud-profiles/visit-to-greenhill-farm/

Visit to Greenhill Farm

A visit to Greenhill Farm in Lidgetton, owned by Stuart and Lola Crawford and assisted by their daughters Taryn and Haley, reveals a beautiful farm where the horses needs always come first. Not only do Stuart and Lola breed and raise Gr 1 winning horses, they also grow South Africa’s national flower – the King Protea on a commercial basis.

Both Stuart and Lola Crawford’s daughters were born and raised at Greenhill and they have inherited their parent’s passion and enthusiasm for Thoroughbred breeding and racing, and compete in Showing and Showjumping.

Walking through their large, and spotless, red-brick barn revealed a number of young, very well-bred horses that will soon go be moved to Ashburton to be trained under Lola and should start running mid-January – including a very impressive (and tall) chestnut Spectrum filly, with others by Kahal and King Of Kings. Taryn who has completed her degree in agriculture will assist in managing the racing yard while she continues her studies and passion for photography.

The progeny they breed are predominantly by Summerhill sires – with a plenty of quality, well-bred stock and subsequent broodmares from top sires Kahal and Muhtafal (now at Bush Hill and Spring Valley Stud respectively).

Amongst their broodmare band are the likes of Catch Twenty Two and Little Legend.

Catch Twenty Two, by Imperial Dilemma out of Coconut Ice by Jungle Cove, now an older mare in foal to King Of Kings, is the dam of sire Damage Is Done at Yellow Star Stud – a stallion that is closely bred to the late great Jet Master – who from his small crop of foals has already produced several winners and Black Type with filly Shattered Image.

The other is Little Legend (by Complete Warrior out of Little Inagua by Welsh Harmony), a charming chestnut mare who has produced Gr 1 winner Spiced Gold (by Kahal). She has produced a full sibling to Spiced Gold who has now gone into training, an outstanding bay colt named Dream Hunter – and an equally good looking chestnut yearling colt by Kahal. Little Legend is in foal to King’s Chapel this year and it is going to be quite exciting to see the foal that results from that mating.

Spiced Gold won four times out, including the SA Fillies Classic Gr 1. She also ran three lengths off Fisani in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas Gr 2, a close third in the Gr 1 Golden Slipper, placing in the Gr 3 Fillies Mile at Turffontein as well as running four lengths off Imperious Star in the Gr 1 Woolavington – all of this from a filly who sold for just R50 000 at the 2008 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale.

Other Black-Type mares on the farm are Sweet Seduction, Fluent Beauty, Nettle, Queens Review and Imperial Image.

The foals and yearlings at Greenhill stand out in size and bone substance, and Lola puts this down to a truly unique feeding method they utilize – Greenhill creep feed their foals with a mix of lucerne and concentrate feed fed ad lib until the horses are two years of age.

Of course the first question that is raised is if the horses gulp down tremendous amounts of food – and Lola’s answer is no and her reasoning makes a lot of sense. “Horses are trickle feeders with very small stomachs – meaning they are designed to eating little bits continuously throughout the day, instead of three large meals a day. We have creep feeders built in their paddocks which are big enough for the foals to get through and the mares can’t get to their food, and they just take what they need on a daily basis.”

Clearly it’s a concept that works – the foals are in perfect body condition and well grown – and there isn’t the need to “pig out” so to speak as they know the food is readily available and there is no rush to eat it – they only eat what their bodies need.

Lola says they have also noticed their young horses growth is therefore very steady and stabilized – if their growth was compared to a graph there wouldn’t be sharp “spikes” in upping feed for growth, and this means it is also good for the horses legs as they grow naturally without sudden amounts of increased feeding, resulting sudden growth spurts which can affect a young horses knees.

Lola points that that mares and older horses are fed individually with nose bags – that way they can control exactly what each horse is taking in as well as any additional additives that may be required, and without the horses being aggressive over food at feeding time.

The mares are also assessed after each foaling. Lola says if they feel the mare has had a difficult foaling or drops off condition after foaling, they will leave her barren for a year to give her a rest and try the next – which she says has had positive results with getting mares back into foal the next year and many of her older mares are still able to get into foal, foaling big healthy babies.

Greenhill Stud have always stood out the sales with their yearlings immaculately turned out, including plaited manes and stables decorated with eye-catching Proteas.

Their top-selling horse to date has been Devon Gold, by Muhtafal out of Ad Infinitum by Among Men, for R600 000. Devon Gold has already won twice and placed 11 times, including second time out in the Godolphin Barb Gr 3 Stakes.

Contact Details:
Stuart and Lola Crawford
Tel: 082 565 5503 or 082 565 5502
Email: greenhill@mweb.co.za
Website: www.greenhillfarm.co.za
Facebook: Greenhill Farm

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