Kahal as a broodmare sire has won a Gr1 and a Gr2 in the space of a week in two different provinces, as the broodmare sire of Ambiance-bred Royal Victory and Kwinta’s Light bred by Syrilla Stud.

The deceased son of Machiavellian out of a Green Desert mare, who stood at Summerhill Stud for much of his career prior to his transfer to Bush Hill Stud, saw his handsome grandson take the Gr1 Betway Summer Cup a week at Turffontein, followed up with Justin Snaith’s beautifully bred Kwinta’s Light, taking the Gr2 WSB Southern Cross Stakes.

Kwinta’s Light is by Gimmethegreenlight and races in the colours of Maine Chance Farms.

It was a double at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth for the Shadwell Stud-owned Kahal, has his tall leggy grand-daughter won Race 4, out of mare Cousin Annie.

Kwinta’s Light is out of Kwinta, an own sister to Eastern Greeting and Kalaam – all bred by KZN breeders Kjell Foundation’s Benson family based in Karkloof.

All of the aforementioned mares are resident as broodmares in the Cape.

Kahal also happens to have come full circle in KZN, as Blue Sky Thoroughbreds Chimichuri Run is out of Gr1 winner Spiced Gold, by Kahal. ‘Chimi’ as he is affectionately known has his first foals on the ground this season and they are the spitting image of their sire, with powerful hindquarters and quality heads.

Excluding Saturdays Hollywoodbets Kenilworth results which have been updated as of yet, Kahal is on 31% winners produced for the season and over R5,7-million in stakes earned.

Noble Tune, who recently relocated to Camargue Stud, has passed away unexpectedly.

The sire of Gr3 Gold Cup winner Paths Of Victory was humanely euthanised on the operating table after vets did their best to assist the son of Unbridled’s Song.

Noble Tune with a purple pedigree, a Gr2 and Gr3 winner in America as well as finishing second in the Gr1 Breeders Cup Juvenile on Turf, is a half-brother to Gr1 winner and producer in America, Honor Code.

He also shares a dam with newly acquired Rathmor sire Declarationofpeace (War Front), standing at Rathmor Stud which was Noble Tune’s prior home.

Noble Tune, out of a Storm Cat mare from the female line of Serena’s Song, saw his best on the track with Gold Cup winner Paths Of Victory and Copper Mountain, second by half a length to Got The Greenlight in the H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes (Grade 1).

Noble Tune was the only son of Unbridled’s Song to stand at stud in South Africa.

Ted Hughes’ stallion by High Chaparral, Golden Sword, passed on after an unfortunate accident.

“A very sad day yesterday. We lost Golden Sword to a freak accident at the farm. The record holder over 2000m in Dubai and two lengths behind Sea the Stars in the 2009 Epsom Derby, will be sorely missed by us. A few youngsters yet to run so his legacy will carry on. Bred by the Pococks in Somerset from an illustrious family,” Ted announced on his social media.

Golden Sword was a horse close to the heart of his owner, who grew up with the breeders of Golden Sword and Rekindling in England and Ted was fortunate to visit and meet Sitara, the chestnut dam of Golden Sword.

Golden Sword is a half-brother to Gr1 Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling and French Gr1 placed Sydney Opera House. Golden Sword was trained by Mike De Kock in Dubai, and interesting to note that Mathew De Kock recently purchased a horse (by Australia) at Tattersalls from the immediate family of Golden Sword for 240 000 gns.

Golden Sword’s best was Belle Rose – a half-sister to Pierre Jordan was subsequently exported to Dubai but injury prevented her from performing.

Golden Swords breeders, Stringston Farm, purchased the mare in foal to Cracksman and it was heartwarming to see the pedigree go full circle and across three continents.

Amongst his other leading progeny is Nimcha, an 8-time winner racing in the colours of Hollywood Syndicate, purchased from the Alexander brothers prior to their repatriation to Australia, whilst Oasis Queen is also a 7-time winner.

Golden Sword was a lean, leggy individual who stood over ground and looked every inch and athlete when he walked – a very typical staying type who threw large, beautiful foals.

Our thoughts go out to Ted Hughes on the loss of a special horse.

Just As Well by AP Indy has been retired from stud duties, to the farm of Juli Santini – Juli, whose family own Roski Stud, were the bulk shareholders of Just As Well during his stallion career.

Affectionately known as JAWS, an abbreviation of his name and in no way a reflection of his lovely temperament, he stood at Spring Valley Stud for the duration of his stud career.

Just As Well arrived with an interesting history and raced in the USA, Canada and Japan, including crossing the line in a Canadian Gr1 but losing it in the boardroom. He placed 2nd in two major international Gr1 races.

From small numbers, with only 12 coverings in his early years for a season, he always maintained a high winners to runners percentage of 40% and over consistently – and produced the likes of Gr3 Caradoc Gold Cup winner Just Cruised In, Ready To Run Cup winner Chili Con Carne, and feature filly Just Chaos and Just As I Said, as well as Bruce Le Roux’s Well In Flight, now at stud. He never attracted the support he deserved and we may very well have seen a champion sire had he received full books each year.

Just As Well always produced a handsome, sound horse that had good bone and often produced a stocky, flashy chestnut, excellent temperaments and were almost guaranteed to earn their keep for their owners and more.

Just As Well, bred on the same cross as Judpot (also out of a Gr1 winning Nureyev mare) was Timeform Rated 118 and from the family of top sires Raven’s Pass, E Dubai. His siblings include dual Gr1 winner Rainbow View and Gr2 winner Utley, as well as Gr3 winner Winter View. His Invincible Spirit “niece” Stunning Spirit placed once again in a French Gr3 over the weekend.

The Late Greg Royden-Turner of Roski Stud who was instrumental in the head hunting, purchasing and the importation of Just As Well, recounted how there is a large space empty space in the race career of Just As Well from 2006 – 2008.

“His owners had a ranch, and Just As Well injured himself and they decided to take him home to rest. What they did was let him out and he ran, literally in the mountains, with the wild horses they had. They actually forgot about him! They retrieved him off the mountains a year later – and I think that did the world of good for Just As Well. He was never unsound after that, they said he had matured physically and emotionally and went onto his career best performances!”

Juli Santini reports on her social media that he has settled in with two mares for company very well at their farm in Lidgetton, where he will now produce polo ponies as a sire.

A stallion always filled with character and vigour and still covering mares with great enthusiasm until last season, his influence as a smashing broodmare sire will not be forgotten through his world wide travels whilst at stud.

His champion grandchildren such as Dutch Art, himself a Gr1 producer and sire of sires (including Slade Power) at stud, and the likes of Up – a Gr1 winning mare who changed hands at Keeneland for $2,2-million in foal to War Front, will see his name in pedigrees for years to come.

At one point of Spectrum’s career, he was 84th in the world as a broodmare sire. He is also a sire of sires, having produced the likes of Golan and Tartan Bearer.

His grand-daughter the grey Moonlight Cloud, another exceptional Gr1 filly, almost brought Black Caviar’s dream race career to an end at Ascot.

Amongst Spectrum’s exceptional race record were wins in the Irish 2000 Guineas (1995) and Champion Stakes (1995). He won 4 times (including a 10 length win on debut) from 9 starts, never contesting a maiden race, and was Timeform Rated at 126.

He was also the broodmare sire of Winchester, and South African Gr1 winners Tellina and Sand And Sea.

Our thoughts to all at Yellow Star Stud on the passing of this wonderful horse.

Images: Candiese Marnewick

After it was reported yesterday morning that Crusade was battling a severe bout of colic and being transported to Baker & McVeigh in Summerveld, it was announced last night that he had died after a decision was made to humanely euthanise Crusade whilst under anaesthetic, due to considerable and irreparable damage found to his colon during surgery.

Purchased by the KZN Breeders Club utilising the KZN Breeders Premium Scheme, Crusade was a perfect fit for the criteria the KZN Breeders Club were looking for – a European Gr1 winner who had raced Lasix-free with a pedigree.

A Gr1 Middle Park Stakes winning son of Mr Greeley out of a speedy Group winning Coolmore mare that Crusade strongly resembled in looks, his dam went on to produce multiple Gr1 winner Seventh Heaven, with her progeny thereafter placing in numerous European Group races. It was a pedigree bursting with Gr1 Middle Park Stakes winners, and Crusade went on to produce many winning Sprinter and Sprinter Milers – he stamped his progeny in no uncertain terms, usually plain black with his head resembled and particular hindquarters, and on the rare occasion plain liver chestnuts which must have been a throwback to his own sire Mr Greeley.

Crusade produced four Stakes Winners from his first crop, and his Clifton-bred daughter – a two-time Listed winner Covered In Snow was recently retired to stud.

Crusade began his career at Scott Bros Highdown Stud and enjoyed great support from the KZN Breeders Club, filling his books each year. After Scott Bros took the decision to reduce their breeding operation, a decision was made by the Crusade syndicate to relocate Crusade to Clifton Stud in Rosetta, a perfect halfway point for breeders situated between Nottingham Road and Mooi River.

Crusade’s lifetime winners to runners percentage stands at 55% and for the season 46% winners to runners, his average earnings per runner is R54 360.00, with R5-million in stakes earned.

His Stakes horses include Covered In Snow, Bullsade, recent Gr1 placed behind Oh Susanna – Silent Crusade, Butchie Boy, and the sadly deceased Alfeo who passed away after crossing the finish line.

Always a popular sire at sales, Crusade will be represented on the KZN Yearling Sale with 17 of his progeny on offer.

Our thoughts go out to both Scott Bros and Clifton Stud who stood Crusade.

May he Rest In Peace.

DIED 3 December 2017

RACE RECORD

In England, Ireland and South Africa. 4 wins, 17 places
1200-1600m.
MR 103, TFR 98 at 2.

at 2 3rd Acombe Stakes (L) (1400m)
at 5 2nd Gr2 Sentinel Spring (1200m)
3rd Gr2 Hawaii S. (1400m)
3rd Gr2 Drill Hall S. (1400m)
at 6 2nd Gr1 Gold Challenge (1600m)
3rd Gr1 Queens Plate (1600m)
2nd Gr1 Hawaii Stakes (1400m)

Proven sire of:

Champion 2YO Colt, Gr1 & 2 winner Link Man
Gr1 Tsogo Sun Sprint winner Bull Valley

Gr1 Mercury Sprint winner Bull Valley
Gr3 winner Deliver The Power
Stakes winner & Gr 1 pl behind Igugu – Las Ramblas
Gr2 & 3 winner Jackodore
Gr3 winner She’s A Stunner
Gr2 & 3 winner & Stakes winner Lazer Star
Gr1 placed Prospect Strike
Gr3 winner Bull Valley
Gr1 placed Misty Birnam

2017 Stud Fee: R20 000
Standing at first season at Bush Hill Stud in 2013

Retired from Thoroughbred Stud Duties April 2017

RACE RECORD

In South Africa, 6 wins, 1200-2000m, at 2 to 5, for stakes of over
R1 million (MR 108)

WON Gr1 Cape Derby (2000m) Gr1

SA Guineas (1600m) 4th Gr1

SA Classic (1800m) Gr1

Gold Challenge (wfa) (1600m) Gr1

Queen’s Plate (wfa) (1600m)

NOTABLE PROGENY

Asian Affair – Gr3 pl, Main Miracle – (L) pl
Carina Coleman – Gr3 pl
Sheikitupbaby – won Spook Express H. (L) 2600m

Stood at Scott Bros

Relocated out of KZN

RACE RECORD

In Singapore, 9 wins, 1200-1600m at 3 to 5
Earned S$1.6million
Rated 116

At 3: 3rd Gr1 Singapore Guineas (1600m)

At 4: Won Gr1 Krisflyer Sprint (1200m)

Won Gr1 Patrons Bowl (1200m)

Won Gr3 Woodlands Handicap (1200m)

At 5: Won Gr3 Saas Fee Stakes (1400m)3rd Gr1 Kranji Mile (1600m)

To stud 2014.

For extended pedigree and information click here

Stud Fee 2016: R10 000 (R2000 nom + R8 000 live foal)
Standing at Summerhill Stud

A handsome son of AP Indy out of Pas De Reponse by Danzig, AP Answer sadly passed away yesterday at Clifton Stud after a severe colic attack, and the hard decision was made to put the horse down due to his suffering.

A horse with an unusal facial marking of a blaze that started halfway down his nose, his 16hh size was misleading – a compact stallion with mighty hindquarters which he passed onto his progeny, you could easily mistake him for being on the small side until he stood next to you – he was striking and imposing individual who threw good looking and correct foals with plenty of bone and substance, and eye catching toplines.

AP Answer was a dream come true for Peter Blyth when the advert for his prospective sale arrived in Peter’s inbox – the stallion was a combination of all of his favourite stallions he had seen overseas on a trip to Kentucky in America, which included the supreme greats AP Indy, Seattle Slew, Danzig, Mr Prospector and Storm Bird – the latter is in the female line of AP Answer through his fourth dam South Ocean.

Peter Blyth has always held Danzig in very high regard and had plenty of success with Allied Flag at stud, a son of Danzig that produced Vodacom Durban July winner Classic Flag for Clifton Stud.

AP Answer’s current winners to runners percentage of 28.1% exceeds that of some of the leading sires in South Africa by popularity if you scan the current percentages available on nhra.co.za.

AP Answer produced the likes of Gr1 and Gr3 placed Beckedorf (a R70 000 sales purchase), and was crowned Zimbabwe’s Champion Stallion for the season 2015/2016 (with Clifton Stud as Zimbabwe’s Champion Breeder.)

His daughters and full sisters Print The Pounds and Duffi’s Call flew the flag high north of the South African border, whilst his South African horses to impress include Stakes Placed By Jove and Cutting Edge who took home the winnings from the KZN Yearling Sale Million.

Our condolences to Peter and Jenny Blyth and manager Christine Quinn on the loss of AP Answer.