Foals From Middlefield Stud

Foals From Middlefield Stud

For the latest Foal Feature, we visited Rob and Michele Pickering at their Middlefield Stud to have a look at a few of their new foals from the 2011 season, with Rob particularly excited and enthusiastic about the progeny of Carpocrates(USA), one of the best bred stallions to be imported to this country. He sold for a record breaking $US 2.4 million as a weanling in the United States.

The mere fact that Mike de Kock has retained a share in this stallion should speak volumes. Carpocrates is by Storm Cat out of champion racemare in the USA, Spain, herself by Thunder Gulch. Although Carpocrates is a 3-time winner, Rob joked that technically Carpocrates is a Group 1 winner, having being in uetro when his dam crossed the finishing line first in the 2000 Breeders Cup Distaff Gr 1.

“We are extremely happy with the foal crops of all three stallions,” says Rob Pickering of Carpocrates, Spanish Harlem and Rocky Street. “Of all the foals, Carpocrates are a little closer to having some results on the track as they are close to running. We have heard extremely good reports from various trainers across the country, including some of the best in the country. Trainer Leon Erasmus has had one that has had a start and ran 4th first time named Zaganos. He is out of an Al Mufti mare called Rosebank and Leon is very very happy with him. The trainer is re-nominating him because he is expecting a win next time out. He has said after that he will geld him and put him away for some feature races, he is talking very highly of the horse.”

The first foal that came out is an absolutely beautiful liver chestnut filly named Lady Liberty. Her elegant presence certainly suits the name given to her. She is by Carpocrates out of Eternal Lady, herself by Jallad out of Eternal Dancer by National Assembly.

Eternal Lady is herself unraced and has had two foals, two runners and one winner, a 2007 colt called Jack Rock. He is a 3 winner of R179,525 at 3 and he has placed seven times. Her dam, Eternal Dancer, was an incredible 12 time winner of R450,380 from at 3 to 7 over 1200 – 1600 metres. Her wins included the Champagne Stakes Gr 3, Diamond S (L) (twice) Champagne Stakes (WFA) (L) and she placed 17 times including two Grade 2 and one Grade 3 race. She is the dam of two winners herself.

This dam-line includes horses such as 6-time winner Chattaronga, winner of the General Accident SA St Leger Gr 3 and Tyson, a 7-time winner including two wins in Dubai. He earned R1,766,300, his wins including the Summer Cup Gr 1 and Victory Moon Handicap Gr 3. This filly by Carpocrates is certainly going to be one to keep an eye on.

Crystal Clear has produced an impressive and athletic bay colt called Blind Rise, again by Carpocrates. He certainly gave the impression of being very sure of himself, promptly strutting very bravely up to his sire’s fence to greet him, and based on his pedigree he has every right to be. Crystal Clear is herself by Alami out of Clear Creek by Secret Prospector.

His dam, Crystal Clear is herself unraced but she has produced four runners and three winners, including the very good 2004 gelding Thunder Creek, by Martenelli. Thunder Creek is an 8-time winner of R586,385 and raced from age 2 to 6. His wins included the King’s Cup Grade 3 and he placed 11 times. Crystal Clear has another two progeny by Carpocrates, one of which is a 2009 filly called Ice Crystal, currently unraced, and yearling colt called Buck Shot.

Crystal Clear’s dam, Clear Creek is a 5-timewinner of R170,890 including the Flamboyant Stakes (L) and she placed 5 times, including a second in the Arc-En-Ciel Paddock Stakes Gr.1, a third’s in the Fillies Guineas Futurity Gr 1 and JB McIntosh Fillies Classic 1400 Gr 3. She currently has Clear As Day Light at the track who is now a 4-winner of R233,403 and placed 9 times. She has produced 4 runners and 4 winners in total. This is another good damline, which includes the very good filly Winona, Silver Age, Weston Paint, Mighty Mandarin and SA Fillies Nursery Grade 2 winner Hawaiian Wahoo.

Rocky Street(AUS) has a beautiful bay colt, being very well-bred by out of the Stravinsky mare Ahazaza(NZ). The mare herself is out of Key Of Future(GB) by Saddler’s Hall(IRE). Ahazaza is a winner and she placed 10 times, earning herself R158 375.

Her dam Key Of Future is unraced but the mare has produced two runners and two winners, and is a half-sister to Tantum Ergo(GB) a Grade 3 winner in the UK. This dam-line oozes plenty of sires, one being Champion Sire Biomydrin(GB) and Cry Baby II(GB) a Grade 3 winner, as well as Selko, another Grade 3 winner, Raise You Ten and Orbit. Other Black-Type winners include Amfissa, Varinia, Varishkina, Italian bred Morgiano. It also includes Top Rated 2-Year Old filly in 1980, Muskoka Weekend, Karmani and another top Canadian filly called Miss Hyperion, French bred 8-time winner Seventh Heaven and Grade 1 Jefferson Smurfit Memorial St Leger winner Mountain Lodge.

The next foal, a filly, is from the big regal-looking Danehill stallion, out of English 1000 Guineas winner Sleepytime by Royal Academy, Spanish Harlem(IRE). The filly is out of Nancy by Coastal. Nancy herself is out of C’est L’amour by Esplendor. This is a lovely athletic, and an as yet unnamed filly. Her dam Nancy produced 6 runners and 3 winners, including 5-time winner Gibraltar Rock. This family includes 10-time winner, also by Coastal, Shining Coast, winner of two Grade 3 races. The second dam of Nancy, Hautecombe produced 15 runners and 10 winners including 7-time winner Hautcar, winner of the Grade 3 Cape Summer Stayers Handicap.

The third dam is where things get quite exciting. Her name is Princess Comnene and her descendants include numerous French Champion Sires, starting with Pharly(FR), twice French Champion stallion and a Top rated 2 Year Old in 1976, he is the winner of multiple Grade 1 races. His brother is another stallion who was a Champion sire in Australia, and champion first season sire. He was also one of France’s top rated 2 year olds in 1975. The last stallion to come from this dam-line is Melyno, who was Champion 3 Year Old in France and a top rated 3 year old colt in 1982. The fourth dam includes so much American Black-Type – far too much to mention – with seven under the fourth dam Commemoration(FR). An exceptional pedigree, we will be looking forward to this young Spanish Harlem filly hitting the track, and quite possibly the breeding paddocks one day.

Another Spanish Harlem filly (as yet unnamed) from the mare Hargreaves by Allied Flag. Hargreaves is out of Chillon Castle by Sharp Romance. Hargreaves is a 4-time winner and earned herself R221 158 at the track, and placed 10 times. She also has a Spanish Harlem yearling colt. Her dam Chillon Castle produced 7 runners and 6 winners.

The dam-line includes 9-time winner Noble Victory, winner of the In Full Flight Stakes Grade 3, Listed 8-time winner Seven-A-Side, Cape Of Good Hope Derby Futurity Grade 1 winner Bold Chieftain, Premier’s Gold Vase winner Al’s Dancer, Grade 2 winner Fine Things, and Grade 3 Acacia Handicap winner Fine Farthing, at 8-time winner.

The last foal we look at is by Rocky Street(AUS), who has let down to be a beautiful specimen of a stallion, with a temperament to match. This filly is out of the mare Manzanilla (by Martinelli(USA) and is herself out of Salmantina by Cordoba(USA). Manzanilla is a 4-time winner of R299,650 and placed 17 times. Her dam Salmantina is a half-sister to Russian Pioneer and was a winner herself – and is the dam of 2 winners. Salmantina comes from a Argentine dam-line that has produced numerous champions in this country.

Her immediate dam-line has produced the likes of Eventuail(ARG) who was voted Equus Champion Older Classic Male in 2002. His wins include the SA Guineas Grade 1, The Summer Cup Grade 1, Premiers Handicap Grade 3, and he also won the Dubai Duty Free Stakes Grade 1. Emerald Beauty(ARG) is another – a winner of the Cape Fillies Guineas Grade1, the brilliant filly Escoleta Fitz(ARG) who was voted Equus Champion Older Classic Female in 2001. Her 10 wins over 1200 – 1900m include the Garden Province Stakes Grade 1, Cape Of Good Hope Paddock Stakes Grade 1.

Last to come from this brilliant family is the great racemare Empress Club(ARG). She was voted ARCSA Champion 2YO Filly in 1990 and deservedly honoured with Horse Of The Year & Champion 3YO Filly in 1991 and as well as Champion Older Female in 1992. She amassed 16 wins including a win in USA and raced from 2 – 6. Her versatile wins include the J & B Met Grade 1, SA Guineas Grade 1, Queen’s Plate Grade 1, Smirnoff Sprint Grade 1, SA Fillies Guineas Grade 1 and the Administrator’s Cup.

Rob goes on to say that Spanish Harlem and Carpocrates will be represented at the National Sales. “The Spanish Harlem foals are the first crop going to sales, this time next year we will be at the same place we are with Carpocrates. It’s exciting that we have four stallions that have all come year after year (the newest being Antigua Island), and these are brand new stallions that have never been tried and are not ‘second hand’ stallions. It is a huge plus that they haven’t been proven failures. Carpocrates’ foals, his yearlings and 2 year olds are extremely athletic. Spanish Harlems’ foals and yearlings are really big, and the temperaments across the board are all very good.”

If you would like to contact Middlefield Stud please call Michele 082 726 1562 or Rob 082 5730 418 or alternatively email: robpick@mweb.co.za