First Foal For The Assayer At Yellow Star Stud

Yellow Star Stud have welcomed the first foal for The Assayer last night, a lovely big colt with plenty of quality and substance about him. The colt is out of Flying Minstral, a daughter of Lord Balmerino in turn out of Gone West mare Happy Mondays (USA), the damline of sires Pole Position, Jupiter Island and Krayyan.

The Assayer is currently the only grey stallion standing in KZN, imported in utero to South Africa and bred on the same famous Galileo/Danehill cross that has produced numerous champions, including the great Frankel, Timeform Rated at 143.

The Assayer sold for R1-million at Nationals and began his training career with Charles Laird for the Jooste / Kantor racing partnership, later relocated to Mike De Kock, racing 10 times to win once (by almost four lengths) and place twice in two Gr1’s – the Golden Horseshoe and Premier’s Championship. He placed nine times in total. Unfortunately an injury prevented The Assayer fulfilling a promising race career.

His dam Crystal Charm made two appearances as a two year old in the UK, placing in both with Listed status. She was sent to Hong Kong, finishing second to Fairy King Prawn at Sha-Tin in the Hong Kong Sprint by a length.

A year later she finished with the same result in the same race, and sent back to Ireland for stud duties. Sold in foal to Cadeaux Genereux, she was then sent to Australia where she was covered by Galileo. The Cadeaux Genereux mating produced Les Alizes, in turn the dam of 4-time winning Arrived Ahead in Hong Kong; also placing in the Gr3 Sha-Tin Vase.

A dam-line bursting with Gr1 winners, it includes the likes of half-siblings Timely Writer (4 x Gr1 wins) and dual Gr1 winner Timely Assertion – both found under the second dam Timely Tammy. Others include Wild Wolverine, champion filly Indian Skimmer, Dark Mirage, Missy’s Mirage, sires Bluebird, Java Gold and Madeglia d’Oro, and local Gr1 Mercury Sprint winner All Will Be Well.

Galileo has been Champion sire in 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. His is the sire-of-sires of New Approach, Teofilo, Frankel and Cape Blanco, and produced South African champion filly Igugu. His stud fees in 2014 were reportedly in the vicinity of 350 000 Euros per mare covered.

The Assayer stands for just R5 000 this season.