Opening Of Breeding Season 2012
| Opening Of Breeding Season 2012 |
Spring always represents new beginnings, although in KZN it happened a little earlier than expected, with the first foaling in the province reported by Hadlow Stud on 16 July. While the foalings begin early, the breeding of the horses opens on 1 September.
The recent heavy snow falls caused damage across the Midlands, leaving farms without water or electricity for over a week, but the snow has brought much needed moisture to the fields and pastures after a dry winter.
Farms across KZN are busy preparing their broodmares for foaling, bringing the heavily pregnant mares in from the paddocks and getting them comfortable in their large foaling boxes, maiden mares are being kept under lights and prepared for their first breeding season ahead while future pedigrees are being studied and planned and stallion services booked.
Several farms have hosted their stallion days to show their new acquisitions including Equus Award winning (for eight consecutive seasons) Champion Breeders’ Summerhill Stud, as well as Yellow Star and Bush Hill Stud.
KZN sees 11 new stallions join the ranks this season (click the following link to read more), as well as welcoming the first 2012 KZN foals from the likes of Bankable (deceased), Call To Combat, Just As Well, King’s Chapel, Spectrum, Tropical Empire and Visionaire.
Foals that attracted attention last season were from Rathmor Stud, with the birth of the white Kahal colt, Gran Blanco, as well as a half-sister to Gypsy’s Warning while Emperor’s Dance, the dam of Dancewiththedevil standing at Hadlow Stud, foaled a Jam Alley colt on the evening of the KZN Breeders Awards. Bush Hill Stud welcomed a Mullins Bay colt half-brother to The Mouseketeer, whilst Sweet Sheila, the dam of Stellite and Zirconeum foaled a Kahal filly. Clifton Stud have a beautiful chestnut filly who is a full-sister to Fort Vogue.
The first foals of A.P. Answer, Brave Tin Soldier, Rocky Street, Strategic News and Fort Beluga (deceased) are now yearlings and judging by the quality and looks of these foals and feedback from breeders, the future for these well-bred stallions looks a bright one indeed.
The Suncoast KZN Yearling Sale, KZN Mixed Sale and National Two Year Old Sale have seen positive increases in the average prices of horses sold compared to last year – proof that the market is beginning to turn for the better in the breeders’ favour.
The Suncoast KZN Yearling Sale saw the highest price paid for a yearling in its history, fetching over a R1-million, and renewed interest in particular for KZN-bred racehorses after the launch of the KZN Breeders Triple Challenge and the running of the inaugural KZN Breeders Million Mile – won by Mr George Rowles’ bred Knock On Wood.
Son of Sadler’s Wells, King Of Kings, led the National Log for Leading Sire Of Two Year Olds by Stakes Earned for most of the beginning of the year, with the mighty son of Machiavellian, Kahal, finishing third on the National Sires Log for the season. Miesque’s Approval was voted KZN’s best sire prospect last year, and he is proving that this season with the likes of Placido and Eton Square, placing the Gr 1 Vodacom Durban July.
We are fielding regular enquiries from breeders with mares across the country wanting to ensure their mares and progeny are registered with the KZN Breeders Premium Scheme.
We have also seen the first winners for our Freshman sires Atso, Carpocrates, Lion Tamer, Mullin’s Bay and Ravishing as well as the export of multiple Gr 1 winners’ Igugu(AUS), The Apache (by Mogok) and Dancewiththedevil (by Modus Vivendi).
There is much enthusiasm and excitement amongst the breeders over the events of the past year and we look forward to the champions of 2015 being born, we wish the breeders a successful season ahead.
KZN Breeders: where breeders are rewarded for success!
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