First Winner For Yellow Star’s Tropical Empire

First Winner For Yellow Star’s Tropical Empire

He has to be one of the most beautiful stallions standing in KZN – a big bold eye, plenty of presence and energy, and very easy on the eye when it comes to his conformation – reminiscent of the early George Stubb’s paintings of the English Thoroughbred with a bulging round hindquarter, a perfectly arched neck and a majestic head.

Tropical Empire(AUS) has had his first winner after we recently reported that his first two runners – aptly named Daiquiri and Caribbean, have both placed multiple times in their respective countries, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Both horses were bred at Koos and Lorraine De Klerk’s Yellow Star Stud, however it was a victory made all the more sweeter because Daiquiri is trained by Chris Erasmus from his satellite yard at Yellow Star Stud in Mooi River.

Daiquiri has been knocking hard on the door for a win after placing three times from five starts, the two year old filly won by a head under jockey Billy Jacobson from Visionaire filly Classy Chic over 1200m at Greyville. Seek The Summit (Elusive Fort) and Swan Dance (Greys Inn) placed behind respectively.

Daiquiri is out of Camden Park mare It’s Playtime, in turn out of an Al Mufti/Model Man mare. The mare has a 2013 Tropical Empire colt coming through.

Tropical Empire originally began his training career with Michael Roberts and subsequently moved to Duncan Howells.

Tropical Empire has an impressive race record with 40 starts, 12 wins and 11 places and a total of R1 185 610 in stakes earned.

His wins include the Betting World 1900 (Gr2) over 1900m and the Drill Hall Stakes (Gr2) over 1400m. He ran second in the Sunday Tribune Byerly Turk (Gr3) over 1400m, the Cup Trial (Gr3) over 1800m and Drill Hall Stakes (Gr2) over 1400m, and a fourth in the Christmas Handicap (Gr3) over 1600m. Tropical Empire’s owner “Chips” Pennells has described him as the best horse he has ever had.

Tropical Empire has an exceptional turn of foot, as well as possessing a lot of speed. Racing soundly until the age of eight, Tropical Empire retired to Yellow Star Stud and stood alongside his Irish-bred sire Second Empire before his passing.

Second Empire as a shuttle stallion produced many Group winners the world over, his son Star Empire carries the flag as a consistent stayer for the Mike De Kock yard in Dubai, whilst also making news in 2014 after siring Grand National winner Aurora’s Encore.

Tropical Empire is out of 9-time winning and Gr1 placed Tropical Touch by Pago Pago. His half-sister Tropical Minx is a two-time winner who has gone on to produce Gr3 winner Van Raider.

Congratulations to the team at Yellow Star Stud for a significant accomplishment of standing the stallion, breeding and training the winner. Tropical Empire’s service fee is available on application.