New Stallions In KZN For 2012 Breeding Season

New Stallions In KZN For 2012 Breeding Season

An exciting season awaits KZN with ten new stallion acquisitions for the upcoming breeding season.

Some farms have each received new stallions for the season – Hadlow have had stallions return to KZN such as Announce and Modus Vivendi, the other is Summerhill Stud with new sires’ Golden Sword and Traffic Guard.

As we take a look at the new stallions (in alphabetical order), the first is Announce, a very big and handsome-looking chestnut stallion with a super temperament.

By National Assembly out of You’re My Lady by Roberto, Announce was a winner of four races (including the Listed Thukela Handicap) and placed seven times in South Africa over 1200-1600m from ages three to four. He is a full-brother to another Graystone Stud-owned stallion, Sarge.

A chestnut standing at 16.2 hands, this pedigree has proved to be a powerful dam-line producing many champion stallions such as Al Samer by Redoute’s Choice and Diatribe. You’re My Lady has produced Gr 2 winner Lady Broadhurst, Daphne Donelly (dam of Bouquet-Garni), sire in the US Youthful Legs (by Explodent) and Lady’s Delight.

Second dam is Spring Adieu, the dam of Damascus Gate and Razyana, the latter producing three sons by Danzig at stud. The first is Dual Hemisphere world champion stallion Danehill (who has seven sons or grandsons at stud in KZN alone), and his full brothers and sires Eagle Eyed and Shibboleth all by Danzig. Third dam is of course Natalma, responsible for producing the best sire the world has ever seen – Northern Dancer.

Announce, Hadlow Stud. Image: Candiese Marnewick Antigua Island, Middlefield Stud. Images: Candiese Marnewick Bezrin(USA), Rathmor Stud. Image: Candiese Marnewick

Announce stands alongside his son at Hadlow Stud – Call To Combat – who stood his first season last year. Announce has produced 133 runners to date, with a staggering 82 winners – five of those Stakes Winners and eight Stakes Placed. Announce will stand for a fee of R18 000 live foal this coming season. Contact Cathy Martin on 083 454 0604 for more information.

Antigua Island is a four-year chestnut old son of Black Minnaloushe, the first at stud in South Africa standing at Rob and Michele Pickerings’ Middlefield Stud. Out of the mare Jamaica by Sportsworld, Antigua Island went into training and showed huge amounts of potential before an injury put paid to his racing career.

His dam Jamaica (Sportworld – Bridge Of Stars by Averof) was voted Equus Champion Older Middle Distance Female in 2005, with 11 wins including the Grade 1 races’ Empress Club Stakes, Fancourt Majorca Stakes and Cape Of Good Hope Paddock Stakes. Antigua Island has a half-brother by Western Winter, Bermuda Winter, who has won three times and placed six times. A young chestnut stallion who has let down beautifully, he is the splitting image in looks of his champion dam Jamaica. He is very tall horse who stands over a lot of ground, being young he has a big frame to fill out and he is going to be a big, imposing individual in years to come.

Bezrin(USA) is another sire who has made a welcome return to KZN from the Cape and stands at Rathmor Stud, managed by Midlands Thoroughbreds. The only son of Danzig currently in KZN, out of Darling Flame by Capote, he has sired the likes of champions Celtic Fire, Thunderflash and Tetelestai to name a few of his Bold Black Types. He is also the sire of Champion Two Year Old and Kenyan Derby winner Lazrin.

Craig Ramsay who brought Bezrin to this country says, “My Darling One was a bright chestnut with an abundance of white on her legs and a patch on her body, and although Bezrin is as similar to Northern Dancer in type, colour and size as possible, his progeny can be as similar to him as they are to his maternal grandmother with many inheriting her distinctive colour characteristics – either way they descend from champion stock. He produces sound horses who train on and get better as the years pass. Bezrin was KZN’s leading sire last year and is currently leading a log again. After each season at stud featuring prominently on all sires lists, he is a proven option to breeders in KZN, an almost guaranteed source of success and extremely good value.”

Bezrin was a three time winner, including the Prix Montretout (L) in France and he placed four times (including two Listed races and two Grade 3) having only being unplaced (fifth) once from nine starts. Bezrin stands for a very reasonable fee of R5 000 this season.

Curved Ball(AUS) has been sent to stand at Bush Hill Stud, an exciting acquisition and the only son of Australian sire sensation Fastnet Rock to be at stud in South Africa. Bush Hill Stud will be hosting a stallion day on 24 August to introduce him to the breeders. Like many top sires, Curved Ball was probably best over a mile, scoring his biggest victory in the Gr 2 Dingaans. He met and defeated such top-class performers as Bulsara, Exhilaration, Smanjemanje, Club Victor and Galileo’s Galaxy. A big strong horse with loads of quality, Curved Ball bears a striking resemblance to his very successful sire.

Curved Ball(AUS), Bush Hill Stud. Image: sportingpost.co.za Damage Is Done, Yellow Star Stud. Images: Candiese Marnewick Golden Sword(GB), Summerhill Stud. Image: Candiese Marnewick

His sire Fastnet Rock has eclipsed his sire Danehill – “The Rock’s” tally of stakes winners from his first four crops is up to 33, one more than his champion father at the same stage of his career. Curved Ball will stand for a stud fee of R8,000 (R1,000 nom, R7,000 live foal), but with a specially discounted fee of R 1 000 nom and R 4 000 live foal for bookings made on or before the open day to introduce him on Friday 24th August. This looks terrific value when considering his exceptional ability and superb pedigree.

Damage Is Done, owned by Wally Brits, has returned to KZN for the 2012 season, standing alongside Kildonan at Yellow Star Stud. From seven runners and his first crop to race, they have produced a combined total of six wins and 8 places – Shattered Image has placed twice in two Listed events to date.

By Rakeen out of Catch Twenty Two by Imperial Dilemma, he is bred on a similar cross to champion stallion Jet Master. Damage Is Done had four wins from 3 to 5 over distances of 1600 – 2000m, and placed seven times. He descends from a dam-line that has produced Phunyuka, Bianconi, Tom And Jerry and Jessamine, the dam of sprinters Al Nitak, sire at Scott Bros The Sheik and Shoe Express, as well as Red Flyer, Top Seller, and Art De Vivre. His fourth dam is Ofa, the dam of the unforgettable multiple ARCSA champion, Politician. His service fee for the season is available on application.

Golden Sword(GB) joins Summerhill Stud for his first breeding season. The first son of High Chapparal at stud in South Africa, out of Sitara by Salse(USA), he is an athletic-looking individual and a four-time winner in the UK, France and Dubai. Trainer Mike de Kock described him as, “the best horse of a classy generation in my overseas string. At his best, he was a serious international competitor.”

Summerhill Stud describe that Golden Sword’s finest moment, “came in the Investec Derby (Gr 1) at Epsom, where he was beaten a tad over two lengths by the world champion, Sea The Stars. With less than a furlong to go, Golden Sword looked to cause the upset of the decade, as he battled it out with Sea The Stars going to the line. While European racing fans will remember him for his consummate victory in one of the principal Derby trials, the Chester Vase (Gr 3), South Africans and those in the Gulf will recall his rattling finishes from behind in Dubai, where he ran the fastest 2000 metres ever, a record which still stands.” Summerhill have announced that amongst a quality brood of mares, Fisani will be visiting him for the coming season. Golden Sword stands for a fee of R20 000 + vat this season at Summerhill Stud.

Gr 1 Golden Horse Sprint-record holder Kildonan stands at Yellow Star Stud for his first local season. He is also the only son of Rich Man’s Gold standing in South Africa out of Gr 3 winner Cathay Firth by Philippi(FR). An impressive looking individual with an eye-catching athletic hindquarter that oozes good propulsion and speed, his first yearlings at both National Yearling Sale and KZN Yearling Sale each reached prices of R100 000.

Voted Equus Champion Two Year Old Colt of his year in 2006, His wins included the 2007 Golden Horse Sprint Grade 1 in a blistering fast time of 67.00 and has yet to be repeated since. To put this time into perspective, JJ The Jet Plane won the same race in 2008 in a time of 67.62. He also won the Graham Beck Stakes Grade 3, and placed second in his last career start in South Africa, the Champions Cup Grade 1, just 0.75 of a length behind African Appeal. Had their weights been even and coming off a draw of 15, Kildonan might have snatched this victory from African Appeal. He placed third in the Gold Challenge Grade 1 to Successful Bidder.

Kildonan, Yellow Star Stud. Image: Candiese Marnewick Meet At Malamala, Invermooi Stud. Images: Invermooi Stud Modus Vivendi(USA), Hadlow Stud. Image: Candiese Marnewick

Kildonan raced in top company from distances of 1200 – 1600 metres from age 2 to 3, and he earned R878 994 in stakes, with a merit rating of 115. He was sent to Dubai and went into training, but was unable to race due to injury and was subsequently sent back to South Africa. Kildonan stands for a fee of R10 000 live foal this season.

Meet At Malamala is the new resident sire this season standing at Invermooi Stud. By Western Winter out of one of Invermooi’s best families, his dam is Sweet Sweet by Kenmare(FR). Sweet Sweet has produced five winners, including a current filly that is doing very well for Backworth Stud named Sugar Rush. Meet At Malamala raced in South Africa and had had three wins over 1200-1450m from nine starts. His wins include the Listed Secretariat Stakes, placing in the Gr 1 Cape Guineas and third in the Gr 1 Summer Cup. His dam-line includes the likes of Gr 1 Australian Oaks winner Gatherneaux (by Twig Moss), Gr 2 Breeders Stakes winner Laubai (by Kenmare), multiple Gr 1 and 23-time winning Torbek, Gr 2 winner Swell Deal and Gr 3 winner Deputy Dancer. His fee for this year is on application only; contact Fili Bowles on 082 808 7605 for further discussion.

Modus Vivendi(USA), the sire of Dancewiththedevil, has made a return to KZN and we might just see a future full-sibling to the super racemare. Modus Vivendi carries an impeccable pedigree, filled with sires. By Zafonic out of Sir Ivor mare Monroe (herself a full-sister to Champion sire Malinowski), he has a dam-line filled with Bold Black-type – and in particular Grade 1 producing sires. Zafonic was a champion two year old colt in Europe and he is a full-brother to Zamindar – as well as a half-brother to the dam of Reams Of Verse, Elmaamul and Modern Day.

Modus Vivendi is a full-brother to Xaar, who carries a Timeform Rating of 132. Xaar is a 5-time winner and was Champion 2 & 3 year old in Europe including the Grade 1 Dewhurst and Prix de la Salamandre. Modus Vivendi himself won 2 races in France at ages 2 and 3, from 1200 – 1800m and placed twice from four starts. He placed in both the Gr 3 Prix Daphnis and Listed Prix Djebel. His second dam is Best In Show, dam of Champion Broodmare sire Northern Guest – as well as Northern Guest’s full brother – a champion sire in his own right Try My Best and El Gran Senor. An impressive dam-line, there are plenty of Bold Black Type winners (and champion sires) that stand out including Dr Johnson, Malinowski (sire of Multiple Gr 1 winners), Chief Contender, Spinning World and champion sire (including Musir) Redoute’s Choice.

Modus Vivendi has produced, besides 9-time winning Dancewiththedevil, Ultra Vries – winner of the Easter Handicap Listed – and Increment. Standing at Hadlow Stud, his fee is on application.

Traffic Guard(USA), Summerhill Stud. Image: Candiese Marnewick Kahal(GB), Bush Hill Stud. Muhtafal(USA), Spring Valley Stud.

The last new stallion for the season is yet another exciting addition in Summerhill stallion barn, the good-looking son of More Than Ready, Traffic Guard(USA). The first son to stand at stud in KZN by More Than Ready, he is out of Street Scene by Zafonic. He is a five-time winner in the UK and Dubai over distances of 1200 – 2300m from ages 2 – 6, placing multiple times in Group company. He is a half-brother to two winning siblings, one a Gr 2 winner in Russia, the other in the USA. Under his second dam Chief Advocate can be found, winner of the Gr 1 SA Derby. Under the third dam sire Erin’s Isle can be seen, a multiple Gr 1 winner. Another South African connection comes into this pedigree under the fourth dam Selina. Gr 1 Rothmans July and Gold Cup winner Occult can be found, as well as Natural Force, Piano Player and Gr 3 Gold Vase winner Midday Concert. Traffic Guard stands for a fee of R15 000 + vat this season.

Stallion relocations see Kahal(GB) and Malhub(USA) standing at Bush Hill Stud for the upcoming season, with Muhtafal(USA) standing at Spring Valley Stud.

We look forward to the foals to come from these exciting new stallion acquisitions for the future.

For more information on each of the stallions mentioned, visit our stallion index to see each sire’s profile, pedigree and G1 Stallion Match reports (where applicable) and read their press releases at the following links below: