The King Of KZN Passes On: Kahal(GB)
| The King Of KZN Passes On: Kahal(GB) |
The most successful son of Machiavellian to have stood at stud in South Africa, courtesy of his owners Shadwell Stud, Kahal was euthanized this morning after complications arose from abdominal tumours. The stallion, KZN’s top sire and in South Africa’s top five since 2009, he was the sire of 34 Stakes Winners – including the likes of Gr1 winners Bold Ellinore, Chocolicous, Spiced Gold and Love Struck.
Initially beginning his stud career at Summerhill Stud, he was recently relocated to Warwick and Karin Render’s Bush Hill Stud in Mooi River.
Standing at 16.2h very much in the image of his great broodmare sire Green Desert, Kahal carried himself regally with enormous presence. He passed his substantial size, bone and strength onto his progeny, and not only are they excelling in racing but the showjumping ring too at the highest levels, being the athletic and strong individuals that they are.
Out of mare Just A Mirage (in turn out of a Nonoalco mare), and he raced with great international success – competing successfully in England, France, America, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates.
At just two years of age, he won and placed second in his first three starts. He raced [pictured right] until six years of age – an excellent career which proved his toughness, courage and grit which he certainly passed onto his progeny.
At three years old he won the Gr 2 Newmarket Challenge Stakes from top race filly Rebecca Sharp (also by Machiavellian) and placed second in the Royal Ascot Jersey Stakes, a Gr 3. At four he placed in the Gr 2 Newmarket Challenge Stakes as well as the Gr 1 Newbury Lockinge Stakes.
He won at Nad Al Sheba in the Shadwell Farm Stakes over 1400m at the age of five, thereafter placing second in the USA in the Santa Anita Morvich Handicap Gr 3. At six years he won the Woodbine Nearctic Gr 2 as well as placing second in the Santa Anita Morvich Handicap Gr 3.
Kahal achieved an impressive race record of eight wins, five seconds and a third, earning an admirable £313,783 in Stakes. His life-time stats have seen 503 progeny race, 309 winners (61.0%), earnings of over $10 million, 34 stakes winners, 25 stakes placegetters.
His six Grade 1 winners include the great race mare Bold Ellinore, the recent Love Struck (both fore-mentioned horses bred by Summerhill Stud), Desert Links (bred by Shadwell Stud) Noble Heir (bred by Connington Stud), Chocolicious (bred by Backworth Stud) and Spiced Gold (bred by Greenhill Stud). Kahal got them as good over turf as on sand, with the likes of The Mouseketeer and Uncle Tommy being sand specialists. Amongst his overseas campaigners, Art Of War won in Dubai whilst Coronet Peak continues to win and perform in Singapore.
His popularity at the sales was evident, after having a number of crops to race, he had the biggest representation at the 2013 National Yearling Sale of any stallion. His top-seller was Uncle Tommy, who sold for breeders and consignors Summerhill Stud for R2,4 million. Uncle Tommy recently took home the Award for Champion Sand Specialist at the 2014 Highveld Racing Awards.
Voted as KZN Breeders Stallion Of The Year for the fifth time in 2013, his progeny closely follow suit – always with a number up for nomination and winning. His Group winning daughter Festival Of Fire took the 2013 Award for KZN Breeders Horse Of The Year.
Kahal is also the sire of Gran Blanco, the Rathmor-bred rare white medicine hat Thoroughbred colt born in 2011 – only one of five in the world and the first of its kind in South Africa. He sold at the 2013 Emperors National Yearling Sale for R220 000.
As a broodmare sire we should see his legacy continue, a particularly exciting development being Backworth-bred Chocolicious who was sold overseas and due to foal to Frankel this season.
Kahal’s has a half-sister Katici Princess stands at Roski Stud. Bought and imported from England by Greg Royden-Turner, the mare by Noverre is a five-time winner including the Gr3 Champagne Stakes.
Our condolences to both Bush Hill Stud and owners Shadwell Stud, Kahal will be sorely missed.
We would like to thank Shadwell for providing the opportunity to stand such a fine stallion in KZN and we look forward to the legacy Kahal will leave behind on our racetracks and breeding sheds.
– Candiese Marnewick
