The Apache Returns Home To Stud At Scott Bros
Scott Bros’ multiple Gr1 winner both locally and internationally, has returned to his place of birth to continue his career at stud.
The outstanding racing son of Mogok was the pride of South Africa when he crossed the line first in the Gr1 Arlington Million in the USA for trainer Mike De Kock, only to have the race result changed after interference.
The Apache is a culmination of the Scott Bros’ dynasty of stallions and mares carefully mated for over four generations, he has certainly reflected his breeders and his champion lineage with his outstanding achievements.
Out of Apache Rose by Dolpour, he carries a strong Highdown Pedigree that began when Robin Scott purchased his fourth dam Lenore, one of the foundation mares of the great Scott Bros nursery.
Amongst others, Lenore produced Leta, a Gr1 winner of the Fillies Guineas and the Cape Flying Championship. She was mated to Kimberley Kid, a stallion that was a gift to the Scott’s from Bridget Oppenheimer and a son of Wilwyn. That mating produced Yasmini, who was mated to another of the Scott Bros’ multiple Champion sire Jungle Cove – to produce the brilliant Gr1 winner, Bold West and Gr2 winner Jungle Class.
Yasmini also produced a winner in the USA by Plum Bold named Bold East, a horse that also finished second in the Gr2 Green Point Stakes. In turn Gr1 Gilbey’s (and 9-time winner) Bold West was mated to Dolpour, a son of Sadler’s Wells brought into Highdown Stud as a shuttle sire.
The product was 4-time winner Apache Rose – herself a full sister to the multiple Stakes Placed Sugar Magnolia – and very sadly passed away in foal to Mogok a few years ago. She produced five winners from seven foals. The Scott Bros have retained The Apache’s full sister, Bold Pocahontas, for stud duties.
What has to be one of the TBA National 2YO Sales’ most prominent graduates, passionate and prominent Hong Kong owner Winston Chow purchased The Apache from Scott Bros for just R80 000 in 2009.
Winston Chow posted on his personal facebook page under a picture of a quality athletic plain dark bay colt in October 2010: “2007 Mogok, The Apache… only 80k but possibly group class, let’s see! Very good temperament! I like him a lot.” What prophetic words they proved to be.
Sent into training with Gavin Van Zyl, The Apache’s first start saw him finish six lengths off in fourth position on debut at Clairwood over 1450m. His second start at Greyville saw him finish second to the brilliant English Garden, just a neck off over 1600m. The Apache then won his next two starts at Clairwood over 1600m and 1700m, each in dominating fashion by an average of three lengths.
His first Graded Stakes debut saw him finish five lengths unplaced behind Kavanagh in a Gr3 over 1400m, but proved himself by winning the Gr2 Dingaans from Galileo’s Destiny by over a length. It was the start of a glittering high class race career – which saw him beat the best – including winning the Gr1 Champions Cup and Gr1 Daily News 2000.
His run in the Durban July saw him finish just two lengths off the brilliant Igugu, to place fourth in Africa’s most exclusive race. In total he won seven times and placed 11 – amongst them locally the London News and Victory Moon Stakes.
Half of his ownership was sold to Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and he was to sent into the care of top SA trainer Mike De Kock, for an overseas campaign. After enduring the arduous travel regimen for South African horses to Dubai via Mauritius, The Apache set the Dubai Carnival alight by winning the Gr2 Al Rashidiya Stakes and placing second in the Gr1 Jebel Hatta and Gr1 Dubai Duty Free.
De Kock then decided to send the Mogok colt to England for a run prior to his American trip, and he finished fourth in the Gr2 York Stakes.
It was onto the Gr1 Arlington Million, and while The Apache put in a sensational run to cross the finish line a little over a length in front, the race was taken away very disappointingly over interference, in the process he defeated a number of international Gr1 winners.
The pair raced neck and neck down the straight THE APACHE winning by the narrowest of margins and was declared the unofficial winner but lost the race on an objection.”
Reflecting on his tremendous effort De Kock continued: “I think he had a lot of quality horses behind him very good European horses and very good American horses. “He’s The South African pride. He ran huge”
De Kock continued on the international campaign for The Apache: “He’s gone from South Africa to Mauritius to Dubai to England, and to America in 12 months. You can’t do that with many horses but South African horses tend to deal with it.”
The Apache was retired and sent back to South Africa, having earned over R17 million in stakes – not to shabby for an R80 000 purchase. The Apache won or placed in ten Group/Graded races in four different countries.
Among the top horses beaten by The Apache during his globe-trotting campaign were international Group/Grade 1 winners Aesop’s Fables (Prix Jean Prat), Giofra (Falmouth Stakes), Hunter’s Light (Jebel Hatta), Little Mike (Breeders Cup Turf), Ocean Park (Cox Plate), Side Glance (VRC Mackinnon Stakes), Trade Storm (Woodbine Mile) and Wigmore Hall (Northern Dancer Turf S-twice).
Local racing stars beaten by The Apache included the Gr1 winners Big City Life, Bravura, Buy And Sell, Dancewiththedevil, Emerald Cove, English Garden, Flirtation, Gold Onyx, Happy Landing, Igugu, Link Man, Regal Ransom, Seal and Solo Traveller.
He also gave his sire Mogok the accolade of producing yet another international Group Winner, after his brilliant daughter Gypsy’s Warning and Singapore winner Meteor Mike. Mogok is also the sire of Gr1 winners’ Orbison and Wild One.
The Apache was awarded with Equus Champion 3YO Colt in 2011.
The Apache made the trip from Beaufort West yesterday in time to settle in ahead of the breeding season starting 1 September, after beginning his stud career at Rosedene Stud where he covered 40 mares in his first season.
This will be his third season standing at stud and his pedigree should suit most mares, in particular Bold Ruler, Danehill and Zabeel. His service fee is R6 000 (R1000 nomination and R5000 live foal), as an introductory fee to the breeders, a horse of this calibre the service fee is very reasonable. Mr Winston Chow is offering free services to proven mares or top families in the country, and those with Bold Ruler, Danehill, Zabeel and Wilwyn.
After almost 50 years of leading breeding and racing successes with the likes of Politician, Devon Air and many other Graded Stakes winning champions in the famous black, red and white colours – the Scott Bros’ have consistently been in the Top 10 breeders of South Africa, and continue an outstanding legacy to have bred two Gr1 winners this past season – the first being Wild One by Mogok in the 2015 Gr1 Gold Cup, and the second being Talktothestars in the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Sprint.
The Apache will stand alongside his sire Mogok, Miesque’s Approval, Crusade and Eightfold Path.
Welcome home to the The Apache!
*Note from owner Winston Chow on Facebook regarding The Apache:
“Recently The Apache has been genetically tested by Equinome and has the top rating of GRV and GBV of 1 / 1 and is a C-T. If anyone wants to see the full test results please email me. Danehill is obvious due to synergy with Coup de Folie; all Mogok group Ones has Bold Ruler; Zabeel returns 1 group One horse per 5 matings with Vice Regal mares! YES, that is 20% group One return! Thanks to my teacher Henri Jooste in pedigree analysis who noted Wilwyn is the common denominator.”
