Champion Sandringham Summit will return to his birthplace Varsfontein Stud for stallion duties at the conclusion of his racing career.

The champion in action (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)

Leading consultant John Freeman has been mandated to syndicate the son of resident champion Gimmethegreenlight for stallion duties, and he confirmed that “shares literally flew off the shelf” which speaks volumes for the colt’s popularity with local breeders.

“Varsfontein will retain 20 of the 46 shares on offer,” he added. “Thanks to all of the star breeders that are participating.”

Although the colt remains in training – he is after all still just three – Sandringham Summit already boasts impeccable stallion credentials as a juvenile Gr1 winner who has the looks and pedigree as befits his R1.7-million price tag as a yearling.

Trained by David Nieuwenhuizen, the colt made heads turn when he came from an impossible position to win the Gr2 Golden Horseshoe at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Durban July day and earned his Gr1 spurs in the Premiers Champion Stakes, at the expense of by downing the hitherto unbeaten Main Defender, who was over two lengths adrift at the line.

Named last season’s Champion Juvenile, Rakesh Singh’s star colt was perhaps an unlucky loser in this seasonal debut when narrowly beaten by his old nemesis in the Gr3 Betway Graham Beck before finishing third in the Gr2 Dingaans.

Remarkably, he is Gimmethegreenlight’s second Premiers Champion Stakes winner and was preceded by first-crop son Gunner, who likewise, is out of a Captain Al mare.

Significantly, Sandringham Summit offers breeders a wonderful outcross pedigree, free of the all-pervading Northern Dancer and Mr Prospector blood in the first four generations.

His dam Townsend won both the Gr2 Odessa Stud Fillies Championship and Gr3 Diana Stakes, and in addition to Sandringham Summit, she is also dam of Gr1 Gold Medallion winner Eden Roc, who has just finished covering his first book of mares at Clifton Stud.

Townsend is a half-sister to Gr1 Champions Challenge hero Regal Ransom. This is also the female line of Gr2 Guineas winner Zapatillas and Gr2 Dingaans second Shoemaker, both of which were bred at Varsfontein.

-sportingpost.co.za

**Eden Roc stands for R10 000 live foal and is owned by the KZN Breeders Club.

Peter Blyth who stands Eden Roc on behalf of the KZN Breeders Club at Clifton Stud, was delighted to announce that the Gr1 winning son of Var has his first mares confirmed in foal.

The half brother to star Sandringham Summit, recently bestowed with the Equus Champion 2YO Award, is an exciting acquisition for KZN standing for a very accessible fee of R10 000 live foal.

According to Raceform.co.za, Karel Miedema’s thoughts on possible suitable mares for Eden Roc:

Suitable lines for Eden Roc could include:

• Vienna (Vaguely Noble in Flower Alley, Indigo Magic)
• Alibhai (Flower Bowl & sons His Majesty and Graustark – widespread)
• Best In Show and dam Stolen Hour through Northern Guest (Pomodoro, Capetown Noir), Pathfork, El Gran Senor (Visionaire, Cordoba (Act Of War)), Redoute’s Choice (Rafeef), Canford Cliffs (has double Stolen Hour, and has Vienna in his sire)
• female line descendants of Baby Polly & dam Pretty Polly (widespread, but remote)
• female line descendants of La Troienne (notably Buckpasser & dam Busanda – widespread)
• first prize could be Oratorio. The dam of his sire Danehill is by His Majesty out of a Buckpasser mare. His dam is by Vaguely Noble. His pedigree has double Heliopolis and treble Blue Larkspur, coming together in female line ancestor Heliolight, who is close kin to Buckpasser.

The athletic specimen stands at Peter and Jenny Blyth’s Clifton Stud near Rosetta in the KZN Midlands.

KZN Breeders Club chairperson Cathy Martin was upbeat at the prospects of the beautifully-bred Gr1 winner and told the Sporting Post that the purchase of Eden Roc is the first of its kind in South Africa.

“The KZN Breeders Club made use of funds available through our Breeders Premium Scheme. This has meant that a horse otherwise ordinarily unaffordable to our members is now secured and options are there for members to invest in him at ‘subsidised’ terms. So he is marketed and available without bias, but rather for the benefit of the region and its club members. At the same time a fund will continue to be generated to allow for further investment going forward, rather than a once-off scheme,” she explained.

Cathy confirmed that Eden Roc is available to anyone who wishes to take up the opportunity to invest in him.  His service fee is R10 000.  The share price is R30 000.

Eden Roc is sure to provide broodmare owners with the opportunity to tap into a horse who ticks all the boxes.

He is a Gr1-winning two-year-old, and a multiple graded stakes winner, who trained on sound to 6, and was Gr1 placed as an older horse.

He is bred on the potent Var – Captain Al cross and his pedigree matches his track accomplishments. He also has the athletic physique to match his pedigree and performance.  The complete package!

A proud Peter Blyth confirmed that Eden Roc stands 16hh.

“He’s physically correct and remarkably sound for a horse who raced from two to six. Overall, he’s a grand specimen, well balanced and athletic.”

Interested parties can contact Peter Blyth for more information.

Mobile:+27 (0) 82 456 3489  Email: blyth@cliftonstud.co.za

Eden Roc’s smart Gimmethegreenlight half brother further reinforced Eden Roc’s terrific pedigree, winning the World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes (Grade 1) for trainer David Nieuwenhuizen and owner Mr Rakesh Singh.

Sandringham Summit made it two wins back to back, ridden by Calvin Habib the handsome 2yo colt saw him beat the speedy Main Defender by by two lengths over a mile.

The KZN Breeders Club purchased Eden Roc utilising the Stallion Premium segment of the KZN Breeders Premium Scheme, in the first of its kind in South Africa. Shares are available for purchase ahead of his first season for the Gr1 winning son of Var at stud.

Eden Roc stands at Peter and Jenny Blyth’s Clifton Stud on behalf of the KZN Breeders Club.

Other KZN-bred results on the day say Clifton-bred Captain’s Christy (Captain Of All – Mystic Rose by Fort Wood) go down by a nose on the wire to Cala Muretta in the Gr2 World Pool With Gold Circle Debutante. Another from Clifton Stud, Capetown Beauty finished fourth in the Gr2 Riding High Together Gold Bracelet, trained by Wayne Badenhorst.

A Gr1 winner, Battle Force by Act Of War finished second in the World Pool Twitter Listed, just a quarter length off the winner Meridius.

We Are The Logans, a son of Flying The Flag out of Crimson Lane bred by KZN Breeders Nothemba Mlonzi, finished third behind Sandringham Summit in the aforementioned race.

KZN Breeder Mario Ferreira of Rathmor Stud saw his star Maine Chance-bred daughter of Flower Alley win the Gr1 HKJC Champions Cup. This well bred filly in line for Equus Horse Of The Year will be a true asset to Mario’s breeding operation in KZN in the future, but has another racing season ahead to look forward to.

Bruce Le Roux’s African Skyline, always game in the finish ended up a close second in the final race of the day, the LHKIR In December Umngeni Handicap Listed to Pray For Rain, in a fighting finish under Serino Moodley.

Well done to all concerned.

The KZN Breeders Club’s newest stallion addition, Eden Roc, saw his half brother Sandringham Summit add to Eden Roc’s already impressive pedigree to win the same race his Var brother did in 2019, the Gr2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m.

Sandringham Summit defeated feature winner Gimmeanotherchance in the process, as well as Guy Gibson who has placed twice behind the talented Lucky Lad.

A R1,7-million yearling by Gimmethegreenlight, Sandringham Summit has now won twice and placed second twice from four starts for trainer David Niewenhuizen and owner Mr Rakesh Singh and doesn’t look to be stopping anytime soon based on his form and good looks.

Clifton Stud, who stand Eden Roc on behalf of the KZN Breeders Club, will be hosting a stallion day on July 12th to introduce him publicly to breeders.

Eden Roc was purchased through the incentive of the Stallion Premiums from the KZN Breeders Premium Scheme, the first of its kind in South Africa.

The son of Var has an enviable race record and pedigree; out of Captain Al mare Townsend, a Gr2 winner herself who has produced 5 winners to date, this is also the family of Zapatillas.

Eden Roc is a coup for the KZN Breeding ranks, and the very handsome son of Var who fills your eye raced consistently and soundly until age 6.

His race record courtesy of www.raceform.co.za:

6 wins, 1160-1400m, at 2 to 4

Rated MR 119

At 2

WON Gr1 Gold Medallion (1200m)

WON Gr2 Golden Horseshoe (1400m)

At 3

WON Gr2 Merchants S. (1200m)

At 4

2nd Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint (1200m)

2nd Gr3 Merchants Hcp (1160m)

The KZN Breeders Club have purchased Gr1 winning son of Var, Eden Roc, to stand at stud in KZN.

A quality son of Var, a sire who needs no introduction, is out of Captain Al mare Townsend. The handsome bay colt boasts a pedigree that equals his good looks and race record, and he has trained sound up to his current age of six.

A session 1 National Yearling Sale consignee and trained by multiple Champion trainer Sean Tarry, Eden Roc won the Gr1 Gold Medallion over 1200m in only his second career start where he defeated Frosted Gold (NZ). He also won the Gr2 Golden Horseshoe just over a month later, to put him in contention for the Equus 2YO Colt award of his year. He followed up the following season to win the Gr2 Post Merchants, in which he defeated Gr1 winning stable mate Warrior’s Rest, Gr2 winner Ultra Magnus and Gr2 winner African Warrior.

He enjoyed six career wins and four Graded Stakes places, including second in the Gr3 Merchants Handicap and following up with a second in the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint to Battle Force. He also finished fourth in the Gr2 Señor Santa and Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes respectively.

Star sprinters Chimichuri Run, Vars Vicky, MK’s Pride, Ikigai, Bohica, Pearl Of Asia, Mardi Gras, Mount Pleasant and Kasimir have all finished behind Eden Roc in his time.

His half brother by Gimmethegreenlight, Sandringham Summit (a R1,7-million yearling), looks to be continuing the family legacy – having won and placed second twice in his first three starts, he makes for a sharp prospect to follow for Champions Season.

Eden Roc’s dam, Captain Al mare Townsend is a half-sister to Regal Ransom, an 8-time winner including the Gr1 Champions Challenge. He is also closely related to Zapatillas, winner of the Gr2 World Sports Betting Guineas and Sophomore Sprint Listed, as well as Gr2 and Gr3 placed Shoemaker.

It is a pedigree boasting plenty of current activity on tracks nation wide and Eden Roc is an exciting asset for the KZN Breeders Club.

Shares will be available to purchase in Eden Roc, please contact Peter Blyth of Clifton Stud for further information on blyth@cliftonstud.co.za.

Watch Eden Roc’s Gr1 win: