Keith Russon and Ian Todd’s Backworth Stud had a super double at Greyville yesterday, with the smart Var filly Extravargant (a full sister to winner Cuvara) taking it for Mrs Mary Liley, who is enjoying a purple patch of late, and Noble Tune gelding Romanesca winning for trainer Paul Lafferty.

Whilst Backworth have reduced their boutique stud, their influence is remains prominent with several of their fillies they have produced over the years finding their way into the National Yearling Sales catalogues as broodmares at farms nationwide, and recent Group winner, the smart Rose In Bloom who sold this week for R800 000, out of Backworth-bred mare Raise The Bar – a family that gave Backworth many years of success and doesn’t look like it will be ending anytime soon.

It is a testament to the quality of mares and depth of pedigrees Backworth always procured for their beautiful farm in Eston, and giving the mares opportunities to excel at stud with the best suited stallion no matter where they stood.

Extravargant, out of a mare that sold for R800 000 – Cupid’s Daughter – looks to be an exciting prospect for Tony Rivalland and Mary Liley (owned in partnership with Sadha Naidoo) for the upcoming season. The #kznbred filly has now won twice from three starts and placed second on debut. Mary Liley has been seen frequently in the winners enclosure of late with her familiar pink and green silks, and she has been an avid support of Backworth’s stock over the years, racing many to multiple wins and success.

Mrs Liley has earned over R800 000 in stakes this season with almost a 16% winners to runners percentage.

Romanesca by Noble Tune, a handsome yearling purchased from Backworth’s Dispersal sale a few years back, is out of an Elusive Quality mare and as Paul Lafferty states, the gelding dislikes the Polytrack going but fired impressively on the turf going away by over a length from Just As Well gelding, Just Prime.

He has placed three times previously. Paul, who had a great day with a double including the Kings Cup, went to say that he has several Noble Tune’s in his yard and is very happy with them – his other is the grey Gr2 preformed and Black Type White Lightning.

There are several Noble Tune’s on offer at the upcoming National Yearling Sale, including a half-brother to Gr1 winner, Lady In Black.

Well done to all concerned!

Backworth Stud’s progeny have been frequenting the winners enclosure recently with an impressive 10 winners from 25 runners for the new season with 17 places in hand.

Backworth Stud are a boutique stud farm in Eston standing approximately 30 superbly-bred broodmares and investing heavily in top class stallions country wide, the results are always seen at the sales and the track.

Four of the winners are by KZN’s Champion Sire Kahal, the deceased son of Machiavellian currently placed third on the National Sires Log.

Amongst the 10 winners, two pairs are half-siblings out of mares Blue Lace Agate (by Rakeen) and Linda Grandeza (by Grand Lodge).

Black Agate, out of Blue Lace Agate by Kahal, is trained by Dean Kannemeyer and owned in partnership with Mrs IM Rudden. He deadheated with Dilerious Nomad at Greyville on Sunday afternoon over 1600m, although Black Agate was carrying 2kgs more under jockey Anthony Delpech. The five year old gelding has placed seven times previously and seems to particularly enjoy the Greyville track since relocating from the Cape.

The beautifully-bred three year old gelding Ice Run by Western Winter out of Blue Lace Agate has won once and placed three times from just five starts for owners Mrs Mary Liley and Mr E Cassim, from the stable of Tony Rivalland. Winning by almost three lengths under jockey Anton Marcus, Ice Run looks a very exciting sort for Champions Season in 2016.

Tony Rivalland has produced another two winners for Backworth with the beautiful Humidor and the smart filly Kadeze.

Kadeze looked a carbon copy of Backworth’s Gr1 winner Chocolicous at the National Yearling Sale, out of Grand Lodge mare Linda Grandeza. She is now a two-time winner who has also placed for owner Mary Liley.

Linda Grandeza also had another winner with Backworth-bred Bella Miesque on 14 November, a three year old daughter of Miesque’s Approval who has yet to be out of the money from five starts and won her last time out for Wendy Whitehead.

Aptly named Humidor is a smashing looking individual, an exciting four year old son of Miesque’s Approval out of Lewinsky’s Lover who has just had two starts for the Rivalland yard, placing on debut and winning by a length in his second start at Greyville by a length.

His half-sister Scandal (by Muhtafal) is racing in Gauteng for Corne Spies, has won and plac ed three times – her last start saw her finishing third in a well-bred field of horses on 14 November.

2012 saw Keith Russon and Ian Todd rewarded with KZN Breeders Achievement Award after achieving an impressive 53% winners to runners percentage.

Backworth has produced amongst their Group winners the likes of Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship winner Chocolicious, who has foaled a filly by Fastnet Rock in Australia this year – whilst her Frankel yearling will certainly be an attraction in the future.

Backworth Stud will have another top drawer crop of yearlings in 2016 available by the likes of Oratorio, Var, Gimmethegreenlight, Byword, What A Winter, Irish Flame, Judpot, Kahal, Golden Sword, Crusade, Await The Dawn and Toreador.

Congratulations to the team at Backworth Stud!