Godswood bred by Bush Hill Stud enjoyed his seventh career win on March 30th for the training combination of Messrs Vosloo and Botes, owned by Allan Peters and the Hyperpaint Syndicate.

Godswood, out of Jallad mare Bluebell Wood won by two lengths from recent winner Sheldon over 1000m at the Vaal.

MK’s Pride put up a sterling performance in the weekend’s Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut over 1600m. Generally thriving on a 1400m race, MK’s Pride finished second to Cape raider Trip Of Fortune in the race just a length off, for trainer Robbie Sage, owner Koos Nkale and jockey Ryan Munger.

Willow Magic produced another two seconds in addition to MK’s Pride over the weekend, with Mon Tresor at Fairview and Lazy Guy getting pipped on the line at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Willow Magic stands at Blue Sky Thoroughbreds and has produced 17 wins for the current season.

Bush Hill Stud resident sire Willow Magic enjoyed a double at Turffontein on Thursday. 

The Graded Stakes producing sire by the sensational Dubawi, kicked off Race 1 with Bally Magic, a Bush Hill-bred 3yo colt out of an imported Irish mare by Entrepreneur. The bay colt is owned by Larry Nestadt and trained by Candice Dawson and went on to win by half a length in his fourth start over 1450m under in form rider Keagan De Melo. 

This was followed up with the consistent Have A Go Jo, the chestnut reflection of his sire winning for the fourth occasion. Trained by Sean Tarry, the four year old gelding out of a Muhtafal mare bred by Summerhill Stud, has won over distances of a mile to 2000m and did it easily at Turffontein for his syndicate by a length and a half, ridden by Richard Fourie. 

MK’s Pride lines up on Saturday over his optimal distance of 1400m at Turffontein in the Wilgerbosdrift Hawaii Stakes, a race he has won previously. Already a dual Gr2 winner and out of an Admire Main mare Ikimasu, the Paul Peter entire is the spitting image of his sire Willow Magic and has a great temperament and relishes the 1400m trip.

Willow Magic, a Grade One winner trained by Sean Tarry stands at Karin and Warwick Render’s Bush Hill Stud in Mooi River. 

A strong and hardworking figure behind the scenes of the Thoroughbred breeding industry, Warwick Render of Bush Hill Stud has enjoyed success at the highest levels, breeding the likes of Gr1 winners Zirconeum, Stellite and Dubai resident Wolf Whistle amongst many. Warwick is also a TBA Council Member, a former Chairman of the KZN Breeders Club and currently the Vice-Chairman.

We have a chat to Warwick to find out more about the man behind Bush Hill Stud – a family managed establishment with his wife Karin and son Jason and get his thoughts on what it is like to be a Thoroughbred breeder.

How did you get into horses and the breeding world? 

I was interested in horses from a very young age, and started to ride at about five or six, but growing up only ever really had experience of stock horses used for working with cattle on friends’ farms in Zimbabwe.

After my first year at university I was looking through the Farmer’s Weekly magazine and came across an advert for an assistants job on a thoroughbred stud farm, (I had little idea such opportunities existed for people in the normal world). I phoned to apply for an interview and two days later packed my suitcase, drove for two days to reach Roodefontein Stud in Plettenberg Bay and started work the next day, that was at the beginning of 1990.

How long have you been at Bush Hill Stud? 

We purchased the farm in April 1998, so going on 24 years now.

What motivation about breeding horses makes you get up in the morning?

First and foremost the well-being of the horses in our care.  The positives and the potential of the animals we work so closely with. The reward of walking through a paddock of happy healthy horses, admiring a rewarding new born foal, or a smart youngster developing or seeing an old friend happy in her paddock appreciating the fresh pastures you have provided, there are so many aspects of farming, livestock and nature that I find rewarding – it goes without saying that they all bring their own challenges, hence the need to focus daily on the positives and resolve small issues before they develop into big issues. There is great motivation and reward in seeing an animal that has been critically ill nursed back to full strength, and rehabilitation of racing or other injuries is definitely a highlight of the job.  We are blessed to have many wonderful owners who understand and appreciate the efforts and progress of their horses.  

What is your best achievement to date?  

After some turbulent times in our economy and more specifically the racing and breeding industry as a whole, I feel it an important achievement to still be participating in this unique and special industry.  To survive the tough times not only for ourselves, but for the many longstanding employees who have risen to challenges, learnt and loved the individual mares and avidly follow the progress of progeny, and who are so appreciative that horses are the animals providing for them and their families. This achievement we recognize and are grateful for.

What breeding theory do you have when it comes to matings?    

It is always a challenge to try to strike the balance between breeding what you hope and believe will be a racehorse, and what you think may have commercial appeal. 

Standing stallions for owners and syndicates takes a big dose of commitment, courage and boldness,  especially in these very competitive times when I believe the market tends to pass a stallion by too quickly. To contra this, we always try to send a portion of our mares to more proven commercial options.

In terms of choosing matings we go with the normal practices of going through pedigrees and families and looking for pointers, and making use of some of the computer programmes available has certainly made this easier in recent times, but the physical attributes probably play the biggest part in our thinking – then look for a reason on paper to vindicate your thoughts – you can nearly always find a reason to see why a mating was good once the horse is in the winners box.

Do you have a special story you can share?  

Many many stories  – but these would take a book to relate – not sure if it would be a James Herriot, Wilbur Smith or Monty Python flavour –  probably all of the above.  We have been blessed to share time with many horse people including trainers, farriers, veterinarians, stud masters, owners – it seems horses attract a particular ilk of person – mostly stern, preoccupied, of few words, but when the ties come off, outrageously funny stories abound – roll on the floor, tears kind of stories that keep one giggling for years to come. A common thread runs through horse people – long days, short tempers, hard decisions, and endless nights tending to individuals – patience and fortitude born out of grief after losing a special horse, and gratitude when an animal recovers.   

This horse world is a mixture of salt and sugar, and a wealth of knowledge and wisdom learnt over the years, and many many lump in the throat times.  

Yearlings headed to sales this year, what can buyers look forward to? 

I believe we have a very nice spread of yearlings for the various sales this year and amongst them are individuals with appeal to most sectors of the market.

Naturally we are excited to be taking the first crop of New Predator’s foals to the sales, the first of these will be at the National Yearling sales where we expect him to have some good representation. In addition we have a spread of youngsters by proven sires from around the country including Willow Magic, Querari, Rafeef, Master Of My Fate, Captain Of All, William Longsword and Pomodoro along with some of the new and exciting prospects such as Lancaster Bomber, Heavenly Blue and Hat Puntano.

Any special foals on the ground this season?

 It is always a difficult thing to single out foals and we are thrilled with the crop we have been blessed with this year. The first of Last Winter’s foals arrived and they have been exceptional – one that we really like is a colt from the “Mouse” family that has served us so well [including Gr2 winner The Mouseketeer], this colt being out of Penthouse Mouse.

The second crop of New Predator foals have been just as impressive as his first and it would be hard to single out individuals here, a very smart half sister to this past season’s very promising two year old, the Gr2 placed Remember When, would have to be one of the highlights along with a half sister to the Gr1 placed Neptunes Rain.

A smart full sister to MK’s Pride stands out in what has been a very nice crop of Willow Magic foals born on the farm this year.

We again have a lovely spread of outside proven stallions including foals by the leading sires Gimmethegreenlight, What A Winter, Master Of My Fate and Querari (a cracking colt out of our Zirconeum/Stellite family).

We have several very nice foals by the up and coming Act Of War.  

What makes you proud to breed in KZN? 

Personally I don’t like to regionalise our breeding industry more than necessary, in these times more than ever we need a breeding community that stands together. In saying that I am very proud of the fact that KZN has always managed to punch well above its weight in terms of capital expenditure relative to results, this I believe proves just what a good area, for many reasons, KZN is to breed top class horses.

Bush Hill Stud is the biggest breeding facility in the province of KZN, any comments on the future of the industry? 

Like most breeding operations that are not funded by outside capital we and most of our clients have been forced to be fairly harsh in cutting back numbers and trying to maintain quality.

This has been a country wide trend, but it has now meant that the supply/demand ratio is at a very favourable level for breeders, something that was reflected in general at the sales this past year. In a year where there was every reason for sales to be depressed every sale delivered well above everyone’s most positive expectations, especially the regional level sales.

I believe that now with the positive changes happening in racing and a general commitment to the rebuilding of what racing should be we will see this positive trend continuing. It is great credit to the breeders that through the TBA and BSA we have played a major role in the boosting of stakes for our sales graduates and this is a fine example of what can be achieved with the right people and energy behind things.  

Tell us about New Predator’s first crop that will be going to sales this year?

It is always an exciting time taking the first crop of a stallion to the sales in particular when they are as pleasing as the first foals of New Predator have been. He is a stallion that offers much that should appeal to the South African buyer. He was a tough as teak Gr1 quality sprinter miler , with the speed to have beaten such top notch sprinters as Rafeef and the class to have toppled a horse of the quality of Legislate.

His pedigree backs this up in that he offers many aspects that are so suited to a lot of the dominant lines and families we have in our South African pedigrees, he being by New Approach, probably the son of Galileo who has been the biggest speed influence, out of a mare by the champion Fastnet Rock. We expect he will be well represented at the National sales as he covered a very respectable book of mares in his first crop and we are most grateful for support shown from a wide spread of breeders.

Tell us how it feels to produce a Gr1 winner? 

Exhilaration, pride, a huge sense of achievement and satisfaction once the reality sinks in.  Also enormous gratitude to the owner, and trainer for producing the horse to full potential. Each and every individual involved in the care and training and riding of these horses must be recognized, because all are an integral part of the machinery and excellence it takes to achieve a Gr1 win.

How many mares do you stand and tell us about your stallions?

The number of mares on the farm is always a moving target – we aim for adequate numbers to support the stallions we stand, plus additional mares to support outside stallions and ensure a good spread of what our country has to offer in genetics.

We have discussed New Predator, suffice to add that we, and the breeders in KZN as whole are most appreciative that Laurence Wernars chose to back us with this horse and support KZN in such a big way, and to facilitate the involvement of all in him, we all hope he gets the rewards he deserves.

Willow Magic needs little introduction and the support he received this past season shows that people are recognising just what a start he has got off to in his career, with his three year old crop of the past season he was right up there in the top five active sires with his AEPR index – a fair measure of a sires ability across the board. He was a Gr 1 winning sprinter as a two year old and has thrown this speed in many of his progeny, but his class from Dubawi has come through, resulting in top performers at all distances. 

Though he has had a very good number of winners Flying The Flag has not yet lived up to what we hope for from him and that is for a top level performer or two, he has a pedigree that is as good as it gets and judging by the fact that many of the trainers who have his progeny have returned to buy more this past season we are still of the belief that his class may yet emerge.

Last Winter had his first foals born this season and they were very pleasing.

He is a horse who has perhaps flown a bit below the radar having arrived late in his first season. He was a racehorse with unbelievable ability , ranked by Longines in the top 5 turf horses in the world to race in the first quarter of 2018, after his phenomenal run in the Met –  who can forget the way he finished that day, always worth watching that run again, an unbelievable turn of foot.

Add to this he has the looks to have been a R 3.7m yearling, being by a Champion sire in South Africa in Western Winter, who has already sired champion sires in SA, and he is out of a mare who was a Gr1 winner here and who in turn was by another local champion sire in Silvano.  What more could one want!

We wish Bush Hill Stud all the best for 2022 and look forward to the progeny of New Predator! Bush Hill Stud can be contacted at bushhillstud@futurenet.co.za.

Out of the Admire Main mare Ikimasu, the outstanding MK’s Pride has exceeded expectations!

His sire Willow Magic has blown many of us away, and people are only just starting to realize what he is really all about.

Willow Magic’s multiple Gr2 winning son has come out tops at seven of his starts and placed in three Gr1’s. MK’s Pride is what every breeder dreams of – a courageous, talented and sound galloper.

Willow Magic (Dubawi x La Willow) settled in at Bush Hill quickly (Pic- Candiese Lenferna)

“To gauge where your stallion fits into the big picture, one has to use the recent and current champions as a yardstick.

“When we look at the performance of his first crop, the three-year-olds of this past season, and we break down their statistics, one finds very similar representation on the track through Willow Magic’s earnings per runner and winner to runner percentages. These are probably the two most indicative stats, and his numbers show him to be on terms with Dynasty, Var and Silvano!

“What better yardstick could one use than these legends of the South African breeding industry?” asks Warwick Render.

“On current active sires, there are none that he need step back for in average earnings per runner,” he observes.

With six winners in the last three weeks, including another Gr2 victory for MK’s Pride, Warwick believes the future is very bright for the chestnut stallion.

“Willow Magic has a wonderful temperament and took the move down from Summerhill Stud very well and quickly settled into his new surroundings.

“I must say that he arrived in excellent condition, and we would like to thank all for their efforts with him thus far,” says Warwick gratefully.

He explained how the stallion quickly settled into the rhythm of the new season and is a pleasure to work with all year round.

The Bush Hill Stud team have seen several very nice Willow Magic foals this season already and the team looks forward to the arrival of the Ikimasu foal – MK’s Pride’s full sibling.

Warwick tells us how Willow Magic will continue to get a wide range of mares from the farm and most of the KZN breeding fraternity too. He has also received outstanding out-of-province support.

Willow Magic filly. (Pic- Candiese Lenferna)

“We are most grateful to all that have taken note of what he is achieving and for the support offered. On the quality of the foals the son of Dubawi has thrown, we are confident his supporters will not be disappointed!” quips Warwick.

With the arrival of the stallion at Bush Hill Stud, Warwick and his team are most appreciative of the original partnership’s gesture in facilitating the horse’s further syndication – thus allowing breeders the unique opportunity to buy shares in a stallion who is already proving himself to be successful.

“We may still be able to squeeze an extra share or two out of them if there are interested parties.

“As always, give us a call, and we will do our best to accommodate!” concludes Warwick.

Willow Magic’s service fee for 2021 remains unchanged at the value price of R12 000 live foal.

-www.sportingpost.co.za

Koos Nkale’s tough-as-teak Willow Magic colt MK’S Pride took his earnings over the R1 million mark as he clinched his seventh victory with a typically gutsy showing to win Sunday’s R300 000 Gr2 Joburg Spring Challenge at Turffontein.

A thrilled Warren Kennedy salutes as MK’S Pride storms to victory (Pic – JC Photos)

Carrying Koos Nkale’s favourite soccer team’s black and gold finery, MK’s Pride powered home in the Kaizer Chief strip under regular pilot Warren Kennedy to win his second start of the new season, in the process securing his second Gr2 title and looking set for a profitable term.

With Joey Soma’s champion Got The Greenlight back after a nine week absence and taking his time to unwind down the inside rail, MK’s Pride put his head down and fought on to beat the improved again Bingwa by 0,60 lengths in a time of 89,88 secs. The victory meant a feature double on the afternoon for the Peter-Kennedy combination.

It is the second time that MK’s Pride has got the better of Got The Greenlight, and has previously beaten the likes of War Of Athena – the aforementioned two each Equus Champions.

MK’S Pride shows his blanket off (Pic – JC Photos)

Bred by Summerhill, the winner is a son of Willow Magic (Dubawi) out of the modest one-time winning Admire Main mare, Ikimasu.

He has now won 7 races with 6 places from 14 starts for stakes of R1 183 600.

So a horse nobody wanted at sale has earned over a R1 million in these austere times and looks set for plenty more. But we need more of these happy stories!

Willow Magic finished off last season with 40% winners to runners, and Average Earnings Per Runner of R67,358 and over R2,3-million earned from 35 runners. He stands at Bush Hill Stud for a live foal fee of R12 000.

KZN’s Gr1 winner Under Your Spell made her return in the female equivalent race and finished second to Big Burn.

The daughter of Capetown Noir was having her 2nd run after a break, and Merit Rated at 121 gave the winner 2kgs in weight.

The 3yo half-sister to Witchcraft looks to have much more to come in the tank for the Gauteng season head.

This was Alistair Cohen’s last feature race call on SA soil for the next seven months at least. Best of luck to the young man as he moves on to Dubai to pursue his career.

-extract sportingpost.co.za

The Gr1 sprinting son of Dubawi, Willow Magic, had a double at Turffontein on Thursday. Both horses were bred by Summerhill.

Pick A Lily (Pick Of The Field by Kahal) kicked off the double, breaking her maiden over 1200m after earning a cheque in 11 of her previous 12 starts for trainer David Nieuwenhuisen and owner Preggie Somasundrum.

Astral Plane (Fuselage by Jet Master) won for the 3rd time, winning over 1800m for trainer Joey Soma and owner Miss Bhana.

The sire of Gr2 winner and Gr1 placed colt MK’s Pride, Willow Magic stands for R12 000 at Bush Hill Stud.

For the 2020/2021 season for 3yo’s, Willow Magic had an AEPR of over R67 000 per runner, ending the season with 40% winners to runners.

Congratulations to all concerned!

The handsome powerfully-built chestnut stallion standing at 16.1hh, boasts impressive statistics – with his first crop just three years old, his average earnings per runner of over R57 082 places him in the top six active sires in the country ahead of some recognized champion sires. While his winners to runners percentage is already at over 38% with an impressive 70% of his winners having won more than once, proving them to be well above average with courage, tenacity, soundness and ability to be precocious.  

His two leading flag-bearers to date include the talented MK’s Pride – a mirror image of his own sire who stamps his progeny with authority, and the filly Magical Flight. MK’s Pride, trained by Paul Peter and proudly owned by Koos Mkale boasts a Gr2 win in the Ihla Bela Hawaii Stakes which saw him defeat amongst others, the Equus Champion 2 and 3yo colt – Got The Greenlight – by half a length. Amongst the field defeated was Lady Of Steel, Cirillo and Tierra Del Fuego, and Gr1 runner up to Summer Pudding – Marygold, as well as Gr3 winner Mill Queen. 

He also defeated Triple Tiara princess and Gr1 winner War Of Athena, to take the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup. MK’s Pride is a 5-time winner with a Merit Rating of 119.

The filly Magical Flight, is trained by Sean Tarry – who produced Willow Magic to his five Gr1 accolades including winning the SA Nursery at age 2. A chestnut filly Merit Rated 98, she is a 3-time winner and placed in the Gr1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic. Five of his runners are Merit Rated at 90+, with Willow Express a 103.

The first and fastest son of international sire sensation Dubawi to retire to stud in South Africa, Willow Magic won four times over 1000m – 1600m. After winning the Gr1 SA Nursery, he placed in three Gr1’s up to 1600m.

Willow Magic trained on at three to win the Gr2 Dingaans over 1600m and placed 2^nd in the Gr1 Gold Challenge. He also went on to place in the Gr2 Merchants, Gr3 Tommy Hotspur and  Graham Beck Stakes.

His sire Dubawi needs little introduction and has been described as the most successful stallion to stand in Britain with over 200 individual Stakes Winners, 16 Stakes Winners produced in 2021 alone. He held the record for the sire to produce the fastest 50 Stakes Winners at that stage of his career.

Willow Magic‘s dam won three times at age 2, over 1000m – 1200m and is a half-sister to 10-time winner Time Speed. Her own sire, Australian-bred Tierce won the Gr1 Golden Slipper amongst his 11 victories.

Tierce is described as being a great galloper and one of the fastest in Australia of his generation. The sire of Gr1 winner Encounter,  his race record reads 16 starts, 11 wins with three places. He won three Gr1 races including the AJC Sires Produce, the Golden Slipper, the Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes, and won three Gr2’s and a Gr3. He further placed two Group races and earned over $2,250 000 in stakes in the process.

Willow Magic has been consistently represented at all sales and has been extremely well received. He will have three progeny on the upcoming KZN Yearling sale with more to follow at the later sales.

His relocation to Bush Hill has facilitated his syndication and he offers a unique opportunity for breeders to get involved in shares in an exciting young sire who has already proven he has what it takes to make a serious impact. 

Please contact Bush Hill Stud for more details or to book for the upcoming breeding season. 

The World Sports Betting Summer Cup Day rendered exciting results for #kznbreds, and in particular the feature race as the aptly named Running Brave began her run and was leading, chased the mighty Summer Pudding to the finish, to concede to second place by two lengths but by no means ashamed in defeat.

The Brave Tin Soldier filly who was another bargain for trainer Paul Matchett who picked her up for R30 000 at the National 2YO Sale, and has won two Gr2 Kuda Gold Bracelets amongst her many wins in good company – she is another horse that has built up a superb rapport with her regular jockey, Muzi Yeni.

She accelerated to leave 5 lengths between herself and third place finishing Tree Tumbo, with #kznbred Dance Class finishing 4th for St John Gray. Dance Class is bred on the same cross that produced a Summer Cup winner for St John with the star Dancewiththedevil.

Of the top 4 to finish, 3 were fillies. Her sire Brave Tin Soldier stands at The Fort Stud, and from small numbers has produced several Gr1 results and his son Rabada stands at Spring Valley Stud.

War Of Athena, who shares a trainer with Running Brave in Paul Matchett, showed her class once more to win the Gr2 WSB Ipi Tombe Challenge from Gr1 winner, Queen Supreme. Another “cheapie” at just R30 000 off the 2019 BSA Ready To Run Sale, the daughter of Act Of War gave her young sire his first Gr2 win. She has been a star, placing a close second in the Gr1 Thekweni Stakes and winning the recent Ready To Run Cup.

Her sire Act Of War stands at Summerhill Equestrian, owned by Henning Pretorius and he is off to a promising start indeed.

Another superb effort is the smart Winter Smoke, who ‘smoked’ them once again to take the Gr3 Magnolia Handicap. Bred by Richard Fitzgerald and consigned to Nationals by Spring Valley Stud, the Ashley Fortune speedster won well under Calvin Habib. Proving that horses don’t know their price – two fillies from Scott Bros finished 3rd and 4th behind Winter Smoke – that of Double O’ Eight (Eightfold Path) and Suzette Viljoen’s Linear (Crusade).

Both of the latter were offered for sale off the Scott Bros famous Highdown Stud after either not qualifying for sales or being not sold, and were sold directly off the farm months later and have rewarded their respective owners significantly on the racetracks.

Paul Peter had a smashing day with his filly Summer Pudding, and enjoyed a 1-2 in the Gr2 WSB Dingaans, with the smart son of Willow Magic finishing 2nd just two lengths off. Ridden by Warren Kennedy, MK’s Pride owned by Koos Mkale is the mirror in looks to his Gr1 winning sire, from conformation to markings at Summerhill Equestrian.

Congratulations to the breeders, trainers and owners concerned on a great days results and racing!

Summerhill Equestrian saw a 1-2 in the weekends Peermont Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup presented by BSA, with Willow Magic’s son MK’s Pride snatching it in a close finish from the Act Of War’s sharp filly, the Gr1 placed War Of Athena.

It is also the smashing story for lucky owner Mr M K Nkale, whose colt that passed through the BSA Ready To Run Sale in 2019 unsold. [Watch his Ready To Run Gallop HERE]

The colt, a dead ringer for sire Willow Magic and a grandson of the mighty Dubawi, has won 3 times from 4 starts trained by Paul Peter and took home the lions share of the R900 000 stake on offer on Saturday.

MK’s Pride, originally named Alaunus is out of an Admire Main mare, who has produced a previous winner and is a half-sister to Gr2 placed Corredor.

This is also the family of Gondolier, Freedom Charter and Ernie.

A Gr1 winning sprinter, Willow Magic has produced 10 wins this season.

Trainer Paul Peter said he was thrilled that the fairytale had unfolded for the Nkale family.

“When I spoke to Koos before the race, he said what will be will be. So no pressure – even from a brand new owner. He has been in racing for thirty years so understands the game. He has a beautiful laid-back horse. We will go next for the Dingaans. MK’s Pride will enjoy the mile. We will only see the best from this chap later on,” an elated Peter told the Sporting Post.

In an emotional – and lengthy – post race interview, Mr Nkale, who selected and bought the winner himself for R100 000, indicated that he was a spiritual man, who was thrilled for his family, the Peter team, and even for South Africa.

“When I saw Summer Pudding win, I decided Mr Paul Peter was my trainer. This is a wonderful day for racing and for South Africa – we prayed and I thank the Almighty,” he said.

In a further chapter of a genuine fairytale of a story, MK’s Pride races in the black and gold of soccer side, Kaizer Chiefs. Mr Nkale is one of the most passionate of the top team’s 16 million supporters.

MK’s Pride has earned R531 600 and has won 3 of his 4 starts.

With the scratching of Anything Goes, War Of Athena was a firm favourite to take the race.

Act Of War, a Gr1 winning son of Dynasty has had 5 wins this season and has produced Black Type with two fillies – twice Gr1 placed War Of Athena and Stella Act, the latter has a full sister on offer at the upcoming National 2YO Sale consigned by Rathmor Stud as agent.

Paul Matchett is very shrewd at picking quality horses for little money, and War Of Athena is another example – having sold for just R30 000 – Paul’s other success was Gr1 winning French export Brave Mary (R40 000), and multiple Gr2 winner Running Brave (R30 000 purchase).

She has pure Summerhill pedigree, being out of a Requiem / Coastal mare who has produced 4 other winners, and from the family of Captain Tatters and Desert Links. She placed a very close 2nd to unbeaten Anything Goes in her penultimate start, to finish 2nd in the Gr1 Thekweni Stakes.

Contact stud@capitalstud.co.za for more information on Act Of War and Willow Magic.

Act Of War, already an exciting prospect with three winners and two of his fillies already getting Black Type – a recent winner for Paul Matchett, War Of Athena ran a smart race in the beginning of July to finish third in the Gr1 Allan Robertson and will contest the Gr1 Thekweni Stakes at month end to close off a delayed Champions Season.

War Of Athena, sold as Odie Sansom at the 2019 BSA Ready To Run Sale for only R30 000, is yet another shrewd purchase by trainer Paul Matchett, who has trained the likes of Gr1 winner Brave Mary – an exported Summerhill bred and another cheap purchase for Paul.

Act Of War’s other daughter, trained by Glen Kotzen, the smart and aptly named Stella Act is also one to follow – a winner who has placed 3rd in the Devon Air Listed and 4th in the Gr3 Strelitzia at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

Act Of War has let down into a quality sire with an outstanding temperament, a Gr1 winning son of Dynasty. His fees for 2020 are R12 000 (R3 000 Nomination + R9 000 LF) which is discounted to R10 000 if more than one mare is sent – (R2000 nomination + R8 000 LF).

Willow Magic, trained by Champion trainer Sean Tarry, has got his season off to a cracking start, currently with a 42% winners to runners percentage – with three winners from seven runners in just a matter of days!

A Gr1 winning son of the superb sire Dubawi, Willow Magic and Act Of War are residents of Summerhill Equestrian in Mooi River, now the home of recent sales topper Celestial City for owner Henning Pretorius.

Willow Magic is also being offered at R12 000 for the season, his fee (R3000 nom + R9 000LF) will also be discounted if more than one mare is to be sent.

Bush Hill Stud’s Flying The Flag recently produced his first winner and in just a couple of days had his next winner – Marengo for owner and breeder Justus Van Wyk. It hasn’t stopped there, with Vaughan Marshall getting a second at Kenilworth today with Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein bred Fly Over, finishing second over 1400m in the colours of Ken and Jane Truter. Fly Over sold for R100 000 at the 2019 Nationals.

Flying The Flag, a Group winning son of Galileo who is a full brother to the champion racemares of Coolmore and trainer Aiden O’Brien – Rhododendron (who was sent to Deep Impact to be covered before he passed away after a stellar international Gr1 career) and recent 6 time Gr1 winner, Magical, is bred in the purple from a speedy female line. The cross of Galileo onto Pivotal mares has also proved a highly successful nick internationally.

Flying The Flag puts in his imposing size, excellent bone, quality and good temperament into his babies.

Bush Hill Stud are accommodating breeders during the difficult COVID19 phase, and have halved Flying The Flag’s fee to R10 000 for the season with incentives for 20/20 matings and multiple mares. Contact Warwick Render for more information on bushhillstud@futurenet.co.za.