The picturesque Paarl Diamant Estate is located only 40 minutes from training centres like Milnerton and Philippi.
Owner Monique Schabort has extended an invitation to come by and see their facilities for themselves.
“Our slogan, ‘For The Love Of Horses’, describes everything that we do. We don’t have a huge yard, so we give the horses a lot of personal attention,” she says.
Paarl Diamant horses running free as the wind in their grass paddocks
Their horses go out into grass paddocks daily, where they run free as the wind. In addition, the farm offers a host of services, including pre-training, spelling & rehabilitation, broodmare and foal care, and sales preparation.
Monique’s yard houses 48 stables, irrigated grass paddocks, smaller paddocks for rehab horses, lunge rings and a sand track where they work their yearlings.
“Plus, we offer 24-hour supervision,” Monique tells us.
“Prepping and selling for the sales is one of the most exciting aspects of what we do. We experience a range of emotions at the sales – sometimes we laugh, sometimes we cry.
“There is always so much that goes into sales preparation and the sales themselves. You form such an emotional and physical bond with the horses,” she says.
Monique says that the most exciting part of her job is when a yearling first arrives at her farm.
She loves watching how they transform in the months that they are with them.
She finds the process from breaking in and working with the youngster and finally sending them to the trainer, rewarding.
“Seeing them racing leaves a lump in the throat because we know the part we’ve played in getting them there,” she says with a smile.
Monique and her team are heading to the CTS Ready To Run Sale on Sunday with two lots.
Lot 8 – Colloidal Gold (c) by Gold Standard ex Cavalleria
Lot 8 heads gets things off to an early start.
The chestnut colt is out of the German mare Cavalleria. However, it is her first foal, and the match with Gold Standard, a son of Trippi, who ran second in the Cape Guineas and fourth in the Sun Met, is appealing.
This colt is bred to stay from a line that has thrown up plenty of black type over the classic distances from both sides.
“What we have seen from him is that he has a lovely character, and he looks as honest as the day is long. He is a substantial individual and nicely put together,” says Monique.
Next up is lot 21. The impressive bay colt is by Vodacom Durban July winner Pomodoro.
Lot 8 – Colloidal Gold (c) by Gold Standard ex Cavalleria
“He is the fifth produce of Hold Fast, whose first four foals all went on to win races from five furlongs to a mile. He is a tall horse and covers a lot of ground with his big stride. So we think he will attract a lot of attention.
Clearly excited, Monique adds that he is a lovely mover.
“We’re all quite excited about his future. Russian Rock represented Pomodoro well in the Gr1’s last season winning the Cape Guineas, and he always offers value for money.”
Monique is also looking forward to the 2021 De Grendel CTS Ready To Run Stakes on Saturday, where the Paarl Diamante team is represented by Vaughan Marshall-trained Fifty Fiver, who will be ridden from the pole position gate by top jockey Anton Marcus.
Reflecting back, she is proud to note that 100% of her 2020 draft have won or been placed in their careers already. Monique is confident of the same performance from her 2021 draft.
Her smart duo can be viewed at Kenilworth before the sale on Sunday.
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