The late Captain Al is on course to be named South Africa’s Leading Broodmare Sire for 2023-2024.
The 2000 Cape Guineas winner headed that premiership last season, and was runner up in 2021-2022.
Captain Al wins the 2000 Gr1 Cape Argus Guineas (Pic – Supplied)
There are just over two weeks left of the current term.
At the time of writing, broodmare daughters of Captain Al have been responsible for 12 stakes winners, who picked up 16 black type races, in South Africa this season.
Captain Al mares have produced the winners of more than 170 races in South Africa in 2023-2024, with their progeny having earned in excess of R25 million this season alone.
Among the top performers out of Captain Al (Al Mufti) mares this season are Princess Calla (Gr1 City Of Cape Town Majorca Stakes), Proceed (Gr1 Gold Medallion), Snow Pilot (Gr1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas), Sandringham Summit (Gr2 TAB Gauteng Guineas, Gr2 Hawaii Stakes), Questioning (Gr3 Cape Classic), and Double Grand Slam (Gr2 East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes,Gr3 Umzimkhulu Stakes, Gr3 SplashOut Prix Du Cap).
Double Grand Slam and Mia Moo, first two home in the 2024 G3 Umzimkhulu Stakes, were produced by the stakes winning Captain Al mares Princess Peach and Leeward respectively.
Captain Al’s influence as a broodmare sire looks set to continue beyond the immediate future, with the likes of Eden Roc, Kommetdieding and Sandringham Summit all young, Gr1 winning stallions whose dams were sired by Captain Al.
Jet Master (Rakeen), who has headed South Africa’s Leading Broodmare Sires list on four occasions, is currently second on this premiership for the 2023-2024 season.
Jet Master holds off Classic Flag in 1998 Cape Guineas (Pic – Supplied)
The seven times South African Champion Sire is broodmare sire of seven stakes winners, who have captured 8 black type races, in South Africa this season.
Among the current season stakes winners whose dams were sired by Jet Master are Dave The King (Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge), Double Superlative (Gr1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met), and Rascallion (Gr3 Variety Club Mile).
Double Superlative (Twice Over) and Rascallion (Vercingetorix) finished first and second respectively in the 2024 Gr1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met.
Another late champion South African sire, Western Winter, is the third leading sire of broodmares, by prize money, in South Africa for 2023-2024.
Western Winter
Three times South Africa’s Champion Sire, Western Winter is damsire of four black type winners who have won five stakes races this season.
This tally includes Gr3 SplashOut 2200 winner Cape Eagle (Vercingetorix) and Gr2 TAB Igugu Stakes winner Beating Wings (Rafeef).
Silvano is second to Captain Al, in terms of individual stakes winners, as a broodmare sire this season. The six times South African champion sire is damsire of eight black type winners of nine stakes races this season.
Among the graded stakes winners produced by Silvano mares in 2023-2024 are Cosmic Speed (Gr2 Durban Golden Horseshoe), Let’s Go Now (Gr3 TAB Mother Russia Stakes), Mover And Shaker (Gr3 TAB J J The Jet Plane Stakes), Cosmic Highway (Gr2 Cape Merchants), and Feather Boa (Gr2 Betway Joburg Spring F & M Challenge).
Cosmic Speed (Querari) and Cosmic Highway (Gimmethegreenlight) are half-brothers, with the pair produced by Silvano’s winning daughter Cosmic Dream. The latter has produced three graded stakes winners with her tally also including Gr2 The Debutante winner Cosmic Light (Querari).
