Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colours. And the people there see you differently too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.
This has never been more true than in the case of multiple Gr1 winner Jet Dark and is the reason his owners, Nick Jonsson and Tommy Crowe, felt that when it came to retiring him to stud, there could be no more appropriate choice than the place that originally produced this extraordinary horse, Drakenstein Stud.
Both partners are delighted to welcome Gaynor Rupert.
Jet Dark (Trippi – Night Jet by Jet Master) (Pic – Jeremy Nelson)
In addition to nine wins from his nineteen career starts, the five-year-old also holds the distinction of being named 2020/21 Equus Champion three-year-old colt, 2020/21 and 2021/22 Equus Champion Miler, 2021/22 Equus Champion Older Male and 2021/22 Equus Champion Middle Distance Horse.
Champion trainer Justin Snaith, who helped select Jet Dark as a yearling and produced him throughout his career commented: “Jet Dark was an incredibly easy horse to train. He was a gentleman with the most kind temperament which allowed me to get the best out of him while retiring him completely sound. I will be sad to see him go as I believe he had a few Group Ones left in the tank. I cannot wait to buy his yearlings!”
A group winner at ages two, three, four and five, the son of Trippi accumulated no fewer than five Group One wins, beating 2021 Horse Of The Year Rainbow Bridge in the 2021 Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and Gr1 Champions Cup.
He repeated the feat in 2022, beating Kommetdieding in both the 2022 Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and Gr1 Champions Cup and put the final seal on his glittering career with victory in the 2023 Gr1 WSB Cape Met over ten furlongs.
Jet Dark – champion racer (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
In his only attempt at the HWB Durban July over 2200m, he flew home under top weight to run a fast finishing second.
He also has the unique distinction of being the only two time LQP winning colt since his maternal grand sire Jet Master, in 1999 & 2000.
Jet Dark not only combines all the best attributes of Drakenstein stalwart and Champion Sire Trippi, and seven time Champion Sire and four time Champion Broodmare Sire Jet Master, his impressive pedigree also boasts 1997 French Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner, Peintre Celebre.
As a stallion prospect, Jet Dark ticks absolutely every box – conformation, athleticism, speed, stamina, temperament, action, pedigree, soundness and most importantly, heart.
Jet Dark – a champion (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
He won over five furlongs as well as proving effective up to eleven furlongs at Group One level. The losses of Captain Al, Silvano, Dynasty and Jet Master have created an urgent requirement for a top class classic sire to fill the mile to twelve furlong category and it is this which makes Jet Dark uniquely appealing.
To make him as accessible to all breeders as possible, Jet Dark is being launched at a service fee of R30 000.
His owners also offer the assurance that breeders who support him early, will receive preference for repeat bookings.
Jonathan Snaith will manage Jet Dark with the assistance of Drakenstein Stud and Kevin Sommerville.
They say you haven’t really been anywhere until you’ve got back home. Why not take a trip with us?
Kevin Sommerville
C: +27 (0)72 167 9971
Jonathan Snaith
C: +27 (0)83 254 6255
