Situated in the Nuy Valley, just outside of Worcester, Ambiance Stud has a long tradition of breeding top-class thoroughbreds, with the Cape based outfit having produced some truly memorable champions.
After taking a sabbatical from racing, Ambiance’s Dr Marianne Thomson, a canny veteran of the game, has made a welcome return to the thoroughbred breeding industry.
The new Ambiance te Nuy
A few years ago Thomson moved from her original Worcester farm to a smaller stretch of land and, with that, planned on wrapping her successful breeding operation. However, the lure of the game proved too strong, with the charismatic ‘Dr T’ returning to the industry having restocked her broodmare band.
Standout thoroughbreds bred by Ambiance include champion sprinters Al Nitak and Cataloochee, 2005 Met winner Alastor, Cape Derby hero and sire The Sheik, dual Gr1 winning sprinter Bull Valley, and champion Almah to name but a few.
The farm is also responsible for current smart sprinter Alesian Chief -winner of both the Gr3 World Sports Betting Merchants and Listed Golden Loom Handicap this season.
Ambiance bred the 2005 J&B Met winner Alastor (Garth Puller) – led in by a younger Sean Tarry
Ambiance were also involved in a piece of racing history -when the Ambiance bred Alastor captured the 2005 J&B Met he provided subsequent multiple champion trainer Sean Tarry with the first Gr1 success of his illustrious career!
The farm has also been home to some outstanding matriarchs, with former star mares to have graced Ambiance’s paddocks including Jessamine -South Africa’s Broodmare Of The Year of 2002, and dam of both Al Nitak and The Sheik.
Marianne also bred Gr1 Fancourt Majorca Stakes winner, and subsequent top-class producer, Sarabande. The latter produced seven winners headed by the graded stakes winners Chesalon and Mardi Gras, as well as the Gr1 placed dam of Gr3 Starling Stakes victress She’s A Giver.
Dr Thomson is also the breeder of the classy filly Cockney Pride, whose victories included a triumph in the Gr2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper of 2019.
Cockney Pride – Ambiance bred the Gr2 winner
Cockney Pride, who was produced by the Rakeen mare Lovely Jubbly, has a Querari full-brother (Lot 37) on offer at this year’s National Yearling Sale. The latter colt, who has been named La Plazuela, is one of 12 yearlings Ambiance Stud has entered for the 2022 National Sale.
The rest of the string consists of yearlings sired by a host of popular stallions including Lancaster Bomber, Master Of My Fate, Querari, Var and champion sire elect Vercingetorix.
Ambiance will also be offering a Captain Of All half-brother to top-class filly Safe Harbour, as well as Azimuth, a filly from the first crop of Dynasty’s regally bred son Horizon.
The beautifully bred Azimuth is out of Patricia’s Gift -a Master Of My Fate three-parts sister to globetrotting champion J J The Jet Plane and Gr3 Kings Cup winner Jet Legend.
The string can be viewed in its entirety online at www.bsa.co.za
The BSA National Yearling Sale will be held on 28 and 29 April at the TBA Sales complex in Johannesburg.
