History shows that over the years, the internationally acclaimed Niarchos family can take credit for a number of their homebred colts succeeding as stallions in South Africa.
Those that readily come to mind include Caesour, Mogok and Judpot and if early signs are anything to go by, young Maine Chance recruit Erupt could yet add his name to that list.
Kerangetang looks very promising (Pic – JC Photos)
The stallion career of the son of Dubawi may still be in its infancy, yet he has already reached a significant milestone as the sire of an unbeaten first crop stakes winner in Karangetang.
Johan Janse van Vuuren’s charge did the honours on debut when he dashed up the Turffontein straight to win the Listed Storm Bird Stakes and last weekend, the colt successfully made the step up to Graded stakes class level to land the Gr3 Protea Stakes.
For those not familiar with Erupt, the Niarchos homebred is a dual Gr1 winner of the Grand Prix de Paris and Gr1 Canadian International, both over 2400m.
Sadly, that’s a distance nowadays regarded as the kiss of death for almost any stud prospect in Britain and Europe and one which would invariably consign him to the ranks of the National Hunt stallions.
Fortunately, Dr Andreas Jacobs, owner of the famed German Fährhof Stud and, of course Maine Chance in South Africa, stepped up to the plate.
Dr Andreas Jacobs (photo: hamishNIVENPhotography)
He explained: “As you know, Erupt was a late maturing stayer. The Niarchos family were looking for a home for him but initially I was not very keen to stand him in Germany where I saw limited chances for him. The Niarchos family are great partners and due to my personal relationship with Maria and Electra and their racing manager Alan Cooper, I offered to stand him at Maine Chance. Unfortunately, Erupt arrived at Maine Chance very late and only covered 50 mares in his first season, so I asked Justin Vermaak to market the horse, which he did very well and in year two he covered around 100 mares.”
That figure was matched in the third season, but with no runners yet to show his powers and his racing career a fading memory, the fourth season at stud is a dreaded one, hence Erupt covered just 50 mares in 2021.
Maine Chance stud manager Tim Bootsma further attributes the diminished support to the vastly- reduced number of broodmare currently in production, whilst adding: “Breeders generally want access to just a handful of elite stallions, alternatively they will support the newcomers.”
Point taken.
Some years ago, the writer was fortunate to visit Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket and had the privilege of seeing Erupt’s sire Dubawi, who is a not overly big, burly bay.
Erupt stands at Maine Chance
Physically, Erupt is clearly his father’s son, but according to Tim, stands probably a hand higher. He also pointed out the young stallion’s wonderful temperament.
“He’s so laid back, he’s unconscious. He doesn’t turn a hair, you could literally put your kids on his back,” observes Tim.
To keep a check on his weight, Erupt has to be lunged daily, for as Tim notes – “He loves his food and the moment he walks into his paddock, he’s head down and grazing.”
Tim feels Erupt definitely stamps his stock. “But they are a lot leggier and very correct. The trainers find them easy to work with, they aim to please.”
Although Karangetang was bred by Wilgerbosdrift/Mauritzfontein, the colt’s female line is a familiar one nurtured at Varsfontein Stud, which incidentally, was home to both Caesour and Judpot.
He is the first foal of La Revere, a Varsfontein-bred daughter of Var.
This half-sister to Gr3 Flamboyant Stakes winner Hashtagyolo won twice and also ran third in the Gr2 Debutante.
Their dam My Guiding Star is a Jallad half-sister to Master Of My Fate and Justthewayyouare, who produced Triple Crown winner Malmoos.
The top-class Promisefrommyheart
This is of course Varsfontein’s fabulous Secret Pact family of champion Promisefrommyheart, Covenant, Pluck and Erik The Red.
The judges are still out on Erupt, who has 15 lots catalogued for next month’s National Yearling Sale, three of which from Maine Chance. The trio is made up of two fillies and a colt and all boast rock solid families.
Tim is particularly high on the filly Kythera, whose dam Kashmira is a winning half-sister to Gay Fortuna, the dam of champion Marinaresco.
Lady Elliott is out of La Collossa, a grandaughter of German champion La Colorado, who has achieved lasting fame as the dam of champion Lomitas, the sire of Silvano.
The Niarchos family never fails to support their South African-based stallions and Maine Chance sells on their behalf an Erupt colt out of homebred Kitoko, an unraced Montjeu mare from the wonderful female line of their great mare Miesque.
One swallow does not make a summer. However, in addition to Karangetang, Erupt is also sire of the promising colt Set To Go. Trained by Paul Peter, he has reeled off two smart wins over the minimum trip after finishing second on debut.
The promising Set To Go (Pic – JC Photos)
That’s a fine start from essentially a classically bred and performed sire.
In conclusion, Dr Jacobs remarked: “According to Alan Cooper, if they stay sound, time and more distance should bring out the best in them, although, in the case of Karangetang, being out of a Var mare clearly helped.”
Ed – On Monday, the Australian filly Duais scooted to victory in the Tancred Stakes, her third at Gr1 level. Significantly, both she and Erupt share as their fourth dam the Canadian champion and Broodmare of the Year Fanfreluche, who is also ancestress of the notable stallions Encosta De Lago, Flying Spur and Lode.
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