Prominent owner Laurence Wernars, he of Puerto Manzano and Brazuca fame, has raced some decent fillies over the years, either in his own name or in partnership, and includes the likes of Gr1 winners Mighty High and Temple Grafin, as well as graded stakes winners True To Life, Princess Of Light, Sporting Model, Homely Girl, Netta and Gobsmacked, to mention just a few.
Laurence Wernars with Keagan de Melo and flanked by son Jarryd and trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren (Pic – JC Photos)
Not surprising then, that he has also ventured into the breeding side and when asked how he came to join the ranks of breeders, he explained:
“I always tend to spend a bit more for a filly at sales, purely because of their residual value and if they reach a merit rating of 100 or more on the track, I think it is only fair to give them a chance at stud.”
Last weekend’s Gr3 Mother Russia Stakes at Turffontein is proof that his track record as a breeder is growing in stature by the day, given that he races and bred both the winner Gimmefabulous and runner-up Salenio Peninsula from mares he campaigned himself.
As her name suggests, the winner is by Gimmethegreenlight and is also the first foal out of the imported High Chaparral mare Being Fabulous. Trained by Johan Janse van Vuuren, she carried the Wernars silks to victory in the Listed Syringa Handicap and also has a string of Gr3 places to her credit.
Raymond Danielson steers Gimmefabulous up the outside to beat Salenio Peninsula (Pic – JC Photos)
Runner-up Salenio Peninsula was not disgraced as she lost by the bob of a head. Her dam, the Gr3 Fillies Mile winner Negroamaro was also trained by Janse van Vuuren and proved herself amongst the leading sophomore fillies of her generation by running second in the Gr1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic, Gr1 Woolavington 2000 and Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas.
She has made a fine start to her broodmare career, as her first three foals are all stakes performers: Gr1 Daily News 2000 third Barbaresco, his Gr2-placed sibling Outofthedarkness and now Salenio Peninsula.
Speaking of Barbaresco, he showed his class later on in the day by coming from stone last under a hefty 62 kg to win going away over 1160m, a distance far short of his best.
Gimmefabulous and Salenio Peninsula aside, Laurence already has the distinction of being the breeder of two Gr1 winners.
Sean Tarry-trained homebred Proceed, a seven-length maiden winner, earned Gr1 honours with a cosy victory in last season’s Gr1 Gold Medallion and was voted the Equus Champion Juvenile Colt. Laurence reports that the colt is currently on the easy list due to a leg injury, but will hopefully have recovered in time for the KZN winter season.
Proceed was joined by three-year-old Fatal Flaw, who recently broke through at the elite level with a two-length score in the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas. Ironically, the filly was one that got away, she was sold as a yearling to ASSM Racing. As Laurence wryly admitted: “I have to sell some of them, or I will be in trouble with the taxman.”
Incidentally, she is the second Gr1 winner sired by the Wernars-raced New Predator, a fine sprinter/miler who looked a stallion of infinite promise before his tragic demise at age eleven.
New Predator also features as the sire of another talented Wernars homebred in Pure Predator. Beaten a neck by paternal half-brother Purple Pitcher in last season’s Gr1 SA Derby, he won the Gr2 Colorado King Stakes, a race previously won by fellow Wernars homebred Divine Odyssey, a teak tough son of Oratorio who earned Gr1 black type when third in the Premier’s Champions Challenge and registered his tenth career win at age seven.
Oratorio also features as the sire of homebred stakes winner Gentleman’s Wager, whose dam Princess Of Light was raced by Laurence in partnership with Ashley Devachander. Despite being a daughter of champion sprinter Var, she won them the Gr2 Gold Circle Oaks and finished second in the (then) Gr1 Gold Cup.
Laurence currently has about 40 mares, the bulk of which are based at Maine Chance Farms, with the balance spread amongst Narrow Creek, Winterbach and Syrilla Stud.
Breeding racehorses is not for the faint-hearted, it is a long-term project fraught with risk and disappointment, something Laurence is well aware of: “Last year, I lost a Vercingetorix filly out of my best mare which was heart-wrenching, but that’s how the cookie crumbles.”
To enjoy success with the progeny of mares one has raced oneself, is probably one of the most satisfying experiences any owner/breeder can aspire to and Laurence can attest to that:
“The Mother Russia one-two was a wonderful result. Breeding racehorses is all about having the nicks and crosses come together, especially if the mare has done well. It gives me another passion besides the racing and gambling side.”
