Drakenstein
Last Friday evening, Drakenstein Stud hosted a number of guests to a viewing of yearlings bound for this week’s Cape Premier Yearling Sales. There are some superbly bred youngsters in the draft, which includes youngsters by such top sires as world-leading sire Pivotal, and top South African sires Western Winter and Jet Master. Drakenstein are also offering six yearlings sired by their very popular resident sire, Trippi.
Drakenstein’s draft includes yearlings out of a top race mares and producers Stratos, Niyabah and the proven international broodmare Mountains of Mist.
The guests, serenaded by superb singers, were treated to a viewing of resident stallions Trippi and Horse Chestnut.
Both horses looked absolutely magnificent, and while former SA Triple Crown winner Horse Chestnut’s feats are well known to all South African racing fans, his stablemate Trippi is set to make his sales debut at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale. A horse whose foals have attracted rave reviews, Trippi looks to be one of the most sought after sires at the sales, judging on the quality of horse he has sired, both here and in the States. Trippi was the 16th leading sire in the US last year, based solely on his offspring’s earnings in the States, and he is bound to prove a popular and successful addition to the local stallion ranks. Trippi’s runners of last year included Gr1 winning filly R Heat Lightning (Spinaway Stakes), who was an Eclipse Award finalist, and the very promising colt, Gourmet Dinner (Delta Jackpot).
Drakenstein also treated guests to some of the farm’s wine, which was much enjoyed by all present. Congratulations to all involved in putting together such a pleasant and enjoyable event.
Miesque’s Legacy
It was with sadness, that I read of the passing of legendary racemare, Miesque. A phenomenal race filly, Miesque, who died at the ripe old age of 27, was the first horse to win back to back runnings of the Breeders Cup Mile. She won eight other Gr/Gp1 races, and earned a Timeform Rating of 133. Timeform described the daughter of Nureyev as “Magnificent Miesque”. Miesque won group one races at 2,3 and 4 and was never out of the first three in 16 starts, winning 12 of her races. She was later inducted into the US Hall of Fame.
Miesque became one of only a handful of great racemares to duplicate their racing success with equal success in the breeding shed. Bred to Mr Prospector she produced French 2000 Guineas winner Kingmambo, one of the world’s great sires despite having an all too short stud career. Kingmambo has since become an important sire of sires, being represented by successful sire sons Lemon Drop Kid, King’s Best and SA sire Parade Leader. Lemon Drop Kid is the sire of Saturday’s Gr3 Lecomte Stakes winner Wilkinson.
Miesque’s other classic winner was the Private Account filly East of the Moon. She won both the French 1000 Guineas and Oaks, and at stud has produced Group Three winning filly Moon Driver (Mr Prospector).
Miesque is also the dam of the unraced Kitalpha (Mr Prospector), who was a successful sire in Zimbabwe and South Africa, before being exported to the US. Kitalpha is proving very popular in the US, covering 124 mares last year! He is represented by a number of smart performers in Southern Africa, including Killaridge, Bluemambo, Royal Exit and Moroccan.
Another son of Miesque to make his mark at stud was Miesque’s Son (Mr Prospector). Runner up in the Gr1 Prix de la Foret, Miesque’s Son is the sire of triple French Group One winner Whipper as well as Breeders Cup Mile winner Miesque’s Approval. The latter has made a promising start to his stud career, as the sire of the promising juvenile Top Of The Chocs.
Monevassia (a full sister to Kingmambo and Miesque’s Son) is another offspring of Miesque’s to have met with success at stud. A non winner, Monevassia produced Champion 2yo-filly Rumplestiltskin (Danehill), who won both the Gp1 Moyglare Stud Stakes and Prix Marcel Boussac.
Miesque also produced the Group three winning colt, Mingun (A P Indy), and his full brother Judpot. The latter is currently at stud in South Africa.
Miesque’s legacy was quite phenomenal, and it will be a long time before her like is seen again.
Klawervlei
Klawervlei hosted it’s annual pre-Met lunch last Sunday in Stellenbosch. It was a truly festive and elegant occasion, attending by a large crowd.
Klawervlei have a wonderful draft of 41 yearlings on this week’s Cape Premier Sale. One of the undoubted highlights of their draft is lot 102, a smashing Jet Master colt.
The colt is a half-brother to international superstar, and now Klawervlei sire, Jay Peg. The colt, named One Sunday Morning, is also a half-brother to the Gr3 winning sprinter Cyber Case. The Jet Master/Al Mufti “cross” has already produced the high-class runners Little Miss Magic (Gr1 Empress Club Stakes) and Vertical Takeoff (Gr2 Colorado King S) , and One Sunday Morning could well prove to be one of the sales toppers.
Klawervlei are also some well bred youngsters, sired by their stallions Albert Hall, National Emblem, Count Dubois and Captain Al. Albert Hall has made a bright start to his stud career, having already been represented by a winner in Alberts Vigilance.
Klawervlei are offering ten youngsters by Captain Al, who is currently leading the general sires list. Captain Al is enjoying another great season, with promising fillies Sting Operation and Trinity House adding to the feats of Emerald Cove winning the Gr1 TBA Paddock Stakes and Captain Al fillies running 1-2-3-4 in the Gr3 Diana Stakes. Klawervlei have also been enjoying a great spell as breeders, having been responsible for Emerald Cove, Sting Operation, Trinity House as well as the Mystic Moon and Nysean Bolt – the first two home in the Listed Politician Stakes. Both 3yos line up in Saturday’s Gr1 Investec Cape Derby.
The draft also includes yearlings by Trippi, Arc winner Dylan Thomas, Black Minnalouse, Fort Wood and Windrush.
