This week’s BSA National Yearling Sale marks a first appearance in the historic arena for nineteen of the offspring of one of the most exciting equine athletes of his generation, and only the fourth horse in history to win the South African Triple Crown.
Hail Malmoos!
A smashingly handsome blue-blooded son of multiple champion sire Captain Al, Malmoos first emerged onto the public stage in the very same arena that his progeny will be showcased in on Thursday and Friday, when purchased on behalf of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum, as the second top lot at R4,4 million off the 2019 National Yearling Sale.
Malmoos cruises in under Luke Ferraris to win the SA Triple Crown (Pic – JC Photos)
Multiple champion trainer Mike de Kock guided the champion throughout his illustrious career, and with familiar parallels to Horse Chestnut’s facile victory in the Gr1 South African Derby more than two decades earlier, Malmoos galloped his way into South African turf history at Turffontein on 3 April 2021 as he registered his seventh victory from his first eight career starts, taking his earnings to over R3,5 million on that memorable Turffontein afternoon.
In the process he became the very last Grade 1 winning colt sired by former champion sire, Captain Al.
Fresh off his Dubai World Cup excursion this past weekend, Mike de Kock described Malmoos as one of those unique and very rare horses that ‘ticks all the boxes’.
“We have seen some of Malmoos’ offspring so far. They are very exciting and underscore their Dad’s visual hallmark of class and athleticism. Let’s face it, Malmoos was literally faultless as a racehorse, which history endorses, and now as a sire prospect. He had the good looks, he is correct, he has the pedigree, he had the elite level performance, and he was versatile as he won through a range of races from 1200m to 2450m. And now being based in the Ridgemont stallion barn– an outstanding breeding operation – he will definitely get the very best opportunity to go to the top,” added De Kock.
Racing in the internationally recognised silks of the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum, Malmoos possessed that eclectic hallmark of natural speed and stamina, winning seven races from 1200m to 2450m, including two Gr1 races, a Gr2 and a Gr3. In his brief, but distinguished career of twelve outings, Malmoos earned a rating of 125.
The regally pedigreed Malmoos is out of the Spook Express Handicap winner Justthewayyouare, a half-sister to Varsfontein sire Master Of My Fate.
It’s early days but the market have liked what they see! At the BSA Cape Yearling Sale in February, the Malmoos quintet fetched R1 550 000 at an average of R310 000.
At the CRS Premier Sale a few weeks later, Malmoos’ quartet grossed R1,1 million at an average of R275 000.
If you can’t beat them, buy them!
