A farm known for its motto of “where the horses come first”, with their large paddocks on limestone-rich soil, at Moutonshoek Stud the equine athletes play, run and grow up strong with good bone.
Moutonshoek – where equine athletes grow up strong! (Pic – Romi Bettison)
Moutonshoek’s Bennie Van Der Merwe is a firm believer in the importance of land, and says, “This is real horse country and was the area they used to breed cavalry and Green Point tram horses.”
The farm has bred numerous classy gallopers including the ill-fated Horse Of The Year Captain’s Ransom and will be offering two quality colts at Sunday’s BSA Cape Yearling Sale.
Lot 12 – Tycoon Mo (c) by Royal Mo ex Care To Dance
From the underrated sire, whose progeny include the top-class R6 million plus earner Royal Aussie. An exceptional female line and a three-parts brother to a winner, dam is a Smart Strike half-sister to Gr3 Darley Stakes winner Steele Tango. Fourth dam is the wonderful producer Mill Princess – dam of Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner, and champion sire, Last Tycoon and ancestress to a host of international stars including Moutonshoek’s own successful sire The United States.
Lot 59 – Thomas Burchell (c) by Flower Alley ex Miss Chance
Sire’s current flagbearers include the likes of Chyavana and Firealley. Dam is a full-sister to exported Listed Sea Cottage Stakes winner Majestic Mambo, and closely inbred to the great mare Lassie Dear.
This draft can be viewed from Block E at the SARDA Centre in Constantia on 23 February.
