Hello Cape Town! Oratorio has his first look at the Mother City
South Africa’s leading lady racehorse breeder received an early birthday present today when an exciting new stallion prospect touched down in Cape Town.
Sydney. Dubai. Luxembourg. Cape Town. That’s one major world trip in a matter of a few days.
But former Coolmore stallion Oratorio is safe and sound and by all reports has travelled ‘exceptionally well.’
An over the moon Avontuur General Manager Pippa Mickleburgh, who celebrates an undisclosed birthday (we’d guess it at about 27) on Saturday 19 January, said the safe arrival closed the next chapter in their exciting phase of building one of the country’s elite stallion powers.
“It was a really long trip, designed specifically so that he did not have to go to Johannesburg and wait for the usual horse sickness vaccinations etc. The syndicate of owners generously came to the party and paid the extra to get him directly to Cape Town. We owe them a big word of thanks!’ she said.
Of first impressions, she said that Oratorio appears to be a true gentleman. “ He was very relaxed and chilled and arrived in wonderful condition. The Australian groom Ian, who flew all the way with him, labelled him, one cool dude!”, she laughed.
On The Waterfront! Oratorio checks out the scenery on his arrival in Cape Town
Pippa said that she was excited and thrilled about the future prospects as she had no doubt that Oratorio would be a wonderful stable companion for Avontuur’s first citizen, Var.
“For a stud to stand two stallions of this calibre is a privilege. Oratorio is fully syndicated mainly with the Var shareholders, so we have high hopes that he does us proud like the champion Var has. Services are available and I expect the enquiries to keep rolling in.Any interested parties can contact me on my mobile or email me at [email protected].”
Pippa expressed her thanks to Kerry Proedhal and the team of Hobday Equestrian Enterprises for bringing Oratorio safely to SA.
Speaking exclusively to the Sporting Post this evening Pippa said that she was ‘totally exhausted.’ “The vets have just left and the x-rays and scoping has been done. I’m off to sleep – it’s been a long day!” she laughed.
Happy Birthday Pippa!
