In a scoop for Owloon Horses, the 2024 Hollywoodbets Durban July winning broodmare Souk has been acquired by one of South Africa’s youngest Stud Manager Alex de Wet in a move to boost his burgeoning band of Mums at the beautiful farm, hidden in a valley on the outskirts of the boulder-strewn Paarl Mountain.
At the age of 26, Alex is fast making inroads in a competitive industry dominated by long established and vastly experienced Stud Managers, many, with respect, twice his age.
Alex de Wet and new best mate, Souk (Pic – Supplied)
“I am very excited to have purchased this well-performed beautiful broodmare, currently in foal to Fire Away, from Anton Shepherd. We intend sending her to Vercingetorix, the mating that produced the July winner Oriental Charm, again. Lightning doesn’t always strike twice, but returning to the well makes every sense!” he adds confidently.
Owned by German investor Christian Elleke, the entirely off-the-grid Owloon is a little piece of heaven on earth in the Paarl Valley, and boasts sprawling magnificent green paddocks, while the hillsides are covered in thriving lemon, lime and clementine orchards, a grove of pomegranates, and Cabernet Franc vines.
The picturesque storybook masterpiece of a working fruit farm, thoroughbred stud and a boutique hotel, Owloon is now home to Souk and Alex de Wet is determined to produce another champion.
Alex, who grew up around horses under the guidance of his vastly experienced Dad Jikkie, today of Prosper Stud, trained at the renowned Lane’s End Farm in Central Kentucky and returned to South Africa when the opportunity presented itself.
He presented his personal maiden Owloon draft at Nationals earlier this year, and is determined to follow the time-tested age old principle of sending quality to quality.
“An opportunity to acquire the likes of Souk doesn’t present itself every day, and Vercingetorix has proven himself a more than adequate successor to his multiple champion Dad, Silvano,” he observes.
Greys Inn – Souk’s Dad seen winning the 2004 Durban July (Pic – Supplied)
The stakes-placed Souk, a daughter of the Oppenheimer-owned and bred Greys Inn, who won the historic 2004 Durban July, is a product of the Mauritzfontein paddocks, and hails from a female line that has served SA racing’s most famous racing family well, originating from the purchase of the stakes winner, Daphne Donnelly.
The latter was a sprinter and took after her sire Golden Thatch, as did her full sister, the Gr2 Sceptre Stakes winner Lady Broadhurst.
Daphne Donnelly’s dam was the American import You’re My Lady, a Roberto half-sister to Danehill’s dam Razyana, whilst their dam, the Buckpasser mare Spring Adieu, counted the mighty Northern Dancer amongst her siblings. In short, a female line to die for.
Daphne Donnelly was not the most prolific of broodmares and produced just five foals, all by Fort Wood. Four of those were fillies and all have become black-type producers.
Souk is a grandaughter of Daphne Donnelly’s first foal Bay Tree, who returned to her birthplace as a two-time winner and when mated to Strike Smartly produced Gr1 SA Derby hero Bouquet-Garni as her second foal. Her first, a filly by the same sire named Tagine, never raced but became the dam of Souk.
Souk won three races and also earned small black type when second in the Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes.
Souk, in foal to Fire Away, settles in at her new home (Pic – Supplied)
At the end of her racing career, she was sent to Cheveley Stud, where she produced the three-time winning fillies Athalia and Touch Of Grace as her first two foals. Oriental Charm is her fourth foal.
“She imparts absolute heart to her foals,” Vaughan Koster told the Sporting Post recently.
The family has really come to light this season. While Oriental Charm’s July victory is the cherry on the cake, it was preceded by stable companion Frances Ethel’s success in the Gr2 SA Oaks.
The Mauritzfontein-bred daughter of Rafeef, who races in the Team Valor silks, is out of Daphne Garland, an unraced full sister to Bay Tree.
Alex and Souk bond shortly after her arrival at Owloon last week (Pic – Supplied)
We wish Alex and the Owloon team well!
