Julia Pilbeam’s Soetendal Estate is the acknowledged benchmark platform of Ready To Run stars over seventeen years of blood, sweat, tears, and a deep love and passion for the horse.
The Soetendal barn – a place of peace and power
Looking ahead to the Cape Racing Sales Ready To Run Sale on 29 October at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, Julia says it’s all systems go for another vintage draft.
“I don’t think I have ever had a more quality offering of diversity and the whole team is excited and looking forward to heading to the Southern Suburbs in a few weeks from now. It’s a great venue and we are all set for a big one,” she adds.
The beautiful Soetendal Estate is a horsey paradise and lies some 15km northwest of Wellington, off the R44, facing the dramatic mountains of the Limietberg and offering stunning scenic views on all sides. The magnificent farm, a National Heritage Site, was founded in 1852.
Julia started the Wellington based operation on a small scale on 50 hectares of magnificent Boland countryside in 2005.
The property was extended to offer a range of superior services including backing and pre-training, yearling and Ready-to-Run sales preparation spelling, rehabilitation and post-operative care, permanent boarding of broodmare, foaling down and weaning, and transportation of mares to all sires in the Western Cape.
Here is a collection of thoughts from Julia’s notebook:
# 6 – unnamed colt by What a Winter ex Cordial Report
Pic – Wayne Marks
Well-grown, scopey What a Winter colt. He’s a fluent mover with an incredible temperament. His dam is a half-sister to champion Highland Night and dual Gr1 winner, and sire, Warm White Night -the latter, like What A Winter, sired by Western Winter.
# 10 – unnamed colt by Twice Over (GB) ex Dancing Delight
Big, powerful Twice Over colt; he’s forward in his work and already looks like a three-year old. He is out of a half sister to Gr1 Allan Robertson Fillies Championship winner Give Me Five.
# 11 – filly named Frances by Ethel Rafeef (AUS) ex Daphne Garland
Pic – Wayne Marks
Tall, rangy filly; a classic type who will just continue to improve and from the same female line as Rafeef’s grandsire Danehill. She is a half-sister to the smart Jaimala and out of a full-sister to triple graded stakes winner Queen’s Bay and the dam of Gr1 SA Derby winner Bouquet-Garni, also the family of Australian Gr1 winner Ace High -whose dam, like Rafeef, was sired by Redoute’s Choice.
# 17 – colt named Mo Gem by Royal Mo (USA) ex Emerald Eye
This Royal Mo colt is the epitome of athleticism. A balanced colt who loves to work, he is a half-brother to a winner, out of a half-sister to two black type horses. The granddam is a 3/4 sister to Gr3 Magnolia Handicap winner Princess Faberge.
# 22 – unnamed filly by Fire Away (USA) ex Hollywood Strip (AUS)
Exciting filly by first crop sire Fire Away. She’s well grown, carries herself beautifully and has an elastic action, a forward, tough filly. She’s a half-sister to the useful Pretty Ballerina, and is closely inbred to Danzig, out of a half-sister to dual Gr3 winning filly Hollywoodboulevard, dam of Gr3 Champagne Stakes winner Walk Of Fame and In Full Flight Hcp winner On That Boulevard.
# 45 – colt named Mo Ment by Royal Mo (USA) ex Peach Delight
Big, deep-girthed Royal Mo colt with a lot of quality about him – he moves very well and looks a classic type! His dam won seven and was runner up in the Listed Lady’s Bracelet
# 47 – unnamed colt by Captain of All ex Pepperdine
It’s hard to believe that this quality Captain of All colt is a very late foal; he’s done exceptionally well through his prep, and we are very excited with what he’s showing us. He is nicely bred too, being a three-parts brother to a winner out of a Trippi half-sister to Gr3 Umkhomazi Stakes winner Captain In Command and Ladies Mile winner Canadian Sunset -both of whom, like Captain Of All, were sired by Captain Al.
# 50 – unnamed filly by William Longsword ex Polly Wolly Doodle
Beautifully put together William Longsword filly with a powerful hindquarter; she’s tough and honest, and has been one of the easiest horses to prep in the draft – everything has been easy for her! Her dam is also a half-sister to Gr1 winner Master Plan, out of a 4 time winning own sister to Gr2 winning filly Polyphonic and 3/4 sister to champion filly Along Came Polly.
# 51 -unnamed colt by Pomodoro ex Radiant Splendour (AUS)
Quick, racy and precocious, this Pomodoro colt is from a top Australian family. Out of a twice winning daughter of star sire Lope De Vega, this colt’s granddam won the Gr1 Australian Oaks.
# 67 – colt named Across the Bow by Vercingetorix ex Beau Var
Pic – Wayne Marks
From a very speedy dam line, this exciting colt is a beautiful mover. He’s a forward colt and very honest, bred on the same cross as Gr1 winning sprinter Alesian Chief. He is out of a winning own sister to stakes winners Le Var and Winter Passion, family of SA Oaks winner Wind Chill -who, like Vercingetorix, was sired by Silvano.
# 69 – unnamed filly by William Longsword ex Cranberry Gold
A William Longsword filly that caught our eye from the day she arrived with her good walk and big, bold eye, she has a very good action too. She is out of a Silvano three quarter sister to Oaks Trial winner Chariot Of Gold.
As agent for Owloon, Julia is offering a tantalising trio:
# 39 – filly named Milliondollar Girl by Flower Alley (USA) ex Money Surger
A compact, strong and precocious sort, this racy filly looks early and just does everything she’s asked. She is a half-sister to a useful winner, this filly is out of the tough, ten time winner Money Surger.
# 62 – filly named That’s My Baby by Master of My Fate ex Xilomante (BRZ)
She’s a late foal but is well-grown with good substance. She already shows good work, and will keep improving; she’s bound to catch the buyer’s eye. She is a half-sister to two winners, including Gr3 Man O’War Sprint runner up Laetitia’s Angel, this filly’s dam won seven including the Listed Queen Of The Sand Handicap.
# 68 – colt named Donny Tee Duke Of Marmalade (IRE) ex Cape Charlotte
This Duke of Marmalade colt walks exceptionally well, and has a ground-covering action – definitely one for the shrewd buyer, as he will continue to develop. He is closely inbred to Danzig, this colt is out of Listed Stormsvlei Mile runner up Cape Charlotte.
- Enquiries: Call Julia on 082 317 9474 or email:[email protected]
