A number of landmarks were achieved by South African stallions and broodmares in 2017.
Silvano – champion again!
Maine Chance Farms outstanding sire Silvano enjoyed another remarkable season in 2017. The former Arlington Million winner completely dominated the finish to the 2017 Gr1 Vodacom Durban July, with sons Marinaresco and Al Sahem running 1-2, and daughter Nightingale . Silvano daughters Nightingale and Star Express also ran 1-2 in the Gr1 Majorca Stakes in 2017. He would also go on to be responsible for the first three home in the 2017 Victress Stakes.
Silvano (Lomitas – Spirit Of Eagles)
Silvano collected a second General Sires title when heading the local sires list for 2016-2017, with his runners collecting 13 black type features during 2016-2017.
Captain Al dies
South Africa bid farewell to one of the country’s top stallions this year, with the passing of former champion sire, and eight times champion 2yo sire Captain Al earlier this year. The dominant sire of 2yo talent of his era, Captain Al left behind more than 80 stakes winners, headed by champions All Is Secret, Always In Charge, Captain’s Lover, Carry On Alice, Cloth Of Cloud and Captain Of All.
Captain Al (Al Mufti – Off To War)
Captain Al was quickly missed, with daughter Snowdance and son Tap O’ Noth landing the 2017 Cape Fillies Guineas and Cape Guineas respectively-to give their sire a rare Cape classic double. It was also a second consecutive win in the Cape Guineas for Captain Al, whose son William Longsword had triumphed in 2016.
50th stakes winner for Dynasty
Like Captain Al, Dynasty was another locally bred stallion to make it big at stud, and the four -time Equus Champion Sire was represented by his 50th stakes winner when his son Let It Rain, a half-brother to champion Soft Falling Rain, won the Listed Java Handicap in 2017.
Dynasty enjoyed major success in 2017 both in South Africa and Hong Kong, where his son Nassa lifted the Gr3 SA SA Ladies Purse.
Dynasty (Fort Wood – Blake’s Affair)
Mystic Spring marches on
Cheveley Stud’s remarkable broodmare Mystic Spring continued to make her presence felt during the year, with her champion daughter Bela-Bela landing both the Gr1 Paddock Stakes and Gr1 Garden Province Stakes in 2017.
Mystic Spring’s daughter Spring Lilac also got in on the Gr1 act, with her daughter Snowdance romping home in both the Gr2 Western Cape Fillies Championship and Gr1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas. Mystic Spring is also the third dam of the 2017 CTS Ready To Run Sale topper, who was knocked down to Alesh Naidoo for R1 100 000.
First 2yo sires title for Var
Prominent speed sire Var also made headlines during the year, when he headed the 2yo sires list for a first time last season. The son of Forest Wildcat had some high-class 2yo’s representing him during 2016-2017, headed by Golden Horseshoe winner Purple Diamond and Gold Medallion second Varallo.
With a plethora of well bred 2yo’s set to represent Var once again in 2017-2018, the Avontuur based stalwart could well play another prominent role in 2yo races during 2017-2018.
Var – ever reliable top-class
Jallad passes
Captain Al was not the only champion sire lost to South Africa, with the pensioned Highlands stallion Jallad passing away in December. The son of Blushing Groom had topped the South African General Sires List in 2001-2002 and was a regular feature in the top ten on the sires list. His 16 Gr1 winners were headed by Horse Of The Year Free My Heart.
His influence was felt in 2017 when Liege won the G1 Sansui Summer Cup to record his first career Gr1 win.
KZN lose Toreador
Bush Hill Stud unfortunately lost their popular and proven Gr1 sire Toreador, when the son of Danehill had to be euthanized early in December. Placed in both the Gr1 Gold Challenge and Gr1 Queen’s Plate, Toreador had established himself as a prolific sire of winners, as well as sire of champion Link Man and dual Gr1 winner Bull Valley. Toreador’s Gr1 son Misty Birnam has now had two starts in Ireland following a career in South Africa which saw him finish third in the 2016 Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes.
Toreador (Danehill – Purchasepaperchase)
Fort Wood/Horse Chestnut broodmare success
The late champion sire Fort Wood continued his dominance of the South African broodmare sires list when topping the charts for 2016-2017. Fort Wood , whose daughters were responsible for 12 stakes winners last season including Marinaresco and William Longsword, has now headed the broodmare sires log for the past three seasons running . He is currently second, behind Western Winter, on the same list for 2017-2018.
Interestingly enough, Fort Wood’s champion son Horse Chestnut also enjoyed notable broodmare success in 2017 – however it was overseas that Horse Chestnut mares shone this year.
Horse Chestnut – the first Triple Crown hero
Already damsire of local champion Smart Call (Ideal World), Horse Chestnut is damsire of 2017 Gr1 Northern Dancer Stakes winner Johnny Bear and the latter’s classic winning own brother Channel Maker (both by English Channel). Channel Maker also ran second in the Gr1 Hollywood Derby.
Horse Chestnut was also damsire of the 2017 Gr1 First Lady Stakes winner Zipessa (who went on to contest the Breeders’ Cup Filly& Mare Turf) and graded winners Fault (Blame) and Dragon Bay (Parading).
–Sarah Whitelaw
