Champion Sandringham Summit will return to his birthplace Varsfontein Stud for stallion duties at the conclusion of his racing career.
The champion in action (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Leading consultant John Freeman has been mandated to syndicate the son of resident champion Gimmethegreenlight for stallion duties, and he confirmed that “shares literally flew off the shelf” which speaks volumes for the colt’s popularity with local breeders.
“Varsfontein will retain 20 of the 46 shares on offer,” he added. “Thanks to all of the star breeders that are participating.”
Although the colt remains in training – he is after all still just three – Sandringham Summit already boasts impeccable stallion credentials as a juvenile Gr1 winner who has the looks and pedigree as befits his R1.7-million price tag as a yearling.
Trained by David Nieuwenhuizen, the colt made heads turn when he came from an impossible position to win the Gr2 Golden Horseshoe at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Durban July day and earned his Gr1 spurs in the Premiers Champion Stakes, at the expense of by downing the hitherto unbeaten Main Defender, who was over two lengths adrift at the line.
Named last season’s Champion Juvenile, Rakesh Singh’s star colt was perhaps an unlucky loser in this seasonal debut when narrowly beaten by his old nemesis in the Gr3 Betway Graham Beck before finishing third in the Gr2 Dingaans.
Remarkably, he is Gimmethegreenlight’s second Premiers Champion Stakes winner and was preceded by first-crop son Gunner, who likewise, is out of a Captain Al mare.
Significantly, Sandringham Summit offers breeders a wonderful outcross pedigree, free of the all-pervading Northern Dancer and Mr Prospector blood in the first four generations.
His dam Townsend won both the Gr2 Odessa Stud Fillies Championship and Gr3 Diana Stakes, and in addition to Sandringham Summit, she is also dam of Gr1 Gold Medallion winner Eden Roc, who has just finished covering his first book of mares at Clifton Stud.
Townsend is a half-sister to Gr1 Champions Challenge hero Regal Ransom. This is also the female line of Gr2 Guineas winner Zapatillas and Gr2 Dingaans second Shoemaker, both of which were bred at Varsfontein.
Ed -John Freeman reports that syndication of Sandringham Summit was completed in 24 hours. All available shares have been sold, in fact, there is a waiting list and he had to turn people away, a number of which approached him after reading this article!
