Sarahdane Stud recently reported the loss of 20 year old Zimbabwean sire Century Stand. The son of Marauding passed away a few weeks ago after undergoing a colic op.
SA Gr1 winner Earl Of Surrey was one of his best
A son of Australasian champion and G1 Golden Slipper hero Marauding, Century Stand was a high class 2yo, who won first time out by over four lengths when making a stunning debut at the now defunct Newmarket.
He also achieved fame as one of just two horses ever to defeat the legendary, and sadly now deceased, Horse Chestnut –Century Stand ran second to Clifton King (Horse Chestnut finishing third) in the 1998 Morris Lipschitz Juvenile Plate.
He would go on to win three more times (winning a total of four races from 1000-1600m) and also finished fourth (to Horse Chestnut) in the 1999 G1 Cape Argus Guineas.
Retired to stud in Zimbabwe, Century Stand enjoyed plenty of success with his progeny including the remarkable Earl Of Surrey among many other classy Zimbabwean performers.
Beginning his career in Zimbabwe, Earl Of Surrey was later sent to South Africa, where he won the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint of 2009 under top weight, and also added wins in the Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes and Gr2 Hawaii Stakes.
He retired having won no fewer than 20 races and was one of the finest Zimbabwean performers to race in South Africa for many a year.
Century Stand hailed from a strong female line, with his dam Pier being a full sister to G1 Sussex Stakes hero Rousillon (who later achieved immortality through the deeds of his son Vintage Crop). This family was also responsible for US Broodmare Of The Year In Neon, whose progeny Royal Anthem and Sharp Cat won no fewer than 10 Gr1 races between them.
