He was once popularly labelled ‘the thunder from Down Under’ and the stature of Ridgemont’s super sire Rafeef, a champion, by a champion, out of a champion, continues to grow with every passing major raceday.
Champion Rafeef winning the 2017 Gr1 Computaform Sprint under Callum Murray (Pic – JC Photos)
That was underscored in no uncertain terms for the sire of sires again on Champions Day when the former SA Champion Sprinter celebrated his third winner of the prestigious TAB Gr1 Computaform Sprint, a race won by himself, when his superstar son William Robertson notched his 15th career victory in style.
William Robertson thus joins an honour roll that includes present day stallions Master Archie (2022) and Thunderstruck (2024) as Computaform Sprint winning sons of Rafeef.
Bred by Robertson-based nursery of champions, Ridgemont, William Robertson was runner-up in the 2023 Gr1 Computaform Sprint, and has four graded wins to his name
William Robertson, out of the Trippi mare Massachusetts, and is bred on the same Rafeef/Trippi cross as Gr3 winner Leaving Las Vegas.
Rafeef is also the sire of promising Ridgemont bred 2yo Esteemed, who was a runaway winner on a scintillating debut, and then ran a close second in Saturday’s TAB Gr2 SA Nursery, after being knocked sideways at the jump. He will not be long in atoning!
Looking back a year, Rafeef enjoyed a memorable day at Turffontein when his champion son Thunderstruck won the Jonsson Workwear Gr1 Computaform Sprint and daughter Frances Ethel landed the Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer Gr2 SA Oaks on the same card.
“Versatility, heart and class are characteristic Rafeef stamps. His extraordinary stranglehold on the Gr1 Computaform Sprint, which is run over 1000m, and his ability to sire Gr1 SA Derby and Gr2 SA Oaks winners over 2450m demonstrate that x-factor, so rare in many sires. We are privileged to have this sensational stallion in the Ridgemont stallion barn,” added Craig Carey.
Blood rules the land and Rafeef’s late, great sire Redoute’s Choice once again made his mark in major Australian races just a fortnight back. His sons Snitzel and The Autumn Sun were responsible for the Gr1 TAB Golden Slipper winner Marhoona and impressive Listed Hyland Race Colours Darby Munro Stakes winner Autumn Glow respectively. Snitzel also enjoyed further big race success when his son Cap Ferrat won the BMW Hong Kong Derby!
Redoute’s Choice, Leading Broodmare Sire in Australia on four occasions thus far, is also damsire of outstanding stallion Zoustar, whose son Schwarz (inbred to Redoute’s Choice) won the Gr1 3 Point Motors William Reid Stakes.
Zoustar, who is out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Zouzou, is currently the Leading Sire in Australia for 2024-2025, with his progeny having earned in excess of AUS$18.641 million, and his 11 black type winners this season including Gr1 Yulong Newmarket Handicap winner Joliestar, the aforementioned Schwarz and the Gr3 PKF Don Casboult Classic winner Clean Energy.
