That the number of smaller breeders has dwindled alarmingly in recent years cannot be disputed. Hence it is encouraging to witness the success enjoyed this season by Narrow Creek Stud.
Founded in May 2011 by John Everett and situated between Tulbagh and Ceres, this relatively young stud currently finds itself amongst the country’s top ten breeders, with just 42 runners! Even more impressively, it leads the way by average earnings per runner and already has four individual stakes winners to its credit, a remarkable feat and one bettered only by powerhouse establishments Drakenstein (10) and log leaders Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein (7).
John Everett (photo: hamishNIVENPhotography)
Narrow Creek certainly stamped its dominance on last weekend’s Listed Swallow Stakes as the breeders of both the winner and runner-up, the Paul Peter-trained duo of Freed From Desire and Big Burn. The latter was all the rage to add to her earlier success in the Gr2 Joburg Spring Fillies & Mares Challenge, but had no answer to the powerful finish of stable companion Freed From Desire, for whom this was a first stakes score.
She is now one of a trio of Narrow Creek-bred stakes winners trained by Peters, with three-year-old filly Sprinkles landing the Gr3 Three Troikas Stakes on New Year’s day.
Rounding out the stud’s black type quartet is Stuart Pettigrew’s fine galloper Bold Fortune.
A daughter of Flower Alley, she first caught the eye with a smart victory in the Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap and followed up in the Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge. At yesterday’s Vaal meeting , this talented filly made it four wins in a row when turning on the afterburners to get up on the line over 1800m.
Everett had snapped up her dam Plata Parana at auction with Bold Fortune in utero.
As for Freed From Desire, her Swallow Stakes victory also boosted the fortunes of her sire Jackson, who started his stud career at birthplace Highlands, before moving to Heversham Park Stud in Gauteng last season.
Freed From Desire – Narow Creek product (Pic- JC Photos)
She joins Pretty Young Thing and Eva Eileen as the third stakes winner for the triple Gr1 winning son of Dynasty. It is worth noting that all three are fillies, as are Jackson’s Gr1-placed daughters Can You Feel It and Kailene.
“Paul Peter also trained Freed From Desire’s dam Musical Romance,” remarked John. “A big, scopey mare, she has a striking Buffalo Bill Cody colt at foot and is once again in foal to him. In fact, I sent nine mares to him this past season, which tells you how impressed I am with his foals!”
Musical Romance is a winning daughter of Trippi, whose stature as a broodmare sire continues to grow unabated. Whilst the second successive L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate victory by his son Jet Dark was an undoubted high, the Drakenstein stalwart also featured as the broodmare sire of the stakes winning duo of Hoedspruit and Pink Tourmaline at the two-day festival.
Significantly, they were sired by Legislate and Futura respectively, who like Jackson, are high-class sons of Dynasty. An emerging cross definitely worth exploiting!
Freed From Desire’s grandam Ribbons For Thee is a stakes-placed daughter of Captain Al, who incidentally, also features as the broodmare sire of Jackson’s daughter Eva Eileen, winner of the Stormsvlei Stakes.
That Narrow Creek has risen to prominence just over a decade later, is testament to John’s skill and expertise. “The wheel turns for everyone I suppose,” he added.
Long may it continue.
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