The Western Cape stallion ranks have been boosted with the news that the exciting young stallion New Predator is set to relocate to a champion base in South Africa’s leading thoroughbred breeding region for the new season.
The only son of the international stakes-winning Galileo stallion New Approach at stud in South Africa gets afforded a rare and solid gold opportunity to build on his outstanding start when he joins the exciting Ridgemont stallion band in the paddocks of Robertson.
From limited opportunity in terms of relative quality and raw numbers of mares since his first season at stud in 2019, New Predator has made an outstanding start with his first offspring on the track showing speed and precocity that one would hardly expect from an English Derby winning son of an English Derby winner!
New Predator : New Approach ex Head Over Heels (Fastnet Rock)
From 13 runners, New Predator has produced 5 winners, including a place in the recent Gr2 SA Nursery.
At the recent BSA National Yearling Sale, New Predator’s progeny fetched up to R375 000.
And he has the opportunity to launch greater things!
Ridgemont’s name is synonymous with champions of the turf, with the stallion honour roll dating back almost 75 years and including such breed-shaping icons of the ilk of Persian Wonder, Elevation, Harry Hotspur, Golden Thatch, Jungle Cove, Badger Land, Jallad, National Assembly and Dynasty.
Class and blood rule the land and have transcended the passage of time with the 21st century guard of Canford Cliffs, Malmoos, Potala Palace, Rafeef, Real Gone Kid, and now New Predator, set to carry the proud tradition for decades to come.
“The arrival of New Predator adds another dimension to what we believe is one of the most diverse and exciting range of stallions in South Africa, and we have committed to supporting New Predator with our mare band. Ridgemont, throughout the years, has a long tradition of standing stallions of very high quality – and with the direction of improvement we are looking to make, we are very excited to continue that tradition. High quality stallions with international pedigrees are paramount for our industry and New Predator certainly fits all the criteria. ” said Craig Kieswetter.
Bloodstock Adviser to powerful owner and breeder Laurence Wernars, and now Cape Racing Executive, Justin Vermaak said that the Western Cape was the centre of the South African racing and breeding industry and that New Predator would get the greatest of opportunities any young stallion could hope for.
“Ridgemont have a proud history of making great stallions and have some of the best-bred mares in this country in their paddocks. That platform of opportunity, coupled with New Predator’s ability to upgrade mares, and the fact that Mr Wernars stands the bulk of his high-class stock in the Western Cape, motivated the thought that it made sense to give New Predator every opportunity to fulfill his enormous potential. He is a bit of an outcross to other bloodlines here and it all adds up to a truly exciting opportunity,” said Vermaak.
Laurence Wernars, who raced New Predator, will send 20 of his mares including the likes of stakes winners True To Life, She’s A Giver, Negroamara and the well-bred five-time winner, Thumbs Up, to name a few.
A relentless galloping multiple Gr1-placed Gr2 winner from 1200m to 1600m, and a racehorse of the highest quality, New Predator was a winner of the Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes and Gr2 Charity Mile, and placed in three Gr1 races, including twice in the Horse Chestnut Stakes and the Mercury Sprint.
On reflection, history shows that his Gr1 form line was exceptional if one considers that he defeated the likes of Durban July winners The Conglomerate and Legislate, as well as Gr1 sprint masters Rafeef, Will Pays, Attenborough, Talktothestars and multiple Gr1 winners Abashiri, Rabada and Deo Juvente.
He hails from the first crop of New Approach, a champion colt in the UK with a Timeform Rating of 132 in 2008 and a son of global super-sire Galileo.
New Predator will be syndicated and shareholders will receive a cover and a bonus for the first three years.
New Predator will be syndicated for R75 000 a share with his service fee for his first season in the Cape at R12 500 (live foal). Bonus covers will be available for the first three years.
