Willow Magic – the speediest Gr1 winning son of the mighty Dubawi – and already the sire of a Gr2 winner and a Gr1 placed filly from his first crop, has relocated to Warwick and Karin Render’s Bush Hill Stud in Mooi River.
The handsome powerfully-built chestnut stallion standing at 16.1hh, boasts impressive statistics – with his first crop just three years old, his average earnings per runner of over R57 082 places him in the top six active sires in the country ahead of some recognized champion sires.
Willow Magic : Dubawi – La Willow (Tierce)
While his winners to runners percentage is already at over 38%, an impressive 70% of his winners have won more than once, proving them to be well above average with courage, tenacity, soundness and the ability to be precocious.
Willow Magic’s two leading flag-bearers to date include the talented MK’s Pride – a mirror image of his sire, who stamps his progeny with authority, and the filly Magical Flight.
MK’s Pride, trained by Paul Peter and proudly owned by Koos Mkale boasts a Gr2 win in the Ihla Bela Hawaii Stakes which saw him defeat amongst others, the Equus Champion 2 and 3yo colt – Got The Greenlight – by half a length. Amongst the field defeated was Lady Of Steel, Cirillo and Tierra Del Fuego, and Gr1 runner up to Summer Pudding – Marygold, as well as Gr3 winner Mill Queen.
He also defeated Triple Tiara princess, and multiple Gr1 winner War Of Athena, to take the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup. MK’s Pride is a 5-time winner with a Merit Rating of 119. He runs in Saturday’s Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.
Magical Flight is trained by Sean Tarry – who saddled Willow Magic to his five Gr1 accolades, including winning the SA Nursery. A chestnut filly rated 98, Magical Flight is a 3-time winner and placed in the Gr1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic.
Five of Willow Magic’s runners are rated 90+, with Willow Express a 103.
The first and fastest son of international sire sensation Dubawi to retire to stud in South Africa, Willow Magic won four times from 1000m to 1600m. After winning the Gr1 SA Nursery, he placed in three Gr1’s up to 1600m.
Willow Magic trained on at three to win the Gr2 Dingaans over 1600m and was runner-up in the Gr1 Gold Challenge. He also went on to place in the Gr2 Merchants, Gr3 Tommy Hotspur and Graham Beck Stakes.
Willow Magic wins the Gr1 SA Nursery (Pic- JC Photos)
His sire Dubawi needs little introduction and has been described as the most successful stallion to stand in Britain with over 200 individual stakes winners. Sixteen stakes winners were produced in 2021 alone. He held the record for the sire to produce the fastest 50 stakes winners at that stage of his career.
Willow Magic‘s dam won three times at age 2, from 1000m – 1200m and is a half-sister to 10-time winner Time Speed. Her own sire, Australian-bred Tierce numbered the Gr1 Golden Slipper amongst his 11 victories.
Tierce is described as being a great galloper and one of the fastest in Australia of his generation. The sire of Gr1 winner Encounter, his race record reads 16 starts, 11 wins with three places. He won three Gr1 races, including the AJC Sires Produce, the Golden Slipper, the Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes, and won three Gr2’s and a Gr3. He further placed in two Group races and earned over A$2 250 000 in stakes in the process.
Willow Magic has been consistently represented at all sales and has been extremely well received. He will have three progeny on the upcoming KZN Yearling sale, with more to follow at the later sales.
His relocation to Bush Hill has facilitated his syndication and he offers a unique opportunity for breeders to get involved in shares in an exciting young sire who has already proven he has what it takes to make a serious impact.
Please contact Bush Hill Stud for more details, or to book for the upcoming breeding season.
