When Lot 189 steps into the TBA sales ring at the National Yearling Sale on Thursday afternoon, the moment will mark the end of an era.
Offered by Bloomhill Stud, and appropriately named The Swansong, the colt hails from the final crop of Drakenstein’s revered champion Trippi, and is his sire’s sole and last representative at the Nationals.
A great-grandson of that behemoth of sires Mr Prospector, Trippi arrived from the States in 2008 as the first stallion to take up residence at Drakenstein Stud, having stood in Florida where he was both the leading sire and juvenile sire of 2007.
Trippi made an immediate impact in his adopted country as the champion first-season sire, his first local crop including the stakes winning fillies Agra, Franny, and Hammie’s Hooker, whilst second-crop daughter For The Lads provided him with a first Gr1 success when she won the Thekwini Stakes.
A steady stream of high-class stakes performers followed his rise through the ranks, culminating in a Champion Sires title in 2016.
Although he covered limited books of mares in recent years, Trippi lived up to the adage of quality over quantity, siring arguably his best performers when he was over 20 years old.
Multiple champion son Jet Dark closed out his stellar career with a win in the Gr1 Cape Town Met, Trip Of Fortune broke through at the elite level in the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, while Champion 3YO Charles Dickens notched three top level victories.
Finally, Winchester Mansion gave his sire and owner/breeder Drakenstein a momentous first victory in the country’s most iconic race, the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
Trippi – End Sweep ex Jealous Appeal by Valid Appeal (Pic – Drakenstein Stud)
Trippi’s impact as a broodmare sire continues to grow apace, with dual Gr1 Cape Flying Championship ace Gimme A Prince, and recent Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner William Robertson, heading a growing tally of stakes winners in that sphere.
In America, he features as the broodmare sire of successful young sires Liam’s Map and Not This Time.
Trippi’s success on the racetrack also spilled over into the auction ring.
At last year’s National Sale, the half-brother to recent SA Derby winner Legend Of Arthur changed hands for R5,25-million, besides which Gr1 winning sons Jet Dark, Deo Volente and Trip Of Fortune are all graduates of this sale, as are the Graded stakes winners Hluhluwe, Triptique, Punk Rocker and Love To Boogie.
Few superlatives remain to describe Trippi, who is now in honourable retirement at Drakenstein.
And while The Swansong may bring to a close a storied chapter in National Sales history, the son of End Sweep looks set to continue making an impact, both through his daughters and sons.
Represented at this year’s Nationals are his proven son Gold Standard, the sire of recent Gr3 Byerley Turk winner Oxalis Gold, as well as the first progeny of Gr1 winner Chimichuri Run.
Next year, the first foals of Jet Dark will make their National Sales bow, followed by those of Charles Dickens in 2027.
There’s much to look forward to!
