Stallions in the spotlight

THE season of sales gets underway when the Cape Premier Yearling Sale is held on the 26th and 27th of January, writes SARAH WHITELAW. This is the time of year when people will try and find the next “big” stallion – which of the unproven sires will make it?

With local sires, Jet Master, Captain Al, and Dynasty, proving red hot at the moment, will another locally bred stallion come good? Or will it be a blue blooded import, or well performed globetrotter like Silvano who makes it to the top?

The horses mentioned are just a few possible stallions, some proven, some not, whose progeny could prove worth following.

Tiger Ridge, Wilgerbosdrift Stud.

Tiger Ridge: 16 h Storm Cat – Weekend Surprise
Not everyone was pleased with Tiger Ridge’s second crop to make it to the races. After being champion first crop sire (and a narrow second to Captain Al on the juvenile sires list), Tiger Ridge’s progeny seemed to go quiet for a while.  Happily, Tiger’s offspring have seemingly bounced back. His current crop of 3yos include the smart stakes winner Wagner, as well as the smart performer Royal Ridge, while the classy filly Amur Affair is another 3yo stakes performer for her sire. His progeny win on both sand and turf, and Tiger Ridge could yet sire the big horse his pedigree and overseas stats suggest he is capable of.

Seventh Rock: 8 h Rock of Gibraltar – Ruby Clipper
Tipped by breeding fundi, Charles Faull, as a future high-class sire, Seventh Rock’s first foals are certainly looking the part. He is stamping them with his own looks and class. An exceptionally popular young sire, Seventh Rock has cracking credentials. By one of Danehill’s finest sire sons (and sire of the fashionable young stallion Mount Nelson), Seventh Rock’s dam was one of the fastest fillies ever to race in this country. He was also a precocious speedster, with the class to prove competitive in some of this country’s top sprint races.

Seventh Rock, Klawervlei Stud.

Var: 13 h Forest Wildcat – Loma Preata
While the last out and out sprinter to top the South African general sires list was Drum Beat back in 1970, Var could change that statistic. The likes of Princess of Light and Variety Club underline their sire’s ability to sire high-class performers over a wide range of trips. Always a popular and commercial sire, Var’s ongoing success at the highest level will continue to ensure that he covers some outstanding broodmares. His ability to throw fast, precocious stock will also ensure that Var remains one of this country’s more popular and sought after sires. It is also worth noting that Var is currently South Africa’s leading sire by winners to runners, an impressive statistic.
-Headline photo: VAR in his paddock at Avontuur Stud.

Dupont: 13 h Zafonic – June Moon
Another sire who was by no means the flavour of the month when he retired to stud. His first crop of foals numbered just 16, with 14 of those reaching the track. This crop included the classy filly, Lady Magpie, winner of the G3 King’s Cup and earner of just under half a million in prize money. His second crop was considerably bigger and has produced the top-class sprinter, Magico, as well as the smart pair of Penthouse and Monsieur Dupont. His current crop of 3yos number just 23, but still include the top-class Depardieu. He is also sire of a couple of smart 2yos in the unbeaten Due And Payable, and Graystone Chapel. A sire who could still do good things if he received better support.

Dupont, Klawervlei Stud.

Lateral: 9 h Singspiel – Ligona
Lateral was a very smart juvenile, winning the G1 Gran Criterium and subsequently retired to stud in Germany. His first overseas crop included a smart 2yo of 2011 in Ice Cool.  An imposing, attractive horse, Lateral has proved very popular since retiring to stud in South Africa. He is siring a nice stamp of foal, and with his pedigree (Singspiel being a half-brother to Jet Master’s sire Rakeen) should do well with the local broodmare population.

Visionaire: 7 h Grand Slam – Scarlet Tango
One of Natal’s most talked about stallions, Visionaire is a horse who is breathtaking to behold.  A brilliant G1 winner over 1400 metres, Visionaire is a grandson of Gone West, whose descendants have truly excelled in this country. Gone West line horses to have done well include champion sire Western Winter, as well as the leading 2yo sire, Count Dubois.

Visionaire, Summerhill Stud.