BREEDERS

“The goal of any breeding operation must surely be to produce stakes horses, and for that reason one has to make special mention of Riverton Stud who had the highest strike rate of stakes winners this past season (excluding farms with only a few runners) with 18% stakes winners/runner. Riverton Stud has produced the winner of the G1 Tsogo Sun Medallion three out of the last four years (Captain of All, Potent Power and Link Man). Quite an amazing achievement for a relatively small operation and well done to Duncan Barry and the team down there!” – South African Racing Review 2013

The healthy dry climate and high calcium content of the soil makes Robertson, South Africa, the top location to breed tough, strong boned individuals. Horses are raised as naturally as possible – no artificial bulk enhancing methods or products are used. Paddocks are rotated and allowed time to rest to provide wholesome grazing. Experience has taught that juvenile thoroughbreds thrive best on a natural diet of lucerne and oats. Lean muscle build-up and a strong heart are achieved by extensive walking of the yearlings.

Riverton Stud has consistently produced a high percentage of winners & earners from a small band of yearlings (12 to 15) entering the market each year!

Cardinal Fury who won the richest race in the country in 1993 was the first Grade 1 winner bred by Duncan Barry after he returned to Riverton Stud from Ireland. Domino Man was the 1st Dual Gr 1 winner. He won two back to back features as a two year old – The Grade 3 Secretariat Stakes and the Grade 1 Cape Argus Guineas 2003. He went on as a four year old to clinch the Grade 1 Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m. Merit Rating 101.

Internationally, Holdall and Domino Principle both won the Mauritius Horse Of The Year Award. Currently Tales of Bravery, the Gr 2 Drill Hall 2012 winner, who was born and raised at Riverton for Victory Moon Syndicate is lighting up the Mauritian track. Liquid Motion has been named Champion 4 Year Old.

Currently Gr1 winner Captain of All, Syringa Stakes Listed race winner Secret Obsession, Gr3 & listed placed Intimate Connection, Hard Rock (2011 Cape Racing & Breeding Awards Champion 2 Year Old nominee), and dual Gr 1 feature placed Masked Lady, to name a few, are worth keeping an eye on.

THOROUGHBRED INDUSTRY TRANSFORMATION SUCCESS

In 2010 a Grooms Co-operative Scheme was developed in South Africa by Adrian Todd in conjunction with the Cape Breeders Club, Western Cape Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The co-op scheme eligibility is tied into grooms training. Riverton Stud is proud that 3 of their grooms have received training and are members of one of the most successful co-operatives, Riverside Thoroughbred Grooms Co-operative. They pin hooked a Silvano colt from Klawervlei. Vercingetorix was then raised by them at Riverton Stud. Beating all expectation the Riverside Grooms Cooperative sold Vercingetorix for R1.4M at the National Yearling Sales to Mike De Kock for Al Adiyaat in 2011. So far he has gone on to win 6 from including 2 races in Dubai and locally the Gr2 KZN Guineas and the Gr1 Daily News 2000. A further 3 grooms from Riverton are also in the process of becoming members of another groom’s co-operative.

ETHICAL TRADE

Riverton is an accredited member of WIETA, the Wine & Agricultural Ethical Trade Association of South Africa.

Riverton is compliant with the WIETA labour code which is based on the International Labour Conventions’ Ethical Trading Initiative and South African labour legislation.

As a member of Robertson Winery 6 of Riverton’s female staff members are also shareholders in Constitution Wine Growers, a Black Economic Empowerment Initiative. To assist the women in running their company and to make informed business decisions, Robertson Winery has undertaken a holistic training programme together with WineTech. While this initiative had been in development for years, transfer officially took place in 2009. Constitution Wine Growers now operates as a fully-fledged member of Robertson Winery.

GOING GREEN

“Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land.” Aldo Leopold

In 2007 and 2008 all the Riverton staff housing and the stable office received solar geysers. Water tanks collect rain water from the houses and sheds. All the vineyards and orchards have efficient drip irrigation that is scientifically monitored. A decade or so ago a rust fungus (Uromycladium tepperianum) that is specific to reducing the reproductive and vegetative growth of the alien Port Jackson (Acacia Saligna) trees along the Breede River was introduced. Whilst not exterminated, the Port Jackson’s ferocious growth has been curbed to allow vegetation indigenous to the area to regain a foothold. A single Blue Gum tree can consume up to 600 litres of water per day. In 2007 a large number of the alien water guzzling Blue Gum (Eucalyptus) trees were professionally chopped down at Riverton along the Breede River. Riverton has always been home to the most magnificent trees and it is their policy to replace fallen down trees and plant new indigenous trees on an on-going basis.