Drakenstein Stud held its annual stallion day last Friday. A large crowd of breeders, owners and trainers braved an icy winter day to view some of the Cape’s most successful and exciting young stallions.
Champion sire Trippi always looks the part, and the sire of 2017 G1 Premier’s Champions Challenge winner Deo Juvente will cover a limited book of mares this season. One of South Africa’s elite sires, Trippi had a tremendous season in 2016-2017, when his runners included such graded stakes winners as the above mentioned Deo Juvente, Gold Standard, Trip To Heaven and Live Life.
Dynasty’s four time G1 winning son, and former Horse Of The Year, Futura has let down into a magnificent looking stallion, and the former G1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate/G1 J&B Met winner really caught the eye at Friday’s showing.
Futura, whose first foal arrived to rave reviews recently, will once again cover a good book of mares this season –and once again will stand for a fee of R20 000.
Another young sire to make a really positive impression on Friday was Galileo’s G1 Racing Post Trophy winner Kingsbarns. Sadly a horse plagued with fertility problems, the blue blooded Kingsbarns is another who has let down into a really handsome stallion.
Last season’s Leading First Crop Sire What A Winter, recently honoured at the Cape Breeders Awards, also looked in tremendous trim –and the four time G1 winning son of champion sire Western Winter will cover a top-class book of mares this season. (What A Winter is fully booked for 2017).
Legislate, bidding to become (like What A Winter) another leading locally bred sire, is, like Futura, a four time G1 winning son (and Horse Of The Year) of Dynasty. A record breaking miler and July winner, his first foals are arriving now.
Cartier Champion Duke Of Marmalade, whose first South African born crop race this season, also looked more than ready for the breeding season ahead, with the Danehill half-brother to Derby winner Ruler Of The World making his presence felt. The five time G1 winner has enjoyed another tremendous season with his runners overseas including G1 Gold Cup hero Big Orange (who has banked more than £1.255 million in prize money.
Proven sire Philanthropist, sire of international champions Pender Harbour and Phil’s Dream, has made a cracking start to his local stud career. The close relative of former leading Cape sire National Assembly’s first crop includes exported G2 Investec Dingaans winner Singapore Sling, G1 filly She’s A Giver and another high-class filly in Sail. Philanthropist’s second crop has also impressed with such winners as Tsessebe, Outlander and Pack Leader.