Some of the Cape’s top breeders turned out to view some of South Africa’s most exciting new stallions at Klawervlei’s annual Stallion Day on Thursday.
The day was also a further tribute to the passing of Klawervlei’s late, great sire Captain Al, who died recently. It was the first time in 16 years that a Klawervlei Stallion Day had been without the presence of the Al Mufti son, and his absence was felt by all in attendance.
However, while Captain Al is gone, he has left behind two very exciting young sire prospects in Captain Of All and William Longsword respectively.
The magnificent Captain Of All, whose first foals have arrived to rave reviews, was an exceptional Equus Champion Sprinter, whose seven career wins included all of the G1 Mercury Sprint, G1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint and G1 Gold Medallion. Captain Of All, who will be well represented at the 2018 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, also emulated his sire by landing the G2 Diadem Stakes and earned in excess of R2.2 million. He has let down into an imposing looking stallion and no doubt will again be popular in the breeding shed this year.
His paternal half-brother William Longsword (described by jockey Anton Marcus as a “proper racehorse”) was an exceptional athlete, who won six of eight outings including both the G1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas and CTS Mile, and this half-brother to G1 winning sprinter Real Princess impressed more than a few shrewd judges on Thursday.
Another young sire to catch the eye of many on Thursday was Coup De Grace, the only son of triple US champion sire Tapit at stud in South Africa. He was an exceptional racehorse, whose wins included sensational scores in both the G2 Amsterdam Stakes and G3 Bay Shore Stakes. Sought after by many top US farms for stud duty, the half-brother to G1 winner Dancing Rags covered an exceptional first book of mares last season, with his mates including champion Consensual (also dam of G1 winner Just Sensual) and Galileo’s G3 winning daughter Sidera.
The blue blooded Red Ray, who shares his sire Western Winter with hot first crop sire What A Winter, was an outstanding athlete, who beat a star studded field to win the G1 Mercury Sprint and also thrashed subsequent Horse Of The Year Legislate when victorious in the G3 Cape Classic over 1400 metres. A full brother to G1 winner Nania and top sprinter Brutal Force, Red Ray could well continue the great run of success enjoyed by Gone West line stallions the world over.
Versatile July winner Pomodoro (son of seven times champion sire Jet Master and Broodmare Of The Year Golden Apple) has let down into an imposing stallion, and his exciting first crop race next season, while evergreen sire Count Dubois has had another good season thanks to his dual G1 winning son Edict Of Nantes (a leading contender for Equus Award glory) and the unbeaten Social Order.
European Champion and four time G1 winner Twice Over also looked in fine fettle on Thursday and the sire of unbeaten G1 winner Sand And Sea is fully booked for the upcoming breeding season, while G1 winner and G1 sire Seventh Rock, who looked an absolute picture, has got some exceptionally well bred youngsters coming through and he could well be represented by yet another high-class performer (his previous best including the G1 winners Guiness and Seventh Plain) before too long.
While Captain Al will never be forgotten, it appears his legacy will yet live on for years to come, with Klawervlei also blessed with several other exceptional future prospects.