Maine Chance Farms’ wonderful resident stallion Silvano claimed his fifth South African General Sires List on Friday.
With the 2019-2020 South African racing season having ended on Friday, Silvano stood clear on the sires list with his runners this season having earned R12 968 988 (restricted stakes excluded) in prize money.

The former Arlington Million has now headed the local general sires list for the past four years in a row, with Silvano having also been Champion Sire in South Africa back in 2012-2013.

A son of Lomitas, Silvano enjoyed a superb season, even by his high standards, with his 12 black type winners picking up 18 stakes races during 2019-2020. He also enjoyed success in Hong Kong in 2020, with his son Chefano, who raced as Vacquero in South Africa, landing the G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup.

Silvano, whose current tally of stakes winners stands at 97, was the only stallion in South Africa responsible for more than 10 black type winners. His notable performers in 2019-2020 included:

-G3 Gold Bowl victor Imperial Ruby

-G1 Cape Guineas winner Kilindini
-G1 World Sports Betting Premier’s Champions Challenge/G1 H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes winner Hawwaam
-G2 Tibouchina Stakes winner Silvano’s Pride
-G3 City Of Cape Town Politician Stakes winner Silver Host
-G3 Cape Classic victor Silver Operator
-unbeaten G1Triple Tiara/Woolavington 2000 winner Summer Pudding
-G1 Gauteng Chris Gerber Summer Cup winner Zillzaal

Silvano is also making his mark as a sire of sires, with his G1 Daily News 2000/G1 Jebel Hatta winning son Vercingetorix the Leading Second Season Sire in South Africa for 2019-2020.

The champion’s dominance was extended to the sales ring -with Silvano responsible for the top four lots sold on Friday’s National Yearling Sale, with his top lot, a full brother to champion Hawwaam, making R7 000 000.