Maine Chance Farms’ outstanding sire Silvano, whose numerous high-class progeny include the Tarry trained July winner Heavy Metal has been retired from stud duties.
In a statement, Maine Chance’s Andreas Jacobs and Tim Bootsma said that while Silvano’s absence on the breeding scene will be sorely felt, they were extremely grateful for the tremendous success he has had at stud.
Silvano won seven races, while earning more than $4 000 000 in prize money, while tasting success in all of Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore and the USA. He scored his most notable victory when landing the 2001 G1 Arlington Million and also enjoyed major success in both Hong Kong (G1 Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup) and Singapore (Singapore Airlines International Cup).
Originally retired to stud in Germany, Silvano shuttled to South Africa in 2003, before an outbreak of AHS ensured that the Lomitas horse would remain in South Africa.
He has been champion sire in South Africa five times, with Silvano leading the General Sires List for the past four years consecutively.
Silvano, whose own sister Shina is dam of G3 winning young Cape sire Horizon, headed the SA sires list in all of 2012-2013, 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, and 2019-2020.
Also champion sire in Slovakia in 2007 , Silvano was also South Africa’s leading sire of winners in 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2017-2018, and 2019-2010.
He enjoyed a remarkable season in 2019-2020, where Silvano’s 12 individual stakes winners were led by South African Horse Of The Year, and unbeaten Triple Tiara winner, Summer Pudding, and fellow G1 winners Hawwaam, Kilindini and Zillzaal.
At the time of writing, Silvano has been responsible for 97 black type winners, including a quartet of G1 Vodacom Durban July winners (Bold Silvano, Heavy Metal, Power King and Marinaresco), as well as Maine Chance Farms’ hugely exciting sire, and former Equus Champion, Vercingetorix.
His current total of Equus Champions stand at eight, with this total likely to climb still further in coming seasons.
Silvano’s success on the track was reflected in the sales ring, and his son Masaki became the most expensive yearling at a South African public auction when he was knocked down for R9 000 000 at the 2019 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale.