Maine Chance Farms’ outstanding sire Silvano enjoyed another magnificent weekend just past, with both his offspring –and his female line- taking high order in some of South Africa’s premier races.
Silvano’s blue blooded daughter Epona kicked off the weekend for her sire in style, when she landed the Listed Ardmore Jamaica Handicap on the first day of the 2017 LQP Racing Festival at Kenilworth on Friday.
Epona, who is trained by Joey Ramsden for Mayfair Speculators, romped home to a decisive two length win in the Jamaica Handicap and this progressive looking filly looks sure to build on a record which has seen her notch up three wins from just seven starts to date.
In the process, the Klawervlei Stud bred filly became the 64th stakes winner for Silvano.
Epona, a half-sister to champion Jay Peg and impressive recent debut winner Barrack Street, is out of the Al Mufti mare Laptop Lady and is thus bred on the same Silvano/Al Mufti cross as champions Bold Silvano and Kings Gambit.
Saturday saw the regally bred Horizon (bred by Maine Chance Farms) stamp himself a potential Investec Cape Derby contender when running out a clear cut winner of the G3 Cartier Politician Stakes. The colt, who was sold for R5.2 million at the 2015 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, is out of the Lomitas mare Shina –a full sister to Silvano.
The same day saw Silvano daughters Silver Mountain, Nightingale and Star Express run 3-4-5 in the G1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes, while in Germany, Silvano’s classic winning son Tellina scored a first German victory when romping home by 14 lengths at Neuss.
Currently second on the South African General Sires List, Silvano has 19 lots on offer at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale, including a three parts sister to G1 winner Silver Mountain (Lot 10), a brother to G1 Gold Cup hero Wavin’ Flag (Lot 68), and a three parts brother to Equus Champion and popular young sire Vercingetorix (Lot 211).