The influence of Maine Chance Farms’ late, great sire Silvano continues to be felt -both in South Africa and overseas.
Silvano struck as a broodmare sire on Wednesday when his maternal grandson Riocorvo won the G3 Grand Prix de Vichy in impressive fashion.
A six-year-old entire son of the Fahrhof bred and based Pastorius and the Silvano mare Rio Cobra, Riocorvo was let go as a 63-10 chance coming back off a handicap win at ParisLongchamp and a fourth in last month’s Listed Grand Prix de Compiegne, on stakes bow last time, and raced three lengths off the clear leader Diamond Vendome in second for the most part.
Bustled along passing the quarter-mile marker, he seized control approaching the final furlong and was ridden clear in the latter stages to easily account for Godolphin’s Sundoro by three lengths. Emblem Road, winner of this year’s $20 000 000 G1 Saudi Cup, could only finish fifth.
Ridden to victory by Gerald Mosse, Riocorvo has now won six of just 13 starts for trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias.
His broodmare sire Silvano has had a fantastic posthumous year in 2021-2022, with the son of Lomitas making his mark as a sire, sire of sires and broodmare sire.
Already five times champion sire in South Africa, Silvano is again heading the General Sires List in South Africa for 2021-2022, with his progeny having banked more than R17.053 million this season thus far.
Among his nine black type winners in South Africa in 2021-2022 are impressive G1 Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Sparkling Water, and the G1 winning three-year-olds Safe Passage and Silver Darling.
Silvano, who is currently fifth on South Africa’s Leading Broodmare Sires List for the current season, is also responsible for Vercingetorix -the hottest active sire in South Africa at the moment. Himself a former Equus Champion, and G1 Jebel Hatta winner, Vercingetorix has been responsible for no fewer than 14 stakes winners this season thus far, with the Maine Chance Farms’ resident’s tally including the G1 winners Alesian Chief, Astrix, Chansonette and Pomp And Power.
Vercingetorix has also had a remarkable year in the sales ring, with his yearlings making up to R3 000 000 at the 2022 National Yearling Sale- where Vercingetorix sired yearlings averaged R617 976.