The South African racing and breeding industry suffered a grievous loss with the shock passing of Moutonshoek’s Chris Gerber recently.
Sadly Chris (53 at the time of his passing) contracted malaria when away on a fishing trip but he passed away yesterday as the result of heart failure.
He has a number of horses all over the country but the majority of them have been with Alec Laird. He is also the owner of unbeaten Rainbow Bridge who is trained in Cape Town by Eric Sands. Rainbow Bridge is undefeated in four outings, and won the G3 World Sports Betting Matchem Stakes last time out.
In 2003 he teamed up with veterinarian Bennie van der Merwe to form Moutonshoek stud farm. Moutonshoek has enjoyed increasing success, with the growing number of high class horses bred at that Piketberg farm including the likes of G1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge, G3 Kenilworth Fillies Nursery winner Wheredowego, BSA August Million winner Broadway Trip, promising 3yo Crown Guardian, and the very speedy Kissable. The latter captured last season’s Listed Umngeni Handicap on Gold Cup day and has won six of her 14 starts to date.
The farm, home to stallions The United States and Marchfield, ended 2017-2018 11th on the South African breeders list, with their runners banking in excess of R9.3 million (NHA statistics).
The Moutonshoek bred Noble Secret is currently favourite to win the R1 000 000 G2 Peermont Emperors Charity Mile this Saturday.
Chris was the son of Springbok rugby player, Mickey Gerber, but despite the rugby genes, he grew up going to the races with his father and has had horses in his blood all his life.
He attended King Edward School in Johannesburg, did an undergraduate degree at Stellenbosch and completed his post grad studies at UCT to become a chartered accountant.
He described himself as being in the fuel retail business and managed the national Engen One Stop chain.