South Africa lost one of its greatest, globetrotting thoroughbred champions with the passing of Jay Peg on Thursday.
The former Equus Champion passed away suddenly at the Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud, where he had been standing for the last part of his stud career.
Born in the Hemel ‘N Aarde valley, Jay Peg died in the valley of his birth.
The Camden Park sired champion proved a tremendous advertisement for the quality of thoroughbred bred in South Africa, with Jay Peg winning G1 feature races in three different countries.
Beginning his career with Basil Marcus, the High Season Stud bred Jay Peg won twice at two when he finished second in the Listed Western Cape Breeders Stakes. South Africa’s Equus Champion Classic Male at three, Jay Peg won all of the G1 Bloodstock SA Cape Guineas, G1 Investec Cape Derby, and G2 Selangor Cup as a Sophomore.
Transferred to Herman Brown in Dubai, Jay Peg showed his mettle on the international stage, when overcoming a slipped saddle to beat a world-class field in the 2008 G1 Dubai Duty Free. Among those beaten by Jay Peg on that occasion were such international standouts as Darjina, Archipenko, Vodka, Finsceal Beo, Seachange, Creachadoir, Niconero, Literato, and Bullish Luck.
Jay Peg followed up that historic win when he landed the G1 Singapore Airlines International Cup at his very next start.
Retired to stud in South Africa, Jay Peg ended his career having won 10 of his 22 starts and earned over $6.818 million in prize money.
The A.P. Indy grandson made a mark with his very first crop headed by the graded stakes winners Flash Drive (G3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery), Olympic Owen (G3 Protea Stakes), and Silicone Valley (G2 Cape Merchants).
Subsequent crops yielded further stakes winners including the likes of graded stakes winners Exit Here, Hot Affair, Peggy Jay, and Woljayrine, with Jay Peg also the sire of Castle Tankard winner Peggson and R3 million plus earner Victorious Jay.
Out of the Al Mufti mare Laptop Lady, Jay Peg was a half-brother to four black type horses headed by the graded stakes winners Barack Street and Cyber Case.