South Africa lost one of its finest thoroughbred stallions of recent times following the death of Silvano.
The son of Lomitas, five times champion sire in South Africa, passed away earlier in the week after suffering a bout of colic, and he will be much missed by all who knew and loved him.
A half-brother to G1 Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap winning sire Sabiango (by Acatenango) and a full-brother to the dam of Hemel ‘N Aarde’s G3 winning young Dynasty sire Horizon, Silvano is one of ten winners produced by 11 time winning mare Spirit Of Eagles- Germany’s Broodmare Of The Year of 2001.
The globetrotting 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 African Horse Sickness ensured that the Lomitas horse would remain in South Africa.
(Silvano also enjoyed success with his German conceived runners including champion, and G1 Deutsches Derby winner, Lucky Speed and group/graded stakes winners Fair Breeze, Proudinsky and German classic winner Mi Emma).
He has been champion sire in South Africa five times, with Silvano leading the General Sires List for past four years consecutively from 2016-2017 to 2019-2020. Silvano finished fifth on the General Sires List last season, with his seven black type winners picking up 12 stakes races.
He enjoyed a remarkable season in 2019-2020, where Silvano’s 12 individual stakes winners were led by South African Horse Of The Year Summer Pudding, and fellow G1 winners Hawwaam, Kilindini and Zillzaal.
At the time of writing, Silvano has been responsible for more than 100 black type winners (25 of which are G1 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.
The bay accomplished another rare feat when his sons Power King, Punta Arenas and Tellina ran 1-2-3 in the 2015 G1 Vodacom Durban July, while Silvano’s black type winners of last season included the very exciting filly Marina -a brilliant winner of both the Listed World Sports Betting Stormsvlei Stakes and Listed World Sports Betting River Jetez Stakes last season.
Silvano also made headlines at the 2019 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale where his son Masaki was sold to Shadwell South Africa for R9 000 000 -making that Wilgerbosdrift consigned colt the most expensive yearling ever sold at public auction in South Africa. Another yearling colt by Silvano, Celestial City, fetched R7 000 000 when he topped the 2020 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale.
Silvano, whose outstanding son Hawwaam takes up stud duties this year, received another compliment when his daughter Summer Pudding was named Equus Champion Older Filly/Mare at Tuesday night’s virtual Equus Awards ceremony.
The champion has four lots on offer at this week’s August Two Year Old Sale.