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IT's official, Varsfontein Stud is home to the country's two top stallions.
The 2020-21 racing season was one for the history books as Gimmethegreenlight and Master Of My Fate finished first and second on the General Sires List, a feat last achieved all of 20 years ago by the Highlands Stud duo Jallad and Badger Land.
Topping the list for the first time, Gimmethegreenlight reigned supreme as the season's Champion stallion and such was his dominance, he led in virtually every category. The only stallion to have sired in excess of a hundred winners, his 12 stakes winners were headed by dual champion son Got The Greenlight, who put himself in line for yet another Equus Award with Gr.1 victories in the Premier's Champions Challenge and HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes.
Also the country's leading sire of three-year-olds, Gimmethegreenlight was narrowly denied a clean sweep when What A Winter clinched the juvenile sires title on the very last day of the season! Nevertheless, he led the way by number of individual juvenile winners, his tally of 26 falling just short of Captain Al's record of 30 winners.
He did get a hattrick, as the sire with the most stakes winners in each category.
Our homebred Master Of My Fate likewise enjoyed a stellar season, in fact, he led all sires for the first half and eventually found just one better in his barnmate, while finishing the season as the third leading sire of three-year-olds. Sire of 7 individual stakes winners this past season, Master Of My Fate is proving to be a remarkably versatile sire, his progeny winning from 1000 to 3200m!
We are indeed proud and humble to stand these incredible animals and wish to thank all owners, trainers and our fellow breeders who have made this possible!
A MASTERFUL MONTH
Giant-killer: Zarina gets up on the line.
THE July meeting at Greyville kick-started an outstanding month for Master Of My Fate.
The son of Jet Master sired a third individual Gr.1 winner when three-year-old daughter Zarina claimed the prestigious Garden Province Stakes Gr.1. She came with a driving finish between Princess Calla and Triple Crown winner War Of Athena to win, with two short heads separating the trio.
Hats off to Barbara Sanne's Oldlands Stud for breeding this grand filly, who had earlier claimed the Gr.3 Prix Du Cap.
In addition, Zarina's victory set up a fine stakes double on the day for her sire, as Native Tongue opened his stakes account in the last race, the Listed Compendium Insurance Brokers Handicap. Owned by Nic Jonsson, the three-year-old showed true grit to land the mile race by a hard-fought longhead. He narrowly missed out on a double when beaten a similar margin in the Darley Arabian on Gold Cup day.
Native Tongue opens his stakes account.
Master Of My Fate filly Pretty Betty also took her game to the next level with a start-to-finish victory in the Gr.3 Final Fling Stakes at Kenilworth.
Previously successful in the Listed Ladies Mile, the Mike Stewart-trained filly has now put together a five-win streak which stretches back to a maiden score in April.
From the family of champion Gondolier, Pretty Betty was bred by part-owner Peter de Beyer.
Pictures courtesy of Gold Circle and Jeremy Nelson. |
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PROMISES FULFILLED
MASTER Of My Fate continues the fine legacy of his dam Promisefrommyheart. A Champion on the track, she has done us proud as a broodmare and hit new heights during the season as the grandam of Triple Crown winner Malmoos.
He was bred at Varsfontein, as were grandaughters Due Diligence, winner of the Gr.3 Starling Stakes, and juvenile Listed winner Favorita, who placed at Gr.2 and Gr.3 level this past season.
Due Diligence has returned to Varsfontein to start her broodmare career, while Favorita stays in training.
Promisefrommyheart, a gift that keeps on giving.
STAKES GLORY FOR BARGAIN BUY
VARSFONTEIN-bred Peace In Our World is proof that a stakes winner needn't cost an arm and a leg.
Snapped up for a bargain R70,000 on the final day of the 2020 National Yearling Sale, the son of Ideal World made the transition from maiden to stakes winner in one fell swoop when he came from the clouds to win the Listed Champion Juvenile Cup at Fairview.
Trained by Gavin Smith, this smart colt has raced three times for two wins and a debut third.
Bred on the same cross as dual champion and Met victress Smart Call, his dam Our Lady Peace is a Horse Chestnut half-sister to Gr.1 Sansui Summer Cup winner Wagner and Gr.1 Cape Guineas third Nassa, a subsequent Gr.3 winner in Hong Kong.
Our Lady Peace has a 2020 colt by Lancaster Bomber and is currently in foal to Master Of My Fate.
Peace In Our world pictured as a yearling.
SHE'S A KEEPER STRIKES AGAIN
APPROPRIATELY, the season ended on a high for our newly-crowned Champion Gimmethegreenlight, courtesy of She's A Keeper's scintillating victory in the Gr.2 Gold Bracelet at Greyville. Rob Knuppe's homebred came roaring into the lead 300m out and it was race over a she stretched clear to land the final stakes race of the season in isolated splendour.
This was the filly's third stakes success in her last four outings, having won The Scarlet Lady and beating the boys in the Gr.2 World Sports Betting 1900.
Lest we forget, Gimmethegreenlight also sired Gold Bracelet third Catchafallingstar, who was bred by Carl and Amanda out of their wonderful broodmare Star Of Arcole.
She's A Keeper outclassed her rivals in the Gold Bracelet. |
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