AS this difficult year comes to a close, it is with much anticipation and excitement that we look forward to 2021.
Of particular significance will be the return to the farm of our homebred Erik The Red (pictured above).
We were absolutely delighted by the alacrity with which breeders from around the country took up the shares on offer. The son of Captain Al is now owned by a wonderful syndicate and will take his place in the stallion barn for the 2021 breeding season.
Blessed with looks, pedigree and an impressive race record, he has all the makings of a successful stallion. Already a dual Gr.2 winner, a  Gr.1 victory would be the cherry on the cake so to speak and to that end, he will have a crack at the upcoming Cape Flying Championship.
Meanwhile, those contemplating sending a mare to Erik, feel free to make use of the GoldMine mating programme available on the Cape Breeders Club and John Freeman websites.

JULY HERO RETURNS IN STYLE

Belgarion sweeps to victory.

NOTHING gives us more pleasure than sharing in the success of our clients and we were delighted to join Alec and Gillian Foster in celebration of the victorious return to racing by their homebred Durban July hero Belgarion.
Unraced since that glorious win and rumoured to be just short of racing fitness, the son of Dynasty made his seasonal debut in the Gr.2 Green Point Stakes. Showing no signs of ring-rustiness, he powered home from near last to score at the expense of former Met winner Rainbow Bridge and pacesetter Cirillo. The Varsfontein-foaled and bred bay has won six from six since being gelded and now has the 2021 Met firmly in his sights.

ANTHONY'S PRIDE MAKES ALL

Silvano's Pride, from gun to tape.

ANTHONY Peters also had reason to celebrate after his homebred Silvano's Pride boosted her already considerable paddock value with a fine start-to-finish win in the Gr.3 Victress Stakes. The Gr.1 winning daughter of Silvano never saw a rival as she powered home to score by a length, showing plenty of grit and resolution.
A natural front-runner, she had won the Gr.1 Woolavington 2000 in similar style and as winning rider Richard Fourie commented: “One can’t restrain her. That’s her style, She has the Silvano class and courage which gets her home.”
A second generation Peter-bred, she is one of many fine descendants of his Jallad mare Jalberry to have been born and raised at Varsfontein.
On hand to receive the Victress accolades, Anthony was most gracious in his post-race interview when he said: “It starts with Carl de Vos and Susan. Carl usually says this is the right stallion for that mare and whatever they say, we do. Varsfontein deserves the credit!"

PAISLEY PARK A RISING STAR

Paisley Park salutes in the Secretariat.

GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT added another stakes winner to his tally when Paisley Park made the transition from debut to stakes winner with a fluent score in the Listed Secretariat Stakes at Turffontein.
An impressive 2.50-length debut winner over 1160m at Turffontein in late October, Sean Tarry's talented three-year-old finished with a flourish to take the lead close home and win going away.
Out of the Casey Tibbs mare Eva Tibbs, the newly-minted stakes winner remains unbeaten in two starts and fully deserves the tag of 'Rising Star'.

GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT DUO IMPRESSES
GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT also featured as the sire of two homebred fillies which provided us with a fine double at Kenilworth.
First-timer Arc Lamp exited the maiden ranks in one fell swoop with an impressive debut victory over 1200m. Allowed to start under the radar, the Geoff Woodruff-trained filly came home smoking to score by a handsome 2.25 lengths.
We have high hopes for this three-year-old half-sister to Gr.2 Fillies Guineas victress Fiorella. Out of Caesour's SA Oaks winner Arcola, she could well be a classic prospect in the making!
Our stakes winner Favorita made it a fine double on the day when she opened her sophomore season on a winning note. Despite drifting in the betting, she landed the 1200m dash by a cosy margin. Now a three-time winner, this grandaughter of our Champion Promisefrommyheart also won the Listed East Cape Fillies Nursery as a juvenile.

KEEP AN EYE ON THIS MISS

Miss Elegance, out on her own.

FRESH off her fine second in the Gr.3 Fillies Mile, Master Of My Fate's daughter Miss Elegance proved that was no fluke when she put a number of good sorts to the sword in a 1600m progress plate at the Vaal.
The Lucky Houdalakis-trained three-year-old left her rivals trailing to come home in isolated splendour, the winning margin a handsome 8,50 lengths. A performance out of the top drawer by an above average filly!