OFF THE RECORD #37

Freeman Calls for Breeding Innovation as New Stallions Enter Market

The 2024 thoroughbred breeding season in South Africa heralds the arrival of eleven new stallions, the highest number in the last 15 years. There seems to be renewed optimism in the market. However, this positive development comes amid a decline in the mare population, now at an all-time low. This imbalance could significantly impact second-crop sires and stallions outside the Top 10 on the national log, posing challenges for the industry’s growth and stability.

Above: John Freeman of Freeman Stallions

Leading bloodstock expert John Freeman of Freeman Stallions noted that nine new stallions entered the market every year from 2013 to 2016, followed by three (2017 and 2018) eight in 2019, five in 2020, two in 2021, six in 2022 and five last year. There are presently 53 stallions registered the with National Horseracing Authority.

Freeman said: “Our broodmare population has dwindled from 3649 registered mares in 2018/19 to just 2,606 in 2022/3. As a result, the number of microchipped foals dropped from 2607 in 2018/19 to 1906 in 2022/3.”

The latest number of mares reflected on the NHA’s website is a worryingly low 1,914, which may increase slightly after final registrations in August, potentially reaching around 2,000. However, there will likely be further attrition in the number of microchipped foals.

Freeman’s own projected breakdown of support for new and existing stallions from this low number of mares, based on the known booked services for stallions under his management and the traditional trends of the market, paints a curious picture.

He said: “The first-crop sires always get their share of support. On our estimated number of 2000 mares in the entire broodmare band, I’d say that about 650 mares will be spread between the 11 new sires. The top 7 – Gimmethegreenlight, Vercingetorix, Querari, Master Of My Fate, What A Winter, Rafeef and the new boom sire One World will get about 725 bookings between them. The second-crop sires will have in the region of 350, which leaves 275 mares for the roughly 35 other registered stallions.”

Freeman said that he has been advising his racing clients to breed with their mares coming off the track, instead of rehoming them. “In the Covid era we also saw the fall of Phumelela and the news came that racing was in big trouble. Many breeders culled their stock, stopped breeding with certain mares or sold some of their mares anticipating a smaller market. Now, we have a problem to address. I am advising as many breeders as I can not to let what are considered lesser lights go. There are many highly desirable families that started with little or no black-type on the page.”

“We have to reverse the trend so we have more mares available to the stallion population. Breeders should be more adventurous. When Captain Al started his career at stud he had a diverse but enthusiastic group of shareholders. He didn’t get the best mares, not by any stretch of the imagination. Some even brought ponies back into their mating plans for him just so he could get numbers and have a chance to prove himself. He had 40 winners from 53 runners in his first crop. He sired 10% stakes winners to runners in that crop. That’s an international benchmark”.

“The thing is, one never knows. Mares with weak pedigrees or moderate track performances can deliver track stars. It happens all the time. That is why I go back to nine generations in my pedigree research when doing matings. You can find the reasons why certain nicks produce freak talents.

“Strong black type all over the first four dams gives you a better chance commercially, but I’ve seen mares with almost nothing on their sales catalogue pages, breed surprisingly good horses. Breeders should persist with their fillies and mares now, give them opportunities.”

Freeman quoted early 20^th century horseman Colonel Mel Goldsmith, who said: "The Thoroughbred is man's finest genetic achievement because: the second hand of a clock separates the best from the worst. The winner gets his advantage from all that is given to him in creation”. Hence the possibility that “the best can come from the worst”.

Compiled below, some information on the 11 new stallions, in alphabetical order:

A CASE OF YOU (IRE) (Hot Streak ex Karjera by Key Of Luck), Drakenstein Stud

Dual Group 1 winner A Case Of You had a Timeform rating of 121. Just like Champion Two-Year-Old sire Var, A Case Of You won the prestigious Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp.

Kevin Sommerville of Drakenstein Stud commented: “A Case Of You has just arrived. He looks well, he is an exciting addition to our stallion barn. He was an out-and-out speed ball. He posted wins in multiple jurisdictions, including a Group 1 sprint as a two-year-old. He has a nice outcross pedigree and I think breeders should take advantage of a fast champion coming to South Africa. He is a nice package, a robust horse with a lovely temperament and lots to like about him.”

Covering fee: R20,000.

CELESTIAL CITY (Silvano ex Halfway To Heaven by Jet Master), Summerhill Equestrian

Summerhill Equestrian’s Henning Pretorius has decided to stand Celestial City, a full-brother to five-time Grade1 winner Hawwaam, alongside the farm’s established sire, Act Of War. Celestial City won five races and was Listed-placed. While he doesn’t have his brother’s exceptional race record, his pedigree remains exceptional and Pretorius said: “We only have a few breeders left in KwaZulu-Natal and we need more quality stallions. I know it’s a challenge, but Celestial City has the genetics. I will use him for my own mares and he is available to other breeders. I have set his fee high because I want people who are serious about his pedigree to bring him good mares. I’d rather have a few good offspring that a lot of moderate ones.”

Covering fee: R30,000.

CHARLES DICKENS (Trippi ex Demanding Lady), Drakenstein Stud

The brilliant chestnut, Charles Dickens, was unbeaten as a two-year-old. As a three-year-old, he won the stallion-making Grade 1 Cape Guineas and the highest rated race of the year, the Grade 1 Gold Challenge, both over a mile. As a four-year-old, he won the Grade 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate in the style reminiscent of the greats of the South African turf. He retired as the highest rated horse in South Africa and was ranked 7th in the world (Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings).

Kevin Sommerville said: “Charles Dickens has settled in beautifully and shares sold quickly. We are excited to see which mares breeders will be sending him. He is one of the best we’ve seen in South Africa, a wonderful racehorse. We’ll be sending him our best and we’re hoping other breeders will do the same.”

Covering fee: R50,000.

EXPERT EYE (GB) (Acclamation ex Exemplify by Dansili), Paardeberg Stud

Expert Eye, the 2015 Gr1 Breeders Cup Champion Turf Mile winner, was imported as the foundation stallion for Paardeberg Stud, with accomplished breeder Sally Bruss at the helm.

The Juddmonte bred Expert Eye won five of 10 races and his crowning achievement was a victory in the 2018 Group 1 Breeders Cup Mile on turf at Churchill Downs. He was a high class two-year-old, winning Goodwood’s Group 2 Vintage Stakes by five lengths. At three he won the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot by the biggest margin this century and went on to win the Group 2 City of York Stakes. He also finished second in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes and third in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin.

Expert Eye’s first crop raced in England and yielded 22 individual two-year-old winners to put him 4th in the Rankings of 1st Crop Sires. In his second season, he pushed his tally to 41 winners and established himself as a successful sire of precocious two-year-olds that continue to excel as they mature.

Bruss said: “We’ve made remarkable progress on the farm and Expert Eye has settled down well, he is a good-bodied, beautiful horse. Over the last six months we’ve bought the best fillies we could get for him, including Canadian Summer and Perfect Witness. He should have a book of up to 50 mares.”

Covering fee: R25,000.

FRANTASTIC (GB) (Frankel ex Rhadegunda by Pivotal), Hopes and Dreams Stud

Frantastic is the first stallion acquisition for Basie and Suzette Viljoen’s Hopes And Dreams Stud in Paarl. He and Drakenstein’s Sharp Frank (see below) are the first sons of Frankel imported to South Africa for stallion duties.

Frantastic is a full-brother to joint 2018 World Champion, four time Group 1 winner and now red-hot sire, Cracksman, who has already produced the Arc-winning, six-from-six, record-breaking French Derby hero, Ace Impact, G2-winning juvenile Aloa; Weracruz, Stakes-winning filly and third to males in the G1 German Derby; the Aga Khan’s Shembala, third to colts in the G2 Prix Chaudenay on Arc weekend.

Frantastic, like Cracksman, was trained by John and Thady Gosden. He won at 2 and 3 years of age and twice from seven runs, over 1600m and 2000m respectively, before incurring a career-ending injury. He won on the all-weather and on turf, proving his versatility. He could have been anything had he stayed in training. He’s a beautifully conformed, imposing horse who descends from the greatest female line of the modern era.

“He will be with us soon, we are preparing a new barn and paddock for him and we are very excited,” said Suzette Viljoen. “We will be sending 33 of our own mares to Frantastic and we welcome support from other breeders. He has the blood and the looks.”

Covering fee: R20,000.

HIT THE ROAD (USA) (More Than Ready ex Highway Mary by US Ranger), Ridgemont Stud

Ridgemont will stand US Grade 1 winner Hit The Road (USA), a son of internationally acclaimed sire More Than Ready. The international Gr1 star, a multiple stakes winner, retired from racing in 2023 and counts the Gr1 Frank E Kilroe at Santa Anita amongst his six victories. He is durable and tough, demonstrated by the fact that he was a stakes winner at two at three, and a multiple stakes winner at four. The beautifully bred colt, with a dazzling turn of foot, was purchased in partnership with Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein. Hit The Road is by the same sire as South African Champion Sire, Gimmethegreenlight. He is out of the US Ranger mare Highway Mary, a three-parts sister to Gr1 winner and sire War Command, he is bred along a very powerful sire line.

“He’s everything I look for in a thoroughbred. Beautiful head and bold eye. Strong, correct, good walker. Stands over 16 hands, deep with a very powerful rear end. Fantastic temperament,” said bloodstock expert, Shawn Dugan.

Craig Carey of Ridgemont said: “Hit The Road has settled down very well. We’ll be sending him 25 of our own mares and to that you can add several more from the breeders who have taken shares, and others.”

Covering fee: R20,000.

MK’s PRIDE (Willow Magic ex Ikimasu by Admire Main), Heversham Park Stud

MK’s Pride is a speedy grandson of the mighty Dubawi, and he relished our local racing conditions. He is a well-balanced, tough individual with great legs. Unlike many stallions, he raced over 30 times and his wins included the Grade 1 Horse Chestnut stakes and the Grade 2 Hawaii Stakes as a three-year-old. Mk’s Pride is considered a great, versatile cross, particularly for Mr Prospector, Danzig, Blushing Groom and Storm Cat line mares.

Kat Riley of Heversham Park commented: “Most importantly, he represents a significant step in South African racing and breeding history in that he is the first entirely black owned stallion to stand at stud in this country. It is a well-established fact that SA racing needs to diversify, and MK presents a wonderful opportunity for breeders to take active action and not just pay lip service to achieving diversity. We’ll be giving him some of our own mares and we’re hoping to get a few more from outside breeders.”

Part-owner Stinky Poee said: “MK’s Pride gives me a chance to start the breeding adventure. I will be supporting him with my mares coming off the racetrack.”

Covering fee: R5,000.

SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT (Gimmethegreenlight ex Townsend by Captain Al), Varsfontein Stud

Retired from the track in June 2024, this magnificent son of Gimmethegreenlight will stand alongside his Champion sire at Varsfontein in Paarl. An Equus Champion Two-Year-old, Sandringham Summit showed exceptional talent on the racetrack and now promises to make an equally significant impact in his new role.

Sandringham Summit’s impressive race record shows five wins between 1160-1600m, at 2 and 3. His key successes include the Grade 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Premiers Champion Stakes and the Grade 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe, as well as the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas and Gr2 Hawaii Stakes. His performance in these high-stakes races cemented his status as a top-tier racehorse in South Africa. He also placed second in the Grade 1 SA Classic, the Grade 1 SA Guineas and the Grade 3 Graham Beck Stakes, and third in the Grade 2 Dingaans.

Originally purchased for R1,7 million off the National Yearling Sale, Sandringham Summit was syndicated for stud in December last year. The shares were booked up within 24 hours. “We had support from all the leading breeders and he’ll have a full book of 120 mares,” said syndicate manager, John Freeman.

Covering fee: R15,000.

SHARP FRANK (GB) (Frankel ex Sharp Susan by Touch Gold), Drakenstein Stud

A magnificent looking son of Frankel, Sharp Frank has an equally brilliant pedigree being the half-brother of SA Horse of The Year, Oh Susanna. Sharp Frank is an unusual step away from Drakenstein’s policy to stand only top class runners, but they felt it a necessary one as this handsome athlete was so highly thought of by his trainer Andrew Balding while racing in the UK.

Sharp Frank had only one start before he was retired, but Balding said: “Sharp Frank was a highly promising three-year-old. He worked to a very high level at home after his sole racecourse appearance and it is a great sadness that he was denied the opportunity to prove his class to a wider audience. He had a fantastic action and like many of the Frankel offspring, I would imagine he has every chance of making it as a stallion if his offspring are anything like him.”

Kevin Sommerville said: “We’ve come up with a deal for breeders who support Sharp Frank. There are breeders who are behind him and he should cover a nice book of mares. We’ll also give him a full go with our own mares.”

Covering fee: R5,000.

THUNDERSTRUCK (Rafeef ex Varikate by Var), Ridgemont Stud

Thunderstruck is another to have joined the formidable stallion barn at Ridgemont. The champion sprinter of his generation, he won the Grade 1 Gold Medallion at two and the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint at four years before an unfortunate injury ended his racing career. He left the track with eight wins and seven places from just 18 starts and was renowned for his good looks, soundness (before injury) and fighting spirit.

Thunderstruck was named Highveld Feature Season Champion Sprinter and is the favourite to land the 2023/4 award for Equus Champion Sprinter.

Craig Carey said: “Like Hit The Road, Thunderstruck will be getting 25 Ridgemont mares and several others from shareholders. He has been well supported and he is in excellent shape on the farm, enjoying his surroundings.”

Covering fee: R20,000.

WILD COAST (Trippi ex Beach Beauty by Dynasty), Gelykfontein Stud

Following an arrangement with Drakenstein, Schalkie Van der Walt’s Gelykfontein Stud in the Karoo, near Colesberg, will stand Wild Coast. By Trippi out of the equally mighty Beach Beauty, Wild Coast offers a powerful genetic that cannot be ignored. By a son of two of South Africa’s finest male bloodlines, out of a champion SA racemare and broodmare, his high-class siblings include Rex Union, Amanzimtoti, Narina Trogon and the exported Gr1 winner Beach Bomb.

In addition to his significant immediate family, he is 3/4 bred to Charles Dickens and also closely bred to Santa Maria and the formidable race and broodmare Real Princess, a half-sister to William Longsword – and both out of the top-class broodmare Pagan Princess.

Wild Coast won four races from 1250-1600m and registered 5 places from 20 starts, his victories headlined by a win in the 2020 Grade 2 World Sports Betting Guineas and a 4th place in the 2019 Grade 1 Cape Guineas.

Van der Walt commented: “We are over the moon to have Wild Coast with us, he is a horse I’ve had my eye on for some time. He is a fine specimen with powerful hindquarters. There are only a handful of breeders left in the Karoo, they will all be supporting him with mares and he’ll be covering seven of my own. We’re all excited about him. He stands alongside Visionaire, who came from Pieter Graaf and had a good book of mares with us last year.”

Covering fee: R5,000.