Varsfontein Stud 2022/23 Season by varsfontein.co.za

Nelson’s ON THE TRACK Column Varsfontein Stud had

brought to you by an exceptional 2022/23 Varsfontein Stud season, producing the

winners of 21 stakes races. This is a testament to the quality of the breeding program and the care provided to the horses. This level of success requires a combination of careful selection of breeding pairs, excellent animal husbandry practices, and a bit of luck. It’s a great accomplishment that reflects well on the expertise and dedication of the team at Varsfontein. A special mention must go out to the magnificent 2yo’s of last season, which include Cala Muretta, Gimmeanotherchance, Golden Sickle, Guy Gibson, Lucky Lad, Main Defender, Questor and Sandringham Summit. G1 winners Lucky Lad and Sandringham Summit were both nominated for Equus Champion 2yo Colt - with the vote going to Sandringham Summit, winner of the G1 Premiers Champion Stakes and the G2 Golden Horseshoe. These are names to watch as they continue to VARSFONTEIN STUD 2022/23 - by Jeremy Nelson

develop and progress in their racing careers. They have already demonstrated talent and success at an early stage, which suggests they should have bright futures ahead. Breeding the first three past the post in the G2 Durban Golden Horseshoe was a significant accomplishment, showcasing a high level of breeding expertise and skill in producing topperforming racehorses. Sandringham Summit won from Gimmeanotherchance and Guy Gibson. This 2020 crop made a striking impression at the 2022 National Yearling Sale, as five yearlings fetched prices of a million or more. The highest priced Varsfontein yearling on the sale was Forest God (Silvano), who has yet to race. Our 3yo filly Bless My Stars was awarded the Equus Champion 3yo Filly trophy - for her victories in the G1 SA Fillies Classic and the G2 Gold Bracelet. She was also 3rd in the G1 Durban July. Our stallions won both the G2 Gauteng Guineas and the G2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas with Eye Of

1st SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT (by Gimmethegreenlight)

2nd GIMMEANOTHERCHANCE (by Gimmethegreenlight)

The Profit (Gimmethegreenlight) and Lady Of Power (Master Of My Fate). Below are the lists of last season’s Varsfontein stakes performing graduates. Varsfontein thanks all the connections for their valuable support. G1 PERFORMING GRADUATES INCLUDE: At My Command 3rd Gr1 Cape Guineas 1600m Bless My Stars (Equus Champion 3yo Filly) Won G1 SA Fillies Classic 1800m 3rd G1 Durban July 2200m Ciao Bella 2nd G1 Cape Fillies Guineas 1600m Gimme A Prince Won G1 Cape Flying Championship 1000m Won G1 Golden Horse Sprint 1200m Guy Gibson 3rd G1 Gold Medallion 1200m Lucky Lad Won G1 Gold Medallion 1200m Main Defender 2nd G1 Premiers Champion S. 1600m Sandringham Summit (Equus Champion 2yo Colt) Won G1 Premiers Champion S. 1600m VARSFONTEIN STUD 2022/23 - by Jeremy Nelson

3rd GUY GIBSON (by Lancaster Bomber)

Zapatillas 3rd G1 Gold Challenge 1600m G2 PERFORMING GRADUATES INCLUDE: At My Command 2nd G2 Selangor Cup 1600m Bless My Stars Won G2 Gold Bracelet 2000m 2nd G2 Gerald Rosenberg S 2000m Cala Muretta Won G2 Gold Circle Debutante 1200m Ciao Bella Won G2 Fillies Championship 1400m Gimme’s Lassie 3rd G2 Fillies Championship 1400m Gimmeanotherchance 2nd G2 Golden Horseshoe 1400m Gimme A Prince Won G2 Merchants H 1200m 2nd G2 Diadem S 1200m 2nd G2 Drill Hall S 1400m Gladatorian Won G2 Merchants S 1200m Guy Gibson 3rd G2 Golden Horseshoe 1400m

DURBAN GOLDEN HORSESHOE G2 VARSFONTEIN BREDS FINISH 1st, 2nd & 3rd

LISTED PERFORMING GRADUATES INCLUDE: Allez Moris 3rd Racing Association S (L) 1600m American Landing VARSFONTEIN STUD 2022/23 - by Jeremy Nelson

SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT - G1 WINNER

BLESS MY STARS - G1 WINNER

Won Glenlair Trophy (L) 2800m Boundless Bash 3rd Michaelmas H (L) 1900m Countdown Won East Cape Sprint Cup (L) 1200m Echo Of Life 3rd Sweet Chestnut S (L) 1400m

G3 PERFORMING GRADUATES INCLUDE: At My Command 2nd G3 Cape Classic 1400m 3rd G3 Politician S 1800m Bless My Stars 3rd G3 Three Troikas S 1400m Gimme’s Lassie 3rd G3 Prix Du Cap 1400m Gimmeanotherchance 3rd G3 Protea S 1100m Look For Hounds 3rd G3 Matchem S 1400m Lucky Lad Won G3 Protea S 1100m Mercantour Won G3 Man O’ War Sprint 1100m Sea Master Won G3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup 2400m Senso Unico 2nd G3 Chairman’s Cup 2500m Shoemaker 2nd G3 Graham Beck S 1400m

LUCKY LAD - G1 WINNER

Johnny Hero 3rd G2 Colorado King S 2000m Lucky Lad Won G2 SA Nursery 1160m Reny 2nd G2 SA Oaks 2450m 3rd G2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas 1600m Salvator Mundi Won G2 Cape Stayers 2800m Sandringham Summit Won G2 Golden Horseshoe 1400m Senso Unico 3rd G2 Cape Stayers 2800m Shoemaker 2nd G2 Dingaans 1600m

GIMME A PRINCE - G1 WINNING GRADUATE Gimme’s Lassie 3rd Olympic Duel S (L) 1200m Gimmeanotherchance Won Gatecrasher S (L) 1400m Gimme A Prince 2nd Southeaster Sprint (L) 1100m Gladatorian Won In Full Flight H (L) 1100m Golden Sickle 2nd Dahlia Plate (L) 1200m Littlemarysunshine 3rd SA Oaks Trial (L) 2000m Marchingontogether 2nd Racing Association H (L) 3200m 3rd Aquanaut H (L) 2400m Medlers Tart 3rd E-Cape Oaks (L) 2000m Questor Won Champion Juvenile Cup (L) 1400m Salvator Mundi 2nd Woolavington S (L) 2400m Sea Master Won Michaelmas H (L) 1900m Top Sail VARSFONTEIN STUD 2022/23 - by Jeremy Nelson

3rd SA Derby Trial (L) 2000m Zapatillas 3rd Jet Master S (L) 1600m © Chase Liebenberg

CIAO BELLA - G2 WINNER

STALLIONS Varsfontein Stud’s Equus Champion Stallion, Gimmethegreenlight (AUS), has made history by becoming the first sire to attain championship status in all three categories - Champion Sire of 2yo’s, 3yo’s, and General Champion Sire. This historical accomplishment solidifies his position as the premier stallion in SA. Gimmethegreenlight sired the highest number of

STALLION

S/WNRS

S/WINS

14 6 10 9 4

21 10 16 18 5

Gimmethegreenlight What A Winter Vercingetorix Trippi Master Of My Fate

CHAMPION FIRST SEASON SIRE 2016 CHAMPION SIRE 2021 CHAMPION SIRE OF 3YO’S 2021 3rd LEADING SIRE 2022 2nd LEADING SIRE OF 2YO’S 2022 3rd LEADING SIRE OF 3YO’S 2022 CHAMPION SIRE 2023

CHAMPION SIRE OF 2YO’S 2023 CHAMPION SIRE OF 3YO’S 2023

23,030,650 17,331,563 16,536,725 14,394,738 14,144,563

stakes winners with 14 stakes winners of 21 stakes races. He also had the highest number of winners with 109 winners of 160 races. His past record is as follows: CHAMPION SIRE OF 2YO’S 2020

EYE OF THE PROFIT G2 GAUTENG GUINEAS

STAKES

Gimme’s stakes performers last season include: Bless My Stars (Silvano) (G1w; G2w; G1p; G2p; G3p) Gimme A Prince (Trippi) (G1w; G2w; G2p; Lp) Lucky Lad (Caesour) (G1w; G2w; G3w) Sandringham Summit (Captain Al) (G1w; G2w) Ciao Bella (Dynasty) (G2w; G1p) Second Base (Fort Wood) (G1p) Cala Muretta (Fort Wood) (G2w) Eye Of The Prophet (Fort Wood) (G2w) Gimme A Shot (Rakeen) (G2w; G2p; G3p) Gimmeanotherchance (Judpot) (Lw; G2p; G3p) Gimme’s Lassie (Fort Wood) (G2p; G3p; Lp) Johnny Hero (Caesour) (G2p) Shoemaker (Mogok) (G2p; G3p) Tail Of The Comet (Jet Master) (G2p) Universal (Jet Master) (G2p) Ready To Charge (Charge Forward) (G2p) Reny (Trippi) (G2p) Live My Life (Pure Prize) (G3w) Amber Rock (Seventh Rock) (G3p) Blue Holly (Captain Al) (G3p) Going Up (Goldkeeper) (Lw; G3p) Countdown (Philanthropist) (Lw) Emerald Princess (Count Dubois) (Lw) Kwinta’s Light (Kahal) (Lw; Lp) Great Affair (Daylami) (Lp) Hazy Crazy Night (Silvano) (Lp) Pacific Green (Dynasty) (Lp) Port Louis (Qui Danzig) (Lp) Summer Lily (Trippi) (Lp)

2nd LEADING SIRE OF 3YO’S 2022 5th LEADING SIRE 2023 2nd LEADING SIRE OF 3YO’S 2023 Master Of My Fate’s 2yo’s Callmewhenuneedme (Argonaut) and Joy And Peace (Spectrum) were both stakes placed in Listed races. His progeny generally progress at 3 and 4 years and he is

Master Of My Fate had a very consistent season finishing 5th on the General Sires list with 92 winners of 141 races including 4 stakes winners of 5 stakes races. He finished 2nd on the list of Leading Sires of 3yo’s behind Gimmethegreenlight, with an excellent 57,3 % winners to runners. His past record is as follows: 3rd LEADING SIRE OF 3YO’S 2021 4th LEADING SIRE 2022 VARSFONTEIN STUD 2022/23 - by Jeremy Nelson

LADY OF POWER G2 GAUTENG FILLIES GUINEAS

2nd LEADING SIRE 2021

becoming an influence for ‘intermediate’ and ‘classic’ horses. Master Of My Fate’s 3yo’s for last season include Lady Of Power (Fort Wood) (won G2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas; 3rd in the G2 SA Oaks over 2450m), Broadway Girl (Dynasty) (2nd Listed Stormsvlei Stakes over 1800m; 3rd Listed Cape Oaks over 2000m), Echo Of Life (Windrush) (3rd Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes over 1400m), Kinky Boots (Ideal World) (2nd G3 Three Troikas Stakes over 1400m), Love Is A Rose (Silvano) (won G3 Final Fling Stakes over 1950m), Medlers Tart (Trippi) (3rd Listed E-Cape Oaks over 2000m), Street Outlaw (Var) (2nd Listed Sophomore Sprint over 1200m) and Top Sail (Al Mufti) (3rd Listed SA Derby Trial over 2000m). Top class 4yo Zapatillas (Mogok) was 3rd in the G1 Gold Challenge (1600m) and 3rd in the Listed Jet Master Stakes (1600m), while 4yo Hollywoodbound (Jallad) was placed in the G3 Acacia Stakes over 1600m. VARSFONTEIN STUD 2022/23 - by Jeremy Nelson

5yo’s include After The Rain (Medaaly) (3rd G2 Spring Challenge over 1450m), Sea Master (Spectrum) (won G3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m; and Listed Michaelmas Handicap over 1900m), Tempting Fate (Var) (3rd Listed In Full Flight Handicap over 1100m) and Top Me Up Holly (Western Winter) (3rd G3 Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m). His 6yo son Han Solo (Model Man) won the G2 Algoa Cup (2000m) and was placed in the G2 Peninsula Handicap (1800m) and Listed Settlers Trophy (2000m).

2023 AUCTION SALES Varsfontein Stud sold a total of 60 horses from their 2021 crop, as well as 13 ‘as agent’ horses on the CR Cape Premier Yearling Sale, BSA Cape Yearling Sale, BSA National Yearling Sale, CR Mixed Winter Sale and the BSA August 2yo Sale. Varsfontein sold 6 lots on the 2023 Cape Premier Yearling Sale and averaged R566,667 with a top

price of R2 million. The BSA Cape Yearling Sale realised an average of R234,688 for Varsfontein’s 16 lots, with a top price of R800,000. Varsfontein Stud was 2nd leading vendor. The BSA National Yearling Sale saw Varsfontein sell 20 lots for an average of R576,000, with the highest price being R1,9 million. The BSA August 2yo Sale was a great success with Varsfontein being the second leading Vendor with an aggregate of R6,815,000 for 16 lots, achieving an average of R425,938. Gimmethegreenlight averaged R585,000 for his 10 lots, achieving a top price of R1,3 million. Master Of My Fate averaged R281,250 for his 12 lots, achieving a top price of R600,000. Varsfontein thanks all the buyers and underbidders for their support and wishes them all the best with their purchases.

2023 CAPE RACING and CAPE BREEDERS AWARDS The Cape Racing and Cape Breeders Awards took place at a festive function at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse on Friday night, 1st September. Varsfontein Stud collected the following Cape Racing Awards: Champion Older Male (for Khaya Stables) - Gimme A Prince Champion Sprinter (for Khaya Stables) - Gimme A Prince Champion Stayer - Salvator Mundi VARSFONTEIN STUD 2022/23 - by Jeremy Nelson

Pierre de Vos, Amanda de Vos and Carl de Vos at the Equus Awards 2023

Susan Rowett, Hennie Diedricks and Frikkie Basson at the TBA G1 Awards 2023 with Auctioneer Steve Davis

The 2023 Equus Awards were held in the Senate Room at Emperors Palace where Varsfontein received 3 awards: Champion 2yo Colt - Sandringham Summit Champion 3yo Filly - Bless My Stars Champion Stallion - Gimmethegreenlight Varsfontein Congratulates the owners and trainers of this year’s Varsfontein bred Equus Champions.

2023 EQUUS AWARDS

Cape Racing Champion Stayer Salvator Mundi

Cape Breeders Champion 2yo Colt Lucky Lad

Cape Breeders Champion Stallion Gimmethegreenlight

Cape Racing Champion Sprinter Gimme A Prince

Cape Breeders Awards: Champion 2yo Colt - Lucky Lad Champion Older Male (for Khaya Stables) - Gimme A Prince Champion Sprinter (for Khaya Stables) - Gimme A Prince Stallion of the Year - Gimmethegreenlight

2023 BREEDING SEASON Varsfontein are foaling down 120 mares over the breeding season and eagerly look forward to the arrival of the 2nd crop of Erik The Red who covered an even better book in his second season, thanks to the support of the syndicate who loved his first foals. Bred on the same male line cross as 5 times G1 winner Carry On Alice, ‘Erik’ was Cape Champion 2yo Colt in 2020, and became the first 3yo to win the G2 Cape Merchants in 22 years. Starting 2-1 favourite, and under a half-kilo sufferance, ‘Erik’ came from off the pace under an ‘oozing with confidence’ Richard Fourie, with a dashing 3/4 length victory in a time of 71,35, from the older Equus Champion Sprinter, Rio Querari. VARSFONTEIN STUD 2022/23 - by Jeremy Nelson

Erik The Red is a superb individual standing 16,1 hands, and is very reminiscent of his sire Captain Al, already the sire of sires Malmoos (Triple Crown), William Longsword (G1 Cape Guineas), Captain Of All (Equus Champion Sprinter), and G1 Met winner One World (Equus Champion Older Male). Captain Al’s success as a sire is commendable. He achieved the prestigious title of Champion Sire of 2yo’s for an impressive 8 consecutive seasons, from 2009 to 2016. In addition, Captain Al was crowned Champion SA Sire in 2015. His contributions were further recognised through receipt of the Equus Award for Outstanding Sire in 2009 and 2011. Captain Al’s statistics highlight his influence with 77% winners to runners and a 10.8% stakes winners to runners. Captain Al is the 2023 Leading Broodmare Sire in SA, R3 million ahead of his nearest rival, Jet Master. Erik The Red’s dam-sire Western Winter, is one of the best performing stallions ever to stand at stud in SA - from 823 foals he had 757 runners, 621 (82%) winners and 92 stakes winners (12,15%) - of these 23 were G1 winners and 35 G1 placed. In fact he had 25% stakes performers (190) to runners. These

are superlative statistics and are not as yet matched by any other sire to stand in SA. Erik’s family is out of the top draw with his dam Covenant winning the G1 Majorca Stakes, G2 Southern Cross Stakes, G2 Sceptre Stakes (twice), Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes, and was 3rd in the G1 SA Fillies Sprint, G2 Southern Cross Stakes, G2 Tibouchina Stakes, and 4th in the G1 Mercury Sprint. The Secret Pact family has produced the sires Erik The Red, Master Of My Fate, Malmoos, London News, Pluck, etc. Varsfontein Stud looks forward to having Erik The Red’s first yearlings in their drafts for the 2024 sales.

VARSFONTEIN STUD 2022/23 - by Jeremy Nelson