Varsfontein Stud - The Breeding Season by varsfontein.co.za

THE BREEDING SEASON

(August - December 2024)

Nelson’s Column brought to you by Varsfontein Stud

As the curtain falls on 2024, we look back on another successful breeding season that has now reached its conclusion after an intense five months. Following an exceptionally wet winter, the season began on a chilly note as the first foals arrived in early August. With 130 mares due to foal and even more to cover - including maidens and barrens gearing up for spring - the season quickly shifted into full swing.

Despite the demands of this critical period, the stud farm operates like a well-oiled machine. Each member of the team focuses on their role, yet together they race toward shared goals. Stud manager Carl De Vos leads the charge alongside management team members Jaco and Carolyn Erasmus, Wickus Theron, Hennie Diedericks, and Frikke Basson. Years of experience working together allow the pieces of this intricate puzzle to

fall seamlessly into place, ensuring every task is ticked off by day’s end.

Mornings begin with a bang, the first hour often being the busiest of the day. By 8 am, Jaco ensures the stallions have completed their morning coverings, every horse on the farm has been fed and checked, mares scheduled for scans are ready for the vet, and newborn foals with their dams have been tended to and turned out. Yet amidst this routine, a mare often decides - after threatening all night - that the moment has arrived to foal. In these vital moments, the entire operation shifts focus to safely welcoming a new life into the world. Most mares foal at night under the watchful eye of the nightwatchman, with Carl, Jaco, and Wickus taking turns to oversee the process. When a little extra care is needed, Carolyn steps in to lend a hand. No matter the hour, the activity around the stables never ceases.

Dr. Deon Van Tonder, the farm’s Reproduction

Vet, scans mares each morning. Carl carefully compiles a daily list, balancing mares preparing for cover, those needing ovulation checks, and others at various pregnancy stages. With 170 mares to track, precision is essential - every mare has her own unique story. From this central point, the team “divides and conquers,” tackling tasks ranging from transporting mares for covering, foal care, teasing, stable sanitation, hay management, feed production, and grounds maintenance. As the season progresses, new challenges arise. The oat-hay harvest begins, and storage sheds fill, while the previous year’s foal crop demands attention. Yearling sale entries mark a pivotal period, requiring careful analysis and planning for

these promising youngsters - the true harvest of a Thoroughbred Stud Farm.

The stud office remains a hive of activity, keeping the large Varsfontein operation running smoothly. With four busy stallions, breeders call continuously to secure bookings with our hard working stud secretary Esté Fourie, as nearly 400 mares pass through the covering barn between September and December. Record-keeping alone is a monumental task, alongside managing the myriad demands of such a vast enterprise.

Evenings mirror the morning’s rhythm. Stallions complete their afternoon coverings, every horse is fed and checked, and the newest foals and their protective dams receive one last look. As tools are

Gimmethegreenlight (AUS)

Master Of My Fate (SAF)

Dr. Deon Van Tonder and the team scanning mares

Hauling Hay

put away, walkways cleared, and tractors parked, the sound of contented horses grazing in the pasture marks the end of another day. But before the sun sets, Carl and Jaco map out tomorrow’s plan - another day on the rollercoaster that is horse farming.

While challenges and losses are inevitable in breeding, the highlights make it all worthwhile. Seeing the complete 2024 foal crop fills us with relief, pride, and anticipation. Carefully planned matings - dreamed up on paper - have come to life, and so begins their journey toward the

Erik The Red (SAF)

Sandringham Summit (SAF)

The Stallion Stables and Covering Barn

racetrack.

Varsfontein Stud is home to 4 stallions, whose reputations are as impressive as their physical attributes. Mares are covered from 1st September through to December as they have a gestation period of 11 months, which means the first foals begin to be born within the first month of the next season - August 2025.

Three times Champion Sire GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT has had one of his best book of mares to date, and this season has covered some of the best mares in Africa.

Not only has he been crowned as South Africa’s Champion Sire 3 times, he has achieved the title of Champion 2yo Sire and Champion 3yo Sire 3 times as well. Becoming Champion Sire in all 3 categories in 2 successive seasons, is a feat no other stallion in South Africa has ever

accomplished according to records going back to 1953.

Gimmethegreenlight’s book of mares for 2024 include:

G1 winner and Equus Champion Older Female 2018, NOTHER RUSSIA (Tiger Ridge - Mother Russia) - the dam of Equus Champion 3yo Filly Gimme A Nother (Gimmethegreenlight), who has

Equus Champion - Summer Pudding

Gimmethegreenlight (AUS)

been exported to race in the USA.

Equus Champion Broodmare HALFWAY TO HEAVEN (Jet Master - Pas De Basque) visited ‘Gimme’ this season - she is the dam of Equus Champion Rainbow Bridge, Equus Champion Hawwaam and G1 winner Golden Ducet.

Another Equus Champion to visit ‘Gimme’ this season, was SUMMER PUDDING (SilvanoCherry On The Cake) - Triple Tiara Winner 2020, Equus Champion 3YO Filly 2020, Equus Horse of the Year 2020, Equus Champion Older Filly/Mare 2021.

Equus Champion 3yo Green With Envy’s dam MISS COCO (Galileo - Mohican Princess) visited Gimme for a third time in 2024. Her sire Galileo is bred in the purple - by Sadler’s Wells out of ‘Arc’ heroine Urban Sea - and unbeaten in his first six starts, Galileo proved an immediate success at stud siring Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Nightime from his first crop. Appropriately he became the most successful Group 1 sire of all time

Mares descending from Sadler’s Wells have crossed well with Gimmethegreenlight.

Other Galileo mares to be covered by ‘Gimme’ in 2024 include MISS GALIDORA (Galileo - Clodora) - the dam of Aragosta and Mrs Browning, ZIPPY ZITTER (Galileo - Ezilla), FAIR VERONA (Galileo - Healing Music), EXOTIC (Galileo - Ice

Queen) - dam of Capitana, BESHAAYIR (Galileo - Sarkha) - dam of Dyce. Beshaayir’ s daughter

ITSYBITSY SPIDER (Lancaster BomberBeshaayir) also visited ‘Gimme’ this season.

A few other granddaughters of Galileo to be covered by ‘Gimme’ include FRANKLY (FrankelLittle Fastnet) - the half-sister to Little Ballerinaand CAPITANA (Captain Al - Exotic), winner of the Olympic Duel S L, Laisserfaire S L; 2nd Southern Cross S G2, Sceptre S G2 and Champagne S G3. Equus Champion 2yo Filly 2018, RETURN FLIGHT (Pomodoro - Heading Home) is another Champion to visit ‘Gimme’ in 2024. She won the Thekwini S G1, SA Fillies Classic G1, SA Oaks G2, Gerald Rosenberg S G2.

Multiple G1 winner DESERT MIRACLE (Dynasty - Welwitschia) is another of Gimmethegreenlight’s conquests in 2024. She is the winner of the Majorca S G1, Empress Club S G1, Golden Slipper G2, Graham Beck S G3; 2nd SA Fillies Sprint G1, Cape Fillies Guineas G1, Garden Province S G1, etc.

The beautifully bred and brilliant sprinter/miler TRUE TO LIFE (Duke Of Marmalade - Mina Salaam) is another well performed filly allocated to Gimmethegreenlight in 2024 - she won 8 races, R1,127,125, incl Magnolia H G3, Tommy Hotspur H G3; 2nd SA Fillies Sprint G1; 3rd Computaform

Equus Champion - Gimme A Nother

Equus Champion - Hawwaam

Breaking Champion Sire

FOR THE SECOND TIME IN HISTORY, GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT HAS ACHIEVED CHAMPIONSHIP IN ALL 3 CATEGORIES (from records since 1953)

2024

CHAMPION SA SIRE

CHAMPION SA SIRE OF 3YO’S

CHAMPION SA SIRE OF 2YO’S Gimmethegreenlight’s total stakes exceed R30m - the highest ever earned in a season by a sire in South Africa

Sprint G1 (twice), SA Fillies Nursery G2, etc.

Equus Champion Proceed’s dam XPLOSIVE

KISS (Captain Al - Passionate Kiss) is another highly regarded mare added to Gimme’s book for 2024.

Varsfontein Stud’s recently imported mares to be mated to ‘Gimme’ this season include CLOUDSUPONCAMELOT (GB) (Camelot - Dancingintheclouds), CROACHILL (IRE) (Churchill - Cronsa), PARTY HOUSE (IRE) (Camelot - Crazy Volume), PASO ROBLES (IRE) (Ulyssess - Fountain Of Peace), and MACKENZIE

ROSE (IRE) (Dark Angel - Kelsey Rose). These young mares are all from top International families and were selected by Margaret O’Toole (Mags) in Europe.

Other Varsfontein Stud mares sent to Gimmethegreenlight in 2024 include

SCANDOLA (Fort Wood - Covenant) - dam of Gimmethegreenlight’s daughters Cala Muretta

and Gimmie’s Lassie, LINE OF DESTINY (Master Of My FateTownsend) - half-sister to Sandringham Summit, SENTBYDESTINY (Master Of My FatePrincess Tobin) - G1 winner of the Premiers Champion Stakes,

IMPERADORA (Philanthropist - Young Sesation) - dam of Countdown (Gimmethegreenlight) and One Fell Swoop,

IMPERIAL STATE (Caesour - State Treasure)dam of Lucky Lad and Follow Me,

AMY JOHNSON (Captain Al - Touch The Sky)dam is half-sister to Equus Champion Bela-Bela, etc,

MONROE SPRING (Wylie Hall - Mystic Spring (IRE)) - half-sister to Equus Champion Bela-Bela, etc,

JUSTTHEWAYYOUARE (Fort WoodPromisefrommyheart) - dam of Malmoos, Captain Splendid and Mascherina,

Equus Champion - Green With Envy

Equus Champion - Return Flight

Desert Miracle - multiple G1 winner

STAR EXPRESS (Silvano - Majestic Star) - dam of Equus Champion Bless My Stars and Lets Go Now,

TALLY-HO (Oratorio - State Coach) - dam of G1 winner VJ’s Angel,

Champion Sire Jet Master’s son MASTER OF MY FATE, has proven himself a consistent top 5 sire in South Africa since retiring to stud in 2014. He is a true sire of classic horses and his progeny continue improving with age. They are sound, tough horses that train-on.

During November 2024, he had 3 stakes winners, 5yo Atticus Finch won South Africa’s richest race, the R6,000,000 G1 Betway Summer Cup G1 over 2000m, 4yo Greeting My Master won the Betway Victory Moon S G3 over 1800m (beating Main Defender), and 5yo Miss Marguerite won the Laisserfaire Stakes L over 1100m.

Master Of My Fate is not considered one of the leading commercial sires (although he has achieved some very high prices for his stock over the years), and hence breeders are reluctant to send their top commercial mares to him. He has done admirably with the quality of mare he has received, and his G1 performing horses include ATTICUS FINCH (dam by Caesour), ZARINA (dam by Kitalpha), TEMPTING FATE (dam by Var), SENTBYDESTINY (dam by Badger Land), TWIST

OF FATE (dam by Counter Action), ZAPATILLAS dam by Mogok), and DRIVING MISS DAISY (dam by Tiger Ridge).

Master’s book for 2024 included some well related mares:

VICTORIAN SECRET (Captain Al - Spring Lilac) - dam of Golden Sickle and Master Of Illusion,

QUEEN OF VERONA (Rafeef - Inner Temple)the half-sister to Temple Grafin, MISS GREENLIGHT (GimmethegreenlightMiss Respect) - dam is half-sister to G1 winner Hibaayeb (GB), the dam of European Champion Wuheida (GB),

HANNAH GORGEOUS (Fort Wood - Scribblin’ The Cat) - the half-sister to Equus Champion Futura,

SHEDRIVESMECRAZY (Tiger Ridge - Sparkling Nymph) - the dam of G1 performer Driving Miss Daisy,

PRINCESS SABRINA (Querari - Princess

G1 winner Lucky Lad by Gimmethegreenlight

Sentbydestiny - winning the Premiers Champion Stakes G1

Equus Champion - Proceed by Gimmethegreenlight

Stephanie) - dam is half-sister to Equus Champion Princess Victoria, and the dam of Equus Horse Of The Year, Princess Calla,

FIELD FLOWER (Silvano - Field Princess) - won Cape Fillies Guineas G1, dam of Last Winter,

THE AGENTS MUSE (What A Winter - Sofala)half-sister to Rascallion,

HOKAAI MY MEISIE (Captain Of All - Sylvie) - half-sister to Sarah, Almond Sea and Celtic Rumours,

OCTOBER FAIR (Silvano - Miss October) - halfsister to Tempting Fate and October Morn,

AMAZING GRACE (Spectrum - Azabu Park)dam of Joy And Peace and Forever Mine,

VIVIR (Philanthropist - Sperkling Nymph) - halfsister to Shedrivesmecrazy, dam of Driving Miss Daisy,

MEEZAH (Goldkeeper - Mystic Spring) - ownsister to Secret Of Victoria (dam of Equus Champion All Is Secret); half-sister to Equus Champions Bela-Bela and Rabiya), etc,

MALEFICENT (Judpot - Kite Runner) - won Devon Air S; own-sister to Rocketball; half-sister to Blackball,

REDESIGN (IRE) (Champ Elysees - Intricate Design) - half-sister to Kramulkie (IRE),

SIRACUSA (ITY) (Desert Prince - Sabdala)half-sister to Ipompieridiviggiu (ITY),

BI POT (Judpot - Alexandra Bi) - 2nd Ipi

Tombe Challenge G2, Gerald Rosenberg S G2; 3rd SA Fillies Classic G1, etc; half-sister to Pavlovich (SNL), Alexa, Alexandra Rose (dam of Oleksandra), Alexandra Palace, Masterly, Alessandria, etc,

SWEET THE SOUND (Rafeef - Amazing Grace) - half-sister to Joy And Peace and Forever Mine,

MOGGYTWOSHOES (Mogok - Dame Of Damascus) - dam of Zapatillas and Shoemaker, CANUKEEPITSECRET (Captain Al - Secret Of Victoria) - dam of Talk To The Master; own-sister to All Is Secret, The Secret Is Out; half-sister to Roman Agent,

BOOGIE SHOES (GimmethegreenlightMoggytwoshoes) - own-sister to Shoemaker; half-sister to Zapatillas, OUR LADY PEACE (Horse Chestnut - Cosima Liszt) - dam of Peace In Our World; half-sister to Wagner and Nassa,

POSSIBLY ME (Captain Al - Dame Kiri) - dam of Peut Etre Moi half-sister to Talahatchie, Mystery Dame (dam of Equus Champion Lady In Black), etc.

TOWNSEND (Captain Al - Palace Gossip) - dam of Equus Champion Sandringham Summit and G1 winner Eden Roc,

Star Express - with her Gimmethegreenlight filly foal at foot

VJ’s Angel - winning the Periers Champion Stakes G1

STAKES L won by MISS MARGUERITE (Master Of My Fate) BETWAY VICTORY MOON STAKES G3 won by GREETING MY MASTER (Master Of My Fate) BETWAY SUMMER CUP G1 won by ATTICUS FINCH (Master Of My Fate)

Erik The Red (SAF)

OBSESSION (Captain Al - Sweet Natasha) - dam of Bunker Hunt, Salvator Mundi, Silver Thursday and My Soul Mate,

ERIK THE RED, crowned Cape Champion 2yo Colt in 2020, has been a standout in the breeding shed. In his first season at stud, he attracted 102 mares, followed by an impressive 114 mares the next year. Highly popular among breeders, he has earned the nickname “Mr. Fixit” on the farm, a tribute to his ability to correct many faults in his mares - a quality he proudly inherits from his sire, Captain Al. His foals have garnered significant admiration.

His first yearlings were exceptionally well received at the 2024 sales, achieving a top price of R1,000,000 - for the filly out of Monroe Spring, the half-sister to Equus Champion Bela-Bela. ‘Erik’s’ first runners will begin racing this season, and we look forward to seeing them perform with distinction.

Erik’s book of mares for 2024 is indicative of how popular he is becoming. His book includes the following:

VALETA (Var - Sarabande) - 3rd Allan Robertson

Fillies Championship G1, dam of She’s A Giver and Triple time; own-sister to La Volta; halfsister to Chesalon and Mardi Gras, LUNA DE VICTORIA (Victory Moon - Si Senorita) - stakes winner; half-sister to Subastador, Act Of War and The Stone Thrower,

ARISSA (Silvano - Arabian Empress) - 2nd The Debutante G2, Magnolia H G3, Sycamore Sprint G3, Swallow S L; 3rd SA Fillies Nursery G2; ownsister to American Graffiti and Arabian Air, WINTER SMOKE (What A Winter - Chatanooga Chuchu) - won 5 races incl Camellia S G2, Magnolia H G3; 3rd Sycamore Sprint G3, In Full

Flight H L, etc,

PASCHALS SAMORE (Vercingetorix - Paschal Moon) - won 6 races; family of Equus Champions Princess Victoria and Princess Calla,

TRIP THE WILLOW (Trippi - Grace Me Guide)

- half-sister to Robert The Bruce, Black Arthur, M’lords Throat and Glenton,

ROCKIN RUSSIAN (Seventh Rock - Russian Foxtrot) - 2nd Thekwini S G1; 3rd Joburg Spring F&M Challenge G2; half-sister to Rikitikitana,

VISUALITY (Visionaire - Personify) - 2nd Three Troikas S G3; 3rd Allan Robertson Championship G1, Joburg Spring F&M Challenge G2; family of Equus Champions In the Fast Lane, Lets Rock’N Roll, etc,

TWILIGHT HOUR (Vercingetorix - Tachina)half-sister to Tellina, Tibouchina, Touching and Time Odyssey,

CHAMPAGNE (Silvano - Champery) - half-sister to G1 winner Chansonette,

LADY SEYMOUR (Silvano - Lady Barnard) - dam of Lord William; half-sister to ARCSA Champion Historic Lady, Badge Of Honour and Lady Acton, GIFT OF RAIN (IRE) (Galileo - La Sylvia) - family of Champions Al Bahathri (USA), Haafhd (GB), Hasbah (IRE), Rave - Military Attack (HK), Almaty (IRE), etc, VILLA PALOMA (IRE) (Rock Of Gibraltar - Ma Paloma) - half-sister to RUWI (GB) - won Prix Noailles G2, Grand Prix de Bordeaux L; 2nd Prix Guillaume d’Ornano G2, Prix Dollar G2, Prix du Prince d’Orange G3, Grand Prix de Vichy G3; sire, LITTLE GENIE (Judpot - Cast A Spell) - stakes winner; half-sister to Asiye Phambili, Luna Child, Neala, Ollivander, Trickster, THREE COINS (Gimmethegreenlight - BelaBela) - own-sister to Ciao Bella, MONPAZIER (Silvano - Requista) - half-sister to

Sandringham Summit (SAF)

Captain America and Aquitaine, FEARLESS EAGLE (IRE) (Free Eagle - Fafinta)

- half-sister to Pretend (IRE), Fiulin (GB), Bella Nostalgia (IRE),

SECRET RISK (London News - Lustra Belle)dam of G1 winner Undercover Agent,

GUIDING LIGHT (Judpot - My Guiding Star)half-sister to Hashtagyolo, La Revere (dam of Karangetang) and Allez Moris,

TRAFFIC LIGHT (GimmethegreenlightCongestion Charge) - own-sister to G1 winner Surcharge - Yulong Prince,

KISS AND FLY (Jet Master - Kiss Of Peace)dam of Guy Gibson, Kilindini, Heir Line, Kiss Me Hardy and Kissing Point,

ALEXA (Caesour - Alexandra Bi) - own-sister to Alexandra Rose (dam of Oleksandra and Alice Springs - dam of World Of Alice); half-sister to Pavlovich (SNL), Alexandra Palace, Masterly,

Alessandria and Bi Pot,

VISION ON ICE (Visionaire - Icy Air) - halfsister to Equus Champion Russet Air, Icy Winter Air (dam of Make It Snappy), Icy Trail, Iceagelegacy, Perfect Air and Izora, CIAO BELLA (Gimmethegreenlight - Bela-Bela)

- won Western Cape Fillies Championship G2; 2nd Cape Fillies Guineas G1, 3rd Irridescence S L, ROTUNDA (Gimmethegreenlight - Touch The Sky) - half-sister to Amy Johnson,

AMERICAN PRINCESS (Master Of My Fate

- Princess Tobin) - won East Cape Derby L; ownsister to Sentbydestiny; half-sister to Badger’s Cove, Princess Alberta and Princess Peach (dam of Double Grand Slam),

CROISETTE (Var - Sunsational) - half-sister to Juxtapose, Pineapplemintgreen and Sun Sentinal - dam of Luna Halo),

Sandringham Summit was a magnificent yearling, and at the 2022 National Yearling Sale, he commanded a price of R1,7 million.

Sandringham Summit is a very athletic and imposing son of Gimmethegreenlight. He is halfbrother to young sire EDEN ROC (by Var) who won 6 races, R1,420,050, including the Gold Medallion G1, Golden Horseshoe G2, Post Merchants G2; 2nd Golden Horse Sprint G1, Merchants H G3, etc.

Sandringham Summit is line-bred to HAIL TO REASON through HALO and ROBERTO and has only 1 line each of NORTHERN DANCER and MR PROSPECTOR in his 5th generation. He is the perfect outcross for further lines of NORTHERN DANCER and MR PROSPECTOR. Both Gimmethegreenlight and Captain Al have combined well with daughters descending from lines of NORTHERN DANCER, RAISE A NATIVE,

HAIL TO REASON and NASRULLAH.

JET MASTER would bring 2 more lines of HAIL TO REASON and an own-sister to ROBERTO to a proposed alliance.

His BUCKPASSER / BUSANDA / LA TROIENNE lines through PLAYMATE, LASSIE DEAR and SPLENDID SPREE are worth noting, as they are a powerful influence. Direct descendants of this remarkable broodmare continue to play a major role in races around the world, with the LA

Sandringham Summit (SAF) winning the Hawaii Stakes G2

Sandringham Summit (SAF)

TROIENNE impact showing few signs of slowing. Notably, Gimmethegreenlight and Captain Al have shown their versatility when combined with ‘classic’ (1600-2400m) producing families.

SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT RACE RECORD:

12 starts, 5 wins, 7 places, R2,424,750

Equus Champion 2yo Colt 2023.

Won Premiers Champion S G1

Won Gauteng Guineas G2

Won Hawaii S G2

Won Golden Horseshoe G2

2nd SA Classic G1

2nd WSB Guineas G2

2nd Graham Beck S G3

3rd Dingaans H G2

4th Gold Challenge G1

We eagerly look forward to the arrival of his first crop of foals in 2025.

The most thrilling part of the season is undoubtedly the arrival of the foals, marking the first step toward future successes at the sales and on the racetrack. Varsfontein Stud’s 2024 foals have garnered high praise, with some being hailed as the stud’s finest to date. Some of the foals are shown on the following pages.

Sandringham Summit is thriving in the breeding shed, with plans to cover 115 mares by the end of the season - an impressive testament to the high regard breeders have for him. Since his arrival on the farm, ‘Sandringham’ has matured into a stunning specimen. He has adapted seamlessly to farm life, approaching his work with the confidence and skill of a seasoned professional. His gentle demeanor with the mares and his ability to take everything in his stride, highlight his exceptional temperament.