This Rafeef colt out of Mrs O was born last night (Picture: Supplied)
South Africa’s newest stud farm, Paardeberg Stud, was founded last year during the foaling season, so a Rafeef colt out of the three time-winning Oratorio mare Mrs O is the first foal of their first full foaling season.
Although many farms have their mares foal down in the paddock, Paardeberg’s experienced stud manager Sally Bruss does the foaling down in the stable and then turns them out thereafter.
The Rafeef colt was born last night, but has not been turned out yet because everything is wet and muddy at present.
He is Mrs O’s third foal.
Mrs O, who is out of the Western Winter mare Ginger Hill, won on debut for Mike Azzie and Piere Strydom from a wide draw over 1000m at Turffontein Inside after being backed in to 5/2.
She dead-heated for first third time out over 1160m and then ran second in the Gr 2 Jo’Burg Spring Fillies And Mares Challenge.
Her last career win in 30 starts was in the Non-Black Type Gold Rush Sprint over 1100m at odds of 28/1 and that saw her go to a career high merit rating of 94.
Mrs O’s first foal was Priscilla Maisey by Var and this Glen Kotzen-trained filly, bred by Paardeberg’s Stud’s part-owner Steve Ajax and owned by Paardeberg Stud, has had two thirds and a fourth in four starts.
Mrs O’s second foal was a filly by What A Winter and she is a hitherto unraced two-year-old.
