The great Klawervlei Stud-based champion stallion Captain Al was a son of Roberto’s champion stallion son Al Mufti. (Picture: Klawervlei Stud).
Sarah Whitelaw
The 1972 Epsom Derby winner Roberto has left an indelible mark on the thoroughbred. From siring such top-class stallions as Kris S, Red Ransom, Dynaformer, Lear Fan and Silver Hawk, to coming up with such outstanding broodmares as Modena, Slightly Dangerous, and Immense, Roberto has left such a mark on the breed that even today his name continues to come to the fore in top-class thoroughbreds.
Roberto has also exerted a considerable influence on the South African turf. Through his champion sire son Al Mufti alone, Roberto ensured that his name would linger in the local stud book for generations to come.
The regally bred Al Mufti (his half-sister Weekend Surprise produced the breed shaping stallion A.P. Indy among others) sired more than 50 stakes winners, of which 12 were G1 winners. Among Al Mufti’s stars were Dubai star Victory Moon, South African champion Arabian Lass, Al Nitak, Cataloochee, Almah and Royal Aproval, as well as such G1 winners as Alastor (J&B Met), The Sheik (SA Guineas, Cape Derby), Royal Fantasy (Thekwini Fillies Stakes) and Captain Al (Cape Guineas).
The latter became an outstanding sire and broodmare sire, with Captain Al also enjoying notable success as a sire of sires. His sire sons include proven G1 stallions Captain Of All and William Longsword as well as Erik The Red and One World. The latter was South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire last season, while Erik The Red heads the same list in 2024-2025.
Captain Al, who sired more than 100 stakes winners, is an exceptional broodmare sire, with his daughters having produced such outstanding performers as Eight On Eighteen, Kommetdieding, Eden Roc, Sandringham Summit, and former Horse Of The Year Princess Calla.
Al Mufti would also enjoy considerable success as a broodmare sire, with his daughters producing such notable G1 winners as Al Sahem, Bold Silvano, Jay Peg, Yorker and Rock Opera. The latter, in turn, produced G1 Criterium International winner Royal Meeting (the sire of G1 winner Hayasugi) and multiple group/graded stakes winner Heavy Metal. Rock Opera’s G1 placed full-sister Rock Concert is the dam of G1 Gold Medallion/G1 Mercury Sprint winner Van Halen.
Another son of Al Mufti, the dual G1 winner The Sheik, is the broodmare sire of champion Quid Pro Quo.
While he never stood in South Africa, Red Ransom was another son of Roberto who made a considerable impact on the local turf. Not only is Red Ransom’s top-class son Intikhab the broodmare sire of former July winner and Horse Of The Year Igugu, but Red Ransom himself sired 2012 G1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas winner Rumya. Another daughter of Red Ransom, Cinnas Ransom, produced champion Captain’s Ransom while Red Ransom horse Charge Forward sired G3 Sycamore Sprint winner San Fermin.
Ridgemont’s G1 winning young stallion Hit The Road is inbred to the wonderful Red Ransom.
Another top son of Roberto to have left his mark on South Africa was the outstanding Kris S. The latter’s G3 winning son Philanthropist left behind a host of smart South African performers, including dual G1 winner Golden Ducat, and Philanthropist also ranks as the broodmare sire of this season’s G2 World Sports Betting Guineas winner Sail The Seas. Kris S’s G1 winning son Arch also made his presence felt in the country, with Arch rating as the sire of champion Overarching (herself the dam of G1 Woolavington 2000 winner Lady Of The House). Arch is also the sire of G3 Yellowwood Handicap winner Arch Mistress, while his daughter Archerfield is the dam of three black type performers including Listed Ardmore Jamaica Handicap queen Princess Irene.
Among the stallions currently standing at stud in South Africa, the following all have Roberto in their pedigrees. Buffalo Bill Cody, Captain Of All, Eden Roc, Erik The Red, Erupt, Expert Eye, Hit The Road,Ideal World, Kommetdieding, Malmoos, One World, Royal Mo, Sandringham Summit, Sharp Frank, The United States, Thunderstruck, Twice Over, William Longsword and Willow Magic are all South African based thoroughbred stallions with at least one line of Roberto in their pedigrees. Oriental Charm, set to join the stallion band this season, is another top-class South African galloper with Roberto in his pedigree.
(Captain Al’s champion son One World is inbred to Roberto, with One World’s broodmare sire Giant’s Causeway sporting Roberto’s daughter Immense as his granddam).
Roberto’s full-sister Glorious Spring also made her mark on the local stud book -her son Rollins is broodmare sire of seven time South African Champion Sire Jet Master, with the latter having headed the Leading Sires of Broodmares premiership on four occasions.
This season’s top-class three-year-old filly Fiery Pegasus has a pedigree which features both Roberto and Glorious Spring up close.
Mullineaux, a full-brother to Roberto, sired G1 Cape Fillies Guineas runner up Eastern Venture and G2 Merchants winner Heavyweight, as well as multiple graded stakes winner Cape Saffron.
Perhaps one of the best examples of the influence that Roberto has exerted on the South African turf can be found in the pedigree of the late Captain’s Ransom.
South Africa’s Horse Of The 2021-2022, the six time G1 winning Captain’s Ransom was inbred to Roberto.
Not only was Captain’s Ransom sired by Captain Al, but her dam Cinnas Ransom was sired by Red Ransom.
