The brilliant Charles Dickens’ dam Demanding Lady was out of a Northern Hemisphere-imported mare, Demanding Damsel (USA)
Sarah Whitelaw
Northern Hemisphere bred mares have a wonderful record in South Africa.
One of the best examples is that of Our Table Mountain, who followed up a highly successful racing career with an even more successful career at stud.
Directly descended in female line from Frizette (also ancestress of such legends as Mr Prospector and Seattle Slew), Our Table Moutain (by Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus out of G1 Santa Anita Oaks winner Hidden Light) won six of 16 starts with her wins including the Listed Olympic Duel Stakes of 2007.
Retired to stud, Our Table Mountain, a half-sister to G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile winning sire Artie Schiller, was named Equus Champion Broodmare Of 2015-2016. Her nine winners, from 10 runners, were headed by Equus Champion Cloth Of Cloud and G1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Silver Mountain. Our Table Mountain is also the second dam of 2022 G3 Vodacom 2200 winner One Way Traffic.
Our Table Mountain’s influence has been also been felt overseas. Her once beaten, G1 SA Nursery winning daughter Cloth Of Cloud (by Captain Al) is the dam of promising two-year-old Drumbeat (by Wootton Bassett), who holds entries in both the G1 Golden Fleece Stakes and G1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes.
However, Our Table Mountain is but one of a large number of imported mares to have made their mark on the South African stud book.
It is worth remembering that Drohsky, one of the most influential broodmares in South African history, was bred in Britain. Drohsky’s lasting influence is clearly seen in the form of Questioning, Equus Champion Miler of 2025-2026. Drohsky is the eighth dam of the six time graded stakes winning Questioning, who traces back in female line to Drohsky’s daughter Lindro.
Another hugely important imported broodmare was the British bred Sister Sublime. Among the numerous stars descended in female line from that daughter of Dante were champions National Emblem, Roland’s Song, and Prairie Oyster.
Few, if any, imported mares in recent times have made a bigger impression on the South African turf than Mystic Spring. An Irish bred daughter of Royal Academy, the grey produced 11 winners from 14 runners, with Mystic Spring’s seven stakes winners headed by champions Bela-Bela and the ill-fated Rabiya. Her numerous top-class descendants include champions All Is Secret and Eight On Eighteen, as well as such G1 winners as Snowdance, The Secret Is Out and Snow Pilot. The latter is standing his first season at Drakenstein Stud in 2026.
Drakenstein Stud has enjoyed great success with imported mares, with this group including the likes of Imvula and Montelissima, to name but a few.
(Another imported mare Aquilonia produced Equus Champion and subsequently hugely successful Drakenstein Stud based sire One World while One World’s stablemate and fellow South African bred champion What A Winter is out of the Irish bred mare Waseela).
Demanding Damsel, a US bred daughter of Deputy Commander, left her mark through the deeds of her G2 Ipi Tombe Challenge winning daughter Demanding Lady. South Africa’s Broodmare Of The Year in 2022-2023, Demanding Lady has produced black type horses notably multiple G1 winning champion Charles Dickens.
While there have been numerous top-class mares in South Africa to have been bred in the Northern Hemisphere, a few really standout. From Alexandra Bi, Diorissimo and Welsh Woman to the likes of Leucothea, Northern Pine, and Ofa, NH bred mares have made a huge contribution to the local stud book.
A few other mares imported from the Northern Hemisphere to have produced one or more G1 winners in South Africa relatively recently include Acquavella, Agabalat, Alignment, Cinnas Ransom, Gardener’s Delight, Miss Coco, Miss Galidora, Overarching, Polar Charge, Riva and Welwitschia.
For breeders seeking to acquire their own future imported broodmare star, the 2026 Tattersalls December Mares Sale represents a wonderful opportunity to source some of the best bred mares around.
Arguably the most important breeding stock in the world, Tattersalls’ December Sale will once again offer mares by, and in foal to, some of the world’s greatest stallions.
- Should any breeders wish to attend the sale, please contact the SA Tattersalls Representative Jo Knowles (083 399 6353 jo@turftalk.co.za)
