Anton and Dominique Shepherd at the Equus Awards (Picture: Equus Awards)
By Sarah Whitelaw
Beaumont Stud, famed for breeding dual South African Horse Of The Year Variety Club, have enjoyed a good run of success this year.
Among the smart recent performers to have been bred by the farm are Jet Force (Master Of My Fate -Ooh La Var), Inside Voice (Pathfork -Latifah), Meu Capitano (Captain Of All -Rosetta Stone), and Empire State (Rafeef -Elusive Spirit).
The latter showed plenty of ability early on and bounced back to his earlier form when winning two of his last three starts. Empire State has a Pathfork half-brother on offer at the upcoming KZN Yearling Sale.
Beaumont also raised this season’s G2 Golden Horse Sprint/G3 Champagne Stakes winner Tenango (Canford Cliffs -Tripadvisor).
The farm is a multi generation success story with Harry Shepherd having bred Prince Florimund (Horse Of The Year in 1981-1982) and his son Anton the breeder of Variety Club (Horse Of The Year in 2011-2012 and 2012-2013).
Both Prince Florimund and Variety Club went on to enjoy success overseas, with Prince Florimund winning in the G3 San Gabriel Handicap and finishing just a length off the legendary John Henry when second in the G2 The American Handicap (back in fifth place in that contest was G1 Kentucky Derby winner Gato Del Sol).
While a disappointing sire overall, Prince Florimund did sire an outstanding broodmare in the form of Stormsvlei. The latter, whose progeny included triple Horse Of The Year Pocket Power and the latter’s Met winning full-sister River Jetez, was Equus Champion Broodmare in 2008 and 2010.
(Incidentally, Beaumont will be offering a Master Of My Fate filly from the same family as Stormsvlei at the upcoming KZN Yearling Sale.)
Variety Club enjoyed even greater success when sent overseas, with the chestnut making history when he won the G1 Champions Mile. Prior to Variety Club’s win, no international raider had captured that Hong Kong showpiece. (Variety Club had preceded his Champions Mile win with triumphs in Dubai’s G3 Firebreak Stakes and G2 Godolphin Mile, with a runner up finish in the G3 Burj Nahaar sandwiching the Firebreak and Godolphin Mile victories).
In landing the 2014 Champions Mile, Variety Club accounted for a host of top-class performers namely Able Friend, Dan Excel, Blazing Speed, Gordon Lord Byron, and Mshawish.
The form of the race was given a handsome boost when Able Friend went on to win the Champions Mile in 2015.
A tilt at that year’s G1 Prix de la Foret had been on the cards for the handsome chestnut, but Variety Club’s increasingly volatile temperament forced his premature retirement.
Retired to Klawervlei Stud, Variety Club proved infertile and eventually returned to the paddocks at Beaumont Stud.
Until recently, Beaumont was also home to Souk, the dam of 2024 G1 Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Oriental Charm. However, that daughter of Greys Inn was subsequently sold to Owloon Horses.
Anton will be taking ten yearlings to the upcoming KZN Yearling Sale, which takes place at the Suncoast Casino in Durban on July.
Beaumont’s KZN Yearling Sale string is made up of yearlings sired by all of Fire Away, Hawwaam, Legislate, Master Of My Fate, Pathfork, Real Gone Kid and What A Winter.
