David Abery was delighted by October Morn’s victory in the Gr 2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes last season under Raymond Danielson (Picture: Wayne Marks)
One of the world’s leading stud operations, John Messara’s Australia-based Arrowfield Stud, which is a great supporter of South African breeding, have purchased the Gr 1-winning Trippi filly October Morn.
Justin Vermaak brokered the deal.
The former Candice Bass-Robinson-trained filly came up for Sale as part of the estate of her late owner and breeder, David Abery.
John Messara has stood multiple Gr 1-winning SA-bred speedsters National Colour (National Assembly) and Carry On Alice (Captain Al) at Arrowfield and together with Klawervlei Stud he bred one of the current best sires in SA, Rafeef, who is by Redoute’s Choice out of National Colour.
John also bought two horses at the Cape Racing Sales Cape Premier Yearling Sale a couple of years ago, so is a good supporter of the South African racing industry.
It is a feather in the cap for SA racing to have October Morn joining the broodmare band of such a world renowned stud as Arrowfield.
Arrowfield was the home of both Danehill and one of his best stallion sons, Redoute’s Choice.
Arrowfield has bred an average of 16 stakes winners per season for the last decade.
David Abery’s bold decision to breed, in partnership with Avontuur Stud, with a Var filly he part-owned called Miss October has ultimately reaped massive dividends for his family.
Miss October was his first ever broodmare.
Her first foal by Oratorio was unraced.
Her first runner, the Trippi filly Spring Break, won first time out over 1200m and ended up with four wins from 1000m to 1200m. She was runner up in the Gr 2 Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m and in the Listed Milkwood Stakes over 1000m.
Her next foal was by Master of My Fate and this colt was bought by Dennis Drier at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale (CPYS) for R550,000. He was named Tempting Fate and went on to win the Gr 1 Gold Medallion over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, having earlier won the Gr 3 Godolphin Barb Stakes.
At the 2020 Cape Premier Yearling sale Miss October’s Futura colt called Spielberg sold for R150,000 and went on to win twice in just eight starts.
With Tempting Fate serving as a good advertisement, her next foal, a filly by Silvano, went for R1.1 million. This filly called October Fair, trained initially by Sean Tarry and now by Gavin Smith, has had 17 starts and has won twice.
Miss October’s next foal was by Trippi and David once again made a bold decision by deciding to race this filly, called October Morn, by himself.
She has won five out of 12 starts, including the Listed Perfect Promise Sprint, the Gr 2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes and the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint.
At this year’s BSA National Yearling Sale Miss October’s Vercingetorix colt sold for R2.8 million.
David’s family has not only reaped the rewards of October Morn’s sale, but also of the fine broodmare band David has built up around what is now the sought after Miss October family.
The SA industry is in turn indebted to David for the pivotal role he played in procuring funds from Hong Kong for the South African Equine Health and Protocols (SAEHP) and this ultimately led to the lifting of the ban on direct flights to Europe.
David would have been immensely proud of October Morn and her future career at Arrowfield.
