Picture: The British-bred Polystome holds the SA record for the most Champion Sire titles
Sarah Whitelaw
South African bred stallions continue to make a big impression on local racetracks. In the 2023-2024 season, four of the top ten stallions on the South African General Sires List were South African bred horses.
South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire of 2023-2024 is the South African bred champion One World, while the Leading Broodmare Sire in South Africa for the past season was the South African bred Cape Guineas winner Captain Al, sire of the aforementioned One World.
The first two on last season’s Leading Sire of Broodmares were the South African bred pair of Captain Al and Jet Master, with another South African bred star, Dynasty, finishing eighth on that premiership.
However, the influence of international bloodlines on South Africa cannot be overlooked or underestimated. Stallions bred in all of Australia, Britain, France, Germany and the United States have all headed the South African General Sires list, while the Italian bred Grand Rapids headed the General Sires List in 1962.
From 1899 to 1999, just two South African bred stallions Dignitary (1934) and Elevation (1984) headed the sires premiership in South Africa, while from 2000 to 2024, a South African bred stallion headed the list on eight occasions.
The most successful sire to have stood in South Africa, in terms of sire championships won and recorded, was Polystome. A British bred son of five times British Champion Sire Polymelus (whose progeny included the dominant Phalaris) , Polystome was Champion Sire on 11 occasions. Another British bred sire to excel in South Africa was Greatorex, who topped the sires standings on ten occasions.
Two stallions who never stood in South Africa but both of whom exerted a considerable influence on the South African stud book were Asterus and Persian Gulf. Bahram’s G1 Coronation Cup winning son Persian Gulf was responsible for champion South African stallions Abadan II (1960) and Persian Wonder (1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1978 and 1979), while Asterus’ sons to stand in South Africa including such champion sires as Asbestos (1945, 1946, 1947, 1948 and 1949) and Kipling (1951).
Eight times Champion Sire in North America Bold Ruler was another responsible for a number of champion sire sons in South Africa namely Jungle Cove (1981, 1982, 1983,1985 and 1986) and Plum Bold (1980), while Northern Dancer was responsible for champion sire and multiple leading broodmare sire Northern Guest (1989), while his son Rakeen sired seven times champion South African sire Jet Master.
It is not only imported stallions that have proved hugely successful in South Africa. A number of imported broodmares have also exerted considerable influence over the South African studbook. Drohsky and Sister Sublime, two of the most influential broodmares of all time in South Africa, were both bred in Britain.
Among the numerous top-class horses descended in female line from Drohsky were Lenin, Sea Cottage, Evening Mist, Dancing Danzig, Distinctly, Diza, Majestic Crown, Senor Santa and Creator.
Sister Sublime, a descendant of the mighty Pretty Polly, produced Cape Mellow Wood Guineas winner and successful sire Savonarola and 12 other winners, with her numerous high-class descendants including champions National Emblem, Roland’s Song and Prairie Oyster, as well as July winner Mazarin.
However, the success enjoyed imported mares in South Africa continues well beyond the likes of Drohsky and Sister Sublime.
In recent times, the Irish bred Mystic Spring has exerted a considerable influence on the South African turf. The daughter of Royal Academy (also sire of South African raced G1 winners Express Way and Eyeofthetiger) produced 11 winners, of which seven were stakes winners. Mystic Spring’s five graded stakes winners included a pair of Equus Champions in Rabiya (Champion 3YO Classic Male in 2005) and Bela-Bela (Champion 3YO Filly of 2015-2016).
Remarkably, Bela-Bela is one of four daughters of Mystic Spring to have produced a graded stakes winner, with Mystic Spring’s graded stakes winning daughters Secret Of Victoria and Spring Lilac both producing at least one G1 winner. The prolific Secret Of Victoria has produced four stakes winners including the G1 Allan Robertson Championship winning own sisters All Is Secret and The Secret Is Out, while Spring Lilac’s four stakes winners include the dual G1 winner Snowdance, dam of 2023 G1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot.
Last season, horses out of imported mares won all of the G1 SplashOut Cape Derby, G1 Daily News 2000, G1 World Pool Cape Flying Championship, G2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes, G2 TAB Camellia Stakes, G2 Tabgold Oaks, G2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Nursery, G3 World Pool Gold Cup, G3 Ridgemont Peninsula Handicap, G3 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers, G3 New Turf Carriers Merchants, G3 SplashOut Victress Stakes, G3 Joburg Tourism Carry On Alice Stakes, and G3 Flamboyant Stakes.
Broodmare daughters of the mighty Galileo enjoyed particular success last season, with the late Galileo ending the season in tenth place on the Leading Broodmare Sires of South Africa for 2023-2024, despite his daughters represented by just over 50 runners.
Runners out of Galileo mares won all of the G1 SplashOut Cape Derby, G1 World Pool Cape Flying Championship, G1 Daily News 2000, G3 Schweppes Politician Stakes, G3 Joburg Tourism Carry On Alice Stakes, G2 TAB Camellia Stakes, and Listed Spinawina Slots Cape Summer Stayers Handicap.
