Variety Club, twice Equus Horse Of The Year and the highest Timeform rated horse in SA history, is proving to be a joy to have on the Beaumont Stud farm in Paarl where he was bred.
Stud-owner Anton Shepherd said the chestnut had looked as proud as punch recently when receiving a rosette at his first show.
Most of the showjumping fraternity present were oblivious to the fact that the previous prize the good looking chestnut had won was the lion’s share of R23 million for winning the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile!
However, Anton said at his second show one or two had cottoned on to who he actually was.
Variety Club was trained by Joey Ramsden except for his last start in the Hong Kong Mile of 2014 where, trained by Mike de Kock, he beat a world class field by five lengths and recorded a Timeform rating of 131.
No other South African horse has been given a Timeform rating as high or even close to that.
Variety Club was known for his incredible gatespeed, his lovely relaxed machine-like action and his superb turn of foot.
Unfortunately, the five-time Grade 1 winner proved to be infertile at stud.
He was eventually gelded as he had become a bit of a handful.
However, it has turned out for the best.
“He is really, really the most fantastic horse to have around. My daughter goes on outrides on him for two or three hours. These top horses are absolute professionals in everything they do. He is still like that now. He also still knows he’s the best!”
Pictures of Variety Club on the farm and at a show:
