Caesour, Varsfontein’s stalwart stallion, died on Monday. He was 23 years old.
It was a further blow to local sire ranks, who have already lost Casey Tibbs and National Emblem earlier in the year.
Caesour was a son of the outstanding sire Nureyev, responsible for such champion as Theatrical, Miesque (dam of Varsfontein’s promising young sire Judpot), Soviet Star, Peintre Celebre, Zilzal and Spinning World, to name a few.
Out of a stakes winning Graustark mare, Caesour was a full brother to G1 winner Gracioso (Prix Lupin).
Winner of six races including the Gr3 Bay Meadows Handicap, Caesour retired to stud in South Africa in 1996.
He spent his entire stud career at Varsfontein, where he sired over 40 stakes winners.
Caesour made history, and South Africa proud, when his daughters Perfect Promise and Dane Julia became the first SA bred horses to win G1 races in Australia and New Zealand respectively. Perfect Promise beat colts when landing the Gr1 C F Orr Stakes, while her paternal half-sister took top honours in the Gr1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes.
Another daughter of Caesour, Irridescence was yet another international star for her sire. A full sister to Perfect Promise, Irridescence won races in both Dubai and Hong Kong, with her biggest victory coming over the legendary Ouija Board in the 2006 Queen Elizabeth II Cup.
Caesour built a name for himself as a tremendously versatile sire, siring top sprinters Tobe Or Nottobe and O Caesour, as well as Gold Bowl hero The Eiger Sanction.
He has also done well as a broodmare sire, with his daughters producing the likes of Emerald Cove (G1 Paddock Stakes), Dancewiththedevil (Champion) and Royal Bencher (G1 SA Derby).
In the sales ring, Caesour’s offspring fetched up to R800 000.