Some of South Africa’s most exciting sire prospects were on display at Piketberg this past Sunday.

Hosted by Wilgerbosdrift, visiting stallions on show came from both Highlands Stud (Rafeef) and Moutonshoek (The United States), with resident stallions Flower Alley and Soft Falling Rain also making hugely positive impressions.

Moutonshoek were unfortunately unable to show their G1 winning Kitten’s Joy horse Admiral Kitten but they do look to have a lovely prospect on their hands in the form of The United States.

Galileo’s flashy chestnut son The United States was a superb racehorse, whose seven wins netted his connections more than $2 million in stakes and the 2016 Gr1 Ranvet Stakes. A full-brother to this season’s Gr1 Coronation Stakes third Hydrangea (who holds entries in no fewer than six Gr1 races including the Qipco Champion Stakes), The United States is one of 3 stakes winners produced by his Gr3 Prix d’Arenberg winning dam Beauty Is Truth (Pivotal).

Brilliant G1 winner Rafeef, himself an Equus nominee last season, was an exceptional athlete whose six wins (from just ten outings) included the G1 Computaform Sprint (over champions Talktothestars and Carry On Alice) and G2 Hawaii Stakes.

One of more than 30 Gr1 winners for triple Australian Champion Sire Redoute’s Choice, Rafeef is out of former South African Horse Of The Year and Gr1 Nunthorpe Stakes second National Colour. The new Highlands Stud resident is also a full-brother to unbeaten Equus Champion Two-Year-Old Colt and Gr1 SA Nursery winner Mustaaqeem.

Former Gr1 Travers Stakes winner Flower Alley (Distorted Humor) is a world class sire, and the only sire in South Africa responsible for a Kentucky Derby winner (I’ll Have Another). Other notable winners for this $2 million plus earner include the Gr1 winners Lilacs And Lace and Lukes Alley, and he is also responsible for champion racemare My Wandy’s Girl.

The chestnut, who looked in superb form and clearly ready for the upcoming breeding season, is a half-brother to the Japanese Gr1 winners Tosen Ra and Spielberg (both by Deep Impact).

Soft Falling Rain, who like Flower Alley stands at Wilgerbosdrift, will be represented by his first yearlings this season.

The former Equus Champion 2YO, and G1 SA Nursery winner, was an exceptional athlete, who made history when becoming the first 3yo in history to win Dubai’s G2 Godolphin Mile.

One of 16 G1 winners sired by Danzig son National Assembly, Soft Falling Rain won major races in three different countries –including the G2 Joel Stakes in Britain.

Described as an easy horse to get along with, Soft Falling Rain is one of 5 winners produced by the Giant’s Causeway mare Gardner’s Delight, whose other notable progeny include the stakes performers Let It Rain and Splendid Garden. This is the same family as Kentucky Oaks winner Gal In A Ruckus (Bold Ruckus) and Breeders’ Cup winner Eldaafer (A P Indy).
Moutonshoek were unfortunately unable to show their G1 winning Kitten’s Joy horse Admiral Kitten but they do look to have a lovely prospect on their hands in the form of The United States.

 Image Racing It's A Rush