Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm Oratorio (Danehill) is one of the most exciting sires ever to come to stud in South Africa.
One of the very best sons of his mighty sire, Oratorio was a champion on the track and is also a proven sire with over 40 stakes winners to his credit –and counting!

An official champion at two (France) and three (Ireland), Oratorio won four of seven outings at two, culminating in a gutsy win in France’s 2yo championship –the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (formerly Grand Criterium).
Ireland’s champion 3YO in 2005, Oratorio won two of Europe’s premier WFA races at three –the G1 Coral -Eclipse Stakes and Gr1 Baileys Irish Champion Stakes (races won previously by the great stallions Sadler’s Wells and Giant’s Causeway). He also ran second to subsequent outstanding sire Dubawi (Dubai Millennium) in the classic Gr1 Boylesports Irish 2000 Guineas.

Among the numerous Gr1 stars defeated by Oratorio during his career were Dubawi, Alkaased (Kingmambo), Rakti (Polish Precedent), Alexander Goldrun (Gold Away), Motivator (Montjeu), David Junior (Pleasant Tap), Azamour (Night Shift) and Starcraft (Soviet Star).

Retired to stud, having won six of 15 outings for over £1 000 000 in prize money, Oratorio was clearly one of the very best of his generation. Timeform of 2005 described the bay as “sturdy, good-bodied, who usually impressed in appearance.”

He is one of more than 340 stakes winners for legendary sire Danehill, a champion sire both in Australia and the UK. Danehill, whose champions included the likes of Banks Hill, George Washington, Rock Of Gibraltar, Duke Of Marmalade and Dylan Thomas, is also an outstanding sire of sires, with his top stallion sons including such legendary sires as Danehill Dancer, Dansili, Exceed And Excel, Fastnet Rock and Redoute’s Choice.

Oratorio, a half brother to the stakes winners Mowaadah (Alzao) and Fahim (Green Desert) –as well as to second dam of Italian champion sprinter Blu Constellation (Orpen), is out of a winning daughter of Arc de Triomphe hero and great sire Vaguely Noble (Vienna).

Oratorio’s sixth dam is the great mare, and US champion and Kentucky Oaks winner Real Delight (Bull Lea) –whose numerous top class descendants include champion sires Alydar (Raise A Native) and Plum Bold (Bold Ruler), top class US sire Grand Slam (Gone West) and Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint hero Elmhurst (Wild Again).

Oratorio, who has twice been Champion Sire in Italy, is a proven sire, whose offspring have won Gr1 races in all of Australia, Britain, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Singapore. His top runners include Horse Of The Year Military Attack, champions Banchee, Beethoven and Cherry Collect, German Gr1 winner Termida and Australian Gr1 winners Manawanui and Mourinho.

The champion son of Danehill, whose first South African crop race this season, proved a smash hit with his first yearlings last season fetching up to R3.2 million.

A pair of Oratorio yearling colts topped the 2016 Emperors Palace Select Yearling Sale when fetching R3.2 million apiece, while Oratorio also proved popular at the 2016 Cape Premier Yearling Sale (they sold up to R1.1 million).

His first crop of juveniles include some impeccably bred youngsters, with Oratorio’s first local crop including siblings to such Gr1 winners as August Rush (Var), Contador (Var), Guiness (Seventh Rock), Jackson (Dynasty), and Via Africa (Var), to name but a few, and the future is looking bright for this exciting prospect.