Captain Al has died aged 20 after suffering from laminitis.

He went in for surgery for the condition yesterday but failed to recover.

The giant of South African breeding was the main man and foundation stallion of the new age of Klawervlei Stud as we know it. In many ways he built the stud from a relatively small operation to the entity it is today.

His record stands alone:

Equus Champion Sire 2014/15
Cape Stallion of the Year 2014/15
SA Champion Sire of 2yo's 7x IN A ROW
DUAL Equus Outstanding Stallion (2009 & 2011)

Record Breaking Sire
11 Gr1 winners & 33 Gr1 Horses
Over R110 million in stakes

A consistently Top Sire in the auction ring:

2008 National Sale: Average R370,192 / Top price R1.8m
2009 National Sale: Average R227,894 / Top price R600k
2010 National Sale: Average R364,231 / Top price R1.5m
2011 Cape Premier Sale: Average R484,800 / Top price R2m
2011 National Sale: Average R239,107 / Top price R800k
2012 Cape Premier Sale: Average R402,586 / Top price R1.2m
2012 National Sale: Average R400,000 / Top price R1.4m
2013 Cape Premier Sale: Average R480,625 / Top price R1,7m
2013 National Sale: Average R400,000 / Top price R1,1m
2014 Cape Premier Sale: Average R661,250 / Top price R2,4m
2014 National Sale: Average R595,200 / Top price R2,4m
2015 Cape Premier Sale: Average R751,389 / Top price R2,2m
2015 National Sale: Average R537,222 / Top price R1m

He won 9 races (3 wins at 2), 1000m - 1600m (MR 112)
at 2 2nd GR3 Clairwood Nursery (1200m)

at 3 WON GR1 Cape Guineas (1600m)
WON GR3 Matchem S. (1400m)

3rd GR3 Guineas Trial (1600m)

at 4 WON GR2 Merchants S. (1200m)
WON GR2 Diadem S. (1200m)
3rd GR3 Matchem S. (1200m)

Stats from Freeman Stallions