Forever Young’s emphatic victory in last month’s Breeders’ Cup Classic once again underlined what the global racing industry continues to accept as fact: Japanese racing and breeding now operate at an elite, world-class level. Against that backdrop, Mauritzfontein, Ridgemont Highlands and Wilgerbosdrift have secured a significant acquisition with the purchase of Japanese Grade 1 winner Danon Scorpion.

The deal, made possible through a long-standing relationship with the sellers, will see the striking bay take up stud duties at Wilgerbosdrift from next season. He stands just over 16 hands and combines strong physical presence with proven top-level ability.

Racing Class Proven at the Highest Level

Danon Scorpion was a high-class performer who consistently matched motors with the best of his generation in Japan, showing speed, toughness and professionalism.

At two, he made an immediate impact:
Won easily on debut.
Followed up with a stakes victory at his second start, defeating Group 1-winning juvenile Killer Ability.
At his final start of the season, finished an excellent third in the Group 1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, beaten only by two official champions – Do Deuce (Champion 2YO) and Serifos (Champion Sprinter).

For perspective, Do Deuce has since retired to Shadai Stallion Station, where his reported service fee exceeds R1 million, highlighting the depth of Danon Scorpion’s juvenile form.

At three, he continued to compete at the very top:
Third in the Group 2 Fuji Stakes, again behind champions Serifos and Soul Rush (later a Dubai Turf winner).
Winner of the Group 3 Arlington Cup.
Delivered a defining performance when overcoming barrier 18 to win the Group 1 NHK Mile Cup at Tokyo, one of Japan’s most prestigious three-year-old mile contests, defeating Serifos once more.

Pedigree Built for the Modern Breeder

Danon Scorpion offers South African breeders a valuable and proven link to Kingmambo, through his sire Lord Kanaloa, a son of King Kamehameha.

Lord Kanaloa’s influence continues to grow as a Champion racehorse and Champion Freshman sire, a consistent runner-up on the Japanese sires’ list, a proven upgrader of mares on AEI, and the sire of multiple successful stallions, including Saturnalia, Japan’s leading second-crop sire in 2025 and sire of Cavallerizzo, Champion 2YO of Japan that same year.

Elite Female Family

Danon Scorpion is out of the outstanding racemare Lexie Lou, one of the most accomplished fillies ever produced in Canada. Effective on both turf and dirt, she defeated colts in the Queen’s Plate and was later inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

Her résumé includes Horse of the Year, Champion 3YO Filly and Champion Turf Female on two occasions.

Syndication Snapshot

Danon Scorpion has been syndicated into a 50-share structure, with each shareholder entitled to send two mares per season for the first four seasons, followed by one mare per season thereafter.

FORM Bloodstock, under the management of Jehan Malherbe, has been appointed as the syndication manager for Danon Scorpion.

While the horse is already fully syndicated, the partners have indicated that, as with previous investments, shares may become available to fellow breeders on a first-come, first-served basis.

Shares are priced at R190,000 each, subject to exchange rate and shipping. The price includes full first-year insurance and congenital infertility cover.