Riethuiskraal Stud Farm

CRIMSON PALACE makes history and wins the Beverly D Gr1 (Frankie Dettori up) on Arlington Million day in Chicago USA

 

We are experienced and passionate about the

thoroughbred

Riethuiskraal Stud Farm is situated 15 km from the coastal town of Stilbaai, nestled against the Goukou River estuary.

Riethuiskraal’s 300 acres of established pastures on a limestone base provide an ideal environment and plenty of space for nurturing growing athletes. The horses bred at Riethuiskraal are known for having good bone.

Thoroughbred stud of international repute

The stud has stood famous stallions, amongst them DAYLAMI (IRE), the best racehorse of his generation and World Champion of 1999, with an International Timeform Rating of 138. Bred by H.H. The Aga Khan from his famous “D” family and raced by Sheik Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing, Daylami won 7 Gr1 races, amongst them the French Guineas Gr1, Irish Champion Stakes Gr1, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes Gr1 and Breeders Cup Turf Gr1. As a stallion, Daylami produced, amongst others, Grey Swallow, winner of the Irish Derby Gr1. Several daughters of Daylami are broodmares of Riethuiskraal Stud. The stud also has a mare from Daylami’s female line, bred by the Aga Khan.

Another famous stallion that stood at Riethuiskraal Stud is SAUMAREZ (GB), winner of Europe’s greatest race (the Prix de I’Arc de Triomphe Gr1) and the Prix du Jockey Club Gr1 (French Derby). Saumarez is also the broodmare sire of a winner of the Epsom Derby Gr1.

CRIMSON PALACE (filly by Elliodor (FR) ex Perfect Guest)

Winning the Paddock Stakes Gr1, breaking the Kenilworth course record over 1800m

FLIRTATION (filly by Silvano (GER) ex French Treasure)

Winning the Summer Cup Gr1 over 2000m, beating champion Mother Russia 

Two other fillies deserve a mention. LAMBARINA (by Dancing Champ (USA) ex First Party) won the South African Oaks Gr2 and was crowned the Champion Highveld 3YO filly of her year. Five broodmares on the farm eminate from this family. FLIRTATION (by Silvano (GER) ex French Treasure) won the Summer Cup Gr1, one of only a handful of fillies to have achieved this feat in the more than 120 years of the running of this race. Two broodmares at Riethuiskraal come from Flirtation’s family.

During 2006 the stud acquired DAYLAMI (IRE) from the previous joint owners HH the Aga Khan and HH Sheikh Mohammed Ben Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai. Daylami was the world champion racehorse of 1999, having won 7 Grade 1 races in France, England, Ireland and the USA, including the French Two Thousand Guineas Gr 1 and the Breeders’ Cup Turf Gr1. Four of his daughters still stand at stud on the farm.

Internationally, the stud has also produced a champion colt and Horse of the Year in Zimbabwe, a graded stakes winner in England, a course record breaker at Nad Al Seeba in Dubai, the Derby winner in Kenya and winners in Hong Kong and Mauritius.

IMPERIAL STRIDE (GB) won the Scottish Derby Gr2 and achieved an International Timeform Rating of 127. Imperial Stride sired a colt that won South Africa’s Equus Sprinter of the Year Award.

The present resident stallion is BLACK MINNALOUSHE (USA), winner of the classic Irish Guineas Gr1 as well as one of the hallmark races during Royal Ascot week, the St James’ Palace Stakes Gr1. Black Minnaloushe has sired 8 x Gr1 winners, more than any active stallion in South Africa. Ten of the broodmares on the farm are daughters of our former or present resident stallions.

The stud owner has bred CRIMSON PALACE, the first South African filly to win a Group 1 race in the USA and was rated the 4th best filly that year in the world. NATIONAL COLOUR was South Africa’s Horse of the Year, South Africa’s Champion Sprinter of the Year and the Highest Rated filly in the Southern Hemisphere. LAMBARINA won the classic South African Oaks. FLIRTATION became one of the few mares to win one of South Africa’s major races, the Summer Cup Gr1. Most recently, VISTULA won the Johannesburg Spring Challenge Gr2 and ran 2nd in the Empress Club Gr1. She is now a broodmare at Riethuiskraal.

The stud, due to achievements in foreign jurisdictions, has acquired considerable international standing. Horses bred by the owner, over and above what has already been said, have competed twice at Royal Ascot, won a Gr3 race in England, was narrowly beaten into 2nd place in the celebrated sprint race of England, the Nunthorpe Stakes Gr1 (the winner breaking the course record), broke the course record over 1777 meters at Nad Al Sheeba in Dubai, raced in the Prix de I’Abbaye de Longchamp Gr1 on Arc-day in Paris, won the title of Champion Horse of the Year in Zimbabwe, won the Kenya Derby and won races in Hong Kong and Mauritius.

VISTULA (by Ideal World (USA) ex Venus Rising)

Winning the JHB Spring Challenge Gr2 over 1400m 

WAY OF THE WORLD (by Var (USA) ex Crimson Lane (USA))

Winning 6 of her 7 last races, including a Stakes Race. Granddaughter of CRIMSON PALACE 

Riethuiskraal Stud comprise 86 broodmares, 43 yearlings (born 2020) and 53 foals (born 2021). The celebrated families of Crimson Palace, National Colour, Lambarina and Flirtation comprise 14 of the 86-strong broodmare band. Thirty one of the broodmares have either won (19x) or have been placed (12x) in stakes races. Thirteen mares have been imported; from Ireland (3x), France (1x), USA (1x), Argentina (2x) and Australia (6x). The best represented broodmare sire is Trippi (USA), who has 6 daughters standing at Riethuiskraal.

All in all 21 different covering stallions have been used during the 2021 covering season; every time aspiring to best match the pairings for pedigree and conformation. Differently put, a lot of endeavour is invested in playing this game of chess with nature as best we know how.

The future looks exiting and promising.

Riethuiskraal stallions

Riethuiskraal produces an annual crop of some 50 yearlings. We support a wide range of high quality stallions and our stock is offered for sale on auction at South Africa’s recognized sales. Yearlings and foals are also sold directly off the farm.

Resident Stallion
Former Stallions

DAYLAMI (IRE) 

Thermopylae, (colt by Erupt (IRE) ex Mulher de Branco)

Sold at auction, 2YO Sale on 2 August 2021

Our Broodmare Families

CRIMSON PALACE (Elliodor x Perfect Guest)

• WAY OF THE WORLD (Var x Crimson Lane)
• Guest of Honour (Western Winter x Perfect Guest)
• Tropical Snow (Elliodor x Perfect Guest)
• Tipping Point (Philanthropist x Counter Foil)

NATIONAL COLOUR (National Assembly x Rainbow Cake)
  • STATE FACTOR (National Assembly x Corn Factor)
  • Zemfira (Daylami x Rainbow Cake)
  • Puritani (Daylami x Rainbow Cake)
  • Circle of Speed (AUS) (Sebring x National Colour)
LAMBARINA (Dancing Champ x First Party)

• Epic Style (Spectrum x First Debutante)
• Eternal Night (Black Minnaloushe x Arctic Circle)
• Dona Datia (Daylami x Red Summit)
• Turandot (Qui Danzig x Hyperdrive

FLIRTATION (Silvano x French Treasure)

• Mink Coat (London News x French Treasure)
• Casual Wear (What a Winter x Mink Coat)

Expected crop of 2022

Accommodation At Riethuiskraal

The accommodation on the stud farm is the “writer’s cottage”, named in honour of Wilbur Smith who often used the house as a study in which he wrote some of his novels. The house has since been renovated substantially and is an ideal get-away for a couple. A charming cottage with its own swimming pool and a stunning view of the Goukou river and the farms at Kransfontein. The writer’s cottage is in an olive grove of some 5 000 olive trees.

If you have an interest in the horses, the manager of the stud farm and others will take you on a guided tour of the foals, yearlings and broodmares. The mares foal from the beginning of August till about the end of November. If you visit the farm during this time, you may even witness the birth of a foal.

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