29 April 2010


Group 1 winning sprinters are understandably highly sought after as stallion prospects. When they are dual Group 1 winners from a proven Group 1 sire-line, even more so. It is therefore with great pleasure that Blue Gum Farm announce the acquisition of Turffontein.

The handsome chestnut will be syndicated to stand alongside Elvstroem, Churchill Downs and Astronomer Royal (USA) at Blue Gum Farm in Euroa for the 2010 season.

Turffontein’s credentials are faultless. A dual Group 1 winner of five races and over $1.2 million in stakes, Turffontein produced a career best performance to win this season’s William Reid Stakes (Gr 1) at Moonee Valley. Run over 1200m at WFA, Turffontein defeated a stellar field that included six Group 1 winners, sprinting past Wanted, Sniper’s Bullet and co in the straight to score.

Turffontein’s other Group 1 win came in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield and he was also victorious in the Queensland Guineas (Gr 2) over 1600m at three. It is also relevant to note that Turffontein only mixed in the most elite of racing company, contesting 28 stakes events in a 31 race career.

Turffontein is by Johannesburg (USA), unbeaten champion juvenile in the world in 2001 when his wins included the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Recent AJC Oaks heroine Once Were Wild is also by Johannesburg who has Northern Hemisphere Group 1 winners Sageburg and Scat Daddy already at stud.

Turffontein presents a truly unique opportunity for breeders as he represents an unbroken sire-line of six Group 1 winners, tracing through Johannesburg, Hennessy (USA), Storm Cat (USA), Storm Bird (USA) and Northern Dancer (Can).

Add to this proven, unrivalled sire-line is a female pedigree to match. Turffontein comes from the immediate family of Group 1 winners Hit The Roof, Alynda and Penny Gem while this is also the family of champion sires Sovereign Edition (Ire) and Smokey Eyes (GB).

Interestingly, Turffontein is inbred to influential ‘Blue Hen’ mare Somethingroyal through Secretariat and Sir Gaylord, the same as successful sires Grand Lodge and Volksraad.

“We are delighted to have been able to acquire a horse of Turffontein’s ability,” says Blue Gum’s Philip Campbell. “Having launched the stud career of several Group 1 producing stallions including Encosta de Lago, who also won the Rupert Clarke Stakes when it was run as the VicHealth Cup, I believe Turffontein also possesses the attributes to be a successful stallion.”

“He’s a dual Group 1 winner, retires sound and is a very masculine looking horse from the most prepotent sire-line there is. He is four generations free of Northern Dancer so is open to all the Danehill blood out there, especially with the Sir Tristram in his pedigree. Turffontein is what the market wants and we are very happy to have secured him.”

Turffontein, who will stand at $13,750 including gst in his first season, will be syndicated into 40 shares, with several of his racing owners remaining in the Syndicate.

A limited number of shares will be available to clients of Blue Gum Farm with generous standing rights in his first four seasons.