Drakenstein Stud’s erstwhile champion sire Trippi is having another tremendous season in 2021/22, and the son of End Sweep once again claimed centre stage at Kenilworth on Friday and Saturday.
Trippi’s champion son Jet Dark claimed his second consecutive Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, while his daughters Sapphire Gem and Londalozi were responsible for producing Friday’s Listed Ardmore Jamaica Handicap winner Pink Tourmaline (Futura) and Saturday’s Gr2 Glorious Goodwood Premier Trophy victor. Hoedspruit.

Smanga Khumalo takes the ‘jet salute’ after the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate 9Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Interestingly, both Pink Tourmaline and Hoedspruit were sired by sons of Dynasty – with the former July winner also broodmare sire of Trippi’s talented son Charles and the son of End Sweep’s recent Gr2 Western Cape Fillies Championship winnning daughter Amanzimtoti and the latter’s Guineas winning own brother, Wild Coast.
One of nine Gr1 winners for his sire, dual Equus Champion Jet Dark looks sure to be a hugely attractive stud prospect when he retires from racing.
A half-brother to the useful Night Ruler, Jet Dark is a three-parts brother to the Trippi sired Gr1 Mercury Sprint runner up Night Trip, with his winning Jet Master sired dam Night Jet also a half-sister to Listed Thukela Handicap winner winner, Brown Penny (Fort Wood).
Jet Dark’s third dam Pine Chip (Nureyev) is a full-sister to outstanding Arc winner, and successful sire/broodmare sire Peintre Celebre – whose daughters at stud in South Africa include the outstanding broodmare Aquatint. The 2022 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner boasts mares by Jet Master, Machiavellian, Nureyev and Alydar as his first four dams -which also add to his considerable appeal.
Queen’s Plate winners are enjoying increasing success at stud, with multiple champion sire Jet Master having been joined by reigning champion sire Gimmethegreenlight, and the very promising Futura, as Queen’s Plate winners to enjoy success in the breeding barn.

Trippi: End Sweep – Jealous Appeal (Valid Appeal)
Pic – Drakenstein Stud
At the time of writing, Jet Dark’s champion sire Trippi had been responsible for 84 stakes winners, and a further 84 stakes placed runners.
Trippi, whose runners have earned more than $62 million in stakes, looks on course to become an important broodmare sire, with his local daughters having already produced champion Gabor (Kingsbarns) and fellow Gr1 winner Miss Florida (Captain Al). Sapphire Gem, dam of the aforementioned Pink Tourmaline, also ranks as the dam of Gr2 Concorde Cup victor King Of Gems, a son of ill-fated Kingsbarns.
Trippi’s maternal grandson Not This Time made headlines in North America in 2021 when the son of Giant’s Causeway and the top-class Trippi mare Miss Macy Sue was crowned North America’s Leading Second Season Sire for 2021.
Jet Dark was one of three Trippi runners in Saturday’s Queen’s Plate, the trio completed by Trip Of Fortune and Pacaya.