Saturday’s thoroughly impressive Cape Thoroughbred Sales Gr2 Cape Merchants winner Erik The Red will join Varsfontein’s star sires Gimmethegreenlight and Master of My Fate in the champion breeder’s stallion barn in 2021.
Impeccably-bred, with movie star looks, Captain Al’s strapping son was marked as a sire prospect from the day that he won his first start in January 2020. Just three weeks later, on Met day, he won his first black type race in the Summer Juvenile Stakes equally impressively and then went on to become Cape Champion 2yo of the year.
Handsome Erik! The son of Captain Al is off to stud in 2021 (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Leading SA stallion manager John Freeman will be syndicating the smart 3yo
“My thanks to the team at Varsfontein for giving me this job. They have been wonderful to work with on two highly successful stallions; Gimmethegreenlight and Master of My Fate,” added Freeman.
In winning the Gr2 Cape Merchants last Saturday, Erik The Red became the first 3yo to beat older rivals in 22 years.
“We decided to do it differently and syndicate the remainder of his racing career along with his stud career now. It is the way we handled the What A Winter switch from a track career to the stallion barn – and he went on to win the Gr1 Computaform Stakes a few months before retiring. Fingers crossed for a repeat!” said Freeman.
Erik The Red not only has the distinction of hailing from one of the foremost pedigrees in our Stud Book but he is also as well made a horse you could ever wish to see.
The enthusiastic Stallion Manager said that he stood alongside this Gr1 performer after he won the Merchants last Saturday.
“I was awestruck by his imposing stature and clean strong build: he has the look of eagles about him. Justin Snaith says that he is an absolute pleasure to work with.”
In the post-race interview Snaith added that if it hadn’t been for the Covid interrupted 2020 season, and his delayed departure for the KZN feature season, this handsome colt would already be a Gr1 winner. He literally stepped off the float after the long-haul from the Cape in time for the Gr1 Medallion. There may still be time for him to add a Gr1 win to his CV before he takes up stud duties at Varsfontein in 2021. Justin confirms that he certainly has that class about him.
Erik The Red’s dam Covenant is one of Western Winter’s top Gr1 winning daughters and he is one of her 4 winners (she has 100% winners/runners), including two Gr1 horses. All of her progeny are stakes performed. Covenant’s dam Secret Pact hails from the illustrious Soho Secret family; stacked with top class performers and of course this season’s leading sire Master Of My Fate is close up.
“I know that Varsfontein and his shareholders will support him very well so there will only be a small number of nominations available. His fee will only be set at the syndicate’s first AGM mid-2021,” concluded Freeman.
