Fort Beluga
The brilliant Fort Beluga never fulfilled his true potential on the racecourse and was tragically struck down by lightning after just one season at stud. The son of Fort Wood had the distinction of siring his first winner from just a handful of runners, when Lock Him Up scored on debut at Turffontein last Tuesday evening.
It was probably fitting that trainer Sean Tarry had the honour of saddling the ill fated stallion’s first winner for owner Chris Van Niekerk,
It was Tarry who trained the promising boom colt Fort Beluga, who campaigned in the famous Van Niekerk blue and red, and who had the South African horseracing industry talking throughout his racing career.
Lock Him Up was bred by Bruce le Roux, who stood Fort Beluga.
The youngster sold for R220 000 on the National Two Year Old Sale. His dam, I Said Hey (Alami – Protique by Proclaim) is a 3-time winner of R244 220 and was placed 11 times.
Her dam Protique is a 2-time winner and has produced three winners to date, including Water Nymph and Absolute Dancer.
The dark-bay Fort Beluga was a son of Fort Wood who is fast becoming a notable sire-of-sires with the likes of Dynasty and Horse Chestnut (who have already produced Grade 1 winners).
Lock Him Up as a baby
His other sons at stud include Tucson, Elusive Fort and Horse Chestnut’s full brother Whitechapel.
Let us also not overlook Dynasty’s sons, Irish Flame and Jackson.
Fort Beluga is out of the mare Langoustine by champion broodmare sire Northern Guest and includes the speedy Harry Hotspur in his dam-line – making this pedigree a very useful one.
Fort Beluga also boasts four SA Oaks winners under his fourth dam.
A R650 000 yearling sold at the 2004 National Yearling Sale, Fort Beluga started his racing career in style, winning his first four starts.
One of South Africa’s most eminently qualified horsemen and a champion jockey, Garth Puller rode Fort Beluga to win is first two races and described him as one of the best he had ridden.
And Puller rode plenty top horses!
He started his fifth start at 18/10 in the 2006 Gr 1 BSA Cape Guineas.
An upset in the stalls prior to the race saw him finish unplaced and the experience had a negative influence on his subsequent racing career.
He still managed to achieve six wins over distances of 1200m – 1600m, from the age of 3 to 5 years.
He never earned black type, despite attaining a highest MR of 105.
He is a full-brother to eight-time winner Hundredacrewood, whose wins include the Grade 2 Premiers Trophy, as well as the 11-time winner Joshua Tree.
