Maine Chance Farms’ supremo Dr Andreas Jacobs is celebrating his birthday today and tells us that ‘it’s really just another working day!’
Dr Jacobs purchased Maine Chance Farms from the late Graham Beck in 2002.
His love affair with Africa started in 1989 when his wife Natalie worked in a hospital in Cape Town.
“We started dating here. So we love the country and we fell in love with the stud, which has both beauty and ruggedness. For me, Maine Chance is pleasure and I try to keep it this way. If the hassle gets bigger than the joy, I will be out. I hope John F. Kennedy’s words will be heard louder in this country: “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country”.
Dr Jacobs and Peter Endres at Saturday evening’s German Racing & Breeding Awards (Pic Marc Ruehl / supplied)
In the photograph above, Dr Jacobs is seen with Peter Endres, owner of Gestüt Auenquelle, who race Torquator Tasso who won the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe 3 weeks ago.
“Peter was Champion owner for 2020 and we at Gestüt Fährhof are Champion Breeder,” Dr Jacobs proudly tells the Sporting Post.
Extraordinarily, this was the 31st time Gestüt Fährhof won the Champion Breeder and/or Owner Award in Germany!
The powerful Jacobs family operation will be standing Alson (Areion) in the 2022 breeding season.
The horses that helped them to win the Champion title in 2020 include Lancade, the German 1000 Guineas winner, Quian, who is Germany’s leading stayer and winner of the Gr3 German St. Leger and the Gr2 Oleander Rennen.
Dr Jacobs clearly has a soft spot for another major contributor in Potemkin, a Gr3 winner at the age of 9!
“He boasts one of the most amazing careers in German racing with a total of 7 Group wins to his credit.”
In comparing German and SA breeding, Dr Jacobs says that the two countries are quite similar – more so than many would imagine.
“Both countries like to breed a top class and sound stayer. And then top female pedigrees are important and combined with good stallions.”
Looking ahead, and responding to a question as to what would be his birthday wish, Dr Jacobs told the Sporting Post that his hope for the next 12 months is to be the breeder of a classic winner – that is a Guineas, Oaks or Derby – anywhere in Europe or South Africa.
“And then long-term, the continuation of the Silvano-legacy through Vercingetorix as Champion Sire and Querari as Champion Broodmare Sire. On the private side, my dream is a riding Safari with my wife Natalie and our 4 children anywhere in Africa,” added the passionate horseman.
