Bishop’s Bounty wins the 2018 Gr2 Diadem Stakes
Lammerskraal Cape Premier Yearling Sale Draft Bishop’s Bounty was purchased by Kerry Jack Bloodstock for R1,4 million at the 2015 CTS Lanzerac Ready To Run Sale.
Lammerskraal Stud’s Sally Bruss paid tribute to her great mare Nacarat for producing a string of track stars, including Nania, Red Ray and Brutal Force and this year’s Diadem Stakes winner, Bishop’s Bounty, who stormed home in 71,38 secs to give Snaith Racing their first Diadem victory.
It was a particularly meaningful win as Nacarat was Sally’s personal mare, purchased from Mr Rattray at the end of her racing career. To add to the tale, Bishop’s Bounty had a pretty challenging start to life. “We found him in the pasture one day, panting badly and battling to breathe. We thought we were going to lose him and he was in hospital for a long time before he came right,” she recalls.
How he got his name is another fun story and comes courtesy of Sally’s son, Josh. “From a little chap my son wanted to go to Bishops. He was 10 years old, sitting on the stable wall next to where Neil was standing, when I was helping Nacarat foal down. As soon as he was out, Josh asked, ‘Is it a colt mom?’ When I said yes, he answered, ‘Yay – he is my ticket to Bishops!’ Neil immediately quipped Bishops Bounty – and it stuck.”
“He was such a lovely horse,” she continues. “He was taller than Red Ray and not as heavy as Brutal Force. When we took him to the National Yearling Sales in 2015, there was not a bid. I nearly died – my children are still at school and those are my school fees! It was just beyond belief that this beautiful horse, by Nacarat out of Western Winter, got no bids. Jono Snaith came running up to me afterwards and I ended up selling to him back at the stables. Good for him, he took the horse to the Lanzerac Ready To Run sale later that year and sold him very well. Unfortunately he failed the scope, so was re-sold privately to Michael Leaf.”
She explains that with his taller, leggier build, Bishop’s Bounty looks more of a miler on physical type, but has been kept to the sprint distances because of his breathing difficulties. “
Bishop’s Bounty had a good Durban campaign, culminating in disposing of a useful field in the eThekwini Sprint on July day last year. He was then gelded and had a break for the rest of the season made his 4yo debut in a 1200m Pinnacle Plate at Kenilworth at the end of October, pulling like an express train to finish 7 lengths off Sergeant Hardy. He finished down the field in the Cape Merchants after overreaching and losing a shoe and the Diadem was his third run after his break. “When the field broke for the Diadem, he was slow away and I nearly died – again!” exclaims Sally. “He was never under a hard ride and just sliced through the field. He did everything the jockey asked and he did it so nicely. I really hope he can go on from here. It would be great for Jono who had the faith in him and wonderful for Nacarat to have another good one.”
New Beginnings
Sally explains that things had started slowing down towards the end of the Rattray’s tenure and with the foal crops dwindling to below 30, it was becoming increasingly difficult to remain competitive.
However, with Pieter and Jolanda Graaff purchasing Lammerskraal Stud in December 2014, they have supplemented the broodmare band and invested in new mares, a diverse range of stallion shares and in 2016, Lammerskraal became the new home of the Team Valor’s G1 King’s Bishop winner, Visionaire.
2018 CTS Cape Premier Yearling Sale Draft
2018 CPYS Lot 213 – CAPTAIN CHORUS (Captain Al – Cantabella)
One of the first fruits of Pieter’s investment is on offer as part of Lammerskraal’s 2018 Cape Premier Yearling Sale draft in lot 213 named Captain Chorus, a Captain Al colt out of the Galileo mare, Cantabella. “Cantabella was a R3,1 million purchase from CTS’ first Mare & Fillies For Stud Select Sale in 2016. She was imported in foal to Rock Of Gibraltar, but that foal died, so this is her second foal and the first born at Lammerskraal,” explains Sally. “He’s a very typical Captain Al. He is well made and looks like a precocious, 2yo type. The mare currrently has a Var at foot,” she adds.
Lot 36 is another colt named Spanish Boy, by Silvano out of Izora. Sally explains that Izora showed a lot of ability early in her career, finishing 2nd in a Gr3, but then seemed to lose form. However, she’s out of Equus Champion Icy Air, making her a full sister to Icy Winter Air and a half sister to Icy Trail (who is currently in Dubai with Mike de Kock). This is a second foal. “This is a really nice Silvano,” enthuses Sally. “He’s a nice, big, bodied horse with a lovely hind leg and strong shoulders and a really beautiful head. He’s a really nice type and has the family to back it up.”
2018 CPYS Lot 44 – TORBEN SPIRIT (Judpot – La Belle Helene)
Lot 44 is a Judpot colt out of La Belle Helene named Torben Spirit. This is the female line of Helenita, that produced Guineas winner, Little Ballerina and Majorca Stakes winner, Trojan Belle. “La Belle Helene won two with Mike Bass, who had her earmarked as his Fillies Guineas prospect for that season. She’s a beautiful mare and is a full sister to a Gr1 and Gr2 winner. Buran was a top 2yo, but then suffered a condylar fracture and had to be put down. Ice Belle placed in the Guineas and was a really good filly as well – sadly she died foaling her first foal. And then there’s Gogetthesheriff, who is now a 12 time winner. It’s a really good family.”
2018 CPYS Lot 148 – LEGACY LANE (Dynasty – Strawberry Ice)
Legacy Lane (Lot 148) is a Dynasty colt out of Strawberry Ice, a sister to Cape Guineas winner, Solo Traveller. “Her 2013 Var colt, Varsity Cup, notched his 4th career win at Fairview last Friday. He was originally bought by Tony Millard for export. He won a couple of good races, but then picked up a problem and is now racing in PE. The other nice sibling is Flying Ice, who is now in France. This is a smashing colt. He is still a baby, but has a lot more to come and is going to be a cracking adult. He will be a lovely, classic sort of horse.”
Lot 149 is a half brother to Solo Traveller by Seventh Rock, named Rocket Traveller. “I really liked the mating,” says Sally. “It has a lot of line breeding to Australian bloodlines. If you really had to fault him, you might argue that he’s a little plain, but there’s not much wrong with him. He’s a lovely, rangy horse with an exceptional temperament.”
2018 CPYS Lot 252 – ROYAL ATTIRE (Duke Of Marmalade – Evening Attire)
Bookending the draft is Lot 252, a Duke Of Marmalade colt named Royal Attire who is a half brother to Eddie Sweat and Dennis Bosch’s promising young charge, Billy Silver. While Sally will not be pressed to choose her pick of the draft, she clearly regards this one very highly. “He is a really well-made, muscular, speedy looking Duke Of Marmalade with a lot of depth. He is still very immature, but promises a lot to come.” The Lammerskraal team will be hosting visitors at their usual site at the CTICC, and along with their new draft, their lounge will be sporting a new look this year, so pop in and check it out.
