South Africa lost yet another sire last week with the unexpected passing of Rich Man’s Gold from a heart attack. The 13 year old son of Forty Niner was all set to make a big impact on South African racing, standing at Wilgerbosdrift for a fee of R60 000, firmly in the top bracket of stallions.
Rich Man’s Gold didn’t get much chance to prove himself on the racetrack, retiring injured as a three year old. He managed to record wins over 6 and 8.5 furlongs, along with a 2nd place in the GR3 Rebel Stakes over 8.5 furlongs.
With a sim pedigree of Forty Niner x Honest Pleasure x Damascus, it’s no surprise that he began his stud duties in Chile with great success. He went to stud in 1996 and produced 4 (3%) official champions and 10 (8%) graded stakes winners from his five crops in Chile before coming to South Africa in 2001. At 14% winners and 55% in the money, the beginning of his South African campaign looked extremely promising.
To get an idea of how to use him in the sim, while we still can, let’s take a look at his four champions.
Lido Palace – champion 2y/o and 3 y/o, Horse of the Year in Chile, won Chilean Triple Crown, multiple GR1 winner in USA, nominated for Eclipse Award, sire in USA. Out of a mare by Quick Decision, Lido Palace is an outcross in his first five generations.
Twingo – champion 2 y/o colt, GR1 winner. Twingo is out of a Roy mare. Roy is a son of Fappiano which produces a 3 x 4 Mr Prospector cross. Twingo’s DDS, Oak Dancer, is by Green Dancer, son of Nijinsky II.
Isola Piu Bella – champion 3 y/o filly, GR1 winner. This filly is out of an Inchwood (In Reality) mare, making her a total outcross like Lido Palace.
France Soir – champion 3 y/o filly, GR1 winner. France Soir is out of a Salt Marsh (Tom Rolfe) mare, producing only a single duplication, a 5 x 5 cross to Roman. Lido Palace is himself inbred to Roman, as well as Nasrullah.
Breeding suggestions:
Rich Man’s Gold will be firmly into bargain territory by the end of the week, leaving room to spend decent amounts on the DS and DDS. I’d suggest trying some of the bigger names you see above, like Fappiano, Green Dancer, Nijinsky II, In Reality, and Tom Rolfe. Buckpasser is another that looks to be a suitable match. A mare with a Mr. Prospector x Northern Dancer cross would be worth a try.