Having operated previously as a remount station for the British Army during the Boer War, Mauritzfontein was bought by Harry and Bridget Oppenheimer in 1945. The couple became involved in horse racing shortly after the war, in the 1940s. Kimberley was headquarters of the De Beers Mining Company, of which Harry Oppenheimer was Chairman, and was represented by Oppenheimer in Parliament, a seat which he held from 1948 to 1957.
A dynasty through the ages
Mauritzfontein is only 15 minutes from the centre of Kimberley, so it seemed the perfect place to build their home from home and begin their breeding operations. In 1951, Mauritzfontein imported its first stallion, Janus who was by Pharis and had been a top-class racehorse in France. Janus was the sire of Tiger Fish (Durban July Handicap), Open Sea and Ellation. He also sired Baccarat and Dame de Coeur- both of whom where back to back winners of the Oaks (1962-62).
Stallions
Stakes Winners Bred
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Mauritzfontein’s G1 winning stallion Danon Platina looks to have come up with a progressive filly in the form of Boozy Susie. The latter made it three wins in a row…
Mauritzfontein’s inform stallion Danon Platina had a pair of winners at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Wednesday. The champion son of Deep Impact only had two runners on Wednesday’s card and both…
Mauritzfontein’s blue blooded stallion Danon Platina made headlines at Champ De Mars on Sunday. His gelded son Rapidash showed his class when he won Sunday’s The Phoenix Maiden Cup (2400m).…
Summer Pudding and the Celtic Sea!
Success for Mauritzfontein
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Kleinzee
Kleinzee (Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) x Diamond Coast (IRE)) returned in fine style today, proving once again that she is a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Cape. Stepping up to 2000m and carrying top weight proved no obstacle as she made it eight wins from eight starts in Port Elizabeth.
Settled towards the rear, Kleinzee began to make her move around the turn and, within a matter of strides, had swept past her rivals to put the race beyond doubt.
Trainer: Alan Greeff
Jockey: Richard Fourie
Congratulations to Alan Greeff and his team on a fantastic job with Kleinzee. Well done also to Richard Fourie on another excellent ride.
📸 @pauline_herman
The sightings have crossed the equator.
A Belgian maestro, an armchair, a glass of red, and twelve pages on South African bloodlines. For the uninitiated: that is Christophe Soumillon - twice a winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Dalakhani, and the unbeaten Zarkava), ten times champion jockey of France, winner of the Dubai World Cup, the Japan Cup and 4,000-odd races besides, and for two decades the Aga Khan’s man in the irons. When that horseman spends his evening on our breeding form, it isn’t leisure - it’s homework.
Because after the Gimme A Nother bounce, the whole world is doing the form on SA-breds, and the smart money starts at the source. His cap suggests he’s already picked a side.
Cousin Casey’s first runners arrive in 2028/29. Stallion bookings are brisk - 90 mares covered last year, 53 already this season.
Dominique Millard at Mauritzfontein knows how to get you one. 🤗
* The paper, for those who haven’t met it: The Kimberley Recorder is a twelve-page broadsheet from Mauritzfontein in the interest of the stallion Cousin Casey, and it says so on every page. Part homage to the great papers, part parody, wholly serious in its facts
Small print run; no charge, and worth every cent. ☺️
Brought to you by a Cousin 😉
Parisian Walkway
Parisian Walkway (Ideal World (USA) x Boutique (IRE) by Mastercraftsman (IRE)) added another Stakes victory to his record with a commanding front-running performance in the Gr.3 TAB Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m at Turffontein.
Taking the race by the scruff of the neck, he dictated the pace from the outset and was never headed, making every yard of the running to secure another Graded Stakes success.
Owner: Messrs G A Basel, L Clark & W Volschenk
Trainer: Alec Laird
Jockey: Kobeli Lihaba
Congratulations to the Messrs G A Basel, L Clark & W Volschenk, Alec Laird, Kobeli Lihaba and the entire team on a superb performance.
Cousin Casey - The next chapter.
Now in his second season at stud, Cousin Casey is beginning to make his presence felt in the breeding shed.
His first foals are arriving, and the early feedback from breeders has been exceptionally pleasing. The first chapter is well underway.
📸 @romibettisonphotography
Gimme A Nother
What a wonderful journey this special mare has taken us on.
Gimme A Nother ran her heart out yesterday to finish a brave second in the Gr.1 Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. We couldn’t be prouder of her and everything she has achieved.
From South Africa to the international stage, she has carried our hopes with her every step of the way. She is truly a horse of a lifetime, and it has been an extraordinary privilege to be part of her journey.
A remarkable career thus far, with 11 wins across South Africa and the USA:
Gr.1 Victories
E.P. Taylor Stakes
TAB Empress Club Stakes
Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic
Gr.2 Victories
Beverly D. Stakes
John C. Mabee Stakes
Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas
Mike de Kock Ipi Tombe Challenge
Gr.3 Victories
BETWAY Fillies Mile
Eatontown Stakes
Other notable performances
2nd, Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (Gr.1)
2nd, Canadian Stakes (Gr.2)
2nd, Hillsborough Stakes (Gr.2)
2nd, Modesty Stakes (Gr.3)
Above all, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has played a part in Gimme A Nother’s journey. From the Mike de Kock team, who nurtured her talent and campaigned her in South Africa, to Graham Motion and his team in the USA, who have continued to prepare her to compete at the highest level, we are enormously grateful for the care, dedication and commitment she has received throughout her career.
To everyone who has ridden her, looked after her, travelled with her, cheered her on and believed in her, thank you. Every person has played a part in the story of this remarkable mare.
She has given us so much to celebrate, and yesterday was another moment to be immensely proud of her.
What a mare. What a journey. What a champion.
New York Groove
New York Groove (Gimmethegreenlight x Oh Mercy Me by Master Of My Fate) put it all together at Turffontein today, breaking her maiden in decisive fashion over 1160m. She pulled clear in the closing stages to win by an impressive 4½ lengths.
Her dam, Oh Mercy Me, is an own sister to American Princess and Sentbydestiny, and a half-sister to Badger’s Cove, Princess Alberta and Princess Peach.
Trainer: Alec Laird
Jockey: Kobeli Lihaba
Congratulations to Alec Laird, Kobeli Lihaba and the entire team on a fine maiden victory.
📸 @chase_liebenberg
Gimme A Nother (SAF) stretching her legs at Keeneland ahead of her tilt in Saturdays Makers Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mares Turf (Grade 1).
📸 Daniella Ricci Photography
🇿🇦 Flying the flag for South Africa on the world stage!
Gimme A Nother (Gimmethegreenlight x Nother Russia, by Tiger Ridge) heads into Saturday’s The Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (Grade 1) with the support of her biggest cheerleader and owner, Jessica Jell and the entire team behind her every step of the way. 💚💛
From our breeding barn to the Breeders’ Cup stage - what a journey! Go well, Gimme A Nother! 🏇🇿🇦
