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. 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 were back-to-back winners of the Oaks (1961–62).
In 1959, Mauritzfontein imported Wilwyn who, incidentally, was the first horse ever to be flown into South Africa. Four years later he was crowned South Africa’s Champion Sire, as a result of his top-class progeny King Willow, Smash And Grab and Uncle Ben. He became a fantastic broodmare sire and his daughters produced, among others, Sentinel, Hidden Magic, Faro and Canyon Creek. Wilwyn’s son, Col. Pickering, is also the broodmare sire of the famous Horse Chestnut.
In 1965, Free Ride stood his first season at stud. His offspring included no fewer than five SA Oaks winners and the likes of Principal Boy (Durban July), Oakland Bay (SA Derby), Bodrum (SA Classic), With Pleasure (Natal Oaks), together with Run For Roses and Medora, both of whom won the Paddock Stakes (Gr.1).
The next champion sire to be imported to Mauritzfontein arrived in 1994 — Fort Wood. A Group 1-winning son of Sadler’s Wells out of the dam Fall Aspen, who produced four Group 1 winners, Fort Wood was set to take the farm’s legacy to a whole new level. The writing was on the wall with his first-ever runner, Horse Chestnut. This legend of the turf won the Triple Crown and J&B Met in the same year and was named Horse of the Year (1999). Fort Wood produced three Horse of the Year colts and has already proved a magnificent sire of sires.
His son Dynasty, who won the Durban July Handicap, has gone on to produce champions such as Irish Flame, Beach Beauty, Legislate and Futura. Other sons of Fort Wood to sire Group 1 winners include the mighty Horse Chestnut and fellow champion Elusive Fort.
Fort Wood was crowned Champion Broodmare Sire on four occasions, and his daughters have produced, among others, Capetown Noir, Thunder Dance, Pluck and Triple Tiara winner Cherry On The Top. Currently, star producer Real Princess — South Africa’s Broodmare of the Year (2024–2025) — was produced by the Fort Wood mare Pagan Princess.
Strike Smartly, a full brother to Smart Strike, was imported in an attempt to create a successful cross for the many Fort Wood mares at Mauritzfontein. Sadly, his career was cut short and he left behind only six racing crops. Despite this, he produced Smart Banker, who won 11 races including the Horse Chestnut Stakes twice. Strike Smartly also sired Bouquet-Garni (SA Derby), Prestic, General Sherman and multiple Group 1 winner Slumdogmillionaire.
Currently, Mauritzfontein stands four top-class stallions in the form of Cousin Casey, Danon Platina, Digital Age and Ideal World.
The latter, a blue-blooded son of Kingmambo and Banks Hill, has sired champions such as Rainbow Bridge and Smart Call, as well as this season’s Mauritzfontein-bred and owned Group 1 Betway Summer Cup winner Mocha Blend. Deep Impact’s champion son Danon Platina is a proven source of stakes horses, with progeny including graded stakes winners Absolutely Yes, Great Plains and White Pearl.
Invincible Spirit’s exciting young sire son Digital Age, whose victories included a triumph in the storied Group 1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes, is a horse with plenty going for him. This Group 1 winner shares his outstanding sire with such top-class stallions as I Am Invincible and Kingman.
Champion sire Vercingetorix’s champion son Cousin Casey was a top-class performer. A Group 1-winning champion at two, Cousin Casey went on to finish second in the 2024 Group 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July.
Mauritzfontein has been home to some potent female lines that have woven the fabric of many of its greatest triumphs. Fisherman’s Prayer, by King Salmon, produced three SA Oaks winners as well as champions King Willow, Tiger Fish, Lightning Path and Hengist. Eight of her descendants went on to win classic races.
Julie Andrews won the Oaks herself before going on to produce Principal Boy, Col. Pickering and the brilliant filly Grease Paint. The imported Antalya, by Acropolis, produced Nalatale — a champion sprinter — who produced five winners, including ARCSA Champion 3-year-old colt Bodrum. Down her family line, Nalatale is also responsible for the mighty Horse Chestnut, classic filly Monyela, Sports Chestnut and Asylum Seeker.
The Fort Wood mare Carolina Cherry has also played her part in growing the Mauritzfontein success story. Winner of the 2001 Group 1 Gold Circle Oaks, Carolina Cherry produced an Equus Champion and Wilgerbosdrif Triple Tiara winner in Cherry On The Top. Her Group 3 Jacaranda Handicap-winning daughter Cherry On The Cake emulated her dam by producing a Triple Tiara-winning champion in Summer Pudding. That filly, also victorious in the 2020 Group 1 World Sports Betting Gauteng Summer Cup, was crowned South Africa’s Horse of the Year (2019–2020).
In recent years, Mauritzfontein has begun a renewed effort to obtain fresh blood and exceptionally well-bred fillies to continue the dynasty and shape their thoroughbred nursery.
Mauritzfontein has produced no fewer than 14 Oaks winners, seven Durban July winners, and most impressively, a Triple Crown and a Triple Tiara winner. With the expert management team now led by Nigel Page, Mauritzfontein is doing everything in its power to ensure it goes from strength to strength.
Mauritzfontein’s exciting line-up of stallions looks sure to provide this historic farm with even more success in the future.
