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Stuart Pettigrew was one of the top ten purchasers at the BSA National Yearling Sale recently. Pettigrew got involved with racing as an apprentice jockey and retired as a Champion Apprentice Jockey to go into training. He worked for top trainers such as late Mr. Keith Chant and Mr. Roy Magner before starting his own training stables with a string of 3 horses.
Multi-group winning Pettigrew favours well-bred horses and is always looking out for the diamonds in the rough during sales. His biggest dream is to win the SA Derby and Durban July.
The Impact chats with Stuart about his plans for the horses and the future of South African breeding.
Q: You recently purchased a Silvano colt, a couple of Gimmethegreenlight fillies and a filly by Flower Alley. Could you tell us more about your plans for these horses?
A: As you know Silvanois one of South Africa’s top stallions. Gimmethegreenlight has also produced many Group One winners and Flower Alley is from a good family and he has started producing more 3YOs. South Africa has some of the best breeders and Stallions in the world.
(Pettigrew’s purchases were 1) Castletown(Silvano X Queen's Bay) sold by Mauritzfonteinfor SAR500,000, 2) Prairie Falcon (Gimmethegreenlight X Falconize) sold by Varsfontein Stud for SAR160,000, 3) Follow Me (Gimmethegreenlight X Imperial State) sold byVarsfontein Stud for SAR180, 000 and 4) Cheringoma (Flower Alley X Gorongosa sold by Wilgerbosdrift for SAR425,000)
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Q: What were some of the life lessons you learn during the COVID19 lockdown?
A: We were lucky because obviously close to the sales time. They were meant to be in April but they were postponed. There was talking about it's going to be a virtual sales and no one was allowed to go and view the horses. However, by the time the sales happened, they dropped our emergency level from 4 to 3. We're fortunate that we’re allowed to go to the sales about two weeks before the sales. So there was ample time to look at them and inspect them properly. It worked out pretty good for everyone based in South Africa. We normally get a lot of international buyers from Hong Kong. They are large supporters of our sales year after year. Unfortunately, they weren't here this year because of the travelling restrictions due to COVID, it was just the local buyers like us. I thought we bought horses below their prices.
Q: Please tell us more about the racing and breeding industry in South Africa.
A: As you know, South Africa is a wonderful place. We've got professional trainers. I've been all over the world to witness the South African horse race. They do well anywhere, whether it’s in America, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, or Dubai.
Last year, I exported Yulong Price to Australia. He has already traveled to Dubai for the Dubai World Cup Carnival. Unfortunately, Mike (Dekock) had only three weeks to prepare him and he had not raced since July. So the horse didn’t perform very well.
Even our jockeys have done well or jockeys. We've had jockeys being Champion jockeys in Hong Kong, UK, and Singapore. Our racing industry is one of the most professional Industries in the world, but our big problems are our export protocols. We hope to get listed over the next 6 – 8 months. Thereafter this will be the place to buy great horses.