KIPLING (FR) 1936, a bay horse by ASTÉRUS (FR) out of KANDY (FR) by ALCANTARA II (FR), arrived in South Africa during the 1939 – 1940 racing season and won the 1940 Durban July Handicap in the colours of Mr. N.H. Ferguson.
Purchased by a syndicate as a stallion for stud, comprising Mr. Kelley-Patterson (Rathgar Stud), Mr. George Louw (Altever Stud) and Mr. T.G. Southey (Culmstock Stud), who believed that syndicated stallions are afforded better chances at stud and that through syndication the opportunity to keep more stallions existed.
He was based at CULMSTOCK STUD. It was in 1943 that KIPLING had his first crop of foals on the ground and the winners came quickly. By 1948 he had climbed steadily up the South African National Sires List and finished 2nd to the other son of ASTÉRUS (FRF) in South Africa, ASBESTOS II. His next top 3 finish on the National Sires List was in 1950, finishing in 3rd position. He topped the list in 1951. KIPLING had his last crop of foals in 1952.
Having produced numerous very good racehorses, it was his son, the great champion, MOWGLI (SAF) 1947, who shone the brightest when it came to feature race success, which saw him add victory in the 1952 Durban July Handicap to his already impressive list of successes.
KIPLING is on record as having 7 of his sons stand at stud in South Africa (MOWGLI included) and he was also the broodmare sire of a further 12 stallions at stud.
