The fabulous WILWYN (GB) 1948, a bay colt by PINK FLOWER (GB) out of SARACEN (GB) by DONATELLO II (FR). He was bred and raced very successfully by Mr. Robert C. Boucher, winning 21 races (including the Washington DC Stakes at Laurel Park in America). His full racing details are contained in the attachments below.
Imported in 1959 as an 11 year old by Mr. Harry Oppenheimer for his Mauritzfontein Stud in Kimberley (the first horse to be flown to South Africa), WILWYN had already done very well at stud in England (6 Seasons) and had had two winners in America, as well as getting the Horse Of The Year & Champion 3 Year Old Colt in Japan in 1959, WILDEAL (JPN) 1956 (his dam Maidens Green (GB) 1946 was purchased and imported into Japan in foal to WILWYN by Marutake Bokujo in 1955), before his arrival in South Africa.
As a sire of two year olds WILWYN featured on the annual Top 20 list of Sires Of Winning Two Year Olds in South Africa as follows, 1963/64 – 1st, 1965/66 – 18th, 1966/67 – 4th, 1967/68 – 2nd, 1968/69 – 3rd, 1972/73 – 14th and 1973/74 – 10th.
Champion sire in South Africa for the 1964/65 racing season, he regularly occupied a Top 20 spot on the list throughout his breeding career, 1963/64 – 6th, 1965/66 – 4th, 1966/67 – 6th, 1967/68 – 11th, 1968/69 – 6th, 1969/70 – 2nd, 1970/71 – 8th, 1971/72 – 20th and 1974/75 – 14th.
WILWYN’s daughters at stud ensured that he became a broodmare sire of note and they were capable of producing impressive winners from a broad spectrum of stallions.
His principal winners in South Africa include – (Colts) KIMBERLEY KID – 8 wins (Sire), WILL TO WIN – 6 wins (1964 Summer Cup), KING WILLOW 9 wins (1963 Champion Nursery Stakes, 1964 SA Derby, 1965 July Handicap, 1966 Champion Stakes) (Sire), RARIN’ TO GO – 12 wins (SA Nursery) (Sire), SMASH AND GRAB – 12 wins (1965 Gold Cup), STALWART – 10 wins (1969 Hawaii Stakes) (Sire), UNCLE BEN – 16 wins (1969 & 1970 National Sprint, 1971 Newbury Stakes), COL PICKERING – 11 wins (1976 Hawaii Stakes) (Sire), ANCHORAGE – 8 wins (1969 Summer Cup) – (Fillies) FLAME LILY 5 – wins (4 wins in SA / 1 win in Rhodesia) (1964 Rhodesian Oaks), SOCIETY QUEEN 10 – wins (1965 Sceptre Stakes), WILLINGLY – 4 wins (1966 Gosforth Park 2-y-o Plate, 1966 Breeders Fillies Champion Stakes), WILDFIRE – 5 wins (1968 Natalia Stakes), HIGH TIDE – 5 wins (1973 & 1974 Autumn Fillies Stakes).
So much of secondary interest can be written about this stallion and it is difficult to not want to continually go off on a tangent, but mention must be made of his beautifully bred daughter, CATALPA (GB) 1956, who was imported into South Africa by Miss Jean Butters in 1960, a bay mare by WILWYN (GB) out of ARALIA (GB) by NEARCO (ITY). Her first foal, a filly by Janus, died. Her second foal was a filly called CABARET (winner of 2 races) by Drum Beat, who produced the speedy PERALTA (winner of the 1972 National Sprint) (Sire). Her third foal was SAPLING (won 10 races) (Sire) by Preamble II. Her fifth foal was the ill-fated colt, DRUMOAK (SAF) 1965, by Drum Beat (Fair Trial). DRUMOAK, owned by Andrew James and trained by Reg Passmore (who believed DRUMOAK was the very best of the Drum Beat horses), won his first 3 starts by large margins, before having a freak accident (collided with another horse) during an early morning training workout and fractured his shoulder. CATALPA’s last foal was the Drum Beat colt, FOREST DRUM (SAF) 1970 (Sire) an 8 time winner and sire of the Group 1 winning FOREST KING (SAF) 1981 (Sire).
Another of WILWYN’s daughters, WINTERS EVE (SAF) 1961, a bay mare out of MASHAQUITA (GB) by MY BABU (FR), produced the legendary South African champion, SENTINEL (SAF) 1968, by No Reprieve (Fair Trial). SENTINEL was a multiple Group 1 winner of 29 races.
WILWYN’s son, the very handsome champion miler COL PICKERING (SAF) 1971 (Sire), is the broodmare sire of the illustrious HORSE CHESTNUT (SAF) 1995 (Sire), a chestnut horse by FORT WOOD (USA) out of LONDON WALL (SAF).
He is on record as having been represented at stud by 18 of his sons and he was the broodmare sire of a further 5 stallions at stud.
He produced his last small crop of foals for the 1973/74 season. South Africa was very privileged indeed to have had WILWYN stand at stud here. A very handsome, classy, consistent stallion, who produced quality individuals capable of competing at the highest level.