DRUM BEAT (IRE) 1953, a bay colt by FAIR TRIAL (GB) out of RESPITE (GB) by FLAG OF TRUCE (GB).  He was bred by Sir Percy Loraine and Mr. R. More O’Ferrall at the famous Kildangan Stud in County Kildare, Ireland.  Kildangan Stud was purchased by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed in 1986 for Godolphin Racing.

Imported by Granville & Myra Gorton for their Noreen Stud in 1958, he was at stud in South Africa from 1959 to 1976.

Drum Beat’s ½ brother, NEARULA (GB) 1950, a bay colt by NASRULLAH (IRE) out of RESPITE (GB) by FLAG OF TRUCE (GB), was a successful stallion in England who unfortunately died as a young horse aged just 10 years old.  His ¾ brother, WORLD PEACE II (GB) 1958, a bay colt by HONEYWAY (GB) out of RESPITE (GB) by FLAG OF TRUCE (GB) was also imported for stud purposes in South Africa in 1963.  World Peace II was at stud from 1964 to 1975, but he did not have any success as a stallion that is worth mentioning.

Drum Beat was one of 14 stallions by FAIR TRIAL (GB) 1932 to stand at stud in South Africa.  Two of the 14 achieved Champion Sire status here, Fairthorn & Drum Beat.  Interestingly, Fairthorn and Drum Beat were the only two of the 14 that were bred in Ireland.

He was a powerful stallion who had tremendous presence, significant beauty, and a commanding look-at-me quality about him with a lot of “blood”.  Most of his progeny were easily identifiable from these traits and more often than not they inherited his exquisite head.

Champion Sire Of Two Year Olds in 1968/69, 1970/71 & 1972/73, Drum Beat was also a regular in the Top 10 of the list throughout his breeding career.

He was the South African Champion Sire for 1969/70 and 1970/71 and was a regular in the Top 10 of this category throughout his breeding career as well.

His daughters were extremely successful broodmares and he was Champion Broodmare Sire in South Africa for 1973/74 – once again Drum Beat was also a regular in the Top 10 of this category for many years.

The best of his progeny on the track include: (COLTS) EVEN BEAT 1959 12 wins including the 1963 Durban Merchants Handicap & 1965 Joseph Dorfman Memorial Handicap, ACOUSTICON 1961 12 wins including the 1963 WP Nursery Plate & 1965 Somerset Plate, ADMIRAL BEATTY 1961 13 wins including the 1963 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery, TYMPANIST 1961 9 wins including the 1963 Natal Free Handicap, AUDITORIUM 1962 13 wins including the 1966 Ascot Summer Sprint, JOLLY DRUMMER 1963 13 wins including the 1965 African Breeders Plate and 1965 Natal Free Handicap, 1967 Durban Merchants Handicap, 1968 National Sprint and 1968 Newbury Stakes, RUMBA RAGE 1964 9 wins including the 1966 WP Colts Nursery, NEREUS 1965 10 wins including the 1970 Ascot Summer Sprint, CHICHESTER 1966 12 wins including 1968 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery Futurity, 1968 Boland Breeders Stakes, 1968 Matchem Stakes, 1969 Queen’s Plate, 1969 Merchants Stakes, 1969 Cape Derby, 1970 Spring Stakes, 1970 Somerset Plate, 1970 Queen’s Plate, 1971 Benson & Hedges Cup, DON COSSACK 1966 9 wins including the 1968 Natal Free Handicap, 1969 Rupert Ellis Brown Plate, 1969 Golden Spur (Gilbeys), 1971 Clairwood Merchants Handicap, SMILIN’ THRU 1966 5 wins, including the 1968 Gold Medallion (Smirnoff), 1969 Benoni Guineas (1600m), 1969 South African Guineas, KRAKEN 1967 8 wins, including the 1970 Cape Of Good Hope Guineas, TROCADERO 1967 14 wins, ABBEY BOY 1971 17 wins including the 1975 Concord Stakes, 1976 Concord Stakes, 1977 Concord Stakes, 1978 Settlers Day Handicap, PEGASUS 1971 8 wins including the 1973 Gold Medallion (Smirnoff), 1975 Germiston Cup.

(FILLIES) CYMBALINE 1959 5 wins, DRUM MAJORETTE 1960 4 wins including the 1963 Sceptre Stakes, HAPPY RHYTHM 1963 6 wins, HARMONIZE 1966 5 wins, DRUMCHECK 1968 4 wins including the 1970 WP Fillies Nursery, BEAMING 1969 5 wins including the 1971 Autumn Fillies Stakes, 1971 Breeders Champion Fillies Stakes, LOW FLYING 1970 6 wins, SOUL 1970 11 wins including the 1974 Sarie Marais Stakes, MY INVESTMENT 1972 5 wins, TERPSICHORE 1975 4 wins, ONLY FOR YOU 1976 3 wins from 6 starts (bleeder).

Drum Beat is on record as having an unprecedented 42 of his sons stand as stallions at stud and he was also the broodmare sire of a further 27 stallions at stud here.

A truly awesome stallion indeed who did great things for the South African Stud Book.

* Extremely popular sire and broodmare sire of top Thoroughbred showjumpers as were many of his sons.  His son TROCADERO and grandson CRAFTSMAN are the only South African stallions to have had a horse compete at both the World Equestrian Games (Showjumping) – TROCADERO and the Olympic Games (Showjumping) – CRAFTSMAN.