HIGH VELDT (GB) 1953, a chestnut colt by HYPERION (GB) out of OPEN COUNTRY (GB) by FAIRWAY (GB), bred and raced in England by HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH.

He was imported by the BIRCH BROS. for their VOGEL VLEI STUD in 1958 and had his first crop of foals on the ground in 1959.

High Veldt was the last of the 18 sons of the great HYPERION (GB) 1930 to stand at stud in South Africa, many of which had a lot of success as sires here.

The Hyperion x Fair Trial (a son of Fairway) cross (or vice versa), evident in many pedigree structures and configurations, had already proved itself to be very successful in England.   The pedigree of the Birch Bros. bred legend, SEA COTTAGE (SAF) 1962, is a prime example of this – by Fairthorn (a son of Fair Trial) out of Maritime (a daughter of Merchant Navy who was by Hyperion).

By the time High Veldt commenced stud duties at Vogel Vlei in 1958, their broodmare herd included several daughters of Fairthorn and they collectively produced many winners over the years that followed when put to High Veldt.  The great champion Elevation, who was High Veldt’s best son, was out of Distiller who was a granddaughter of Fair Trial.  The well performed Distinctly is another son of High Veldt who’s second dam was Fateful by Fair Trial’s son, Fairthorn.

High Veldt was the Champion Sire Of Two Year Olds for the 1962/63 season, but also featured regularly in the Top 20.

He was the Champion Sire Of South Africa in 1971/72 and a regular in the Top 20 throughout his breeding career.

His daughters were very successful broodmares, which saw him feature high on the Top Broodmare Sire list many times.

High Veldt’s best progeny include: (COLTS) HIFRAC 6 wins (1962 SA Derby), MOUNTAIN CREST 8 wins, STORMBERG 11 wins, HIGH POWER 11 wins, ROSE KNIGHT 11 wins (1964 Gordons Gin Handicap), PRIZE BELL 9 wins (1965 Durban Merchants Handicap), DESERT GUARD 8 wins, LODESTONE 9 wins (1968 General Tyres Algoa Handicap), HIGH STAKE 15 wins, APPLAUSE 11 wins 1968 Clairwood Free Handicap, 1969 Dick King Handicap, 1969 Michaelmas Handicap, 1969 Gordons Gin Handicap, 1970 Drill Hall Stakes, 1971 Transvaal Champion Stakes, 1971 Drill Hall Stakes, DECISIVE 10 wins, DOMINION 8 wins, PROSPEROUS 13 wins 1969 Stewards Cup (Cape), 1970 Appeal Court Handicap, 1970 Metropolitan Trial Handicap, 1970 Benson & Hedges Cup, 1970 Chairmans Plate, 1971 Southern Cross Stakes (Diadem), DARK ROAD 7 wins, KING’S GUARD 1970 Spring Festival Handicap, 1971 Johannesburg Summer Handicap, 1971 Clairwood Winter Handicap, PARNAIBA 10 Wins, UNCLE TOM 13 Wins 1970 The Dingaans, 1971 Chairmans Handicap, 1971 Johannesburg Champion Stakes, 1972 1st Spring Merchants Handicap, 1972 Keith Hepburn Champion Stakes, 1973 UTA Handicap, ELEVATION 14 wins 1970 JG Hollis Memorial (Futurity), 1970 Champion Nursery Stakes, 1971 S.A. Derby, 1971 Dick King Stakes, 1972 Laurel Handicap, 1972 Holiday Inns, 1973 Joseph Dorfman Memorial Handicap, 1973 Holiday Inns, 1973 Autumn Merchants Handicap, 1973 1st Johannesburg Champion Stakes, 1974 Holiday Inns, VELOCITY 8 wins, HIGH JINKS 11 wins 1973 Germiston November Handicap, 1974 Johannesburg Merchants, DISTINCTLY 8 wins 1973 Gosforth Park 2-Y-O Plate, 1974 S.A. Derby (2450m).

(FILLIES) DESCEND 5 wins, SHIMMER 6 wins, BURNING 7 wins, DAM HIGH 7 wins 1964 Chairmans Handicap, 1964 King’s Cup, ENTHUSIAST 6 wins 1962 WP Fillies Nursery, 1963 Cape Of Good Hope Paddock Stakes, SPINDRY 6 wins 1964 Johannesburg Goldfields, SUN BONNET 7 wins 1964 Natal Two Thousand, UPLIFTED 3 wins 1962 Champion Nursery Stakes, ZEPHYRUS 7 wins 1962 Ladies Mile (Cape), TABLELAND 7 wins 1964 Easter Handicap, ATTIRE 5 wins 1965 S.A. Oaks, 1965 EP Derby, NIGHT LIGHT 5 wins, TSESSEBE 7 wins 1966 S.A. OAKS, LITTLE AUDREY 9 wins 1967 S.A. Oaks, 1967 Natalia Stakes, 1968 Johannesburg Autumn Handicap, 1968 Johannesburg Autumn Champion Stakes.

High Veldt is on record as having 18 of his sons stand as stallions at stud, including ELEVATION (only the second South African bred stallion since DIGNITARY in 1934/35 to be crowned Champion Sire, which he did in the 1984/85 season).  High Veldt was also the broodmare sire of a further 5 stallions at stud here.

High Veldt had two ½ brothers stand at stud in South Africa, IRAN and RUSTIC II, but neither had any success worth mentioning.

He died in 1971 aged 18, having left behind another very successful chapter in the chronicles of Vogel Vlei Stud as well as an indelible mark on the South African Stud Book.  Super stallion!