PERSIAN WONDER (GB) 1959

Bred by Lord Durham, PERSIAN WONDER (GB) 1959, a brown colt by PERSIAN GULF (GB) out of LILAC BELLE (GB) by PETITION (GB), was brought to South Africa by Mr. Jack Stubbs as a 4yo in 1963.

Having already had racing success in England (9 wins – full English racing history attached below), Persian Wonder was put into training on his arrival in South Africa, but was not successful in his 9 starts here.

During 1964, after having had 6 runs, Persian Wonder covered a small book of mares at Highlands Farm Stud and then returned to racing for 3 more runs early in 1965, before returning to Highlands for stud duties on a full time basis.

He was the second of the extremely successful sons of PERSIAN GULF (GB) 1940 to stand at stud in South Africa (there were 11 sons of Persian Gulf at stud in SA in total). PERSIAN WONDER (GB) 1959 was closely related in pedigree structure to the other successful son of Persian Gulf, ABADAN II (GB) 1947. PERSIAN WONDER was out of the mare LILAC BELLE by PETITION (a son of FAIR TRIAL). His second dam was BELLE TRAVERS by MR JINKS (a son of TETRATEMA by THE TETRARCH). ABADAN II was out of the FAIR TRIAL mare, AFFAIR and his second dam was ARAMINTA by TETRATEMA (by THE TETRARCH).

Persian Wonder was the Champion Sire Of South Africa on 6 occasions: 1972/73, 1973/74, 1974/75, 1975/76, 1978/79 and 1979/80 and the runner up on 3 occasions. He was the Champion Sire of Two Year Olds for the 1973/74 season and his daughters at stud ensured that he became one of the finest broodmare sires ever seen in South Africa.

Principal winners (COLTS):

PERSIAN RULER 6 wins JWS Langerman Handicap.
BOLD PERSIAN 8 wins 1968 1968 S.A. Nursery Plate, 1969 The Dingaans, 1971 Java Handicap.
SHAH ABBAS 9 wins + 1 win USA 1968 New Year Nursery Plate, 1968 Breeders Challenge Stakes, 1969 Guineas Trial Stakes, 1969 Cape Guineas, 1969 Drill Hall Stakes, 1969 Durban Merchants Handicap.
FORCE TEN 14 wins 1971 Christmas Handicap, 1971 Cape Metropolitan, 1972 Appeal Court Handicap, 1972 Gordon’s Gin Handicap (1900m), 1973 Champion Stakes (WFA), 1973 Seaton Cup Handicap.
PEDLAR 9 wins 1969 Morris Lipschitz Memorial Plate, 1969 Racecourse Bookmakers Juvenile Handicap, 1969 Champion Nursery Stakes, 1970 S.A. Derby.
KINGS PALACE 10 wins 1972 Michaelmas Handicap, 1973 Michaelmas Handicap.
FITZGERALD 9 wins 1971 Breeders Challenge Stakes, 1973 Easter Handicap, 1973 Gordon’s Gin Handicap.
OLIVER TWIST 11 wins 1971 African Breeders Stakes, 1972 Durban Merchants Handicap.
PERSIAN SUMMER 10 wins 1973 Winter Merchants Handicap, 1975 TBA Newmarket Sprint.
ACE O SPADES 9 wins 1974 King’s Cup, 1974 Gordon’s Gin Handicap.
MAJESTIC CROWN 11 wins 1973 Summerveld Free Handicap, 1973 Natal Derby, 1975 Michaelmas Handicap, 1975 Holiday Inns.
THE KAJAR 7 wins 1976 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup (Cape), 1977 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup (Cape).
ARCHANGEL 13 wins 1973 New Year Nursery Plate, 1973 Champion Nursery Stakes, 1973 Summerveld Stakes, 1974 Bull Brand Trial Handicap, 1974 Benoni Guineas, 1974 Guineas Trial Stakes, 1974 South African Guineas, 1974 Dick King Stakes, 1975 Hawaii Stakes, 1975 Gordon’s Gin Handicap, 1976 Champion Stakes.
MITHRA 9 wins 1973 Festival Juvenile Handicap, 1975 Merchants Stakes.
SCOTS DRAGOOD 9 wins 1974 Matchem Stakes.
SHAH REZA 9 wins 1973 Transvaal Juvenile Handicap, 1973 Stewards Juvenile Cup.
PERSIAN WAR 7 wins 1974 Boland Breeders Stakes, 1975 Matchem Stakes.
PETIT WONDER 7 wins 1975 Green Point Stakes, 1976 Appeal Court Handicap.
WHITE LANCER 9 wins 1977 Appeal Court Handicap, 1978 Appeal Court Handicap.
BIG SWINGER 11 wins 1977 Germiston City Handicap.
NOBLE KINGDOM 8 wins 1976 Dick King Stakes, 1977 Easter Handicap (Cape).
GREAT SUN 10 wins 1976 Easter Bonnet Nursery Stakes, 1976 JG Hollis Memorial (Futurity), 1976 Administrator’s Champion Juvenile Stakes, 1977 Hennessy Stakes, 1977 King’s Cup, 1978 Germiston November Handicap.
LAWN 13 wins 1979 Laurel Handicap, 1980 Java Handicap, 1983 Jack Patience Anniversary Handicap.
MARATHON MAN 9 wins 1979 Grandstand Handicap, 1981 A Division Handicap.
SUNSHINE MAN 10 wins 1977 JG Hollis Memorial (Futurity), 1978 Clairwood Winter Handicap, 1979 Green Point Stakes, 1979 J&B Metropolitan Handicap, 1980 Cape Trial Handicap.
BRAVE PERSIAN 8 wins 1980 Stayers Handicap, 1980 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup (Cape), 1981 Gold Cup.
SUPREME CHARGER 7 wins 1978 African Breeders Stakes, 1979 Chairman’s Cup, 1980 A Division Handicap.
TON UP 8 wins 1979 In Full Flight Stakes, 1979 South African Guineas + 3 wins in the USA.
CANYON CREEK 6 wins 1979 JG Hollis Memorial (Futurity), 1979 Administrator’s Champion Juvenile Stakes, 1983 A Division Handicap.
ENGLISH STATESMAN 8 wins 1980 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup (Natal), 1982 Stayers Handicap, 1983 Parabats Radio 702 Handicap.

Principal winners (FILLIES):

BOLAND PRIDE 8 wins 1971 Dignity Stakes, 1971 Cape Fillies Guineas.
FARSI 5 wins 1974 Country Cousin Handicap, 1974 TBA Trophy.
LITTLE MO 9 wins 1975 Hibiscus Fillies Nursery.
SIBERIAN WONDER 5 wins 1976 S.A. Oaks.
FESTIVE SEASON 7 wins 1976 WP Fillies Nursery, 1977 Cape Fillies Guineas, 1979 Appeal Court Handicap.
MRS PANKHURST 7 Wins 1979 Chairmans Handicap (Turffontein).
GAY MAMSELLE 8 wins 1979 TBA Newmarket Fillies Plate, 1980 Natalia Stakes.
ROCK STAR 10 wins 1977 WP Fillies Nursery, 1977 Strelitzia Stakes, 1977 Allan Robertson Fillies Championship, 1978 Benoni Guineas, 1978 Revlon’s Charlie Fillies Handicap, 1979 1st Revlon’s Charlie Fillies Handicap.
HAVE A BALL 5 wins 1980 Cape Fillies Guineas, 1981 A Division Handicap.
SOPRANO 5 wins 1982 ST Andrews Paddock Stakes.
AVILA 5 wins 1983 Natalia Stakes.
SPRING WONDER 10 wins 1982 Natal Oaks, 1983 TBA Newmarket Fillies Plate, 1983 Johannesburg Winter Handicap, 1984 A Division Handicap, 1984 Diamond Stakes, 1984 A Division Handicap.

Persian Wonder is on record as having had 32 of his sons stand as stallions at stud in South Africa. He was also the broodmare sire of another 7 stallions at stud – including BUSH TELEGRAPH (Champion 2yo & 3yo and winner of the 1987 Rothmans July Handicap as a 3yo), who very sadly died aged just 10 years old from a heart condition after doing only 5 seasons at stud. He managed to get three exceptional colts from the 5 crops – CRIMSON WAVES (winner of the 1993 South African Guineas & 1994 Queen’s Plate), ASHTONTOWN (1995 Argus Bloodline Guineas, 1995 First National Bank 1600) and LONDON NEWS (1995 The Dingaans, 1995 Administrator’s Classic, 1995 Daily News 2000, 1995 Rothmans July Handicap, 1996 Queen’s Plate, 1996 J&B Metropolitan, 1997 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong, 1997 Drill Hall Stakes).

A truly remarkable stallion, who constantly produced quality, classy individuals of both sexes (both in the looks and ability departments) during his 16 seasons at stud in South Africa.

Persian Wonder died on the 9th November 1979 at 20 years of age. LEGEND!