FORT WOOD (USA) 1990

FORT WOOD (USA) 1990, a bay colt by SADLER’S WELLS (USA) out of FALL ASPEN (USA) by PRETENSE (USA), was bred by Hullin Co. N.V. of Kentucky, North America. He raced in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and was trained by André Faber. He was unraced as 2yo and a winner of 3 races during his racing career, including the 1993 Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris and the 1993 Group 2 Prix Noailles in France as a 3yo.

Purchased by Mr. Harry & Mrs. Bridget Oppenheimer in 1994 for their Mauritzfontein Stud (Alistair Brown of Equarius Bloodstock as agent), he was one of 10 sons of SADLER’S WELLS (USA) 1981 (a son of NORTHERN DANCER (CAN) 1961) to stand at stud in South Africa.

His dam, FALL ASPEN (USA) 1976, a Group 1 winner as a 2yo, was the Broodmare Of The Year in 1994 in the USA. She produced 4 Group 1 winners, as well as another 17 Stakes Winners. Of her 14 foals only two did not win. She was sold in 1994 (aged 18), in foal to DANZIG (USA) 1977, for $2.4m and died in February 1998 due to foaling complications.

FORT WOOD produced his first crop of foals in 1995 and was very quick to grab the attention of the key players in the industry in a big way. He was at stud in South Africa from 1995 until his death in 2015 and produced 80 Stakes Winners (including 15 Group 1 Winners) during that time. Champion Sire Of South Africa for the 1998 / 1999 season, he was also a regular Top 10 finisher. A multiple Champion Broodmare Sire, whose daughters are still producing high end winners.

His principal winners include:

(COLTS)

FORT DEFIANCE 6 wins, 1997 Juvenile Stakes, 1998 Newmarket Guineas, 1998 The Champion Stakes.
HORSE CHESTNUT 9 wins (8 wins South Africa + 1 win USA from 10 starts), 1997 Natal Free Handicap, 1998 Graham Beck 3-Y-O Handicap, 1998 The Dingaans, 1998 Cape Argus Guineas, 1998 J&B Metropolitan, 1998 The Classic, 1998 SA Derby, 2000 Broward Handicap (USA).
SYON 9 wins, 2001 Drill Hall Stakes, 2001 2nd WPOTA Diadem Stakes, 2000 3rd Mercury Sprint, 2001 3rd Computaform Sprint, 2001 4th Mondi Sprint.
CELTIC GROVE 10 Wins, 2000 Golden Horseshoe (Premiers Champion Stakes), 2000 John Skeaping Trophy, 2000 The Dingaans, 2000 Gauteng Guineas, 2000 South African Guineas, 2000 Gold Challenge, 2000 2nd Cape Argus Guineas, 2000 2nd Durban July Handicap.
DYNASTY 9 wins, 2002 Green Point Stakes, 2002 Selangor Cup, 2002 Graham Beck Wines Cape Derby, 2002 South African Guineas, 2002 Daily News 2000, 2002 Vodacom Durban July, 2003 Green Point Stakes (WFA), 2002 2nd Golden Horseshoe (Premiers Champion Stakes), 2002 2nd Cape Argus Guineas, 2003 3rd Queen’s Plate.
SUPERWOOD 8 wins, 2002 Sea Cottage Stakes, 2002 Gold Circle Derby, 2003 Victory Moon Handicap, 2005 Glenlair Trophy, 2002 Tony Ruffel Stakes, 2002 2nd East Cape Derby, 2002 2nd Darley Arabian Open, 2003 2nd Gold Bowl, 2003 2nd Lonsdale Stirrup Cup, 2003 2nd Vodacom Durban July, 2004 2nd London News Stakes, 2004 3rd Canon Gold Cup, 2005 3rd Memorial Mile, 2002 4th SA Derby.
ELUSIVE FORT 7 wins SA + 1 place USA, 2005 Sea Cottage Stakes, 2005 SA Derby, 2005 Daily News 2200, 2006 Hawaii Stakes, 2006 Horse Chestnut Stakes, 2005 2^nd SA Classic, 2008 2^nd Appleton Handicap (USA Group 3).
HUNTING TOWER 10 wins (8 wins South Africa + 2 wins Dubai), 2005 Gommagomma Dingaans, 2005 Gauteng Guineas, 2005 SA Classic, 2006 London News Stakes, 2007 Vodacom Durban July, 2005 2nd KZN Guineas, 2009 2nd Al Fahidi Fort, 2005 3rd Daily News 2200, 2006 3rd Champions Cup, 2007 3rd J&B Metropolitan, 2011 3rd Abu Dhabi Championship, 2006 4th November Handicap.
FOREST PATH 4 wins, 2007 Umkhomazi Stakes, 2007 Golden Horseshoe, 2008 SA Classic, 2007 2nd Godolphin Barb Stakes, 2008 3rd Vodacom Durban July, 2007 4th Premier’s Champion Stakes, 2008 4th Graham Beck Stakes.

(FILLIES)

CARON 5 wins, 1998 Fillies Stakes, 1999 Jasmine Handicap, 1999 2nd Empress Club Stakes, 1999 3rd Acacia Handicap, 1999 3rd Jacaranda Handicap, 1999 4th Yellowwood Handicap.
DOGWOOD 5 wins, 1998 Arc-En-Ciel Paddock Stakes (WFA), 1998 Cape Derby, 1998 2nd Cape Fillies Guineas.
COVER LOOK 5 wins, 1998 Juvenile Classic, 1999 SA Fillies Classic, 1999 2nd SA Oaks, 2000 2nd Spring Trial, 2000 2nd Elevation Stakes, 2000 2nd Cape Of Good Hope Paddock Stakes (WFA), 1999 3rd Spring Challenge (F&M), 1999 3rd Gosforth Park Fillies Guineas.
DOG ROSE 5 wins, 1999 Gosforth Park Fillies Guineas, 1999 2nd Cape Of Good Hope Paddock Stakes (WFA), 1999 3rd Empress Club Stakes, 1999 3rd SA Fillies Classic, 1999 3rd SA Oaks, 2000 3rd Jacaranda Handicap.
KIMBERLEY MINE 7 wins, 1999 Ladies Day Handicap, 1999 Woolavington Stakes, 1999 Natal Oaks, 2000 Spring Challenge (F&M), 1998 4th Allan Robertson Fillies Championship, 1999 4th Post Golden Slipper.
STRELITZIA 5 wins, 1999 East Coast Handicap, 1999 2nd Ladies Day Handicap, 1999 2nd Darley Arabian Stakes, 1999 4th Cape Fillies Guineas, 1999 4th SA Fillies Classic, 1999 4th Woolavington Stakes.
CAROLINA CHERRY 5 wins, 2000 Gold Circle Oaks, 1999 2nd Juvenile Stakes, 2000 2nd Woolavington Stakes, 2000 2nd Garden Province Stakes, 2001 2nd Spring Challenge, 2001 2nd Roland’s Song Stakes.
CORK WOOD 8 wins, 2000 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes, 2000 Queen Palm Handicap, 2001 Acacia Handicap, 2001 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes, 2000 2nd East Coast Handicap, 2000 2nd Gold Circle Oaks.
MONYELA 5 wins, 2001 SA Oaks, 2001 Gold Circle Oaks, 2001 2nd Jasmine Stakes.
HOLLY OAK 8 wins, 2005 Victress Stakes, 2005 Ladies Mile, 2004 3rd Winter Oaks, 2004 4th Winter Derby.
URABAMBA 3 wins, 2007 SA Fillies Classic, 2007 2nd Starling Stakes, 2007 2nd Gauteng Fillies Guineas, 2007 3rd Goldfields Sprint.
WENDYWOOD 2 wins (died after only having 3 starts), 2007 Woolavington 2000 (Grade 1).
QUEEN’S BAY 8 wins, 2009 Yellowwood Handicap, 2009 Jacaranda Handicap, 2011 Yellowwood Handicap, 2010 2nd Gerald Rosenberg Stakes, 2011 2nd Ipi Tombe Challenge, 2009 3rd Gerald Rosenberg Stakes, 2009 4th Champions Challenge, 2010 4th Gold Bracelet.
ILHA BELLA 7 wins, 2011 SA Oaks, 2013 Johannesburg Spring F&M Challenge, 2011 2nd Gauteng Fillies Guineas, 2011 2nd Woolavington 2000, 2013 2nd Sun Classique Handicap, 2011 3rd SA Fillies Classic, 2013 3rd Victory Moon Stakes.
MAGIC SMOKE 10 wins, 2013 Spook Express Handicap, 2013 Gold Bowl, 2012 2nd Queen Of The Sand.
ATHINA 4 wins, 2013 Three Troikas Stakes, 2013 SA Fillies Classic, 2013 2nd Johannesburg Spring F&M Challenge, 2013 2nd Fillies Mile, 2013 2nd Woolavington 2000, 2014 2nd Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes (WFA), 2013 3rd Gauteng Fillies Guineas.
FORTISSIMA 5 wins, 2016 Racing Association Handicap, 2017 Racing Association Handicap, 2015 2nd SA Oaks, 2016 3rd Yellowwood Handicap, 2016 4th Gold Cup, 2017 4th Western Cape Stayers.
NEGROAMARO 2 wins, 2015 Fillies Mile, 2015 2nd Three Troikas Stakes, 2015 2nd Gauteng Fillies Guineas, 2015 2nd SA Fillies Classic, 2015 2nd Woolavington 2000, 2015 3rd Fillies Guineas, 2016 4th Jacaranda Handicap.

FORT WOOD is on record as having 10 of his sons stand at stud in South Africa, these include DYNASTY (SAF) 1999, HORSE CHESTNUT (SAF) 1995 and ELUSIVE FORT (SAF) 2002. ELUSIVE FORT is the sire of the 2021 Vodacom Durban July Handicap & 2022 WSB Cape Metropolitan winner, KOMMETDIEDING, who is busy writing his own fairy tale for all directly connected to him as well as the general racing public who adore him!

He is also on record as being the broodmare sire of 3 stallions at stud here, namely CAPETOWN NOIR (SAF) 2009, WILLIAM LONGSWORD (SAF) 2013 and the exciting young stallion recruit, MALMOOS (SAF) 2017.

FORT WOOD certainly brought one of South Africa’s oldest and finest nurseries, MAURITZFONTEIN STUD, into the 21^st Century with a terrific bang. Take a bow Kimberley’s finest, long may the legacy you left behind continue to flourish.