Basie and Suzette Viljoen achieved a dream when Johnny Appleseed (Admiral Kitten) won at the second time of asking from the stable of Tony Peter, winning by just over a length at the Vaal to give Hopes And Dreams Stud, formally Arc-En-Ciel, their first winner.

The three year old gelding is out of Effortless Reward (AUS), a winner amongst her six starts of the 400m Dash at Hollywoodbets Greyville under Jason Gates. Amongst the horses she defeated in that race was the speedy Kissable. Johnny Appleseed is her first foal, and Effortless Reward is a half sister to a 9-time winner in Australia and a 5-time winner in Hong Kong. It is the family of Rising Taipan and Dance Til Dawn.

Hopes And Dreams Stud will see their resident champion and Equus Horse Of The Year, Captain’s Ransom, foal to Jet Dark in the coming few weeks and the foal is eagerly anticipated. Captain’s Ransom shares a paddock with her chestnut half-sister by The United States, United’s Ransom, who is also due to foal this year.

Not only do the Viljoen family stand their mares, but they also have many of their special geldings who excelled in the famous blue and pink diamond silks in racing, enjoying their retirement on the farm including Hoedspruit and the giant What A Winter half-brother to Summer Pudding, Vanderbilt.

The Viljoen’s who have enjoyed racing at the highest level and achieved past accolades including Equus Owner Of The Year, enjoyed another great season, including Surjay winning the Gr1 Mercury Sprint and their well bred fillies such as Golden Sickle, One Fell Swoop and Double Grand Slam (owned in partnership) excelling.  Suzette and Basie along with their team headed up by Furdy Swartbooi, will be foaling 80 mares this season, are looking forward to their son of Frankel arriving early next week to commence stud duties.

Frantastic is a full brother to Gr1 winner Cracksman, in turn the sire of Gr1 French Derby and Qatar Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe winner, Ace Impact. Frantastic, a 2-time winner before injury curtailed his career, will stand for a fee of R20 000 live foal this season.

Images: Candiese Lenferna