Somehow, it’s been 13 years since ‘s most catchy performance The Cliffs of Canford ‘racing career, when he barely broke a sweat to win the Coventry Stakes (G2) six races ago.
It’s been almost 11 years since his last match with Frankel in ‘Duel on the Downs’ at Goodwood, after which he spent six seasons at Coolmore Stud in Ireland.
However, there seems to be a strong feeling in South Africa that the best is yet to come as he reverts to the Kieswetter family’s Ridgemont Highlands puppy status.
Among the best-selling males at the recent Cape Premier Yearling Sale, it made a first impression in the early calendar of juvenile races.
“It’s been very exciting for us. He holds a position so dear to the family as he represented when we took over the farm. He was our first serious concern. we’re in bringing international blood into the country, that’s what we’ve been trying to continue” Craig Kieswetter, a former British international cricketer who is now deeply involved in the Western Cape stud tournament prefer.
“He started planting his first South African hybrid and got off to a great start. One of his ponies, Cliff Topwon the first underage bet race and he’s currently leading the freshman male diaries here, so now we just want him to keep beating those winners.
“Cliff Top took a very good win over the 1,000 metres, and went down from Port Elizabeth to run on Met Day, a very big meeting at Kenilworth. Canford Cliffs is really a gathering place but what we have found is what we have found. to his descendants is that they certainly have speed but definitely appreciate 1,200 metres; 1,000 meters can be a hit in terms of sharpness.
“As ponies, we are extremely pleased with what he throws and all the reports I get from trainers who have his horses in their stables are that they are campaigners. great and stepped up and did exactly what was asked.”
The Kieswetters, with the support of Craig Carey, took over Robertson Ranch from the Beck family in 2017 and shortly thereafter, acquired Canford Cliffs from Coolmore after discussions with their close friends Peter. and Ross Doyle.
The son of Tagula who won Abu Dhabi Irish Two thousand Guineas (G1) out of five in group 1, was bought by the same dealers as a covet.
“It would be silly of us to turn down a horse of that ability as a racehorse, and as a steed he has picked winners in more than 30 different countries around the world and His descendants earned more than 330 million rand (more than US Kieswetter said: $21.8 million).
“Being a freshman in South Africa with the stats behind that he has is quite remarkable.”
Former England international cricketer Craig Kieswetter is now the mainstay of his family’s Ridgemont Highlands
Canford Cliffs has joined the strong four-man squad alongside the champion sprinter Rafeef, Potala Palacehigh-achieving son Katak headed to Singapore in search of more wealth and new arrivals MalmoosThe only horse in history to win the South African Triple Crown, for Shadwell and Mike de Kock last year.
Kieswetter describes Canford Cliffs as “an absolute gentleman” but reports that he has a distinctively eccentric personality.
“The courier company loves me because I keep having a shipment of Polo mints coming in for him,” he said.
“I tried to give him the South African version but he was pretty stuck in his way, so I had to bring the UK ones down for him. He’s 15, so he’s not. must be a spring chicken, but not ancient either. He’s a gentle old spirit around the stables.”
Kieswetter added: “Looking back at this ranch’s history, there was a very strong presence of stallions, from Persian Wonder, Badger Land, Elevation, and Jallad to Dynasty, who was a champion. completely and amazingly farm to the industry as a whole.
“Since we took over, we have been very proactive in upgrading our hen flock and have made great strides in bringing our farm back to stallion strength. Rafeef. very much a sprinter, Canford Cliffs is a sprinter, and Malmoos would look to be your classic 2,000 meter sire. I think we’ve got a nice balance.”
