AFTER a long and illustrious career at stud, Maine Chance Farms flagbearer and reigning SA Champion Sire Silvano has been retired.

In a statement Andreas Jacobs and Tim Bootsma said that while Silvano’s absence on the breeding scene will be sorely felt, they were extremely grateful for the tremendous success he has had at stud. At the same time they that they were relieved that he will still be around, living at Maine Chance in well deserved retirement.

They also thanked all the Silvano shareholders, as well breeders in general, for the support lent to Silvano throughout his career.

Only last Sunday evening at the virtual Equus Awards Silvano claimed his fifth South African General Sires title.

At the end of the 2019-2020 South African racing season Silvano stood clear on the sires list with his runners having earned R12 968 988 (restricted stakes excluded) in prize money.

The former Arlington Million winner has headed the local general sires list for the past four years in a row, having also been Champion Sire in 2012-2013.

A son of Lomitas, Silvano enjoyed a superb last season, even by his high standards, with his 12 black type winners picking up 18 stakes races dur- ing 2019-2020. He also enjoyed success in Hong Kong in 2020, his son Chefano, who raced as Vacquero in South Africa, landing the Gr3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup.

Silvano, whose current tally of stakes winners stands at 97, was the only stallion in South Africa responsible for more than 10 black type winners.

Silvano is also making his mark as a sire of sires, with his Gr1 Daily News 2000/Gr1 Jebel Hatta winning son Vercingetorix the Leading Second Season Sire in South Africa for 2019-2020. The champion’s dominance was extended to the sales ring – where he was responsible for the top four lots sold at last month’s National Yearling Sale, with his top lot, a full brother to champion Hawwaam, making R7 million.

-Media Release