Flower Power! Welcome Bloomhill Stud To The August 2yo Sale!

There’s a brand new name in the 2022 BSA August 2yo Sale Catalog!

Located in the scenic Wartburg area, northeast of the KZN capital of Pietermaritzburg, the magnificent Bloomhill Stud is home to the Trethewey family – and of course the legendary racing mare Rouge Allure!

Mother Sandra is the ‘Finance Minister’ in the Trethewey household and exudes infectious enthusiasm as she recounts how the long road to her exciting first sale two weeks ago began many years ago when family friends Piet and Protea Taljaard, came from the free state to visit.

“It was a holiday and they arrived with two ponies in tow. My almost lifelong love affair with horses began with Twaksak and Togolosh,” says the daughter of a cattle farmer and cattle judge.

When asked about her background, the articulate Sandra says she grew up in Hluhluwe.

“My brother and I are fourth generation farmers. I went to Wykeham Collegiate and studied at Technikon Natal. I then returned to Hluhluwe to set up a family play lodge in Hluhluwe. It’s called Falaza Game Park & ​​Spa – www.falaza.co.za. It was a great foundational learning experience for me,” she adds.

Sandra married Lance Trethewey 18 years ago and the family live on Bloomhill with daughter Taylor-Paige, 14, and son Cullum, 11.

Lance is the current South African 4×4 champion in his class. Sandra explains that her children also love the adrenaline of racing cars.

“We go racing as a family and the kids and I’m his support crew. Our two children want to race with their father. I’m not sure if my nerves can take it. I affectionately refer to the three as my “Petrol Heads”. We’re all an athletic bunch; we love nature and spend our summer days at the dam wall water skiing. The bush and the beach are our best vacations.”

This week’s SPRINT cover star, Rouge Allure, will soon be staying at Bloomhill Stud – please click here to read the latest SPRINT:

In addition to their passion for horses and cars, they also raise cattle and flowers, and Lance has an earthmoving business.

On the floral front, fragrant garden roses are their specialty and they also grow lisianthus and various other seasonal blooms.

“Our market is for the local wedding and events industry, but we have also exported for weddings on a few occasions. Then our whole family is very involved in the stud farm. In our first season I had to make that little promise that I would wake my kids up to see every foal – and they did! We all have our favorite horses and the children have their own riding horses, but they also own their favorite broodmare and foals!”

The Bloomhill dream started a few years ago when Sandra heard about the Summerhill Dispersal Sale and decided to get a riding horse.

“I contacted Amorette Kramer and she invited me to the beautiful farm to see the babysitters as I was looking for a gelding. We accompanied Cupid as she showed the horses to the buyers. After inspecting the weaners and yearlings, we looked at the broodmares. When I entered the warehouse with the other buyers and my daughter, a chestnut mare came up to me and would not leave me alone. We own this mare now – her name is Wysiwyg! That got me thinking and well we bought six mares at this auction – and I still don’t have a horse to ride!” She laughs as she points to lot 159 in the catalog for the end of the month sale.

“He’s a wonderful Act Of War son,” adds Sandra proudly.

Visit www.bloomhill.co.za

Sandra is a hands-on boss and trainer of “a small phenomenal team”.

“We plan to remain a small boutique stud farm breeding top bloodlines and mares with great validation. When we decided to breed, we made a conscious choice and commitment to best prepare our horses for their next step in their journey. By staying small and exquisite, I believe we have achieved that and will continue to do so,” she says with steely determination.

We asked what women’s month means to her.

“I am very fortunate to come from a family where women have always been leaders and businesswomen. Both my great-grandmother and grandmother were farmers, and my mother is also a dynamic businesswoman. My business partner is my husband Lance, who values ​​my opinion and encourages every aspect of my independence and leadership, and I have a father who has been one of my biggest supporters.”

Her open nature shows her love of working with people.

“The flower farm only employs women who we have trained and it has been a pleasure to watch them grow. My right hand in the stud farm is a dynamic lady named Beauty Ndlovu. She taught me so much and together we share our knowledge with other younger interested women, but I couldn’t do without the men who occupy very important positions in our team. It’s all about balance and surrounding yourself with the right mix of people working together as a team to create shared success,” she adds sincerely.

Sandra is an advocate of the team strength philosophy.

“We’re all about celebrating our strengths and acknowledging what we’re good at and not so good at. Our approach is very real. We are all blessed with gifts and talents and there is no greater gift than sharing them and offering your hand to uplift those around you. I believe that helping someone else’s success will never ruin yours. I found a nice quote a few years ago – “And when you get where you’re going, turn around and help her too. Because not long ago she was you.”

Sandra is an open book at first contact. “I love real blanks, people with passion and joie de vivre. I love people who can laugh because that’s always contagious. I have great respect for people who like to share and pass on their knowledge. Honesty, integrity and kindness are at the heart of who I am. I hate dishonesty, claims and deceit. My family is very important to me – they are a wonderful bunch that makes me very proud,” she beams.

And with the August 2yo Sale just over two weeks away, how’s the mood at Bloomhill Camp?

“To say I have mixed feelings is an understatement. I’m looking forward to the sales and I’m curious how our horses will be accepted. I just pray they all go to great homes/yards. I look forward to seeing them grow and their careers as racehorses develop. It’s very exciting!”

• Find the Bloomhill August 2yo Sale draft in Stables D8-D13.

Sandra’s Notes on the Bloomhill Sextet: (Pictures by Candies Lenferna)

LOT 159 Wyze Act: Son of Act of War (3 Gr1 performers from his first crop) out of one of the nation’s elite mares (dam of Cape Flying Championship Gr1 Hero, BOHICA and Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint runner-up, BARTHOLDI)

LOT 195 JET SPEED: Son of multiple Gr1 winner, RABADA, brother to black type runner, WAKA WAKA and Flying Dream (3 wins and R289,000.) Late filly.

LOT 117 MIDNIGHT RUBY: Daughter of South Africa’s highest rated youth of his generation, RABADA; Sister of Black Type performer FLASHING STAR and Mighty Valdie (R206, 900 in service)

LOT 57 PERFECTLY SELECTED: from the father of RAINBOW BRIDGE, SMART CALL, SAMURAI WARRIOR and VISTULA out of a sister to Gr 1 hero, PICK SIX & Saucy Savannah, family of undefeated Juvenile Champion, BRIDAL PATHS.

LOT 227 ELEGANT NUDE: Daughter of the father of 3 Gr1 performers (WAR OF ATHENA, BATTLE FORCE and BARTHOLDI) from the first crop, out of the group-winning mother of 2 black-type performers. Family of GLAMOR BOY, ELEGANT BUCK, GAULTIER and KOLKATA.

LOT 43 GOLD AGENT: Daughter of Drakenstein’s first stallion GOLD STANDARD, ex-group winner OOCHEE AGENT from the family of HOT GIRL, HARRY’S LADY, SOWJET RISING etc.