A Year On – The Legend Reigns
Exactly one year ago today, Maine Chance Farms lost their beloved champion Silvano. At the age of 25 he retired from the stallion office in 2020.
As a true gentleman and giant among stallions, the Lomitas son, bred in Germany, topped the South African stallion list six times, four times in a row.
Grace and power – Silvano was a star
Silvano was crowned South African Champion sire for the first time in 2012-13, finished fourth in 2013, third in 2014 and was knocked on the post in 2015. He dominated the next four seasons before slipping to fifth place in 2020-21 only to reclaim his title last season.
Considering that the South African racing program is heavily geared towards speed and precocity and there are far fewer opportunities for late maturing types, Silvano’s performances as a classic stallion have been truly phenomenal.
While his offspring have been responsible for every great classic, he has also stamped his authority on the venerable Durban July and sired five winners of the country’s most important race. In 2015 he made history when his Maine Chance bred sons Power King, Punta Arenas and Tellina finished in the top three. Two years later, Marinaresco picked his way through the field to emerge as the winner, finishing by a head ahead of Silvanos SA Derby winner and favorite Al Sahem, while Gr.1 winner daughter Nightingale was knocked out by a shorthead for third place became.
This year, four-year-old daughter Sparkling continued her father’s unprecedented record, becoming his fifth July winner, with third place going to paternal half-brother Safe Passage, who is keen to claim the Equus Champion honors for the three-year-old to win .
The sire of 110 stakes winners (9 of which were bred in his native Germany, including German Derby winner Lucky Speed), Silvano ranks Horse of the Year Summer Pudding and champions Bold Silvano, Aslan, Kings Gambit, Vercingetorix, Marinaresco and Hawwaam among 28 top-level winners.
With two more crops yet to see the line, that number is sure to increase.
Silvano’s legacy lives on through his excellent son Vercingetorix, who seemed poised for a first stallion title, but for Splashing Water’s big win in July that put his sire at the head of the line.
Another exciting stallion son waiting to bow is Champion Hawwaam, a half brother of Horse of the Year Rainbow Bridge and Gr1 winner Golden Ducat.
Silvano is now making a name for himself as a broodmare sire and recently celebrated his first Gr1 success in this area when Oratorio filly Canadian Summer won the Thekwini Stakes, a win that will likely crown her Champion of the 2022 season.
Silvano was a great horse, well balanced, of medium height, with a strong head and beautiful neck and shoulders. Full of personality and presence, he had a friendly and intelligent temperament, traits he inevitably passed on to his offspring.
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