Riethuiskraal – A Rich Past
The farm was previously owned by acclaimed novelist Wilbur Smith. In April 2000 Altus Joubert, an advocate from the Johannesburg bar, purchased the land from Smith and developed it into a stud farm. At that time Joubert had already been breeding thoroughbreds for some 10 years, boarding mares at various farms. As a consequence the horses were bred in the name of “Adv A.P. Joubert”. All such horses referred to herein reflect the breeder as “Riethuiskraal Stud”.
The stud is the source of several champions and other outstanding horses. By the beginning of 2013 the stud had produced horses that have won more than 400 races. The most notable are National Colour, Crimson Palace, Flirtation and Lambarina.
The stud has stood famous stallions, amongst them DAYLAMI (IRE), the best racehorse of his generation and World Champion of 1999, with an International Timeform Rating of 138. Bred by H.H. The Aga Khan from his famous “D” family and raced by Sheik Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing, Daylami won 7 Gr1 races, amongst them the French Guineas Gr1, Irish Champion Stakes Gr1, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes Gr1 and Breeders Cup Turf Gr1. As a stallion, Daylami produced, amongst others, Grey Swallow, winner of the Irish Derby Gr1. Several daughters of Daylami are broodmares of Riethuiskraal Stud. The stud also has a mare from Daylami’s female line, bred by the Aga Khan.
Another famous stallion that stood at Riethuiskraal Stud is SAUMAREZ (GB), winner of Europe’s greatest race (the Prix de I’Arc de Triomphe Gr1) and the Prix du Jockey Club Gr1 (French Derby). Saumarez is also the broodmare sire of a winner of the Epsom Derby Gr1.
CRIMSON PALACE (filly by Elliodor (FR) ex Perfect Guest)
Winning the Paddock Stakes Gr1, breaking the Kenilworth course record over 1800m
FLIRTATION (filly by Silvano (GER) ex French Treasure)
Winning the Summer Cup Gr1 over 2000m, beating champion Mother Russia
Two other fillies deserve a mention. LAMBARINA (by Dancing Champ (USA) ex First Party) won the South African Oaks Gr2 and was crowned the Champion Highveld 3YO filly of her year. Five broodmares on the farm eminate from this family. FLIRTATION (by Silvano (GER) ex French Treasure) won the Summer Cup Gr1, one of only a handful of fillies to have achieved this feat in the more than 120 years of the running of this race. Two broodmares at Riethuiskraal come from Flirtation’s family.
During 2006 the stud acquired DAYLAMI (IRE) from the previous joint owners HH the Aga Khan and HH Sheikh Mohammed Ben Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai. Daylami was the world champion racehorse of 1999, having won 7 Grade 1 races in France, England, Ireland and the USA, including the French Two Thousand Guineas Gr 1 and the Breeders’ Cup Turf Gr1. Four of his daughters still stand at stud on the farm.
Internationally, the stud has also produced a champion colt, River Power, Global View(USA) x Shirley Valentine, Horse of the Year in Zimbabwe in 2025.
Also a graded stakes winner in England, a course record breaker at Nad Al Seeba in Dubai, the Derby winner in Kenya and winners in Hong Kong and Mauritius.
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IMPERIAL STRIDE (GB) won the Scottish Derby Gr2 and achieved an International Timeform Rating of 127. Imperial Stride sired a colt that won South Africa’s Equus Sprinter of the Year Award.
The stud owner has bred CRIMSON PALACE, the first South African filly to win a Group 1 race in the USA and was rated the 4th best filly that year in the world. NATIONAL COLOUR was South Africa’s Horse of the Year, South Africa’s Champion Sprinter of the Year and the Highest Rated filly in the Southern Hemisphere.
LAMBARINA won the classic South African Oaks. FLIRTATION became one of the few mares to win one of South Africa’s major races, the Summer Cup Gr1. Most recently, VISTULA won the Johannesburg Spring Challenge Gr2 and ran 2nd in the Empress Club Gr1. She is now a broodmare at Riethuiskraal.
VISTULA (by Ideal World (USA) ex Venus Rising)Winning the JHB Spring Challenge Gr2 over 1400m
WAY OF THE WORLD (by Var (USA) ex Crimson Lane (USA))
Winning 6 of her 7 last races, including a Stakes Race. Granddaughter of CRIMSON PALACE
Riethuiskraal Stud comprise 68 broodmares, 43 yearlings (born 2023) and 59 foals (born 2024). The celebrated families of Crimson Palace, National Colour, Lambarina and Flirtation comprise 14 of the 68-strong broodmare band. Thirty one of the broodmares have either won (19x) or have been placed (12x) in stakes races. Eight mares have been imported; from Ireland (1x), USA (2x), Argentina (1x), Great Britain (1x) and Australia (3x). The best represented broodmare sire is Trippi (USA), who has 4 daughters standing at Riethuiskraal. Ten of the broodmares on the farm are daughters of our former or present resident stallions.
All in all 22 different covering stallions have been used during the 2024 covering season; every time aspiring to best match the pairings for pedigree and conformation. Differently put, a lot of endeavor is invested in playing this game of chess with nature as best we know how.
The future looks exiting and promising.
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