Oracy, one of the best racehorses of his generation, has been retired to Klawervlei Stud for the 2010/2011 season. A fee has yet to be announced.
A magnificent specimen, Oracy was purchased by Charles Laird on behalf of Markus Jooste for $400,000 (or R2.1 million) at the 2007 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Oracy won his first five races in a row. A brilliant debut win over 1450 when thrashing his field by over five lengths, was followed up by a remarkable win in the Gr2 Dingaans. The Dingaans has been won by some of the legends of the South Africa Turf, numbering past winners such as Horse Chestnut, Politician and London News.
Oracy proved his class when defeating a star studded field to win the Dingaans at just his second start. After easily defeating older horses next time out, Oracy then showed his courage when gamely holding off the Gr3 winner Cerise Cherry to win the prestigious Gauteng Guineas.
Off the course for over nine months, Oracy put up arguably the finest performance of his life when outclassing a talented field over 1600. Runner up Seattle Ice went on to win the Gr2 Charity Mile subsequently, whilst third place finisher Magical was beaten a nose in the Gr1 Summer Cup. On this form, Oracy was as good a miler as any in South Africa.
Best over a mile, Oracy again showed his class when winning the Gr3 London News Stakes. This was the third feature race won by Oracy – in just eight starts! In the London News Oracy accounted for the top-class gallopers Dan de Lago and Buy And Sell, both of whom were among the leaders of their generation.
Oracy’s legacy was one of class and speed. Unusually for a Zabeel, he was best up to 1800 meters, but was quick enough to win over 1400 meters. He won seven of his 11 starts and defeated the best horses of his generation such as Forest Path, Dan de Lago and Seattle Ice. Winner of two of the top 3yo races in the country, Oracy ranked amongst the best of his year.
He takes to stud a pedigree to match his physique and race record. His sire, Zabeel, is one of the finest stallions to ever stand at stud in the Southern Hemisphere. To date, Zabeel has sired over 100 stakes winners, including 41 individual Gr1 winners. Zabeel, by the mighty Sir Tristram, is the sire of such mighty champions as Octagonal, Might And Power, Vengeance of Rain, Reset, and Efficient.
Oracy comes from an equally impressive female line. His dam, Lady Dehere, was a top-class 2yo herself, winning New Zealand’s richest race, the Mercedes Super Bonus Classique, and the Gr2 Matamata RC Matamata Breeders Stakes.
Lady Dehere, by champion juvenile and outstanding broodmare sire Dehere, is a half-sister to the high-class sprinter and very promising young sire Oratorio. Oratorio is currently the leading second crop sire in Australia by total earnings. This is also the family of world leading sire Indian Ridge.
With all this going for him, it is hard not be excited by Oracy’s chances at stud.
