Every racehorse owner dreams of breeding their own champion, but it’s a rather long and costly process. It’s roughly 5 years, from the day that the stallion covers the mare, to the day that foal steps out onto the racecourse for its first start, more often than not, as a 3 year old. And that journey is fraught with all sorts of potential issues and dangers, along the way. So when you finally get that special home-bred horse that achieves beyond all expectations, the joy and satisfaction is really like no other experience in racing. And the Trotter family have got just that, in their sprinting sensation, Barbosa.

This 6yo bay gelding recently completed a rather impressive hat trick of wins, bringing his tally to a total of 8 wins and 6 places from just 21 starts, earning his owners just over R600 000 in stakes, and himself a rather smart Merit Rating of 108! He is equally proficient on both the turf, and new synthetic polytrack, having won succinctly on both surfaces. Barbosa is trained by Dennis Drier at Summerveld Training Centre, near Shongweni, in KwaZulu-Natal. He has built up a very special relationship with his regular jockey, Sean Cormack, who has partnered him in 19 of his starts, and been on board for every one of his victories!

But this sprinting prowess is no accident, as he comes from a very strong South African sprinting bloodline. His 4th Dam, Crassula (Thunderhead II), produced some of the best sprinters in the 1970’s, in Flower Power, Aster, Amorella and Fenjal. You will find the ill-fated Historic Lady (ARCSA Champion 2yo), under his 3rd Dam Fenjal. And then his own Dam, Fine Feather (Best By Test), was a very useful sprinter herself, winning 7 sprint races, from the yard of Alastair Gordon. Barbosa’s sire is Captain Al, the current reigning Champion Stallion in South Africa. He has produced some talented sprinters himself, not least, and most recently Captain Of All, who was rated 120 at his retirement to stud, in August this year.

Barbosa was born under the watchful eye of Craig Carey, at Arc-En-Ciel Stud, in the Western Cape, where Fine Feather spent most of her stud career. A few years back, she unfortunately had to have one of her eyes removed, due to a growth that was causing her discomfort, but there has never been an issue with it, subsequently. Fine Feather now resides at “home” – Ambleway Thoroughbred Stables – and goes to Peter Blythe’s Clifton Stud in Mooi River, to foal down each year. On the same day that Barbosa won the second race of his recent hat trick, his half-sister, by Mogok was born – a special omen for part owners, Jane and Rodney Trotter. More recently, one of the part owners pulled out of Barbosa, and James Trotter, Jane and Rodney’s son, took over those shares, in the name of “The Apache Syndicate”, and so now it truly is a family affair.

Jane Trotter is a very highly regarded horsewoman, especially in the racing industry, and she owns and runs Ambleway Thoroughbred Stables, a breaking in, pre-training and spelling farm for racehorses. Situated near Pietermaritzburg, she is well supported by many of the big yards, including Mike De Kock, Geoff Woodruff, Dennis Drier and Alec Laird. She has had some great horses at her establishment, including the inimitable Beach Beauty, Durban July winner Grey’s Inn, and Cape Derby and Daily News 2000 winner, Jackson, and the recently exported Love Struck, winner of the Gr1 SA Classic. So after many years of sending out a whole host of champions to race in their respective yards, she now has her own, homebred pride and joy, in Barbosa.

It was because of his sire, Captain Al, that the name Barbosa was chosen. Captain Barbosa was the “bad pirate” played by Geoffery Rush in the Pirates Of The Carribbean trilogy. While that character will be remembered for his evil pursuit of Captain Jack Sparrow, the horse Barbosa will be long remembered for his gallant pursuit of victory on the racetrack!

GALLERY
1) Barbosa as a two year old during his Pre-Training days at Ambleway Thoroughbred Stables

2) Jane giving Barbosa a goodbye kiss, shortly before he went into training with Dennis Drier at Summerveld in KZN

3) Barbosa being led into the Winner’s Circle at Kenilworth Racecourse in the Western Cape, after his win on Queen’s Plate 2014 raceday. (Photo              courtesy of the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate Facebook page)

4) Barbosa winning the Listed UMNGENI HANDICAP at Greyville on 1 August 2015, on the Polytrack, on Gold Cup Day (Photo courtesy of www.goldcircle.co.za)

5) Getting a big pat from Jane after his win in the Umngeni Handicap (Photo courtesy of www.goldcircle.co.za)

6) The second win of his hat trick, again on the Polytrack at Greyville (Photo courtesy of www.goldcircle.co.za)

7) Win three of the hat trick – this time on the turf at Scottsville (Photo courtesy of www.goldcircle.co.za)

8) James Trotter giving Barbosa a cuddle at Dennis Drier’s Summerveld yard

9) Jane and Rodney Trotter 

10) Fine Feather with her 2015 foal by Mogok, at Clifton Stud