HDJ champion Sparkling Water retired to stud

Sparkling Water, our 2022/3 G1 Hollywoodbets Durban July winner, has been retired to stud. She has joined the broodmare band at her owner/breeder Mary Slack’s Wilgerbosdrift Stud near Piketberg, Western-Cape.

Sparkling Water, a five-year-old mare by Silvano out of Espumanti by Dansili, goes to stud with a superb race record. She won seven of 21 starts, including the July and the G2 Western Cape Stayers, and finished fourth in the G1 Paddock Stakes. She was versatile, winning from 1450m to 2800m.

Mike de Kock commented: “It’s never easy to say goodbye to star performers like Sparkling Water. She did us so proud with her incredible July win, which was a career highlight for Mary Slack. She was sound, a pleasure to train, and after last year’s July we were looking forward to another big season with her. But as things happen in racing, she had a few niggles during the Cape summer season and lost her form.”

Mike added: “Sparkling Water goes to stud with an even better record than her own dam, Espumanti, and she’ll make a fine broodmare. Thanks to Mary for entrusting her to us, we wish the mare well and will be following her progress.”