Swettenham sire rewards Shadwell

Victorian breeders Bill and Yoneen Hodder hit the jackpot when they sold a Keep The Faith colt for $220,000 at the 2010 Inglis Easter yearling sale.

It was a remarkable result for the Nagambie couple who trade under the Boxgrove Pastoral banner.  Keep The Faith had been priced at $8,000 fee for his second season at Swettenham Stud in 2007.  

The colt was purchased by Shadwell Estates owner Sheikh Hamdan and was sent to South Africa.  Named Ibsaar, he will more than pay his way going on a very impressive victory second time out at Scottsville on Sunday.

Ibsaar (3c Keep The Faith – Fete de la Fraise by Peintre Celebre) won the Natalia Financial Brokers Plate (1950m) by more than two lengths as an odds-on favourite.  Trained by Mike de Kock, he had made a decent debut and appreciated stretching out to a longer trip on Sunday.

The winner’s family has strong South African connections.  He is from a half-sister to G2 Arlington Oaks winner Taineberry (Centaine).  She is the dam of Turffontein G3 winner Jalberry (Jallad) and the second dam of Kenilworth G1 winner Solo Traveller (Western Winter).

Keep The Faith is a son of breed-shaping stallion Sunday Silence.  He was a Caulfield stakes winner before venturing to North America where he scorched over 1200 metres at Belmont in a record 1.06.82s.

Keep The Faith will stand for a $9,000 (inc gst) service fee at Swettenham this year.