KAHAL, the most successful son of Machiavellian to stand in South Africa, courtesyof his owners Shadwell Stud, was euthanized on the 26 June after complications arose from abdominal tumours.
A Top 5 Sire on the National Log since 2009 and the leading KZN stallion, he sired 55 Stakes Winners – including Gr1 Bold Ellinore, Chocolicous, Spiced Gold, Love Struck, Desert Links and Noble Heir – to date.
He stood the first 12 years of his career at Summerhill Stud before relocating to Warwick and Karin Render’s Bush Hill Stud in 2012.
Standing at 16.2h very much in the image of his great broodmare sire Green Desert, Kahal passed his substantial size, bone and strength onto his progeny, and not only are they excelling in racing but the showjumping ring too at the highest levels.
Out of mare Just A Mirage (in turn out of a Nonoalco mare), contested 18 Graded races in 24 career starts (7xGr1, 8xGr2, 3xGr3) in England, France, America, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates.
His life-time stats have seen 503 progeny race, 309 winners (61.0%), earnings of over $10 million, 34 stakes winners, 25 stakes placegetters.
His six Grade 1 winners include Bold Ellinore, Love Struck, Desert Links, Noble Heir, Chocolicious and Spiced Gold. Kahal got them as good over turf as on sand, with the likes of The Mouseketeer and Uncle Tommy (2014 Champion Sand Specialist ). Amongst his overseas campaigners, Art Of War won in Dubai whilst Coronet Peak continues to win and perform in Singapore.
In 2013 Kahal was voted as KZN Breeders Stallion Of The Year for the fifth time, while his Group winning daughter Festival Of Fire took the 2013 KZN Breeders Horse Of The Year.
As a broodmare sire we should see his legacy continue, an exciting development being Backworth-bred Chocolicious who was sold overseas and is due to foal to Frankel this season.
-Photo of Kahal from summerhill.co.za.
