SCOTT Bros’ multiple local and international Gr1 winner, The Apache, has returned to his place of birth to continue his career at stud.

The Apache, owned by Winston Chow, was awarded the Equus Champion 3YO Colt title in 2011 after his top class Graded Stakes wins for trainer Gavin van Zyl in South Africa prior to leaving on his international campaign.

The outstanding racing son of Mogok was the pride of South Africa when he crossed the line first in the Gr1 Arlington Million in the USA for Mike De Kock, only to have the race result changed after interference.

The Apache, winning in Dubai. (Andrew Watkins)

Half of his ownership was sold to Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and he was to sent into the care of De Kock, for an overseas campaign.

After enduring the arduous travel regimen for South African horses to Dubai via Mauritius, The Apache set the Dubai Carnival alight by winning the Gr2 Al Rashidiya Stakes and placing second in the Gr1 Jebel Hatta and Gr1 Dubai Duty Free.

De Kock then decided to send the Mogok colt to England for a run prior to his American trip, and he finished fourth in the Gr2 York Stakes.

It was onto the Gr1 Arlington Million, and while The Apache put in a sensational run to cross the finish line a little over a length in front, the race was taken away very disappointingly over interference, in the process he defeated a number of international Gr1 winners. The pair raced neck and neck down the straight The Apache winning by the narrowest of margins and was declared the unofficial winner but lost the race on an objection.”

Reflecting on his tremendous effort De Kock continued: “I think he had a lot of quality horses behind him very good European horses and very good American horses.”He’s the South African pride. He ran huge”

De Kock continued on the international campaign for The Apache: “He’s gone from South Africa to Mauritius to Dubai to England, and to America in 12 months. You can’t do that with many horses but South African horses tend to deal with it.”

The Apache was retired and sent back to South Africa, having earned over R17 million in stakes – not too shabby for an R80 000 purchase.

The Apache is a culmination of the Scott Bros’ dynasty of stallions and mares carefully mated for over four generations, he has certainly reflected his breeders and his champion lineage with his outstanding achievements.

Out of Apache Rose by Dolpour, he carries a strong Highdown Stud Pedigree that began when Robin Scott purchased his fourth dam Lenore, one of the foundation mares of the great Scott Bros nursery.

The Apache won or placed in ten Group/Graded races in four different countries.