THE horse with the tummy and the shiny coat is not a pregnant mare, it’s former Gr1 sprinting star Shea Shea, fully enjoying his retirement in the beautiful paddocks at the Slack family’s Mauritzfontein Stud. He’s accompanied by 22-year-old mare Daphne Donnelly, a very fast filly in her day and now also retired.

“Shea Shea is like a nurse to the mares, along with previous racers like Forest Path and Happy Valley,” said Diane de Kock.

With the pair are Steven Jell, semi-retired himself but yet to attain Shea Shea’s paunch, and Mauritzfontein Stud Manager, Guy Murdoch.