Muhtafal, a strapping chestnut owned by Sheik Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Shadwell, was the last son of Mr Prospector to stand at stud in South Africa and the most successful in the Southern Hemisphere.

His best progeny included Paris Perfect who finished third in the Gr1 Dubai World Cup, along with Gr 1 winners Outcome, Disappear and Lets Rock ‘n Roll as well as Gr 2 winners Fair Brutus, Veiled Essence, Thunder Key, Arabian Mist, First Again and Here Comes Billy.

Muhtafal will always be remembered for his good looks, powerful physique and the speed he put into his progeny.

However, Paris Pefect’s Dubai World Cup third-place, Outcome’s win in the Gr 1 Garden Province Stakes and Veiled Essence’s win in the Gold Circle Derby over 2400m proved that he was not just about pure speed and could also pass on class.

His home for many years in South Africa was Summerhill Stud, whom he helped win nine consecutive National Breeder’s Championship titles. Summerhill’s owner Mick Goss once famously said, “If I had to go to war I would take Muhtafal.”

Greg Muir has been the long time stallion manager at Summerhill Stud and believed that had Muhtafal not been injured as a two-year-old he might never have made it to South Africa, for he could still have been anything as a three-year-old.

He only had three starts and set two track records over 1200m, including at Keeneland. In his third and last start in a Gr 3 he held the lead over the top class Mr Greeley for almost a mile before injury struck, ending a very promising racing career. Mr Greeley went on to become a sire of international repute.

Muhtafal only covered about 14 mares in his first season in the USA and when first arriving at Sumerhill they were horrified to discover that it took him an average of between two to two-and-a-half hours to cover each mare. It is a tribute to Summerhill and Muir’s dedication that Muhtafal covered books of close to 70 mares in his busiest seasons. They tried a number of tactics to overcome his fussy covering habits, including taking him into the more natural environment of a paddock and they also moved his stable block in amongst the mares to create a herd atmosphere.

However, Muir believed that his fussiness was due to him being more “naturally inclined” in a world where consideration for a thoroughbred’s stallion’s whims are not often considered.

He said, “The smell of estrogen is what attracts a stallion to a mare in the wild and I personally believe that if it didn’t smell right Muhtafal was not going to cover. On some occasions he took as little as ten minutes to cover. In the end if he had not covered within 20 minutes we would send the mare back to the vet to be rechecked.”

Muir added that despite all of his problems, he was very fertile and had a high strike rate of getting his mares in foal.

Muhtafal was a gentleman by nature and doted upon the lady who took care of him at Summerhill, Ollie Duda. His loveable character made him a favourite among most of the other staff.

Muir said that he was typical of a Mr Prospector sire in that he “toed out” on one leg.

However, he added, “There is nothing like a horse to put dirt on your face. A lot of horses are badly conformed but learn to run and will always surprise you. Muhtafal was well bred and had the attributes as a racehorse to make it as a sire.”

Muhtafal spent his latter years at Bruce and Delia le Roux’s Spring Valley Stud. Le Roux retired him last season after just one cover as it had become obvious that he was battling to perform, which caused him much frustration.

After over a year off in the paddocks, his health deteriorated and on top of his aches and pains he suffered a number of “niggling colics.” He had also begun to not want to eat his special diet. His quality of life had become such that eventually a humane decision had to be made.

Richard Lancaster, Shadwell’s Stud Director commented: “It is always sad to lose a stallion, especially one so well loved and influential as Muhtafal. On behalf of Shadwell, I would like to thank the KZN Breeders for their continued support and of course, Bruce and Delia le Roux for their excellent management of Muhtafal in both his professional and retired life”.

Bruce le Roux said, “It was an honour and pleasure to stand Muhtafal for the last few years, rest in peace, Muht.”

Picture supplied by: Sportingpost.co.za