Wilgerbosdrift is a relatively young farm in South Africa, but since its inception in 1998, has managed to establish itself as one of the most successful farms in the country. Mary Slack, daughter of Harry and Bridget Oppenheimer, had previously kept a few mares as on her parents’ Mauritzfontein Farm as hobby, but in 1997 decided to branch out into a more commercial operation. Her parents have been established as leading breeders in South Africa for over 50 years, having bred and raced the great Triple Crown winner Horse Chestnut. The Oppenheimers were also responsible for breeding no fewer than12 SA Oaks winners in a 21 year period!

Mary decided to purchase Wilgerbosdrift in 1997, and the first stables and paddocks were laid out in 1998. A year later the farm acquired its first mares, and in 1999 Wilgerbosdrift sent their first draft to South Africa’s premier thoroughbred sale, the National Yearling Sale. From that draft came the smart, stakes winning filly Sepia.

Two years later, Wilgerbosdrift sent a handsome bay son of Fort Wood to the National Yearling Sale. Named Dynasty, the colt was knocked down to agent John Freeman for R475 000. He went on to be named Horse of the Year, before becoming one the country’s most successful and sought after stallions.

	"Dynasty"	Since then, the farm has never looked back. Wilgerbosdrift pulled off a remarkable feat when producing three consecutive winners of the Kwa-Zulu Natal Guineas, one of South Africa’s premier classic races. Wilgerbosdrifts breds also filled the first three places in the 2006 G1 SA Derby, when Elusive Fort defeated Bennie Blue and Sun Screen.
	In 2005, Wilgerbosdrift consigned a colt named Wonder Lawn to the National Yearling Sale. He was knocked down to John Freeman for R3.3 million – this was at the time the highest price ever paid for a yearling in South Africa. The colt was a smart racehorse, who captured the G3 Peninsula Handicap in South Africa, before going onto win races in Dubai.
	Wilgerbosdrift is currently home to three stallions. Leading the way is A P Indy’s half-brother Tiger Ridge. The son of Storm Cat became the country’s leading first crop sire in 2010, and his first crop includes the top-class colt Kavanagh (who was bred by Wilgerbosdrift).	"Tiger Ridge"
	Other sires standing at Wilgerbosdrift include the G1 winner Right Approach and the home bred champion Kildonan. Remarkably, Wilgerbosdrift received an Equus Award as the country’s outstanding breeders in 2006 – just seven years after sending their first draft to the sale!

Tell us how you entered the breeding world & how difficult was it getting started?   I had accumulated about 4 mares which I kept at Mauritzfontein, but they wanted to downsize and asked me to make alternative arrangements, so I began to think about having my own stud. Of course I had no idea how complicated, difficult and expensive it would be. But having eventually found the farm, I at least knew it had to be in the Cape, I just began. Of course I didn’t have a stallion then and so although my parents generously allowed me to send mares to Fort Wood, that meant horse boxes, drivers. As well as stables, paddocks and everything else on the farm where there was nothing except a couple of houses which had to be altered and in one case, completely rebuilt. It meant finding a manager, staff, and every other thing needed to establish a stud farm. Thinking about it now I can’t imagine how it all came together.

What was the major turning point in your career?    Luckily I had a couple of Fort Woods to sell each year from the beginning, my three mares arrived on the farm with weanlings so that I had three to sell at the Nationals on Year 1. They went alright, though as it turned out they were not stars, but I suppose it did establish the farm’s name, and the next year we sold Dynasty.

What has been the best professional decision you have made?    My best professional decision was to request the help of people who really know what they are doing, whether it is Chris Haynes and Gary Grant of Equine who do all the administration and much more too, Jehan Malherbe who helps with matings and buying new stock, Mike de Kock who is never scared to tell me if things are wrong, but is also a big supporter and buyer of my horses. John McVeigh who helps with all veterinary issues and introduced me to Ian Heyns who is an excellent reproductive vet and is available at all times during the season.

What has been your greatest disappointment?    My greatest disappointment was the death of Rich Man’s Gold who was a beautiful horse and given more time would have developed into a great stallion.

What do you consider your greatest breeding triumph?    My greatest breeding triumph has to be Dynasty.

What has been your most satisfying day at the sales?    I suppose my most satisfying day at the sales must have been selling Wonder Lawn. He had always been a fabulous looking colt and so it was great the so many people so desperately wanted him and he went for such a high price. A record unbroken for many years.Of course his career didn’t quite match his price but his winning stakes from Dubai and SA have probably equalled his price by now. It is a pity he had to be gelded because with his looks and pedigree he must have had a future at stud.

What has been your proudest moment in racing?    It is hard to separate my fantastic fillies, Ilha da Vitoria and Mother Russia in thinking about my proudest moment in racing, but despite the thrill of the Queens Plate, I think that Ilha just holds the edge. I had her from a yearling and went through so many photo finishes, on the losing side with her that her final three massive wins have to have been my best moments. Funnily enough Mother Russia’s first second in the Met was also a very proud moment. The worst draw, a false start which oddly didn’t affect the winner or any of the more fancied runners, and conceding weight to the winner made her run something to be really proud of. Finally Ilha Grande’s win in the Oaks Trial was a special thrill, the first foal of my wonderful Ilha da Vitoria winning her first stakes race!

Has their been anybody in the Industry who has had an impact on your career and you most admire?    The first person who influenced me was Tremayne Toms who managed Mauritzfontein for years and taught me the value of feed especially and odd bits of breeding lore. Then along came Jehan Malherbe who has taught me the importance of statistics and pedigrees and tries his best to temper my sentimentality about my horses. All of the people who I’ve mentioned already continue to influence me in positive ways, as well as my daughter Jessica who insists that if horses are for sale they must be sold properly.

If you had the power to make one change in the thoroughbred Industry, what would it be?    If there was one thing I could change in the thoroughbred industry it would be to stop the malicious gossip and get people to work together for their mutual good.

Can you name a best horse bred or sold?    No question, it has to be Dynasty, just hope I can breed another one soon.

What other aspirations would like to achieve in the future?    I want to breed the best classic horses in SA and have them make their mark internationally too.

What is the best advice you can give a young breeder entering the industry?    The best advice I can give is to stress that don’t get discouraged when things go wrong, because they always do. Try and upgrade your stock and don’t keep mares that are not making it, however much you love them{ advice I need to follow!}. Aim to breed tough, healthy horses with the best pedigrees you can afford and don’t worry about prices. Success will bring the prices as your families prove themselves.