Statistics from the last 50 years (up until 2002) show South African bred mares produce 3. 6 % stakes winners to foals. From 25 822 producers they bred 110 159 foals and 3981 stakes winners. This number includes all thoroughbred mares ever bred, many of which were poorly bred and performed. The locals were also, inevitably, afforded less opportunity than the better bred imports.

Mares imported from the US, 458 of them over 50 years,  bred 2333 foals and 102 stakes winners. This was at 4.3 % - from better opportunities than locally bred mares. There have been 781 mares imported from Britain - they bred 3946 foals and 231 stakes winners at 5.8 percent. This is less than twice than the average for the local breds. These mares, on the whole, have been well bred and sent to top local sires. Very few badly bred horses were imported prior to 1994 thanks to a stringent criteria.

Just 263 mares to date have been imported from Ireland. Producers of 1483 foals, they produced 74 stakes winners at 4.9%.

French bred mares lead the pack quite easily. From 101 mares, who produced 506 foals, they bred 35 stakes winners. This is the highest percent of stakes winners to foals at 6.9%.

It is difficult to draw complete conclusions from the statistics as they don’t include who the mares were mated to, who trained their foals and how well performed they were on the track. The statistics are hard to read as they don’t clarify which mares were imported despite having failed at stud overseas.

It would also be hard to say which is the better financial venture.

Foreign bred mares have a higher percentage stakes winners to foals but not so far ahead of the local breds to buy any overseas mare just because she is being offered for sale.

The expense of buying a mare with an internationally appealing pedigree, plus transport for the remote chance of buying another Mystic Spring or Coasting Home makes it a considerably bigger gamble than buying a good local mare for half or less the cost.

 

Mares      Foals     Winners    Stakes Winners      Percent   SAF            25 822    110 159  43 647          3981                            3.6   USA             458          2333      1141             102                              4.3   IRE                263         1483      734                74                               4.9   GB                781          3946     1937              231                             5.8   FR                 101          506       282                35                               6.9