Vermaak Equine has taken the reins of Maine Chance Farms’ second-season sire Point Lonsdale (IRE), a son of Derby winner Australia (by Galileo) out of a mare by Acclamation, who represents pure speed. This makes him a stallion with the rare dual benefit of having been exceptionally precocious while also training on with distinction – a duality that makes him particularly relevant as the industry seeks to rebuild the market for classic and staying horses, while retaining an element of precocity.
As a racer, Point Lonsdale ultimately developed into a middle-distance performer, but there is no doubt that the most successful stage of his career was his juvenile campaign. Incredibly, his stellar juvenile career seems to have been overlooked, with many apparently viewing Point Lonsdale as primarily a stamina horse – an assumption that is difficult to reconcile with his race record.
In the care of Aidan O’Brien, Point Lonsdale won his 1400m debut at The Curragh by 5.25 lengths before reeling off three further victories over the same trip, each at a higher level. He followed up with commanding wins in the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Group 3 Japan Racing Association Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown and the Group 2 Galileo Irish EBF Futurity Stakes at The Curragh.
His only defeat at two came at the hands of Godolphin’s star colt Native Ruler in the Group 1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes over 1400m at The Curragh, with his conqueror being crowned 2021 Cartier Champion Two-Year-Old colt on the strength of that win.
Justin Vermaak said: “Point Lonsdale was exceptional as a two-year-old, a fact that appears to have been overlooked by many local breeders. When Northern Hemisphere timing (where thoroughbreds officially age on 1 January) is converted to Southern Hemisphere timing (1 August), his precocity becomes immediately apparent.
“In South African developmental terms, Point Lonsdale would have won a Listed race in mid-January, a Grade 3 in late February, a Grade 2 in late March and finished runner-up in a Grade 1 by mid-April. Those achievements are remarkable for a juvenile and provide compelling evidence of the natural speed and class he possessed at an early age.
“It is incredible that people can see this record and come out with the viewpoint that the horse may have ‘too much’ stamina. In fact, one could easily argue that he is the most precocious horse at stud in South Africa. Unless there is another stallion that would have been good enough to win the Chesham at Royal Ascot. Our very best juvenile of any year would be lucky to find the top half of the field.”
O’Brien described Point Lonsdale as a lovely, genuine horse with a great mind, and said that he was the best two-year-old in his stable in 2021.
Dr Andreas Jacobs of Maine Chance Farms commented: “I confirmed that with Aidan, and it is quite incredible when you consider that he normally has a virtual armada of 70 to 80 two-year-olds in training at Ballydoyle, excluding those still in the pipeline.”
At four, Point Lonsdale won the Group 2 Huxley Stakes over 2050m at Chester, followed by the Group 3 Alleged Stakes over 2000m at The Curragh. He also ran third to Emily Upjohn in the prestigious Group 1 Coronation Cup over 2400m.
At five, he gave another good account of his class and versatility finishing third in the 2024 Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud over 2400m, a race his own brother Broome won in 2021.
Broome is not his only Group 1 winning sibling. His half-brother, Diego Velazquez (Frankel), won the Gr1 Aga Khan Studs Prix Jacques le Marois over 1600m at Deauville. He stood as a first-season sire at Newmarket’s National Stud, and is currently shuttling at Australia’s Swettenham Stud, majority-owned by Ben Sangster from the Sangster family, a household name in the breeding industry.
Jacobs noted in a Racing Post article: “There’s very little Galileo blood in South Africa, and Point Lonsdale brings the appealing Acclamation factor to the table.
“Both sire lines are sparsely represented in the country. There’s no Acclamation blood in South Africa except for Expert Eye, who was sold from Juddmonte, so I think this is a great chance for South Africa with fresh blood.”
“Point Lonsdale’s dam, Sweepstake, was herself a stakes winner in May as a two-year-old when beating the colts, which is also impressive. I liked the earliness plus the fact he went on and was still a Group winner at four and five. He was the most expensive son of Australia ever and is a wonderful walker; that’s something Aidan O’Brien stressed at all times.”
It is this combination of precocity, class and the ability to train on that Vermaak believes deserves greater recognition in a breeding industry increasingly preoccupied with speed.
He said: “Breeding for speed has become a convenient excuse. I’d like to drag the industry by the tail, because what we hear too often are complaints about races being downgraded and that the standards of our races for stayers are poor.
“It’s time for all to put their money where their mouths are and start to breed more middle-distance horses. After all, the bulk of the country’s prestigious and richest races are middle-distance events or run over at least a mile.
“The notion that the industry is increasingly catering towards juvenile and speed racing at the expense of traditional middle-distance and classic racing is clearly debunked by the table below. Only TWO sprints feature among South Africa’s highest-stakes black-type races.”
Vermaak added: “With regard to auction prices, not too long ago the progeny of Silvano and Dynasty dominated every sale, and to this day the sales-toppers are the ones which have some sort of classic attraction in their female lines. If there is any data or proof that shows sprinters are more ‘commercial’, I would love to see it. Every owner wants to win the big middle-distance weight-for-age events. That remains the top priority for all major owners in South Africa!”
Point Lonsdale received a solid first book of mares in 2025, including strong support from Maine Chance Farms and his shareholders, most notably Laurence Wernars, who acquired a substantial stake in the new stallion. The Klawervlei Stud owner was attracted by Point Lonsdale’s exceptional pedigree and the prospect of breeding fillies capable of carrying this valuable blood forward for generations.
In his first year, Wernars alone supported Point Lonsdale with the Group winners Follow Me, Alula’s Star, Netta, Sprinkles and Troppo Veloce, as well as Gr1 winner Temple Grafin. Several others, including his prized mares She’s A Giver and True To Life, are booked to the stallion this year.
Jacobs concluded: “When I brought Silvano to South Africa in 2003, I found he was the perfect middle-distance horse for the country’s biggest races, and he duly delivered. I believe Point Lonsdale can do the same.”
With Maine Chance and the Wernars family firmly behind Point Lonsdale, breeders can be confident that he will continue to receive quality books of mares – and that his first crop will have strong commercial support when they reach the yearling sales.
For services to Point Lonsdale, and shares inquiries, please mail Justin Vermaak on justin@vermaakequine.com