The 2022 Horse of the Year in South Africa, Captain's Ransom is no more.

She died whilst folding down. The foal is in fine health but the mare didn't make it. The Jet Dark/Captain's Ransom combination was a dream pair for breeder Suzette Viljoen and her Hope and Dreams Stud.

The operation is a huge positive for South Africa's ailing breeding industry with quality mares and stallion shares.

Captain's Ransom was a once in a generation horse especially for owners Basie and Suzette Viljoen. She was their flagship into horseracing and set the tone for all others.

Richard Fourie once called her one of the best he had ridden when SAHorseracing.COM put the question to him.

Not only a blow for South African breeding but racing as well considering what he could ahve produced over the next decade.