Ice Machine

Ice Machine – A Versatile Millionaire!

Among the top horses reared at Boland Stud in recent years, one of the most talented was undoubtedly the Meaker family’s gutsy galloper Ice Machine.

Ice Machine

The bay is one of 78 stakes winners sired by Lomitas’ triple Gr.1 winner Silvano, who topped the South African general sires list in both 2012-2013 and 2016-2017. Silvano, whose 20 Gr.1 winners include the July winners Bold Silvano, Heavy Metal, Power King and Marinaresco, is enjoying another major season this year, with his stakes winners including Simply Royal, Bella Sonata, Star Express, Sabbatical, Chariot Of Gold and Zabeel Mile hero Janoobi.

Ice Machine was one of two stakes winners produced by the Elliodor mare Skid Alley, who won three times up to 1200m. During his career, Ice Machine was handled by a number of trainers, including Dean Kannemeyer, Charles Laird, Glen Puller and Garth Puller. A horse with a tremendous finishing burst, Ice Machine showed promise early on when second over 1200m on debut. He followed that smart effort up by winning twice over 1400m. Ice Machine went on to record two placings and two wins in his next four outings, before finishing fifth in a pinnacle stakes over 1200m.

He picked up the first feature race win of his career when causing a 16-1 shot in the 2013 Gr.2 Green Point Stakes. Ridden by Kevin Shea, Ice Machine ran on to overpower a field which included Equus Champions Beach Beauty and his then stable mate Capetown Noir.

Ice Machine

Disappointing in his next five outings, Ice Machine made a return to his better form when second in pinnacle stakes, after a length lay-off, over 1400m, when beaten only by subsequent July winner Power King. He confirmed his return to his best when landing the Gr.2 Drill Hall Stakes next time out- when backed down from 10-1 into 3-1 status at the off. Finding the 2200m of the 2015 July too far, Ice Machine went close to landing an illusive Gr.1 success next time out when narrowly beaten into second place, by subsequent Horse Of The Year Futura, in the Gr.1 Champions Cup.

The hickory bay would go on to win twice more and finish third in both the Gr.2 Drill Hall Stakes and Gr.2 Hawaii Stakes, with Ice Machine’s final earnings standing at an impressive R1 359 700.