Whats In A Name? Oratorio

A giant has fallen in the equine world with the passing of the celebrated stallion Oratorio at the age of 23. He arrived in South Africa from Coolmore in 2013 and stood at Avontuur Farm before the son of Danehill passed at the age of 23.

“It has left a big hole in my life,” says Avontuur general manager Pippa Mickleburgh, “I miss him terribly, he was a huge presence.”

Mickleburgh named many of Oratorio’s offspring, but the one she is most proud of is Mardi Gras, who sold for R3.2-million at the 2016 Emperors Palace Select Yearling Sale. 

“Mardi Gras was by Oratorio out of the very talented Sarabande. The late Tony Taberer bought her from Joey Ramsden and she turned into a wonderful broodmare,” Mickleburgh tells us. “She foaled down 10 times at Avontuur and because her name is a famous dance originating in Spain in the 16th century, I named most of her offspring after dances. La Volta, Zapateo, Don’t Stop Dancing, Cizeron and Courante all have those connotations and went on to make her proud.

“But Mardi Gras was the perfect name for the Oratorio and Sarabande mating. He retired last season as a nine-year-old and won nine races. When he was born I knew that he was ‘the one’ for this name. I spend a lot of time naming horses because I spend so much time with them and are there when they foal down. It was simply perfect. He was this beautiful grey colt and his price as a yearling reflected that.”

Some of Oratorio’s other prolific winners include 10-time winners Chantyman and Divine Odyssey, and Gr 1 winners Van Halen and Canadian Summer.

RIP big guy.

By Gary Lemke