Henry and Patricia Devine bought Jet Master for R15,000. It was an incredible investment. It won numerous races and earned millions for its owners.
Horse racing journalist Mike Moon recalled the story of Henry and Patricia Devine attending an auction at the Mare and Weanling Sale in Pietermartizburg in 1995.
Patricia Devine spotted the bewildered colt standing in a box away from the sale racket, and she instantly fell in love with the horse.
Her husband did not share her enthusiasm about the horse, but agreed to bid up to R10,000 for the colt.
When bidding exceeded R10,000, Henry would not go further. However, Patricia grabbed his arm and forced him to bid R15,000.
Although Henry was furious about having to pay R15,000 for a horse he did not like, it turned out to be the best investment he ever made.
Terrance and Tony Millard shared Patricia Devine’s enthusiasm about Jet Master, and they started to train the colt.
Although Jet Master had difficulties in training, including breathing issues which needed surgery, it performed exceptionally well.
It was an exceptional racehorse which won 17 races and placed 5 times from its 25 starts. Seven of the wins were at the group 1 level.
Jet Master retired to stud in 2001 and had his first crop of foals on the ground in South Africa in 2002.
He won Horse of the Year in South Africa on two occasions and was the Champion Sire of South Africa for 7 seasons between 2002 and 2011.
Turf Talk reported that of his 658 foals to race, 512 (78%) found the winners’ enclosure at least, and 75 (11%) were stakes winners.
Jet Master died from complications associated with the West Nile Virus that he contracted just before the start of the 2012 breeding season.
The Thoroughbred Breeders Association of South Africa (TBASA) described Jet Master as the “most successful South African-bred stallion to have ever stood in this country”.
Jet Master made millions for Henry and Patricia Devine
Jet Master generated millions through its race winnings, which include winning the Queen’s Plate twice.
He also won the Cape Argus Guineas, the Keith Hepburn Champion Stakes, the Golden Spur, the Nissan Challenge, and the Kwazulu-Natal Breeders’ Championship.
Jet Master also finished first in the Cape Flying Championship, Hawaii Stakes, and the Mercury Sprint.
After the stallion retired from racing in 2001, he was sent to Highlands Stud. His initial covering fee was just R12,000.
After two seasons, he was moved to Klipdrift Farm, where the covering fee rose to R200,000 at his peak.
Although no official fee is available for Jet Master’s combined race winnings and covering fees, it is undoubtedly many millions.
Henry Devine, which became known as Mr Jet Master due to the success of this stallion, passed away in 2022 at the age of 100.
