Walther J. Jacobs, father of Klaus, grandfather of Andreas, founded the Gestut Fahrhof near Bremen, Germany in 1960 and developed it into an internationally recognised and respected stud farm. One of the foundation mares, Suncourt (GB), produced Surama in 1970, who was mated to Literat to produce SURUMU, a Champion Racehorse who became the world's most influential stallion from the Dark Ronald male line. Six times Champion Sire, Surumu has also been twice Champion Broodmare Sire and his name figures in most of the pedigrees of the Champions bred at Fahrhof. This includes the homebred Champion son ACATENANGO, whose 16 wins in Germany and France include 7 Grade 1 events and whose progeny include the Japan Cup winner Lando. Surumu is also the dam sire of 2002 German Champion Sire LOMITAS, sire of the magnificent SILVANO. Upon Walther Jacobs passing, Andreas took over the mantle of Chairmanship of the family owned Fahrhof, whilst father Klaus (left) acquired Newsells Park Stud in England and has set up one of the world's most progressive commercial breeding operations just outside Newmarket. Klaus built Newsells Park Stud into a successful breeding and racing operation. Klaus Jacobs died in in September 2008, after a long battle with cancer. He loved Newsells Park Stud and spent as much time as he could at the farm, one of Europe’s most successful commercial breeding operations. He was an avid student of pedigrees and took active interest in matings and the development of young horses. His policy was to invest in the best, with most of his broodmares boasting successful racing careers. Andreas Jacobs is now Chairman of Newsells Park Stud and the stud's recent successes in the sales ring are an indication of a healthy commercial future for the stud.

When my wife Natalie and I first visited Maine Chance Farms in early 2002, we could hardly anticipate that we would have the opportunity to acquire one of the most beautiful stud farms in the world. Maine Chance's legendary history in the production of many champion racehorses and five consecutive breeder's championship titles (1997 to 2002) is a testament to the founders, Mr Godfrey Gird and Mr Graham Beck. It is an honour to have the legacy entrusted to us for the future. A love of horses and of racing and breeding has been in my family for three generations and we hope to apply our experience and respect for tradition in the operation of Maine Chance, which unlike our owner/breeder status in Germany, will be run on a commercial basis. We took over 80 broodmares from Mr Beck, but no stallions and hence, I am proud to introduce you to our first stallion, our homebred SILVANO (Ger), Horse of the Year 2001, who stood his first season at stud in Germany in 2002 at a fee of 7,500 Euro. He was an unbeaten 2 year old who progressed into an international superstar, renowned as much for his toughness and constitution as his indomitable will and extraordinary ability to accelerate in an instant. His best trip was the international distance of 2000 metres at which he excelled in winning three Grade 1 events in three different countries. I will always respect him as the consummate traveller with perfect temperament. He is surely the ideal horse to bridge our respective countries and to breed progeny that should have commercial appeal in all the five continents he has participated. Andreas Jacobs