El Sur Racing
for the next generation of honest athletes
Racing doesn’t start on the track – but in breeding. At the Sachsenburg in Neustadt an der Orla, in beautiful Thuringia, a new generation of thoroughbreds is being born: grown up close to nature, ready to perform and full of talent with the right mix of speed and stamina.
At Sachsenburg, passion meets responsibility (delete sentence). Jochen Stargardt’s passion for horse racing and the pursuit of the highest quality led to a new, important step: the establishment of his own thoroughbred breeding business. While the Sachsenburg took shape as a center for winter training and horse keeping and the first racehorses of El Sur Racing successfully ran over the racetracks, the idea matured not only to promote talent – but to produce it itself.
Because without breeding, there is no future. Without targeted selection and performance testing, there is no class. With La Estrellita, Wonderful Starlet, Ablaze and Pop Starlet – four race-proven mares – a new era began at Sachsenburg in 2023. Another promising mare, Flashing Starlet, expands the foundation of the young breeding farm. In spring 2024, the first cohort was born: young hopefuls with solid pedigree and prospects. As yearlings, they will take the step into the public eye for the first time at the auction in Baden-Baden in September 2025 – and thus start their racing careers.
But the development does not stand still. The second crop was born in spring 2025 – eleven foals, full of life, potential and perspective. Seven of them wear the colours of El Sur Racing, four others are customer foals who are not only well looked after at the Sachsenburg, but have found a real home. Another highlight is the new addition at the end of June 2025 by Derby winner (2018) WELTSTAR, bred by Gestüt Röttgen, is WELTSTAR, a son of the legendary Soldier Hollow, multiple champion sire and father of numerous group winners. His dam Wellenspiel, herself from a highly successful line, produced two Derby winners in a row with Weltstar and Windstoß – a unique achievement in Germany. WELTSTAR convinces with fighting spirit and class. With him, El Sur Racing has not only secured a stallion that has proven itself in sport, but is also highly interesting in terms of breeding.
Breeding with attitude and a clear goal
The philosophy behind the breeding farm is clearly defined: Thoroughbred foals should grow up healthy, close to nature and robust – with room for development and a foundation that will later enable them to perform at their best. Jochen Stargardt is convinced: “Only those who grow up hard and naturally can withstand the stresses of top-class sport in the long term.”
The focus is not only on one’s own sporting aspirations. El Sur Racing consciously wants to contribute to the strengthening of German thoroughbred breeding. Therefore, the choice falls not only on international “fashion stallions”, but also specifically on proven German lines – with the aim of creating sustainable quality and producing exceptional horses from domestic breeding.
Breeding is not a quick shot. It is, as Agha Khan once said, a chess game with nature. Decisions made today often reveal their result many years later – triumph or setback are close together. In this area of tension, El Sur has a clear goal: to breed hard, healthy, high-performance and mentally strong racehorses for the German and international market – with substance, foundation and toughness for a hopeful future.