International Racehorse Magazine Jul 2015 by SilverMane Media

INTERNATIONAL RACEHORSE

T H E O N LY H O R S E I N 37 YEARS TO SIRE A TRIPLE CROWN WINNER

w w w . W i n S t a r F a r m . c o m | Of fice: (859) 873-1717 Darren Fox: (859) 684-0067 | Kyle Wilson: (859) 699-8589 | Sean Tugel: (859) 940-0456 *By A Runner Index – 6/10/15

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AEI Sire in North AmericA over Tapit, War Front, Ghostzapper, etc. Third Crop Sire in the world over Sea The Stars, Fastnet Rock, etc. GenerAl Sire in North AmericA with only a couple crops to race Apex Sire* in the world ahead of Galileo, A.P. Indy, Tapit, War Front, etc.

EMPIRE MAKER - STAR OF GOSHEN, BY LORD AT WAR (Arg)

BOOK FULL

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CONTENTS

REGULARS 4 4 7 30 46 120

Adver tisers List Letter from the Editor Cover Story: Clash of the Titans Lifestyle Essentials Subscription Black Type Pages Sarah Whitelaw

THIS ISSUE 14 24

36 40

COVER: CLASH OF THE TITANS

PHOTOGRAPHERS Jeremy Nelson, John Lewis, Andrew Watkins, Wayne Marks, Mark Cranham, Amy Lanigan, T Jones, EquiSport Photos, Liesl King, Thoroughbred Photography Ltd, Nicole De Villiers, Tom Ferry, JC Photography, Adam Coglianese, Leslie Martin, www.godolphin.com, Gold Circle, Candiese Marnewick, Michele MacDonald

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63 70 76 82

The Triple Crown Conquered Michele MacDonald One for the Record Books - Kentucky Derby and Oaks Michele MacDonald CTS to hold new two-year-old sale Mark Van Deventer Pioneerof the Nile Michele MacDonald History of the Durban July Michelle Wing Horse Chestnut Nicola Hayward World Cup 2015: The Great track debate Liesl King Regal Hear t - An American Filly Staff Writer

CONTENTS THE TEAM

114

Johan Blom Chief Executive Ofﬁcer

Pieter Hugo Managing Director

Marie Chin Advertising Executive

Marguerite le Roux Senior Designer

Liesl King Journalist/Photographer

Bunny Hinzman Journalist

Nicole De Villiers Features & Advertising

Lindsay Hunter USA Sales & Editorial

Jacqueline Beck Fashion Representative

Dee-Dee-Doughlas USA Sales & Marketing

Michele MacDonald Journalist/Photographer

Shannon Ella Canadian Sales & Marketing

THIS ISSUE 84 88

92 96 102 107

114

An Undeniable Effor t: Mubtaahij Bunny Hinzman Breeding Legacy Continues Locally and Internationally from KZN, South Africa Candiese Marnewick Karis Teetan – Have Saddle Will Ride Liesl King Behind the scenes of the Epsom Derby Liesl King Saratoga sets the stage Michele MacDonald Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame – Class of 2015 Shannon Ella Farewell Ambitious Dragon Liesl King

Published by: SilverMane Media www.silvermane.co.za

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Gasnat Jaffer Ofﬁce Manager

Editorials: Johan Blom johan@silvermane.co.za (0027) 83 324 3709 Pieter Hugo pieter@silvermane.co.za (001) 502 321 8305 Design: Marguerite le Roux mleroux@silvermane.co.za (0027) 82 773 9123 Advertising: Marie Chin marie@silvermane.co.za (0027) 82 497 4475 Nicole de Villiers ncldevilliers@yahoo.com (0027) 79 056 8550 Dee Dee Douglas deedee@internaional-racehorse.com (001) 859 704 0999 Orders & Invoicing: Gasnat Jaffer gasnat@showhorse.co.za 32b Whitlers Way, Hout Bay 7806, South Africa, Fax: (0027) 21 790 8047

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Alado Allan Bloodlines AVetsBrand Avontuur Stud Canadian Horse Racing Cape Thoroughbred Sales Capstone Feeds Derby Dan Elusive Fort Epol Equine Group Fluid Motion Services Freeman Stallions Gitano Hernando Highlands Stud Horse Racing Now Klawervlei Stud Kuda Lateral Longines Maine Chance Martin Collins Navicular Research Gallium Nitrate Paris KY, Tourism Phumelela/Racing its a rush Polo Pretoria Veterinary Outlet Rathmor Stud RFID Sandown Stud Spendthrift Farm Stagelight Steenberg Sun International Maslow Group Varsfontein Where’s That Tiger Winstar Farm Wylie Hall

55 57 117 95 106 39 54 29 51 52 48 50 FC 49 67 IBC 33 5 45 OBC 101 32 56 62 58 31 112 91 75 81 23 53 6 68 87 47 1 11

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

ADVERTISERS

The Triple Crown Conquered It is not often that you get to start your Letter from the Editor with “ The Triple Crown Conquered”, but I’m fortunate to do just that. After witnessing first hand American Pharaoh’s blistering run during the Kentucky Derby, and following him with bated breath to that glorious moment in the Belmont Stakes when he pulled away from the rest of the field and it became apparent that the 37 year drought was over, and that there was in fact a new king. Bravo, American Pharaoh! Many have been waiting a long time to report this, some never had a chance. For me, even more exciting, is that he will continue his racing career and that I might get to see him run again during the Breeders Cup at Keeneland, Lexington at the end of October this year. Having seen what a superstar like this can do for the International Racing Scene, people flocking to racecourses, mainstream media committing priority positions to this great story, I hope we are all taking it in and learning from it. California Chrome’s run in Dubai this year had him elevated to Rock star status with paparazzi (or the equine equivalent), flocking whenever he was out on the track. By the time this magazine gets to print he will be driving the crowds wild during the Royal Ascot Race meet.These stars already exist, they are everywhere on racecourses around the world, it is up to us to give them the recognition that they so rightly deserve. Well then, onto an exciting edition. We welcome Michele MacDonald, Dee Dee Douglas and Shannon Ella to the International Racehorse Magazine. Michele is photojournalist , and those who follow us on social media would have already seen some of Michele’s great work, she is an absolute horse fanatic and one of the most travelled at that. Welcome Michele. Dee Dee joins our Sales and Marketing team in the USA, most of our American readers will also know Dee Dee as an avid follower and promoter of racing for many years. Shannon Ella will be taking care of Sales and Marketing in Canada. A warm welcome to Dee Dee and Shannon too. Watch this space! With so many great articles, I’m not going to single out just a few. At International Racehorse Magazine we have made it our mission to “Find the Beauty in Racing.” We travel to Singapore, England, Hong Kong, Dubai, Kentucky, New York, Canada and South Africa so read more on the pages to follow. We have exciting plans for the rest of the year and 2016, so keep reading and if you have not done so, visit us on social media at International Racehorse Magazine. See you around the track.

Copyright for all original published material is vested in SilverMane Media and may be reproduced only with the permission of the Editor. All opinions expressed in the articles appearing in SilverMane Media are those of the authors and are not necessarily subscribed to by the editorial staff of SilverMane Media. Authors of articles are compelled to acknowledge all sources of information (if any) used in the compiling of articles and are therefore liable for copyright transgressions. SilverMane Media accepts no responsibility for claims made in the advertisements and will not be held liable for any damage resulting from the use of any of the information published in SilverMane Media.

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CAPTAIN OF ALL

CLASH OF THE TITANS By John Freeman

Three of South Africa’s top sires are locked in an epic battle this season – the most closely contested triple-header race for sire supremacy the industry has seen for many years.

outh African sire supremos Captain Al, Dynasty and Trippi have dominated the South African sire log for most of the current season, often with as little as the value of a minor stakes race separating one from the other. This 2015 South African Sire Championship presents like a world title fight. Three heavyweights trading blows in this ring, the outcome only to be known after the very last bell. It’s that close, each blow counts.

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HAMMIE’S HOOKER

INARA

LEGISLATE

By moving the last of their big features from the first week of August to the end of July, racing operator Gold Circle steadied what used to be a lopsided start to seasonal statistics. The sire of the R1,000,000 Gr1 Gold Cup winner formerly well ahead of the pack for some months before the early Gauteng and Cape seasons kicked-in. Since that change sire statistics in South Africa now start taking shape once the summer season gets underway; around mid-November and it’s been a hot contest from the start. With the winner of the 2014 Gr1 J&B Met, Hill Fifty Four, amongst others, to his credit and having won his sixth straight 2yo Sire Championship that season, Captain Al looked to have enough of a spread amongst the top runners to pose a threat to serial champion sire Jet Master this time round. Jet Master’s armoury of over 200 runners included triple Gr1 winners In The Fast Lane and Yorker who helped him to near record earnings. Dual Equus Outstanding Award-winning sire Captain Al fired a shot across the bows of his competition again last year, warning them that he was gearing up for an even more

INTERNATIONAL RACE HORSE

Top 5 Sires (all ages) by stakes

for the season 2014/2015: 01 August - 07 June 2015 Name

rnrs

rns

AEPR

wns

wnrs

Wnrs/ rnrs

BT wnrs

BT wns

BT Wnrs/ rnrs

Stakes

Captain Al

184

942

76,029

136

52.2%

7.1%

13,989,375

Dynasty

155

836

89,730

137

52.9%

7.1%

13,908,125

Trippi

167

931

77,896

138

47.9%

6.0%

13,008,700

Jet Master

163

931

64,165

113

47.2%

4.3%

10,458,875

Silvano

181

980

57,278

116

45.9%

3.3%

10,367,400

Top 5 Sires of 3yo’s by stakes

for the season 2014/2015: 01 August - 07 June 2015 Name

rnrs

rns

AEPR

wns

wnrs

Wnrs/ rnrs

BT wnrs

BT wns

BT Wnrs/ rnrs

Stakes

Trippi

434

94,471

55.3%

7.9%

7,179,788

Dynasty

365

85,127

62.2%

4.1%

6,299,425

Captain Al

332

96,788

64.4%

5.1%

5,710,488

Count Dubois

215

109,681

30.0%

5.0%

4,387,250

Western Winter

278

92,243

54.5%

6.8%

4,058,675

Top 5 Sires of 2yo’s by stakes

for the season 2014/2015: 01 August - 07 June 2015 Name Captain Al

rnrs

rns

AEPR

wns

wnrs

Wnrs/ rnrs

BT wnrs

BT wns

BT Wnrs/ rnrs

Stakes

56,813

50.0%

13.2%

2,158,900

Var

45,574

45.2%

9.7%

1,412,800

Black Minnaloushe

59,122

17.6%

5.9%

1,005,075

Trippi

34,383

38.5%

3.8%

893,950

Seventh Rock

37,098

21.7%

4.3%

853,262

CARRY ON ALICE

serious assault on the log. With just seven weeks of the season left at time of this report, Captain Al has the lead, not only by stakes, but by number of stakes winners (13), number of winners (96) and with the winners of sixteen stakes races to his credit he shares the lead in that category with his closest rival Dynasty. Captain Al’s ratio of stakes winners to runners puts him in joint 1st place with Dynasty at 7.1%. They include Gr1 winners Captain Of All, Carry On Alice, Pine Princess, Captain America and multiple stakes winning juveniles who see their sire heading for his record seventh consecutive 2yo Sire Championship this year. There are at least three more Gr1 races before the season ends in which the progeny of this Klawervlei based sire might strengthen his hand. Represented by the most three-year-old runners ever in his career, it was evident from the start of the current season that Drakenstein-based former champion Florida sire and champion first season SA sire, Trippi would launch his boldest bid yet at the national title in 2015. His overseas results excluded from local stats. Success came early for him

in the new season: 22nd November – Zambezi River won the R2m Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes (the R1m restricted-race first prize denied to Drakenstein’s sire in official stats as well). January became the most important month of Trippi’s career: in the first week his sons handed him a Gr3 Lebelo Sprint trifecta – Trip Tease held off Trip To Heaven and Tiger Territory who dead-heated for second in that race. Within a matter of weeks Trippi’s home-bred daughter Inara added both the Gr1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes and the Gr1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes to his score card. Trippi’s stats are bolstered by the ultra-consistent multiple Gr1 performer Hammie’s Hooker who contributed substantially to his tally of 14 stakes winners in the first ten months of the season. Trippi is also the only sire in the season to have five three-year-olds and three four-year-olds rated above 100. This son of End Sweep’s strength lies with his three-year-olds in 2015. His supporters know that his progeny train on and this augurs well for his continued assault on the log into the next season. Trippi commands a comfortable lead in the Sires of 3yo’s category, almost R1m ahead of Dynasty by stakes. He also leads

INTERNATIONAL RACEHORSE

FUTURA

the three-year-old log by number of stakes winners, number of stakes races won and percentage of stakes winners to runners. Three years younger than his two rivals for the 2015 stallion crown is the Highlands-based son of champion sire Fort Wood, Dynasty. He was leading sire of 3yo’s last season, R3.6m to the good. Those three-year-old’s results set the stage for the current season as this sire gets his best from older stock racing beyond 1600m. With his multiple champion daughter Beach Beauty retired in the previous season, Dynasty relies primarily, this year, on the results of his three top sons: Futura winner of the rare Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate - J&B Met double, Legislate who included the Gr1 Durban July to his trio of Gr1 wins the previous season added another Gr1 to his sire’s log in 2015 and Act Of War winner of the Gr1 Cape Guineas. Dynasty finished the 2013/2014 season second on the overall log with 30% fewer runners than log leader Jet Master. Dynasty’s R105,375 Average Earnings Per Runner was that season’s best.

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With Futura poised to defy top weight in the Gr1 Durban July, Highlands’ top sire makes a bold bid to challenge Fort Wood’s record equalling three Horses Of The Year awards. Dynasty has fewer runners than any of the top five sires this season. However his current seventy four three-year-olds set him up for another determined bid at the title again next year. He has been twice voted Equus Outstanding Sire Of The Year and a championship title will be well earned by South Africa’s most expensive sire. In racing there is always the chance of an outsider putting in a last minute challenge. However having done the math it’s highly unlikely that any of the sires beyond these three could win the R4m-odd needed to overtake them. Freeman Stallions are proudly charged with the management of these brilliant log leaders and acknowledge the stud masters, shareholders, breeders, owners, trainers, jockeys, racing operators and grooms that have made them so successful. It takes a lot of support for any stallion to do this well.

Wylie Hall Redoute’s Choice - Beauty Belle

(AUS)

1st Gr1 Champions Challenge - beat Majmu, 1st Gr1 SA Derby, 1st past post Gr1 Durban July 6 wins, 9 places, 1400-2450m, R3.65m Half-brother to ABSOLUTE CHAMPION - Champion Sprinter - 1200m track record

15 sire sons of Redoute's Choice have already produced stakes winners (eight of them have Gr1 winners) The Thoroughbred Group ENQUIRIES & BOOKINGS TO: JOHN FREEMAN EQUO PRODESSE

T: +27 (0)21 418 0566 W: www.freemanstallions.co.za

CHEVELEY STUD VAUGHAN KöSTER

INTERNATIONAL RACEHORSE T: +27 (0)82 446 8999 W: www.cheveleystud.com

Cheveley St

www.FreemanStallions.co.za The 2014/2015 racing season in South Africa signifies the fiercest battle for stallion supremacy we have seen in many years. The three top sires in South Africa are proudly managed by the FreemanStallions team - a once in a lifetime achievement. We thank all of the breeders, owners, trainers and jockeys who contributed to the success of Captain Al, Dynasty and Trippi this season. The future is bright for these great sires and the other up-and-coming stars in our portfolio.

Captain Al

Al Mufti - Off To War (Complete Warrior) - Bay 1996 - 16hh

Dynasty

Fort Wood - Blake’s Affair (Commodore Blake) - Bay 1999 - 16.1hh

Aiming for his 7th 2yo Sire Championship in 2015

Twice Equus Outstanding Sire 10 Equus Awards incl two Horses of the Year: Legislate & Irish Flame & Beach Beauty (2x KZN Horse of the Year) & sire of 13 Gr1 horses

Twice Equus Outstanding Sire Sire of 33 Gr1 horses Sire of 2x Equus Champions

Sire of Champions including: Ancestral Fore, Beach Beauty, Futura, Irish Flame, Jackson, Legislate & Blake

Sire of 11 Gr1 winners: Albert Mooney, All Is Secret, Captain America, Captain Of All, Captain’s Gal, Captain’s Lover, Carry On Alice, Emerald Cove, Exhilaration, Hill Fifty Four & Pine Princess

Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) More Than Ready - Yes She Can Cancan (Canny Lad) - Bay 2008 - 16.1hh

Jackson

Dynasty - Moonlit Prairie (Cozzene) - Bay 2008 - 16.2hh

1st 3yo in 40 yrs to win the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate

Breathtaking class & movie star looks

Highest rated 3yo in SA 2012 Highest rated 3yo to place in Gr1 J&B Met

The best Classic Horse in SA 2011/2012

Only horse to beat dual Horse of the Year Variety Club - TWICE!! Son of dual Champion Sire More Than Ready - dam produced two Gr1 winners New Freshman Sire sale record: R1.7m

Jay Peg

Camden Park - Laptop Lady (Al Mufti) - Bay 2008 - 16.2hh

Gr1 Champions Cup, Gr1 Cape Derby, Gr1 Daily News & 2nd Gr1 Queen’s Plate (twice) Immediate damline of sires: Smart Strike (Champion), Strike Smartly, Sky Classic, Sail From Seattle etc 1st foals due 2015

Master Of My Fate Jet Master - Promisefrommyheart (Elliodor) - Bay 2009 - 16.2hh

A leading Freshman Sire by stakes winners

The product of a series of Champions

A leading sire with his 1st three crops

8 starts - 6 wins in a row in 8 months

Equus International Horse of the Year & Equus Champion 3yo colt - TFR 126

Four Equus Champions in the 1st three generations of his dam line

Highest stakes earner in SA history - R40 million

Champion Sire Jet Master, Champion Dam Promisefrommyheart, Champion Broodmare Sire Elliodor

Beat 8 international Gr1 winners when breaking the Gr1 Dubai Duty Free record

Pathfork (USA)

Distorted Humor - Visions of Clarity (Sadler’s Wells) - Bay 2008 - 16.1hh

1st crop on sale 2015 Irish Champion 2yo Undefeated at 2 yrs including Gr1 & Gr2 Highest rated 2yo in Ireland 2010 Family of Nijinsky II, Northern Guest, El Gran Senor, etc

SA sale record: R5.2m

Son of sensational dual Champion Sire Distorted Humor, 17 Gr1 winners, 125 INTERNATIONAL RACE HORSE SW, 52 GSW and over $106m

1st foals due 2015

Philanthropist (USA)

Kris S. - Hidden Reserve (Mr Prospector) - Chestnut 2001 - 16.3hh

Leading All-Weather Sire in North America 2014 Sire of 2 Champions from his small 1st crop: Pender Harbour & Phil’s Dream “A real gain for South Africa” 8% stakes wins, 13% stakes horses 2nd leading sire of 2yo’s and 3rd leading active sire 2014 Top SA sale price in 2015: R1.4m

Potala Palace

Querari (GER)

Singspiel - Alignment (Alzao) - Bay 2008 - 16hh

Oasis Dream - Quentena (Acatenango) - Bay 2006 - 16hh

Outstandingly bred Gr1 winner

Champion, Gr1 winner (beating 4 champions) Top rated in Germany 2010 TFR 121

Defeated Gr1 winners Gimmethegreenlight, Fighting Warrior, Wagner, Pierre Jourdan, Link Man, Royal Bencher, Love Struck etc Linebred to one of the best sire producing families in the world - the Simon’s Shoes family of Sadler’s Wells, Nureyev, Thatch, etc

Son of leading UK sire Oasis Dream 3x winning dam, daughter of Champion 2yo, Champion 3yo Quebrada

1st foals due 2015

A leading Freshman Sire

Trippi (USA)

End Sweep - Jealous Appeal (Valid Appeal) - Bay 1997 - 16.1hh

Twice Over (GB)

Observatory - Double Crossed (Caerleon) - Dark Bay 2005 - 16.2hh

Champion 1st Season Sire 2012

Dual Champion Racehorse

Champion Sire Florida

Won 4 Gr1 races & over $4m

Sire of 3 Gr1 winners from first 3 crops in SA

UK & Joint European Champion 2009

Leading Sire of 3yo’s 2014 by: number of winners, number of races won & % winners/runners

13 of the first 14 sires in his pedigree are Champions

Leading SA Sire of 3yo’s 2015

Won 4 Gr1 races

SA’s Leading Sire - combined international Lifetime Earnings

Placed in a further 10 Gr1 races

What A Winter

Western Winter - Waseela (Ahonoora) - Bay 2007 - 16hh

Undefeated in 2 starts at 2yrs

1st crop on sale 2016

Wylie Hall (AUS)

Redoute’s Choice - Beauty Belle (Ideal Planet) - Bay 2009 - 16hh

Joint 3rd highest rated sprinter in the world 2013

1st Gr1 Champions Challenge - beat Majmu

Equus Champion Older Male 2012

1st past post Gr1 Durban July

Equus Champion Sprinter 2012

6 wins, 9 places, 1400-2450m, R3.65m

Equus Champion Sprinter 2013

Half-brother to ABSOLUTE CHAMPION Champion Sprinter - 1200m track record 15 sire sons of Redoute’s Choice have already produced stakes winners - eight of them have Gr1 winners

1st Gr1 SA Derby

Won 12 races and placed 5 times in 22 starts - 15 of his starts in Graded races Won or placed in 8 Gr1 races 1st crop on sale 2016

...the progeny of the stallions we manage celebrated a record year! Act Of War Beach Beauty

Captain America Captain Of All

Carry On Alice Futura

Hammie’s Hooker Legislate Inara Pender Harbour

Pine Princess Phil’s Dream

Exciting Future Prospects Futura

Legislate

Dynasty - Scribblin’ The Cat (Badger’s Drift)

Dynasty - Champers (Restructure)

The highest rated horse in SA

Equus Horse of the Year Equus Champion 3yo Equus Champion Middle Distance

Gr1 J&B Met, Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate & Gr1 Champions Cup (new course record), 3rd Gr1 Durban July, 3rd Gr2 Green Point Stakes 13 starts, 8 wins, 5 places, R3.44m (at June 2015)

Stallion Syndicates managed by: FreemanStallions PO Box 50875, Waterfront, 8002 Tel: +27 (0)21 418 0566 • Fax: +27 (0)21 418 0254 • Cell: +27 (0)82 777 8117 john@johnfreeman.co.za • www.freemanstallions.co.za • www.johnfreeman.co.za facebook.com/freeman.stallions twitter.com/freemanstallion

Gr1 Durban July, Gr1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge, Gr1 Daily News 2000, Gr1 Investec Cape Derby, Gr2 Green Point Stakes (new track record), 14 starts, 7 wins, 4 places, R5.38m (at June 2015)

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15 EQUO PRODESSE

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THE TRIPLE CROWN

CONQUERED Text and Photos by Michele MacDonald

Less than 12 hours after New York’s Belmont Park thundered in the explosion of 90,000 people leaping to their feet and screaming with a furious desire stirred by 37 years of disappointments, trainer Bob Baffert stood aglow in dappled morning light, holding a bay colt at the end of a loose shank.

s the colt gazed curiously at the nearby television lights, the dozens of photographers with their clicking cameras, and the other curious onlookers who flowed in a steady stream from nearby barns, a few birds chirped in the trees, the only sounds accompanying reverential whispers. Clad in a dark blue jacket over his blue and white striped shirt and jeans, his trademark sunglasses beneath his shock of white hair, Baffert smiled and quietly said: “Do you want to touch him?” In less time than it takes a heart to beat, the photographers moved in a collective wave around this horse, who just the previous evening had surged through1 ½ miles in the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes with his ears pricked much of the way, crossing over the finish line and into the realm of racing immortality. They placed their hands on his head, his neck, his shoulders, his back, and some even kissed the soft velvet of his black nose as tears welled in their eyes and dripped down their cheeks. INTERNATIONAL RACEHORSE

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Winners of the The Triple Crown

Sir Barton

Gallant Fox

Omaha

War Admiral

Whirlaway

Count Fleet

Assault

Citation

Secretariat

Seattle Slew

More than three decades had passed since Affirmed had captured American racing’s Holy Grail—the Triple Crown of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes—in 1978, and most people had forgotten, or never knew, what qualities of muscle, bone and heart made a Triple Crown winner. Affirmed

American Pharoah

Date

Horse

Jockey

Trainer

1919

Sir Barton

John Loftus

H. G. Bedwell

1930

Gallant Fox

Earl Sande

James Fitzsimmons

1935

Omaha

William Saunders

James Fitzsimmons

1937

War Admiral

Charley Kurtsinger

George Conway

1941

Whirlaway

Eddie Arcaro

Ben A. Jones

1943

Count Fleet

John Longden

Don Cameron

1946

Assault

Warren Mehrtens

Max Hirsch

1948

Citation

Eddie Arcaro

Ben A. Jones

1973

Secretariat

Ron Turcotte

Lucien Laurin

1977

Seattle Slew

Jean Cruguet

William Turner, Jr.

1978

Affirmed

Steve Cauthen

Lazaro S. Barrera

2015

American Pharoah

Victor Espinoza

Bob Baffert

INTERNATIONAL RACE HORSE

Now these photographers were touching American Pharoah, the statuesque colt who had just ended the long wait for a champion worthy of the Crown, and they could feel his warmth and steely physique under his shimmering coat. He seemed to look each one in the eye, never flinching, never sulking, and a sort of magnetic, hypnotic trance was broken only when Baffert softly pulled the colt back and returned him to the barn. “I wanted to share him with everybody,” Baffert explained of his wholly unorthodox yet totally magical gesture, “and to show everybody how kind and sweet he is. “He’s been so special to me. He’s just so different than any horse I’ve ever had,” he said. Baffert had come down this rocky Triple Crown trail three previous times only to watch his horses—all champions in their

own right—falter at the Belmont’s stern task, known as the “Test of a Champion.” Silver Charm had led in the stretch only to lose by three-quarters of a length in 1997; Real Quiet had drawn clear by four lengths before wavering, yet had his nose in front just before the wire and just after the wire, but not at the wire, in 1998, and War Emblem had stumbled out of the starting gate and lost all chance in 2002. But American Pharoah would prove that his racing prowess is just as special as his kind temperament, and Baffert, who already is enshrined in America’s Racing Hall of Fame, had sensed his exceptional ability from his earliest days with the colt in 2014. Bred and owned by Egyptian-born entrepreneur Ahmed Zayat, American Pharoah is a member of the second crop sired by Zayat’s homebred Pioneerof the Nile, a son of Belmont winner Empire Maker who, like his own sire, had finished second in the Kentucky Derby. Zayat-bred mare Littleprincessemma, a daughter of Storm Cat’s son Yankee Gentleman, had been viewed as a talented filly but she never won a race before going to the breeding shed and producing American Pharoah as her second foal. While growing up at Taylor Made Farm in Nicholasville, Kentucky,

the colt was described by the Taylor brothers who own the large nursery as the best of his generation, Zayat related. In order to make a statement for Pioneerof the Nile, the owner consigned the colt to the boutique Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale, but as luck would have it, the yearling rapped his ankle, causing a superficial but unsightly swelling that concerned buyers. Zayat, who wanted $1 million, bought the colt back for $300,000. “Somebody upstairs is watching,” Zayat declared, adding that he also had bought back Pioneerof the Nile as a yearling.“With these horses I took to the sale, I either chickened out or had sellers’ remorse. It’s pure luck, or maybe we are blessed. Who knows?” When American Pharoah—whose name was chosen from an online submission and given toThe Jockey Club with an inadvertent misspelling—was sent for early lessons at the McKathan Brothers Training Center in Florida, it did not take long for him to become a standout. “J.B. McKathan was very fortunate to have had horses like Forestry, Silver Charm, Real Quiet—I’m talking about serious, Classic horses—in the past, and I recall J.B. told me,‘Mr. Z, this is the fastest INTERNATIONAL RACEHORSE

son-of-a-you know-what that I’ve ever put a saddle on,’ ” Zayat said. “When he started breezing, honestly we were scared. This horse was like two seconds faster than anything else,” he added. “When Baffert got him, he said, ‘Ahmed, this is the fastest two-year-old I ever got.’ ” The colt also tended to be jumpy and spooky, and he lost his debut in August 2014. Following that unexpected result, Baffert equipped him with earplugs, and American Pharoah has not been beaten since. He won the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity in his second start, and added the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes to earn laurels as America’s champion juvenile male last year even though he missed the Breeders’ Cup with a bruised foot, which also delayed the start of his three-year-old season. But when American Pharoah won the Arkansas Derby in April, the formerly brash Baffert—who rose to the sport’s highest echelons after beginning as a Quarter Horse jockey once admonished by a disgruntled trainer that he “couldn’t ride a hog in a phone booth”—knew exactly how good the colt was. “After the Arkansas Derby, he said,‘Ahmed, I’ve lived all of my life for a horse like that,” Zayat said. 22

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The Triple Crown wasn’t meant to be easy, and American Pharoah had to relentlessly rally, stung by jockey Victor Espinoza’s whip 32 times, to win the 141st Kentucky Derby over 1 ¼ miles at Churchill Downs. It was the colt’s first hard race, and Baffert suggested he had been distracted by the crowd of 170,513 and that he would improve from his effort, completed in a relatively slow 2:03.02. In the Preakness two weeks later at 1 3/16 miles, American Pharoah and his seven rivals were lashed by a torrential rain as they went to post on a Pimlico Race Course track turned sloppy. Knowing from his Arkansas win in sloppy conditions that his mount could skim over the mud, Espinoza sent him to the front, and the jockey could be seen visibly grinning as they headed into the first turn. American Pharoah was never challenged and galloped home by seven lengths in 1:58.46. There are three weeks between the Preakness and the Belmont, and many horses have withered from the travel, the races and the pressure. But American Pharoah bloomed, looking robust when he arrived at Belmont Park with his companion stable pony, Smokey. Baffert also had thrived, telling everyone he just wanted to enjoy

“This is not about any of us—this is about defining the greatness of American Pharoah,” agreed Zayat. “He belongs to all of us now.”

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this ride, and he was at his playful best, jumping on Smokey one morning and doing spins.

winner, as well as the first Hispanic. “The only thing I can say is just ‘wow.’ ”

In fact, Baffert was so confident, he even advised Espinoza to not jubilantly rise in the saddle, as he had done in the first two jewels of the Crown, if and when he won the race so as not to upset American Pharoah’s balance if he was tired from the stamina test. That concern proved unfounded.

“I’ve never had a horse like that, and I’ve never seen a horse run like that,” said Baffert, 62.“It was a beautiful moment. I’ll never forget the sound of the crowd. When he turned for home, and even past the wire, people were just ... they just erupted. I’ve never been involved in anything like that.”

American Pharoah stepped back just as the Belmont starting gate was opening, but he quickly overcame his slight hesitation and shot to the lead. Challenged first by the Todd Pletcher-trained Florida Derby winner Materiality and later by Godolphin’s Grade 1 winner Frosted, American Pharoah just kept spurting away, lengthening his breathtaking stride in sweeping, fluid motions.

Baffert, who has said he “mellowed” following his 2012 brush with mortality when he suffered a heart attack in Dubai, became choked with emotion after the finish. He thanked owners Mike Pegram and Hal Earnhardt for encouraging him to switch from training Quarter Horses to Thoroughbreds, and he spoke of missing his deceased parents, who had supported him during his previous Triple Crown bids and who, he suggested, were still part of a “spiritual” aura around American Pharoah. “This isn’t about me or about the jockey,” he said after letting photographers touch American Pharoah to get a sense of his greatness. “This is about this horse. This horse has just been magical…I’ve always had a spiritual feeling about him. We’ll never forget this; the name American Pharoah will always be remembered.”

By the time Espinoza and the colt reached the finish line, with the jockey crouched motionless, they were 5 ½ lengths in front and had stopped the clock in 2:26.65, the sixth-fastest time in Belmont history and behind only Secretariat’s record 2:24 among Triple Crown winners. American Pharoah ran his final quarter-mile in 0:24.32, faster even than Secretariat had raced his final furlongs. “That was the best feeling I ever had. It’s unbelievable,”exclaimed Espinoza, who at 43 became the oldest rider of a Triple Crown 24

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“This is not about any of us—this is about defining the greatness of American Pharoah,” agreed Zayat. “He belongs to all of us now.”

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ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS

KENTUCKY DERBY AND OAKS

Text and Images by Michele MacDonald

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Nearly 300,000 people converged on Churchill Downs on a sunny spring weekend to witness what would be the beginning of a magic journey to the first Triple Crown in 37 years and a fairy tale filly’s triumph for a trainer who had defied death and a jockey who had toiled decades for elite success.

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Cancer Survivors Parade - Oaks

Churchill Derby Crowd

ithout question, this was a Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby weekend that will not be forgotten any time soon.

A record crowd of 123,763 arrived on May 1 for the Oaks, which drew an evenly matched field of 14. After Condo Commando and Angela Renee dueled over the early pace, former Kentucky Governor Brereton Jonesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lovely Maria soared past them, crossing the finish line with her ears pricked in a storybook finish. Tears streamed down the face of jockey Kerwin Clark, who at 56 was celebrating only his second Grade 1 victory, with Lovely Maria having annexed the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland under his guidance just a month earlier. Trainer Larry Jones whooped and loped across the winnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

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Lovely Maria

circle to greet Clark with the joy not only of a major win, but of living to see the race. Just over a year earlier, Jones had fallen from one of the racehorses he routinely rides in morning exercise and suffered a serious brain injury. As Jones recounts his brush with mortality, he stopped breathing and had to be revived prior to a scheduled surgery to stop bleeding on his brain.With surgery no longer an option, he was put on a ventilator with a grim prognosis, but on Easter Sunday the bleeding stopped and he slowly recovered—and eventually was able to resume training and riding. “It’s all been a godsend,” Jones said after hoisting the Oaks trophy. “I am glad He showed me this blessing.” “It never gets old,” exclaimed Brereton Jones, the master of Airdrie Stud who led in the winner with his wife, Libby, and

stands Lovely Maria’s sire, Majesticperfection. “The Good Lord has blessed us all.” The following day, a Derby record crowd of 170,513 flooded the grandstand, infield and parking lots and were blessed by a different kind of miracle, one racing fans had almost given up on ever seeing again. American Pharoah, the 2014 champion juvenile male who had recovered from a foot injury that kept him out of last year’s Breeders’ Cup and delayed the start of his sophomore campaign, grittily prevailed in the 141st edition of the Run for the Roses. After shadowing early leaders Dortmund and Firing Line, American Pharoah wore them down under persistent urging from jockey Victor Espinoza to win by a length. INTERNATIONAL RACEHORSE

American Pharoah Derby Finish

Although his effort was not the most visually impressive in Derby history, it will go down in history as part of a breathtaking sweep of the Triple Crown, the first since Affirmed in 1978. American Pharoah went on to dazzle fans and decimate rivals in subsequent front-running wins in the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. For owner and breeder Ahmed Zayat, an Egyptian-born businessman, the victory was especially sweet after earlier second-place Derby runs with American Pharoah’s sire, Pioneerof the Nile, Nehro and Bodemeister. “Pharoah is a freak of nature. I knew if he got the lead, nobody would catch him,” Zayat declared, a sentiment that proved true throughout the Crown. 30

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Variety Club

(SAF)

Va r ( u sa ) - L a Ma s s in e by Se c re t Pros p e ctor ( us a )

Longines 3rd Highest Rated Horse in the World 2014 Timeform 131 South African Horse Of The Year 2012 & 2013 Won 5 Gr1 Races First International Horse to win the HK Champions Mile G1 in the Last 10 Years

Jehan Malherbe (International Bloodstock Agent) - “I think Variety Club’s strength is what stood out for me, strength of character & strength of body. He had incredible gate and cruising speed which got him out of trouble when he was badly drawn and he would still quicken up off that cruising speed. A terrific racehorse, one of the best I have seen” Mike de Kock (Trainer) - “He is a magnificent looking, extremely sound horse and he had phenomenal speed” Joey Ramsden (Trainer) - “He was a very, very beautiful yearling, handsome, a lovely big jowl and very correct” Markus Jooste - “Variety Club is South Africa’s horse, for me it is a huge privilege to be associated with a horse of this calibre” Derek Brugman (Racing Manager) - “Variety Club is the soundest, toughest and most talented horse I have ever worked with. A true legend” Anton Marcus (Variety Club’s wingman) - “Variety Club is head and shoulders above anything I have ever ridden” Joao Moreira (HK Champion Jockey) - “Variety Club didn’t just beat us, he broke us into little pieces” Darren Flindell (HK Commentator) - “What a freakish performance from VC”

STALLIONS 36

Captain Al

(SAF)

AL MUFTI (USA) - OFF TO WAR BY COMPLETE WARRIOR (USA) Twice Equus Outstanding Sire. Champion Sire of 2-y-o’s for 6 consecutive seasons. Current Leading Sire. Current Leading Sire of 2-y-o’s. Sire of 10 Gr1 Winners. 2015 yearling average R613,875. Yearlings sold for R2,2m (2), R1,9m, R1,2m, R1m (2), R900,000 (2), etc. 2015 STUD FEE: R150,000

Captain Of All

(SAF)

NEW

CAPTAIN AL - SERIOUS SIDE BY FARD (IRE) 6 wins, 4 places from 11 starts and R1,783,150. Won TSOGO SUN MEDALLION Gr1, GOLDEN HORSE SPRINT Gr1, DIADEM STAKES (WFA) Gr2; 2nd CAPE FLYING CHAMPIONSHIP (WFA) Gr1; 3rd GOLDEN HORSESHOE Gr1, COMPUTAFORM SPRINT Gr1. Merit Rating 120 (Joint Highest Rated 4-y-o in South Africa with Futura). 2015 STUD FEE: FOA

Count Dubois

(GB)

ZAFONIC - MADAME DUBOIS BY LEGEND OF FRANCE Equus Outstanding Sire; Champion Sire of 2-y-o 2005/06. Best progeny include: FRENCH NAVY (G1), ZAITOON (G1), ASYLUM SEEKER (Equus Champion, G1), ZEENO (G1), MADAME DUBOIS (G1p), BIARRITZ (G1p), UP FRONT (G1p), COUNTLESS TIMES (G2), FAIRYINTHEWOODS (G2), GLORIOUS MOMENT (G2p), COUNTESS CORLIA (G3), STATE CROWN (G3), ETHICS (G3), FAIR ROSALIND (G3), SUCCESS COUNTS (G3), KINEMATIC COUNTESS (G3), NUGGET COUNTER, DOOR OF DECEPTION, etc. 2015 yearling average R245,833. Yearlings have sold for R2m, R1m, R775,000, R600,000, R500,000, etc.

2015 STUD FEE: R10,000

Curved Ball

(AUS)

FASTNET ROCK - CURVACEOUS BY ZABEEL Miler - winner of 3 races 1400-1800m incl Dingaans G2. By FASTNET ROCK - Champion sire Australia 2011/12. Champion 3-y-o Colt and Champion Sprinter Australia 2004/05. Sire of 15 individual G1 winners from his first 5 crops. Dam by ZABEEL - 2 x Champion Australian Sire and 4 x Champion New Zealand Sire. 2015 STUD FEE: R8,000

Dan de Lago

(AUS)

ESCOSTA DE LAGO - THE GOLDEN DANE BY DANEHILL 5 wins in SA, 1400-2400m, at 3 - 4 (MR 111). By ENCOSTA DE LAGO - Australian Champion Sire 2007/08, 2008/09, runner-up 4 times. Sire of 23 individual G1 winners to date. Dam, THE GOLDEN DANE - 2nd Flight S G1; 4th VRC Oaks G1 - by DANEHILL - one of the best sires & sire of sires the World has ever known. 2015 STUD FEE: R8,000

Jay Peg

(SAF)

CAMDEN PARK - LAPTOP LADY BY AL MUFTI Equus Champion 3-y-o Male, Equus Outstanding International Performer. Won 4 G1 races (3 in record time) on 3 continents - earned over R40 million. TFR 126. A leading first season sire - best 2-y-o progeny incl: FLASH DRIVE (G3), OLYMPIC OWEN (G3), HOT AFFAIR (G3),etc. 2015 yearling average: R232,063. Yearlings sold for R1,1m, R1m, R550,000, R500,000, R475,000, etc. 2015 STUD FEE: R10,000

INTERNATIONAL RACE HORSE BACKGROUND PHOTO: SEVENTH PLAIN (Seventh Rock) winning TSOGO SUN GOLD MEDALLION G1 on 23rd May 2015 | bred by KLAWERVLEI STUD

Champion SA Breeders 2014 Pomodoro

(SAF)

JET MASTER - GOLDEN APPLE BY NORTHERN GUEST Winner of 8 races 1160-2450m, R4,080,125, incl Durban July G1, SA Derby G1; 2nd SA Classic G1; 3rd Champions Challenge G1, Gold Challenge G1, Queen’s Plate G1; 4th J&B Met G1, The Dingaans G2, etc. By JET MASTER - 6 x Champion South African Sire ex GOLDEN APPLE - Broodmare Of The Year by Northern Guest - Champion Broodmare Sire. 2015 STUD FEE: R20,000

Seventh Rock

(AUS)

ROCK OF GIBRALTAR - RUBY CLIPPER BY RUBITON G1 winning sprinter. Won Gold Reef Resorts Medallion G1 Second Season Sire - best progeny to date: GUINESS (G1), SEVENTH PLAIN (G1), THE STONE THROWER (G3p), STONEHENGE (Lp), SEVEN GRAND (Lp) 2015 yearling average: R227,783. Yearlings have sold for R1,2m (2), R700,000, R625,000, R500,000, etc. 2015 STUD FEE: R40,000

Twice Over

(GB)

OBSERVATORY - DOUBLE CROSSED BY CAERLEON Won 12 races, £2,526,584 ($3,819,338). Won 4 x G1 races in England incl CHAMPION STAKES G1 (twice), CORAL-ECLIPSE G1, JUDDMONTE INTERNATIONAL STAKES G1. Placed in 8 G1 races incl 3rd Breeders Cup Classic G1, 2¼ lengths behind Zenyatta. Timeform 128. A son of World Champion Miler, OBSERVATORY. 2015 STUD FEE: R50,000 NEW

Variety Club

(SAF)

VAR - LA MASSINE BY SECRET PROSPECTOR Won 5 Gr1 Races; Timeform 131 Longines 3rd Highest Rated Horse in the World 2014 South African Horse Of The Year 2012 & 2013 First International Horse to win the HK Champions Mile G1 in the Last 10 Years 2015 STUD FEE: R100,000

Warm White Night

(SAF)

WESTERN WINTER - THOUSAND NIGHTS BY FOVEROS Winner of 7 races, R1,600,075 incl Gold Reef Resorts Medallion G1, Cape Flying Championship G1. First Season Sire - best progeny to date: ZILNOX, NINEFOLD, RED HOT LADY, NIGHT MARCH, KEMAL KAVUR, HARLEM SHAKE, etc. 2015 yearling average: R199,861. Yearlings sold for R800,000, R350,000, R340,000, R275,000, etc. 2015 STUD FEE: R15,000

2 0 1 5

Kl aw ervl ei Stud

READY TO RUN SALE

CTS TO HOLD

NEW TWOYEAR-OLD SALE With 16 Grade 1 winners and three individual Equus Champions coming out of Cape Thoroughbred Sales auctions since 2012, buyers will be clamouring to participate in an auspicious new addition to the South African thoroughbred calendar staged by this dynamic company. CTS will be hosting a Cape Two-Year-Old Sale, set to take place on Saturday 8th August 2015 at Durbanville racecourse.

By Mark Van Deventer

Siren’s Call

It will provide a special opportunity for both buyers and vendors to purchase and sell from a premium platform. Past two-year-old sales have proved a great hunting ground for unveiling future champions, and the CTS’ first foray into the two year old market promises to be the latest in a range of successful initiatives undertaken by a team that has helped revitalise the sales environment in South Africa. The CTS Two Year Old Sale will be held a few months in advance of the annual CTS Ready To Run Sale, a relatively young sale which has quickly become one of the most popular auctions on the local bloodstock program. CTS’s COO Adrian Todd is delighted with the two-year

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old sales’ concept, saying, “We are most excited about this new venture and, as always, are keen to offer buyers and vendors a quality stage on which to acquire and sell high class stock. This completes our range of sales and now provides our clients with a full suite of quality CTS auctions.” CTS are driven to promote growth in the sport of horse racing by representing the breeding industry in the most innovative manner. Looking after the particular requirements of the vendors, enhancing the buying experience for owners seeking champion thoroughbreds, and creating lucrative incentive races for graduates are core marketing elements that have been favourably received.

Carry On Alice

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READY TO RUN SALE

Act Of War

Captain America

As if discerning buyers require further encouragement â&#x20AC;&#x201C; prominent CTS graduates have been covering themselves in Grade 1 glory over the last few months. Captain America invaded Jozi to win the HF Oppenheimer Stakes in a commanding pace-pressing display. French Navy not only clinched the SA Classic, but recently added the prestigious Daily News 2000 at Greyville to his CV with a withering stretch run. Top notch filly Sirenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Call may have disappointed in that same race, yet came within a neck of clinching the Triple Tiara when just failing to stave off Pine Princess in the SA Oaks during a stellar Highveld campaign. Another distinguished CTS graduate is speedball, Carry

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French Navy

On Alice who gained revenge on high class sprinter Alboran Sea when winning the Fillies Sprint at Scottsville. Her three-year old contemporary, Act Of War also achieved Grade 1 honours clinching the Cape Guineas towards the end of 2014. This CTS Two- year old sale is ideal for youngsters who needed more time to mature and furnish. Now, these less precocious progeny not really suited to traditional yearling sales can be brought to market at the appropriate stage of their development. A strong catalogue is bound to see buyers react with enthusiasm. For further information about this exciting sale contact Amanda Carey on amanda@cthbs.com or 021 8730734.

It’s A Lifestyle - Where Everyone is a VIP

CTS August Two-Year-Old Sale Cape Town

South Africa’s Newest Thoroughbred Sale 8 August 2015, Durbanville, Cape Town

CTS Graduate and G1 winner CARRY ON ALICE

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Adrian Todd (COO) E: adrian@cthbs.com; or Amanda Carey (Sales Manager) E: amanda@cthbs.com T: +27 (0) 21 873 0734 M: +27 (0) 82 465 4020 W: www.capethoroughbredsales.co.za European Representative: Hermione Fitzgerald E: hermionefitzgerald@gmail.com M: +44 (0) 78 3349 8373

PIONEEROF THE NILE The superlatives keep on soaring: “best in the world” of his group, “only one” in decades, “outstanding success.”

While these descriptions may kindle thoughts of Triple Crown champion American Pharoah, they actually have been employed to define his sire, the nine-yearold Empire Maker stallion Pioneerof the Nile, who, with much of his stud career likely still in front of him, appears to be a potential breed-changing force.

When the Vinery farm complex in Lexington, Kentucky, where he had begun his stood career, was sold to Chilean-based Don Alberto Corp., Pioneeerof the Nile was obtained for stud duty by nearby WinStar Farm in December 2012. However, with his first foals only yearlings at the time, he was basically just a supporting player in an acquisition package that featured proven stallions More Than Ready and Congrats.

A tall, dark and handsome individual who flashed considerable talent on the racetrack, Pioneerof the Nile represents the quintessential racing story as the somewhat overlooked horse who emerges as a superstar. While well regarded, he never quite made it to the top of his generation and then was retired as a three-year-old to stand for a less than top-shelf fee of $20,000 initially before dipping to $15,000.

But after achieving what no American stallion has been able to do for 37 years in siring a son brilliant and sound enough to sweep the Triple Crown, Pioneerof the Nile will never again be waiting in the wings for recognition. “We couldn’t have imagined it would have worked out as well as it did but we’re very thankful that it did,” reflected Darren Fox, WinStar stallion seasons director.

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Text and Images by Michele MacDonald

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With the added focus of hindsight, it is easier to see how Pioneerof the Nile has achieved his standing. A Grade 1 winner as a juvenile, he established himself as one of the better colts of his class, winning his first three starts the following season including the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby and then finishing second to longshot gelding Mine That Bird over a sloppy track in the Kentucky Derby. His unplaced finish in the Preakness Stakes baffled trainer Bob Baffert and proved his last start, and he was retired in the summer of 2009 with a soft tissue injury in his left front leg. Owner and breeder Ahmed Zayat retained a 75% interest in the horse, he has said, a move that seemed prescient when Pioneerof the Nile’s popular and successful sire Empire Maker was sold in 2010 and sent to Japan - and even more so now with American Pharoah’s success. “When you look at the physical make-up of Pioneer and American Pharoah, it’s like an archetype of a Thoroughbred they can be effective at two but then have the scope to be top middle-distance horses at three,” Fox said. “It really is pretty close to - I shouldn’t say perfect because there is no such thing - but the perfect Thoroughbred in terms of two-year-old and three-year-old ability. Having the size and scope and being as 44

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good as they are at three ticks all the boxes.” American Pharoah ranked as champion juvenile male of 2014 in the United States and is sure to add another championship as three-year-old male due to his Classic sweep. Yet by no means is Pioneerof the Nile limited to success with his most notable son. He had several Classic contenders from his first crop, members of which are now four, and he has sired six graded stakes winners from those first two crops through early June 2015. That number puts him equal with the number sired by America’s leading stallion,Tapit, at the same stage, and puts him one in front of WinStar’s venerable Distorted Humor at the comparable time. Other measures show him to be America’s leading active sire by Average Earnings Index at 2.84 and the global leading third crop sire by progeny earnings. Pioneerof the Nile’s 2015 fee of $60,000 is sure to rise, although WinStar has not 46

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announced a figure for the horse who even before the Triple Crown was in huge demand with breeders. “His (2015) book was pretty much put to bed the middle to the end of November. Most people in the industry were aware his book was full and he was one of the most difficult horses to get to in Kentucky this year,” Fox said as breeding season was winding down. “He’s (covered)nine Grade 1 winners, the dams of 15 Grade 1 winners, the dams of 27 graded stakes winners and 23 graded stakes producers; it’s been a very strong book for him.” Pioneerof the Nile, who is out of the stakes-winning Lord At War mare Star of Goshen, also has been commercially hot. In 2014, his yearlings conceived at the $15,000 stud fee averaged $101,278 for 36 sold at public auction, while his 14 weanlings sold averaged $118,857. As a covering sire, he was represented by 22 mares in foal which averaged $204,636. “He’s obviously shaping himself up to be the next important young sire in the States,” Fox said.

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EQUINE GROUP The Equine Group is a niche financial services company that specifically services the thoroughbred racing and breeding industry. Equine offer four core products: * Bloodstock insurance * An outsourced administration function for racehorse trainers * An administration service for racehorse owners (a product particularly popular with non residents racing in South Africa). * VAT administration for racehorse owners. Equine is owned and managed by Chris Haynes, Gary Grant and Christine Terblanche. Chris and Gary are both Chartered Accountants, who pioneered VAT administration back in the 1990â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Christine has made a career of bloodstock insurance. All three have in excess of twenty years industry experience. Equine have been a Lloyds Coverholder for more than twenty five years, offering tailored insurance solutions to meet your needs. Lloyds of London still underwrite the lionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s share of the worldwide bloodstock insurance market. Our National Yearling Sale rate of 2.95% (including VAT and a lifesaving surgery benefit to a maximum of R 80 000) was exceptionally well received by the market and we thank all clients who entrusted us with their cover.

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Racing. It’s a Rush, launched last year, continually endeavors to bring glamour and excitement back into horseracing.

The Racing. It’s a Rush “Young Bloods” campaign will appear across various media platforms over the coming months and will profile some of the young talent within the industry, talent that is needed to redefine racing as the destination of business, sport, lifestyle and entertainment, both for the existing racehorse enthusiast as well as for a new and younger group of fans. From vets to jockeys to trainers and owners, this series will profile all that is young, bright, gifted and so exhilarating about the younger generation within the South African horseracing industry.

Our Young Bloods THE MAN BEHIND THE BRAND - THAMI SILWANA Even before Thami Silwana, 34, became the brand manager for J&B, he had already developed an interest in attending horseracing events such as the Vodacom Durban July and J&B Met when on holiday in Durban and Cape Town, although he admits he was more interested in the events and not so much the horses. With J&B’s long association with horseracing, Thami now finds himself with a new interest and respect for the sport. In fact, the J&B Met is said to be the longest standing sports sponsorship in South African history.

J&B Brand Manager Thami Silwana (far right) takes in the 2015 J&B Met with Roxy Louw, Siv Ngesi and Leigh-Anne Williams at Kenilworth Racecourse

“The event is colourful but not trying too hard, J&B is like that as well, very loud, full of colour but also down to earth,’ Thami says about the relationship the brand has with the race.

Currently living in Claremont, Cape Town, Thami went to Parktown Boys in Johannesburg before obtaining a BComm degree. He says the challenge with horseracing in South Africa is the abundance of other competing events as well as the focus on opulence versus an environment of just having fun. On the plus side, the launch of Racing. It’s a Rush has been a game changer from a sponsor’s point of view. “It allows for more people to have a chance of an upgraded experience of the sport of racing. Certainly racing can and should attract younger fans and followers. The setting and the duration of the events (daytime and running into the evening) makes it a great environment to be out with friends,” he says. For obvious reasons, the J&B Met is his favourite racing event of the year. “The setting is great, full of entertainment, cool celebs always attend, chilled vibes and non-pretentious versus. some which are about the bling”. He also says that this year’s introduction of the Racing. It’s a Rush General Access Village at the event in January brought some really cool celebs and made sure they were accessible to the general public. Events such as the J&B Met are a great showcase of what the sport offers, from daytime festivities such as the horses, fashion, music, marquees; to nighttime activities such as the after parties etc. Thami feels that to sustain the interest amongst the younger generation, bigger hosting platforms like the Racing. It’s a Rush General Access Village at this year’s J&B Met are needed at other events like the SANSUI Summer Cup and Vodacom Durban July, and inviting a diverse set of young trendy people, bloggers and stylists is vital. “Be it as a punter or just someone who loves a day out around like minded people, attending a racing event is a lot of fun,” Thami says.

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Our Young Bloods MEET JENNA – “THE DARLING’ OF WESTERN CAPE RACING

Unlike many people within the local horseracing industry, Jenna Potgieter had no prior experience or family history with horseracing, yet since applying and being accepted for a marketing position at Kenilworth Racecourse in Cape Town, she is now an integral part of horseracing in the Western Cape.

Jenna Potgieter with Kenilworth Racing’s Mandy Kannemeyer.

Jenna, 28, is recently married and is living in Tokai, Cape Town. She studied Public Relations at Varsity College and Marketing Management at Damelin College after attending Wynberg Girls High School. She summarises her role at Kenilworth as encouraging racegoers to attend the on course race meetings by way of marketing the events, while at the same time introducing and educating a new audience to the sport.

She feels that the lack of knowledge of horseracing as a sport as well as getting the younger generation involved in the sport are two of the challenges which need attention within the industry, a challenge being addressed by Racing. It’s a Rush. Being an ideal example of the younger target market herself, and having relatively recently become a passionate advocate for the sport of horseracing, Jenna finds herself in an ideal position to assist the Racing. It’s a Rush initiative to attract younger fans and followers to the sport of horseracing in South Africa. “Racing. It’s a Rush has created a national brand which can easily be identified in all media platforms,” Jenna says about the initiative. “Horseracing is an exciting and exhilarating sport which is again becoming a trendy outing. It is an opportunity for people to get dressed up and enjoy a day at the races. Certain events are marketed as family fun days so it really is a sport which caters to everyone,” she says. Jenna describes her typical day as involving networking, communicating with existing and potential clients, arranging trade exchanges, developing strategies, brainstorming ideas, connecting people, working on presentations and establishing partnerships. Jenna knew that she would have to immerse herself in the sport because of her initial lack of racing knowledge and that she did! Because of her eagerness to learn and enthusiasm, the various role players such as owners, jockeys, colleagues, trainers and sponsors welcomed her with open arms and her racing education began already on day one! “My key strength is my ability to interface easily and effectively with people at different levels of the organisation. I am particularly in my element when I am networking and interacting with people. I am passionate about providing a seamless, professional and altogether outstanding service,” she says when asked what she can attribute her success to within her role at Kenilworth, which has been described by some as the “darling of Western Cape racing” While she believes that every race day has its own rewards, her personal favourite event is Ladies Day, where a racehorse is auctioned off with the proceeds going to charity. “It’s been a really fun initiative that has drawn ladies together both within the industry as well as newcomers to the sport .There is also importantly a charity initiative to raise funds for a good cause. In 2013 we raised R130 000 00 for the Reach For Recovery Breast Cancer Association and in 2014, R140 000 00 was raised for The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA). The day has grown into one of the most prestigious of our in-house events,” she says. The next annual Ladies day event will be held at Kenilworth Racecourse on the 15 August 2015. While she does love being part of the team that arranges the various horseracing events at Kenilworth throughout the year, few people can understand the amount of work and organisation that is involved. From marketing plans to liaising with the sales and events teams, working closely with sponsors and the media and sticking to deadlines and budgets, “A lot of work and effort goes into the planning of these events to ensure success on the day.” In the little spare time she does have, Jenna enjoys socialising with friends, spending time with her family and travelling and discovering more amazing cultures. Locally she loves spending time at the beach and finding new wine farms and restaurants around the Western Cape. She would love to own a racehorse one day.

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Our Young Bloods FOR THE LOVE OF HORSES AND HORSERACING - JESSICA SLACK “I love hats, let’s bring hats back!” says Jessica Slack who is passionate about bringing glamour back to modern day horseracing. With Harry and Bridgette Openheimer as grandparents, one might assume that she grew up with a love of horseracing. Jessica admits that while she loved horses, and rode provincially for the then Transvaal province, she was not interested in horseracing at all and attended her first race meeting under duress when her grandmother invited her to Newmarket Racecourse. “I was dreading it and all week tried to come up with a valid excuse but failed. We arrived at Newmarket on the Thursday night and grandma’s friends were not at all what I had been expecting. Chesty Woolfhaard taught me how to place a bet and Mike de Kock won Grandma that leg of the Triple Crown with Fort Defiance. I won R500 for my R50 bet and Mike bought champagne and we celebrated until the early hours of the morning. I couldn’t believe how much fun Grandma’s friends were, and the rest is history,” Jessica recalls. Jessica, 35, from Dunkeld West Johannesburg and attended Redhill School before studying Fine Art at St. Martins in London and Graphic Design at Design Centre in Greenside. Jessica has, since her first introduction to horseracing, immersed herself in the sport, and is currently involved with both Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Stud Farms with her mother Mary Slack, who herself has been described as a doyenne of the South African racing industry and a die-hard supporter of the sport. Jessica Slack in Turffontein’s parade ring with jockey Weichong Marwing wearing the late Mrs Oppenheimer’s racing colours which Jessica has now taken over.

“At the moment my biggest priority is in helping to get Mauritzfontein to the top of the breeders’ log. I am still learning, I think in this game no one can ever stop learning, but I am incredibly lucky to have fantastic people to learn from. My mother, Guy Murdoch and Jehan Malherbe are three of the best horse people I know”.

Jessica only has praise for the Racing. It’s a Rush initiative launched last year. “I think it’s fabulous! It’s glamorous and slick and it’s so refreshing to have an exciting initiative that is not obsessed only with betting”. She reinforces the objective of the Racing. It’s a Rush campaign to attract younger fans and followers to the sport. “The survival of our game depends on it!” she says. “Getting new people into the game is essential and promoting the race experience is vital. I have always had the most fun times at the races, and they don’t necessarily involve winning. We need to make racing more accessible and just get people to the track. What could be more fun than spending a Friday night or Saturday having a wonderful meal with a table full of friends, enjoying the action and entertainment?” Jessica spends her time between Johannesburg and the two stud farms which are located in Kimberley and Piketberg in the Western Cape. Telly Track, (239 on DSVT) covers all local race meetings and most of the big international racing events too. Having such easy viewing ensures that one never has to miss any action even if you are nowhere near the racecourse. Jessica says that this is how she keeps a finger on the pulse on all the action taking place in the industry, which runs 364 days a year. “J&B Met Day, L’Ormarins Queens Plate Day and Champions Day would be my top three race meetings. There are always so many exciting features on one day and they usually attract a big crowd which adds to the excitement and of course the after-party!” she says. Jessica proudly feels that horseracing is one of the few sports in the world that does not discriminate. “Female jockeys ride against male jockeys and get no weight advantage. Lady trainers do not get any special perks, and if your filly is good enough, there is nothing stopping you from racing her against the colts”. Media plays an important role in increasing the good news stories about horseracing! “Racehorse trainers work far harder than trainers in any other sport and jockeys put in long exhausting hours while coping with constant danger and adrenalin on a day to day basis. They are heroes and it’s important that the media help to raise their profiles”. Jessica is also adamant about the vital role played by social media in giving the sport due recognition especially amongst the younger population. Jessica is herself in charge of the Facebook and Twitter pages for both of the farms which she loves. ”It allows me to be a part of all the wonderful success stories and excitement at the farms”

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HISTORY OF

THE DURBAN JULY By Michelle Wing

With South Africa’s most prestigious race on our doorstep again, Michelle Wing takes a look back in time to where the now, Vodacom Durban July had its origins.

he first horse race meeting that took place in Durban, on the east coast of South Africa, was in the year that the first steamship visited Durban, The Robert Peel, bringing with it news that gold had been discovered in Australia.The course over which the race was run, was laid out in the bush between Umgeni Road and the present day Greyville Race Course. The year was 1852. Racing horses was not new to South Africa, with garrison racing first taking place some fifty seven years earlier, in 1795, at Green Point, a few miles from Cape Town’s centre. It was essentially a form of entertainment for the residents of Cape Town, but by 1825, organized racing had spread to ten colonies. By 1850, it had reached Port Elizabeth and the Natal settlement around Durban. With the growing interest, it was decided by 1864 that a body was needed to regulate the sport and decide on rules and so the Jockey Club of Natal was formed. Race meetings were generally annual events, with the racing being enjoyed as a festival and lasting several days. As in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, the horses raced were bred locally, by crossing imported thoroughbred stallions with the smaller South African breed, known as the Caper. Over the next thirty years, breeding became more refined and racing more organized. And so it was in 1897, the race that was to later become known as the Durban July, was first run over 1600m for a stake of 500 sovereigns. It was named The Durban Turf Club Handicap. Just seven mediocre horses lined up that first year and bar 1908 which also saw a small field, the race grew, both in size and popularity. In 1902, a grandstand was constructed for the crowds to get a better view of the track and to see Chaos win. Chaos was out of the dam, Pauline, who not only produced the winner the year before, in Apollo, but also the year after in 1903, in Peerless. In turn, Peerless was the dam of Nobleman, who went on to win the race in 1911, becoming the first and last two year old to ever win the July. Six years later was an important year as in 1917 the race was filmed for the first time. Fred McGrath was the youngest jockey

ever to win the race, who at just 12 years old and still an apprentice, guided Collett to victory in 1922.The decision was made in 1928 to change the name to the Durban July Handicap and in 1934, the Benjamin starting gates were implemented. Jockeys’ silks were published in the Duff’s Turf Guide in 1946 and three years later in 1949, Tiger Wright rode 5 winners from his nine engagements on the day, including the July on Milesia Pride. 1952 saw construction of the subway, with the race run over it for the first time . The race attracted sponsorship from Rothmans of Pall Mall in 1963, with a sponsorship of R33 800. The large stake drew keen interest and it was from this time that the event grew into a major sporting event that was to become a mainstay of South African horseracing folklore. The commencement of Rothman’s association with the race was marked with a win by the legendary Colorado King. Colorado King was held in such high regard, that carrying the hopes of a nation, he was exported to the United States. The mighty horse did not disappoint, going on to win the 1964 Hollywood Gold Cup and set a new world record over nine furlongs in the American Handicap, run at Hollywood Park Racetrack. Syd Laird trained Colorado King. As a trainer , Laird, still holds the record for the most number of Durban July wins, being seven. They included Kerason in 1961, Colorado King in 1963, Java Head in 1966, Sea Cottage in 1967 (dead heated), Mazarin in 1971, Yataghan in 1973 and the great Politician in 1978. Prize money was boosted as the race grew in popularity, bringing with it increased rivalry in racing circles. Although this added to the excitement and thrill of the race, it also unfortunately exposed a darker side, resulting in the tragic shooting of 1966 race favourite, Sea Cottage. It is without a doubt, the incident most associated with the Durban July and still spoken of today. Whilst returning from a beach workout on Friday the 10th of June, just three weeks prior to the running of the race, Sea Cottage was shot in the right flank, by gunman, Johnny Nel, who was hiding in a concrete shelter on the bridge crossing the Umgeni River. Laird had a premonition the night before, when telling family and

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friends, “I don’t believe I’ve ever had a certainty for the July like Sea Cottage. The only way they will stop him, is to get at him.” Sadly it proved true. However, being the courageous horse he was, Sea Cottage made a remarkable recovery and still took up his place come July day , as race favourite. He ran on gamely and finished fourth, behind stable companion, Java Head. It was a remarkable achievement. Interestingly, the offending bullet was never found, despite three attempts using x-rays, to locate it. As for the perpetrator, Johnny Nel, he was subsequently arrested, convicted and sentenced to six years’ imprisonment, three of which were suspended. The story doesn’t end there, as the following year, in what has been described as arguably the most thrilling and emotional finish ever in a Durban July, the gallant Sea Cottage dead-heated with Jollify to share race honours. It was the first dead heat in the history of the race and a remarkable comeback for Sea Cottage. So overcome with emotion, Syd Laird leapt on to Sea Cottage’s back, to the cheers of the crowd. It was an extraordinary moment in time, recorded in the annals for eternity. A fitting postscript to the dramatic finish was a presentation made by the Durban Turf Club to handicapper, Jack Bradford. He was given a gold watch, suitably inscribed to commemorate his feat of bringing off a handicapper’s dream, to have two horses dead heat in a major handicap. A deadhead has only occurred on one other occasion and more recently, in 2008. Queen’s Plate winner and multiple J&B Met winner, Pocket Power and the imported grey filly, Dancer’s

1912

Greyville

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Daughter, crossed the line as one, after a thrilling run to the wire. Many punters are drawn to greys and five have landed the title over the years. Jamaican Music won in 1976, but not before his eventful effort in the race, two years before in 1974. Jamaican Music who was the race favourite, clipped the heels of another horse 350m after the start. Jockey Tom Ratley was dislodged, with Jamaican Music romping through the field to cross the line first, but with no jockey. Riboville, carrying saddle cloth number 13, was declared the winner by a historic winning margin of 4.5, proving that yet again, number 13 is clearly fortunate for some, but unlucky for others. Jamaican Music was sired by Jamaico, who also sired another two winners of the race, in Jamaican Rumba (1982) and Gondolier (1985). Lightning Shot was a surprise victor in 1977 and in hindsight, a very fortunate one. In the run for the line, Dennis Mustard’s saddle girth came loose. He displayed incredible skill to stay aboard, whilst maintaining his drive to the end, ahead of a fast finishing Bold Monarch. The 1980’s marked the dawn of a new era, with Cape based trainer, Terrence Millard, dominating the race. In 1986 he trained the first three past the post, namely Occult, Fools Holme and Enchanted Garden. Four years later in 1990, he did it again with Illustrador, Olympic Duel and Jungle Warrior.This was a remarkable achievement in a Grade 1 event, not just in South African racing, but worldwide. Millard is the only trainer to challenge Syd Laird’s record, with six wins to his name, three of them being recorded as a hat trick, 1988 to 1990.

Tiger Wright

Syd Laird

1963

In 1989, inclement weather forced the Durban Turf Club to take the unprecedented decision to abandon the first six races in favour of the July, which resumed at the normal starting time. It was won by the gutsy grey, Right Prerogative.The following year saw Rothmans pushing the stake up to the magic R1million mark, causing great excitement in both racing circles and the public at large. With renewed vigour and determined efforts by all to land the spoils, 1991 saw Flaming Rock winning the race from the widest draw of all, when he jumped from stallgate 20. Only seven runners drawn on the extreme outside, have managed to win, since 1917. In recent times, they have been Pomodoro, Dynasty and Classic Flag. The record for the most number of runs by any horse, is shared by Gondolier and Beau Art, who both ran no less than five times, whilst Irish import, Flaming Rock, took part in four July’s, winning at his first attempt in 1991. After placing in 1993 and 1994, Flaming Rock was retired to stud.

Colorado King

Sea Cottage

1967

1976

In 2000, El Picha, the horse who, as a yearling, was brought in to fill the last available berth in the sky crate when horses were being imported from Argentina, thrilled a nation by winning back-to-back running of the July. Only three other horses in the history of race have achieved this feat, namely Milesia Pride ( 1949 / 1950 ), Corriecrian (1907 / 1908) and Campanajo, the first ever winner of the race in 1987 and again the following year. 2000 brought with it changes, as after 38 years of sponsorship Rothmans reluctantly ended it’s association with the race. New tobacco laws were promulgated in the country, putting an end to the longest running sponsorship of a major sporting event. The race ran without a sponsor in 2001 , but just a year later in 2002,Vodacom announced its backing of the great race. Just as the celebrated Colorado King, marked Rothmans of Pall Mall’s arrival as sponsors in 1963, so too, did the sensational 3 year old Zimbabwean filly , Ipi Tombe for Vodacom. Ipi Tombe rewrote the record books as the first filly of her age to win since Migraine, forty five years earlier, in 1957. Not only that, as Ipi Tombe is 1 of just 11 fillies or mares who have won the race, going back to Peerless in 1903. Like Colorado King, Ipi Tombe was exported. She went on to win the Al Fahidi Fort, Jebel Hatta and Dubai Duty Free in Dubai, and the Locus Grove Handicap at Churchill Downs, in the United States. 2004 marked 10 years of democracy in South Africa, as it was in 1994 that the African National Congress, under the leadership of Nelson Mandela came into power. In celebration of this historical moment, number 10 on the card, Greys Inn, carried the South African flag on

Jamaican Music

Lightning Shot

1977

2002

Ipi Tombe

2004

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his saddle cloth. The handsome son of Zabeel, not only carried the country’s national flag into the race, but also carried it to a very popular victory. Vodacom’s support and sponsorship of the race continued to strengthen, with the telecommunication giant announcing a record stake of R3.5m, in 2013. The race was suitably won by Heavy Metal and for the second time in succession for owner, Chris van Niekerk, who won it the year before with Pomodoro. Only 9 horses carrying 55kgs or more, have won the race since the distance was changed to 2200m in 1970. The most notable being Heavy Metal, who shouldered no less than 59.5kgs to claim victory. The son of German champion, Silvano, was ridden to victory by S’Manga Khumalo, who made history by being the first black jockey ever to win a Durban July. Over the years, jockeys who have enjoyed the most success in the race, having ridden four winners each, are Tiger Wright, Anton Marcus and Anthony Delpech. Horses from 2 to 7 years of age have won the race. However, 4 year olds have had the most success, with 43 wins, of which 35% have come in the last 20 years. Interestingly, although three year olds have only won on 33 occasions, 55% of those have come in the last 20 years. The scorecard for Durban July objections stands at six lodged, of which three have been overruled and three upheld. The most

recent objection being in 2014, when the hooter sounded shortly after the neck and neck finish between Legislate and Wylie Hall. At the top of the straight, Legislate moved in to challenge Wylie Hall. After giving Wylie Hall an initial bump, Wylie Hall shifted out and carried Legislate across the track, making contact on at least three occasions. It was a very tense moment not just for those connected with the two horses, but the racing public at large, as stipendiary stewards deliberated in the board room. Legislate was ultimately awarded the race, despite crossing the line second. 2015 brings with it a new year and another running of the race. Whilst there will be new contenders for the crown with future champions in the making, horses like Wylie Hall will be back with another attempt, to level the score. Such is the nature and significance of this wonderful race, that every owner, breeder, trainer and jockey dreams of winning it. Very few do, but the odds do nothing to dampen the burning desire. It is, after all, a race that embodies all the history that is thoroughbred racing in South Africa. Spanning three centuries, it is a race that has stood the test of time. It is said that it takes a lot of history to create just a little tradition, but this flagship race, Africa’s Greatest Horse Race, has not just become a proud tradition, but is an integral part of both the sporting and cultural heritage that is South Africa. Long live the Durban July.

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Pocket Power

2013

Heavy Metal

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HORSE CHESTNUT In his book Matriarchs, Great mares of the 20th Century, Edward Bowen highlights 24 American broodmares that have had a lasting influence on the Thoroughbred.

ndoubtedly the most influential name on his list is Almahmoud, a daughter of 1936 Derby winner Mahmoud. Almahmoud only produced one stakes winner, the filly Cosmah who went on to give Halo who was the sire of Sunday Silence, Glorious Song and Devil’s Bag and was broodmare sire of Rahy, Singspiel, Machiavellian and Rakeen. But Almahmoud will forever be remembered for her 1957 daughter Natalma (Native Dancer) who produced Northern Dancer, arguably the most influential twentieth century sire world-wide. From a South African perspective there is one other mare in Bowen’s book that is of particular interest: Fall Aspen. By Pretense out of the Swaps mare Change Water, Fall Aspen was a Grade 1 winner and at stud can be considered a true ‘blue hen’, having produced nine Stakes winners from fourteen foals. Fort Wood, her 1990 foal by Sadler’s Wells was imported by the late Mr and Mrs Oppenheimer to stand at their Mauritzfontein Stud outside Kimberley. Mauritzfontein was originally a British remount station

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By Nicola Hayward / Photos by Tracy Robertson during the Anglo-Boer war and was bought by the Oppenheimers after he became a member of parliament for Kimberley in 1945 and they needed a local base.They transformed it into a thoroughbred stud and their yellow and black silks were soon seen around the country. In 1959, the home-bred Tiger Fish gave them their first victory in the Durban July. Over the years some well-bred stallions have called Mauritzfontein home: Janus a son of Pharis,Wilwynwho made history by being the first horse to arrive in South Africa by air and was Champion Sire for the 1964/65 season, Free Ride and the home-breds:Tiger Fish, Col. Pickering and Bodrum amongst others. But by 1990 it is fair to say that Mauritzfontein needed an injection of fresh blood, a sire that would be something special. Those were heady days in our history but the Oppenheimers showed their optimism when they decided to look abroad for a top-class colt. Fort Wood was one of a number of possibilities offered to them. He had sustained a sesamoid fracture in training which ended his career. Gavin Schafer, then stud manager at Mauritzfontein first saw Fort Wood in France when the colt had a

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plaster cast on his leg and was quite lame, but Gavin had worked with Fall Aspen at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky a decade earlier and liked what he saw, so did both Mr and Mrs Oppenheimer and so Fort Wood arrived in time for the 1994 season. His impact was immediate: from his first crop came the Grade 1 winning filly Dog Wood, Fort Defiance also a Grade 1 winner and of course Horse Chestnut. He has produced three Horse of the Year winners (Horse Chestnut, Celtic Grove and Dynasty) and his influence on the South African bloodstock industry has been immense. Discussions about who was the best horse ever to race onSouth African tracks are heated affairs.There are a number of horses that have excellent credentials: Sea Cottage, fourth in the Durban July of 1966 after sustaining a gunshot wound only weeks before the race, he went on to deadheat with Jollify the following year. In all he won 20 of 24 starts and was placed 4 times. Hawaii won 15 of 18 starts and was placed 3 times. He never won the July but went on to an outstanding stud career in America - he 74

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produced Epsom Derby winner Henbit and was broodmare sire of Hennessy. Wise Dan (US Horse of the Year in 2012 and 2013) is by Wiseman’s Ferry a son of Hennessy. The dam of Wise Dan is a daughter of Wolf Power, another horse which holds his hand up for the title of best ever. Who will forget the way the big grey galloped to victory in the ‘Met in 1984? He won 18 times from 31 starts and was placed on 9 occasions before being exported. Politician also gives an excellent account of himself for he won 18 times (from 31 starts) including two editions of the Queen’s Plate and the ‘Met sandwiched between his single July victory. Politician was placed 8 times. More recently, the Mike de Kock-trained IpiTombe stands out for the fairer sex. The Zimbabwean daughter of Manshood won 12 of 14 starts (and was placed twice), including the Durban July, Jebel Hatta and the Dubai Duty Free. For many, Pocket Power is a natural choice. He stayed when so many good horses left these shores and in doing so he produced

a record that will probably never be repeated: 20 wins from 43 starts with 17 places. He won the Queen’s plate 4 times, the Met three successive times and also produced a dead-heat with Dancer’s Daughter in the Durban July. But, there is little doubt that for most the horse that stands out above all of those already mentioned is Horse Chestnut. Bred by the Oppenheimers at Mauritzfontein, Horse Chestnut was by Fort Wood out of the Col Pickering mare London Wall.This was an old Mauritzfontein family that goes back to the Acropolis mare Antalya imported by the Oppenheimers in the 60’s. Her Grey Sovereign filly Nalatale was the dam of the multiple G1 winner Bodrum and also London Wall. This dam line is a fine reflection of the history of Mauritzfontein: the belief in its resident bloodstock and the patience they had to wait for generations to finally produce the goods. Not only has it produced Horse Chestnut, but after him the family struck a rich vein of success with horses like Cork Wood, Mr Brock, Monyela and Sport’s Chestnut.

his second start (as a two-year-old) when he was beaten into third spot by the very useful Clifton King over 1000m in the G3 Morris Lipshitz Memorial Plate at Newmarket. After that he reeled off eight wins from 1300m to 2450m, four in Grade 1 events including the J&B Met where he took on older horses for the first time and gave them an 8 length thrashing. It was one of the most astounding displays of racing class Kenilworth has ever witnessed and the first time in 54 years that a 3YO had won the Met. Who will forget Jehaan Malherbe as he called him home: “This is true greatness! Horse Chestnut is killing them…” Back in the Highveld, Horse Chestnut won The Classic and then the SA Derby (by a staggering 10 lengths) thus becoming the first ever winner of the South African Triple Crown. The Durban July was not to be and just three weeks later, Gosforth Park held an emotional farewell for the darling of the South African tracks when Champion 3YO and Horse of the Year Horse Chestnut then embarked on the epic trip to America and a 60-day long solitary quarantine period outside New York.

Horse Chestnut was only ever bettered once and that was in

In the States Horse Chestnut ran only once in the G3 Broward INTERNATIONAL RACEHORSE

Handicap on the dirt at Gulfstream Park over 1700m. Under jockey Mike Smith, he duly produced a five-and-a-half length victory. The G1 Donn Handicap was to be his next race. But horse racing can be brutal, Horse Chestnut injured a suspensory ligament in training and was immediately retired. For trainer Mike de Kock and his assistant FrikkieGreyling it was a cruel blow, for his owners Mr and Mrs Oppenheimer, the disappointment was enormous and for his thousands of fans at home in South Africa it seemed so unfair. Here was a horse better than any we had seen for years, and we never really got to bask in the international success that had beckoned so brighly. For Mike de Kock of course, Horse Chestnut was proof of his prowess as a conditioner of race horses. In the years since those heady days of 1999, he has proved again and again how good he really is. He has taken the South African flag and flown it high and proud in Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong and England and he has set the benchmarks against which others are measured. Horse Chestnut gave to Mr and Mrs Oppenheimer, in the twilight years of their lives, the gift of victory in races that for so long had gone to horses in different colours.That he was home-bred made it all the sweeter. And it is perhaps for that reason that they chose to leave their great champion in Kentucky at Claiborne Farm in a stall once occupied by the great Mr Prospector. From his first crop came the Grade 1 winner Lucifer’s Stone and Spanish Chestnut a Grade 2 winner but it is fair to say that he never really made the mark in a country where turf sires often struggle, and so in 2009 he was 76

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returned to his native shores by The Horse Chestnut Syndicate and took up residence at Drakenstein Stud. Notable local progeny include Rake’s Chestnut, Chestnut’s Rocket and Banbury and it seems as if his credentials as a broodmare sire are on the rise as his daughters start to prove themselves at stud. In January this year FortWood died of heart failure at Mauritzfontein and just a month later, on February 19th his son Horse Chestnut followed, aged 19. While Dynasty keeps the family flag flying high, it is clear that with their passing an era has ended. It was an era of quality and brilliance, one set in motion by the passion that the Oppenheimers had for racing and bloodstock in South Africa. Mrs Gaynor Rupert of Drakenstein Stud said:“It was a privilege to stand such a horse of tremendous importance in South African racing history.” And Mike de Kock was quoted on his website as saying:“Working with him was a life-altering experience. It changed the course of my own and my family’s lives. Our memories of him are fond and they will always remain so.” On the first Saturday in May this year, if all goes to plan Mike de Kock will go to Churchill Downs with Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum’s outstanding colt Mubtaahij(AUS) and he will complete an international journey that began so many years ago with Horse Chestnut. It will certainly not escape his notice that in the field is a Street Sense colt called OchoOchoOcho who is out of a daughter of Horse Chestnut, and somehow it seems quite fitting that it should be thus.

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WORLD CUP 2015

THE GREAT TRACK DEBATE Text and Photos by Liesl King

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PRINCE BISHOP INTERNATIONAL RACEHORSE

n the run up to the 2015 World Cup plenty was written about the change of the track surface, with Meydan’s main track reverting back to dirt, shortly after the running of the 2014 World Cup. The new dirt track was still in its infancy and extreme kickback was one of the main concerns. The most successful international raider at the Dubai World Cup Carnival, South African trainer Mike de Kock came out early on during the Carnival with an announcement that the majority of his string would not be competing on the dirt after a succession of fancied runners trailed in last. America had dominated the World Cup in prior years starting with Cigar winning the inaugural World Cup in 1996 and horses such as Silver Charm, Captain Steve, Pleasantly Perfect, Roses In May, Invasor, Curlin and Well Armed following in his footsteps. Then came the change to Tapeta and the USA victories dried up overnight. Animal Kingdom may have captured the 2013 World Cup, but his name on the honour roll is a lone one, surrounded by French, Japanese and UAE entrants. Not a single USA contender graced the 2014 World Cup, a first since Cigar’s victory. The new dirt surface was expected to reverse this trend and lure American runners back to the world’s richest race.

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This strategy appeared to have worked as high profile Horse Of The Year California Chrome featured prominently amongst the entries, but would the dirt track really suits the Americans? Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum seemed to think not, announcing shortly before the World Cup that he thought the new surface would favour the local horses accustomed to competing on it, rather than the USA raiders. Only time would tell. A large media contingent arriving a week before the World Cup added fuel to the track debate. The track was inspected, prodded, walked on and opinions offered. Close attention was paid to morning track work and it was not lost on the various scribes that De Kock’s string stuck firmly to either the grass or the Tapeta training track. The Americans were divided with the likes of Main Sequence and Quadrivium sticking to the training track and its synthetic surface, while California Chrome and Lea turned out daily on the dirt. Even the Europeans seemed divided, with Havanna Beat, Side Glance, Sole Power and Speed Hawk sticking to the Tapeta training track, while the French contingent favoured the dirt. At the end of the day, despite the volumes written and the heated

TAMARKUZ daily debates, the dirt track was not going to magically disappear overnight and the 2015 World Cup would be run on it. Away from the track debate, the horses continued their preparations as D-day loomed. Brown Panther a rippling bundle of hard held muscle impressed as he bowled along on the training track. Running in the Dubai Gold Cup over 3200m on the turf, the Michael Owen and Andrew Black owned entire was far removed from the dirt debate. The French contingent of Cladocera, Flintshire, Dolniya and Solow arrived fit and ready according to their respective trainers and their daily appearance on the main track was little more than a gentle hack. In contrast the Japanese World Cup runners, Ephiphaneia and HokkoTarumae clocked up miles on the dirt track with several speed works. Epiphaneia, winner of the Japan Cup was one of the favourites to win the World Cup, should California Chrome fluff his lines, but the five-year-old entire was making his dirt debut and whether he would act on the surface was anybodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s guess. Yet despite all the debates and opinions, the 2015 Dubai World Cup meeting was a thrilling, hotly contested event. Sloane Avenue (USA) trained by Jeremy Noseda, an All Weather winner at

Kempton and Lingfield, going down by a whisker to local favourite Tamarkuz (USA), ridden by Paul Hanagan in the Godolphin Mile. Signs of the severe kickback were however apparent, with both horses returning covered in dirt from head to toe. Following on his impressive morning workouts, Brown Panther dominated the Dubai Gold Cup, winning by three and a quarter lengths, before we were back on the dirt with the running of the UAE Derby. And it is here in the Derby that the dirt versus all weather debate came to a head, with De Kock entering the Irish bred Mubtaahij, his only dirt runner on the night. Mubtaahij has a turf pedigree, but two starts at Newmarket saw the son of Dubawi finish well out of the placings. Yet when he stepped out on the Meydan dirt, the three-year-old became an overnight success, breaking his maiden against older horses, before winning two legs of the Triple Crown, with a close second to Maftool in the third leg, the UAE 2000 Guineas. Could this turf-bred colt win the UAE Derby on dirt? Not only did Mubtaahij prove that he could, but he annihilated the field in a devastating fashion. With the Japanese runners dueling hard on the lead, all it took was a flick of Soumillonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wrists. Mubtaahij powered past the pair as if they were standing still, to

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SOLE POWER - PENIAPHOBIA - GREEN MASK record an eight length victory under a hands and heels ride. A victory that earned him a start in the Kentucky Derby where he would finish a respectable eighth. The sprints were next and again they were hotly contested.The Al Quoz on turf saw a United Nations finish as Sole Power (GB) for Ireland, Peniaphobia (IRE) for Hong Kong and Green Mask (USA) for the USA threw themselves at the line as one.The nod going to the evergreen, eight-year-old Sole Power, trained by Edward Lynam. The Golden Shaheen on dirt produced another nail-biter as a flying Super Jockey (NZ) for Hong Kong came within an inch of catching long time leader; the Bob Baffert trained Secret Circle (USA). The Europeans are usually most effective over the classic distances and World Cup night was no exception, with Solow (GB) running away with the Dubai Turf over 1800m for French trainer Freddy Head. Owned by the Wertheimers the five-year-old Singspiel gelding won by an impressive four and a quarter lengths, affording jockey Maxime Guyon plenty of opportunity to celebrate French style! The Alain de Royer-DuprĂŠtrained Dolniya (FR) making it a quick double for France and Christophe Soumillon, as she cantered home unchallenged in the Dubai Sheema Classic over 2410m to win by two and a quarter lengths. 82

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Finally it was time for the culmination of the track debate, the running of the 2015 Dubai World Cup. As expected, California Chrome moved into the lead with ease in the home straight and it seemed as if the dirt would once again deliver an American victory. There was only one small problem, for flying up the outside in hot pursuit, came William Buick on the locally trained eight-year-old gelding, Prince Bishop (IRE). Prince Bishop had certainly never come close to winning two legs of the fabled American Triple crown, but the son of Dubawi relished the conditions and if nothing else he was a relentless galloper. California Chrome was tiring, Prince Bishop was gaining ground with every stride and when the old warrior took the lead at the 300m mark there was a collective gasp from the crowd. Sheikh Hamdanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prophecy became reality, as Buick drove Prince Bishop to a decisive two and three quarter length victory over California Chrome. The 2015 World Cup was finally over. The new dirt surface may not have delivered the expected American winner, but what it did deliver was racing of the highest calibre. Champions had lost, new champions were crowned and as the cleaners swept the vast concrete expanse that is Meydan, the dirt debate was also consigned to the past.

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AN UNDENIABLE EFFORT By Bunny Hinzman / Photos by Tom Ferry

As the international headliner of the American Triple Crown, Mubtaahij’s mere presence in two out of the three races spotlights his tenacity as he was faced with unique challenges.

he only opportunity for international contenders to garner qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) is awarded to the winner of the UAE Derby (Gr-II). After Mubtaahij impressively conquered his opponents there, he then faced yet another challenge to conquer: thousands of miles between Dubai and the Churchill Downs’Twin Spires and Derby roses. The Mike de Kock team had the foresight to ship Mubtaahij stateside two and a half weeks after his convincing UAE Derby win, allowing the colt ample time to recover from travel. He spent his first few weeks enjoying Arlington Park in Chicago before venturing south to Churchill Downs.

Kentucky Derby contender in a decade to run without Lasix. The last Lasix-free Derby winner was Grindstone in 1996. De Kock said, “He’s never run on it, he doesn’t bleed, and I’m not prepared to take my chances running him on a substance he’s never run on before. He’s good enough without it. I’m not experienced enough to say whether Thoroughbreds in general will or won’t run well on Lasix, but [in South Africa] we only use it in training in very minute doses and he doesn’t bleed so he’s never had it. If I gave him Lasix he may run better, he may run worse, but I’m not going to experiment. Lasix is not even a consideration for him.”

A Long and Winding Road to the Kentucky Derby Mubtaahij, a veteran traveler from an early age - France, Ireland, England, Dubai, Chicago, Louisville, New York - started three times as a juvenile, winning once, and finishing out of the top three in the two other races. In his first two outings, the well-built Dubawi son was fifth and seventh, beaten by five lengths, and 9 ½ lengths respectively. Both these efforts came on good turf at Newmarket. However, when running at Meydan’s dirt oval, Mubtaahij broke his However, feed was to be among the least of Mubtaahij’s tests. maiden. In this December race as a two year old, he defeated three Ninety-five percent of North American racehorses compete on the and four-year-olds over one mile. popular diuretic, Lasix. The de Kock trainee has never experienced the performance enhancing drug and the colt’s connections refused The Mike de Kock trainee made his 2015 seasonal debut in the UAE to change things for the run for the roses. Lasix helps to lessen 2000 Guineas Trial. Gaining the lead 2 ½ furlongs out, he defeated the impact of bleeding since the drug lowers the blood pressure twelve others by five lengths in the seven furlong conditions race. through dehydration. The effect of dehydration also offers horses In his following start, Mubtaahij was beaten a head by Maftool in the with a mild to moderate weight loss prior to the race.Research has UAE 2000 Guineas (Gr-III). On the fast dirt course, the final time proven the temporary weight loss due to the dehydrating effects of for the one mile event was 1:37.69. Lasix measurably enhances a race horse’s performance. In early March, Mubtaahij got back to his winning ways in the Al In the 1980’s, the University of Pennsylvania and other researchers Bastakiya, a listed race held over the 9 ½ furlong distance. He found bleeders on Lasix competing at the one mile distance tracked the pace in the six horse field, and progressed three improve their performance by 1.3 lengths, while non-bleeders on furlongs out. He got the advantage 1 ½ furlongs from the wire, and the drug run 2.4 lengths better. Due to the disadvantage horses won comfortably by 2 ½ lengths. suffer by not running on Lasix, most use the drug even if they don’t bleed. In most cases, foreign horses competing in America will use Mubtaahij most impressively exhibited his capabilities in the UAE the diuretic so they are not at a disadvantage. Nevertheless, de Derby. With Belgian jockey Christophe Soumillon aboard, he Kock chose to run Mubtaahij as a clean horse. In fact, he is the first broke from the rail. Mubtaahij put himself in contention with the Distance was not the only formidable problem facing this international challenger. Coming to the United States, Mubtaahij’s trainer, Mike de Kock, was not permitted to bring along the colt’s regular feed: a special blend the trainer has created over several years of experimentation. Therefore, Mubtaahij had to alter his diet before the Kentucky Derby.

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At Arlington Park, Mubtaahij prepares for the Kentucky Derby.

leading cluster of horses, but saved ground on the rail. Relaxed, time. The UAE Derby winner broke well and settled just behind he maintained his position throughout the backstretch with a fluid, American Pharoah. Though he was in tight quarters throughout the early stages of the race, he appeared comfortable. Around the confident stride. turn, his pace quickened slightly and he came to the outside for a Around the final turn, Mubtaahij’s pace quickened as he ran behind bid. However, it seemed as if he hit his final gear. Soon, he was the two leading horses. Soumillon angled his mount to their outside passed by Frosted and the eventual third best horse, Keen Ice. as they came into the home straight. Mubtaahij passed his foes with incredible ease, pulling away under a hand-ride. He crossed the After the Belmont, de Kock said, “Mubtaahij ran a good race, we’re wire with a final time of 1:58.35, and breezed out with energy in proud to have been a part of this historic occasion. Thanks to my team for their work in his preparation. Thanks also to Sheikh reserve. Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum for making this journey possible After the victory, trainer Mike de Kock announced the colt would for us. Mubtaahij took on some of the best in the world, he was be pointed towards the Kentucky Derby. By competing in this iconic beaten by a thoroughbred of the highest calibre and a few others race, Mubtaahij became only the second contender to have already on their home turf and we can all hold our heads high.We’ve done run over the nine furlong distance. In the Derby, he was ridden by well in one of the world’s greatest races, we take home a share of Soumillon. Mubtaahij got off to a rough start from post position the prize money and an invaluable experience.” eight, but strode into his regular position not far off the pace. On Churchill Down’s dirt oval, he mustered up a well-beaten eighth Following the Belmont, his connections plan to ship Mubtaahij to place finish. De Kock later attributed the loss to the severe kickback England to prepare for the 2016 Dubai World Cup (Gr-I). Mubtaahij was forced to run through. Following the Derby, de Kock announced Mubtaahij would be pointing towards the Belmont, and Quality More than Skin Deep the Dubawi son was quickly shipped to the New York racecourse. Mubtaahij is a son of Dubawi and Pennegale, by Pennekamp. Dubawi has been enjoying some success with his three-year-old Some considered Mubtaahij’s pre-Belmont training record crop, which also includes the Prix du Jockey Club (Gr-I) winner, aggressive. The colt had five workouts on the sand-based dirt New Bay. Mubtaahij’s sire hails from female family nine and his dam course, and one on the turf. His breeze on grass was the bullet out represents female family four. While female family nine does contain of twenty-two horses that day. some successful distance horses, its general success is in the sprinting division with horses such as Distorted Humor, Speightstown, and In the Belmont, Mubtaahij drew post position one and New York- Zamindar. Female family four is a high quality line which includes the based jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. was aboard the Dubawi son for the first legendary Man O’War, Breeders’ Cup winner Unbridled’s Song, and INTERNATIONAL RACEHORSE

Mubtaahij on the Kentucky Derby walkover.

the great racemare, Zenyatta. Notably, Dubawi’s dam line traces back to Fair Play’s dam, Fairy Gold.

(AHS), a highly infectious and deadly disease caused by a virus of the genus Orbivirus from the Reoriridale family. The disease has nine stereotypes, and though it is not contagious, it is spread The three most consistent horses in the first five generations by insect vectors. AHS is considered endemic to the equatorial, of Mubtaahij’s pedigree are Buckpasser, Lyphard, and Mill Reef. eastern, and southern regions of Africa. Its most significant vector Dubawi’s sire, Dubai Millenium, is a son of Seeking the Gold (by Mr. prefers these areas’ warm, humid conditions. Horses are most Prospector and out of a Buckpasser mare). The highly successful vulnerable to the disease with a nearly 90% mortality rate, Buckpasser appears once on the dam’s side of Mubtaahij’s followed by mules (50%) and donkeys (10%). AHS is managed in pedigree. Dubawi’s second dam is a granddaughter of Lyphard, Africa by slaughter policies, shipping restrictions, vaccination, and who also influences Pennegale’s bloodlines. Mill Reef appears twice vector eradication. - Mill Reef’s son, Shirley Heights, sired Deploy, Dubai Millenium’s broodmare sire. Also, Pennegale’s second dam traces back to Mill There are three forms of AHS which affect horses - Pulmonary, Reef through her sire, Last Tycoon (Try My Best-Mill Princess, by Cardiac, and Mixed forms. With the pulmonary form, the Mill Reef). affected horse has trouble breathing, and coughs frothy fluid from the nostrils and mouth. In severe cases, some horses De Kock Adapts also show signs of respiratory failure. This form of AHS has the Not only has Mubtaahij’s performance in the Triple Crown races highest mortality rate. sparked interest and conversation, but so has his renowned South African-based trainer, Mike de Kock. The United States racing The Cardiac form has a longer incubation period than the community was excited to welcome the respected trainer for his pulmonary cases. This subacute form has symptoms which include inaugural attempt at the run for the roses. high fever, conjunctivitis, abdominal pain, and progressive dyspnea. Though it has a 50-70% mortality rate, survivors usually recover De Kock remarked, “From a young man in this industry, one has in 7 days.The Mixed form of African Horse Sickness is normally always known about the Kentucky Derby and what a great feature discovered during the necropsy. Horses show symptoms of it is. I didn’t believe I could actually ever get to it when I started Pulmonary and Cardiac forms. in this industry. I would always watch as a spectator but to have a horse here that qualifies is huge for myself and my family.” he The movement regulations have been imposed by international continued, “The more you see it and you see what it’s about, you governmental bodies. Shipping horses from South Africa has realize how huge it is to be part of history. I think it’s a massive proven to be no easy task – the cost to ship a horse reaches privilege.” approximately $40,000. Mike de Kock’s contenders in the Dubai Racing Carnival, which starts in January, go into quarantine towards An issue particularly pertaining to South African horses is their the end of the preceding July. They first spend 21 days in a ‘free stringent shipping restrictions. To allow his horses to be competitive area’ in Cape Town, then fly five hours to Mauritius, where they on an international level, de Kock established a string in Newmarket, will spend an additional 90 days. The first 50 days is considered England. Bought at auction in France, Mubtaahij is among the first a residency, then the final 40 are under strict conditions were the horses purchased as a part of this division. horses are locked in a barn for two hours before sunset, and can come out two hours after sunrise. “We took a view, because of all the difficulty of moving horses out of South Africa, that we needed to start buying horses in the Depending on the location, horses do not have to go into Northern Hemisphere with a view of them qualifying for Dubai quarantine once they have arrived at their destination. However, and he [Mubtaahij] was among the first lot that we bought and it some countries require that horses are quarantined for 60-90 worked out pretty well.” days. In America, South African shippers must stay in quarantine for 60 days. Some South Africans feel this is excessive, for the The shipment restrictions are due to African Horse Sickness incubation period for AHS is only 14-21 days. 88

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JUDPOT(USA)

A LEADING SIRE OF THREE-YEAR-OLDS

SOUTH AFRICAN LEADING ACTIVE SIRES OF 3-Y-O (NHRA to 27 May 2015)

1 2 3 4 5 6

Trippi Dynasty Captain Al Silvano JUDPOT Count Dubois

6,972,388 6,181,775 5,379,862 3,545,450 3,328,425 3,129,750

FIRST 2 CROPS PRODUCED 63% WINNERS/RUNNERS FIRST 2 CROPS PRODUCED 11.2% STAKES HORSES/RUNNERS SIRE OF STAKES HORSES DOUBLE WHAMMY (G1p) DEPUTY JUD (G1p) ALONG CAME POLLY (G1) FOREST INDIGO (G1) MISTER CRICKET (G1p) COLOUR OF COURAGE (G2) MIRACLE RISING (G3p) AURUM POT (G3p) JUDDERING ANGEL MANX MISSILE SKYSIGN JUST LUCKY ITSTARTEDWITHAKISS EQUUS OUTSTANDING STALLION ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2013

PIPETTE

LEADING FIRST SEASON SIRE SA 2013 LEADING SECOND SEASON SIRE SA 2014 LEADING THIRD SEASON SIRE SA 2015

JUDPOT STANDS AT VARSFONTEIN STUD Carl de Vos • Tel: (021) 869-8238 E-mail: info@varsfontein.co.za Web: www.varsfontein.co.za INTERNATIONAL RACEHORSE 89

BREEDING LEGACY CONTINUES

LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY FROM KZN Whilst the small province of Kwa-Zulu Natal in South Africa has yielded several champion racehorses in recent years, it continues through broodmares born in this province around the country.

Circle Variety Club. Photo Credit: Gold

ecent racing successes come from the likes of The Apache who had Gr1 success in South Africa and finished first across the line of the Gr1 Arlington Million in America, to the more recent Gr1 Champions Cup, Queens Plate and J&B Met winner Futura, bred by Guy Murdoch, the son of Dynasty was born at Yellow Star Stud in Mooi River. KZN has always had a major influence on the South African stud book and continues today through the mares by Northern Guest, Foveros, Jungle Cove and Secret Prospector – and more recently the legacy of mulitple Champion National Leading sire Jet Master. Home to South Africa’s National Leading Champion Breeders for 10 years in a row by earnings, Summerhill Stud who once stood the most successful son of Northern Dancer to stand in the Southern Hemisphere as a sire and now a major broodmare sire influence, Northern Guest, have continued to lead the way this year once again with an incredible winners to runners percentage of 41.6% for 2144 runs from 329 horses. Scott Bros of Highdown Stud, have bred many a Champion off Highdown Stud for the past 49 years and continue to find themselves in the Top 10 since the onslaught of the great Politician in the late 1970’s – Voted Horse Of The Year from 1976 – 1980,

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Ash Cloud. Photo Credit: Vars fontein Stud

By Candiese Marnewick with 18 wins, 11 of those Gr1. Robin Scott has been fortunate to have had many a good stallion through the grand white entrance of their farm, including Champion sires’ Foveros and Jungle Cove. The farm currently stands Mogok, a magnificent son of Storm Cat out of Coup De Folie – making him a half-brother to Machiavellian. Mogok is one of the only stallions in South Africa to produce Group Winners overseas, including The Apache as mentioned above, and Gypsy’s Warning who won the Gr1 Matriarch Stakes in America, and placed in the Beverley D and Yellow Ribbon. It is anticipated that Mogok will go on to become an influential broodmare sire with his pedigree and race record. The evidence of the influence of these stallions has shown in the great Variety Club, In The Fast Lane, Ash Cloud and more recently Captain Of All – every one of them having mares that were bred and born in KZN and every single one a Gr1 winner. Breeder Anton Shepherd of Beaumont Stud hailed Variety Club as a special horse from birth, one of those foals that stands out from the rest the minute they land on the ground. The eye-catching liver chestnut son ofVar would never disappoint – going on to win six hallowed Equus Awards and providing

Captain Of All. Photo Credit: Gold Circle

South Africa with much pride as he stormed to victory in six Gr1’s, including South Africa, and Hong Kong in the Sha Tin Champions Mile. He beat Able Friend that day in Hong Kong by four lengths, and was rated on the Longines Worlds Best Racehorse superior to that of California Chrome,Wise Dan and and Game On Dude. Variety Club is Time Form Rated at 131. Variety Club also won the Gr2 Godolphin Mile in Dubai (winning two of his three starts in Dubai), beating another international South African-bred champion Soft Falling Rain. Variety Club concluded a brilliant racing career after three wins from four starts overseas, winning 13 Graded races in total. Variety Club is out of the mare La Massine, a daughter of Secret Prospector out of a Northern Guest mare named Karpokova. La Massine was bred by Mr J Jonsson and Mrs LF Russell. Mr Jonsson’s brother, Hugh Jonsson, bred Jet Master. Sold in 2003 for just R25 000 from Maine Chance Farms, La Massine went on to produce eight winners from eight runners, including Mauritian Horse Of The Year Rhythmically and Variety Club. She was a winner who placed three times from just nine starts, bred on the successful cross of Mr Prospector x Northern Dancer.Variety Club will be the first son of Var, a grandson of Storm Cat to stand at stud, returning to his owner Marcus Jooste’s Klawervlei Stud

in the Cape where he will stand his first breeding season from September 2015 for R100 000 a service. In The Fast Lane, bred by Anne and Bruce Nicholas of Hallmark Thoroughbreds won her second start in Durban by nine and a half lengths, showing her young trainer Justin Snaith that she was a cut above the rest. Five months later in Cape Town she grabbed victory in the Gr2 Choice Carriers Championship, going on to take Gr1 victory in the Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas by a length. The daughter of Jet Master out of Northern Guest mare First Arrival went to place twice behind the brilliant Beach Beauty in to Gr1’s, yet another filly born in KZN. Returning to Durban for the Champions Season, she placed in the Gr2 KRA Guineas and won the Gr1 Woolavington at Greyville by over a length, comfortably from the formidable Athina over 2000m. A brilliant prep run for Africa’s greatest horserace, the Gr1 Vodacom Durban July over 2200m, she lined up with 13 colts and geldings and three fillies to finish just two lengths off in fifth position in the controversial finish between Gr1 winners’ Legislate and Wylie Hall.The best filly of her generation and after a brilliant effort in the July, a decision was made to export In The Fast Lane

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In The Fast Lane. Photo Credit: Gold Circle

and she has found her way to the yard of William Haggas in the United Kingdom – she is the third Jet Master to find her way overseas after JJ The Jet Plane and River Jetez. First Arrival was a champion filly in Zimbabwe as a three year old (the most famous overseas graduate to come from Zimbabwe was Team Valor’s Ipi Tombe, who also has a KZN influence in that the Scott Bros imported her dam from the United States and sold her on), winning six times. She has been a dream to own for Bruce and Anne, producing six runners and six winners, incredibly four of them achieving Bold Black Type Status. First Arrival’s Philanthropist yearling sold for R650 000 at South Africa’s National Yearling Sale, the top seller for her sire’s first South African crop. Philanthropist is North America’s leading all weather sire. First Arrival is a descendant of Party Time, a broodmare whose influence in South African breeding has left a significant dynasty of pages of Group 1 winners, so many it is impossible to name them all on a pedigree that spans four A4 pages. In The Fast Lane should do justice to her great pedigree in the breeding paddocks overseas. Carl and Amanda De Vos who manage the great Varsfontein Stud in the Cape, own Star Of Arcole – a mare bred by Scott Bros from one of their many imported Argentine mares, Arcole. Star Of Arcole is by Foveros, one of the best sires South Africa has seen who went on to win the title of Champion National Sire six times. Star Of Arcole was fittingly voted Equus Broodmare Of The Year in 2014, having produced three exceptional multiple Group winning fillies since 2006 with Arcola, Princess Of Light and

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Ash Cloud – the latter finally giving the broodmare Gr1 status, after winning the SA Oaks. Ash Cloud is a daughter of Black Minnaloushe who sold at the National Yearling Sale for R800 000. She has since placed second in the Gr2 Betting World Oaks. Another filly trained by Justin Snaith of Legislate and Futura fame, Ash Cloud is owned by Drakenstein Stud and she will make a valuable addition to their broodmare band, which already includes the likes of KZN-bred five-time Gr1 winning Beach Beauty. Dual Gr1 winning colt Captain Of All, a speedy son of Captain Al owned by Mr and Mrs Marcus Jooste has been the best for his KZN-bred dam Serious Side, a daughter of the grey Irish stallion Fard who stood his career at Summerhill Stud and produced a series of fast colts including The Gard Farder, Redcarpet Style and Cape Fard. Serious Side, a winner at four who placed five times was bred by Mr Robert Smith in 2002. She is out of a Forty Winks/Drum Beat mare. Captain Of All has earned almost R2million in stakes, winning six times for trainer Dennis Drier and placed four times – three of those in Gr1 company. With a race record of that stature and one of the most successful sons of Captain Al to race, we might see the possibility of Captain Of All joining Variety Club at Klawervlei Stud in the near future. Other KZN-bred mares to watch for the future overseas include Gr1 winners Gypsy’s Warning and Chocolicious. Rathmor-bred Gypsy’s Warning has foaled a filly to America’s top sire Tapit and Backworth-bred Chocolicious has a Frankel weanling in Australia.

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KARIS TEETAN ON SUPREME FLIGHT

KARIS TEETAN HAVE SADDLE WILL RIDE

he party is in full swing. It is the formal Audemars Piguet QE II gala dinner at the Sha Tin racecourse, Hong Kong, and anybody connected to the Group 1 race is in attendance. As a laser show delights the audience, a slim young man stands in the kaleidoscope of colours, impeccably attired, champagne flute in hand, talking to a beautiful woman. What a world away from his humbling beginnings on the island of Mauritius, where the family of five lived in a two bedroomed house and his father worked the canefields. Karis Teetan has scaled the heady heights of the racing world that as a child he never even knew existed, but despite the suit and the glass of champagne he is still the little boy, who begged for rides on the retired racehorses that carried tourists around the idyllic beach. In fact the very first one, a grey he recalls vividly, bucked him off… “But I landed on my feet”, he adds with a grin and a lifelong love affair was born. 94

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Text and Photos by Liesl King The bug that is horse had bitten and Teetan could not be kept away from them. Skipping school, he spent every spare minute with the beach horses. A report that read “absent, absent, absent”, led to his father giving him money for extra lessons. Teetan simply used it for taxis to the beach.There he would help with the horses, grooming them, swimming them for exercise and in return get the chance to hop on a few. His parents finally admitted defeat and Teetan was enrolled at the Mauritian Jockey Club as an apprentice. There it wasn’t long before Teetan was noticed by Patrick Salvage, the riding master of the South African Jockey Academy, out scouting for potential youngsters. Three were chosen, but considered too young, Teetan was not one of them. Fortunately for him, lady luck was smiling on the eager youngster and when one of the chosen three got injured,Teetan was offered his spot. Teetan’s father took out a loan and with the assistance of the Mauritian Turf Club Teetan was on his way to South Africa.

Variety Club

KARIS TEETAN ON JACKSON

The next step in his journey is one that still brings goose bumps to any listener as it is so far outside our comfort zone that it seems like pure insanity. A 13 year old boy, speaking only Creole and French leaving his home for a foreign country 3000km away. Teetan arrived at the South African Jockey Academy in Durban knowing only five English words “my name is Karis Teetan”. He recalls sitting outside the dormitory days after his arrival, crying. “I could not speak a word of English, I was frightened and I missed my home.” Teetan survived, not only did he survive he thrived. Learning some valuable lessons along the way that have stood him in good stead to this day.“You learn to take responsibility for yourself - you learn that when you are down to pick yourself up – nobody else is going to do it for you. And you learn to work hard. Getting to the top is never easy and hard work always pays off!” It took 30 rides before Teetan rode the aptly named Step With

Style to victory at Scottsville for trainer Paul Lafferty. It may have been a lowly maiden plate, but once he had experienced that heady feeling, there was no stopping the youngster. He was hungry for more and he was prepared to work for it. Four years later he was South Africa’s Champion Apprentice and his first Grade 1 victory came on the 7th of January 2012 aboard Thunder Dance in the Gr.1 Paddock Stakes. Two weeks later he rode Jackson to a decisive victory over Horse of The Year Variety Club in the Gr.1 Cape Derby. A victory so sweet that Teetan dropped his reins as he crossed the line, throwing both arms skywards. He had arrived. Yet the journey was far from over and when the Hong Kong Jockey Club came knocking, Teetan seized the opportunity with both hands. Hong Kong is a racing cauldron that is not for the faint hearted, but Teetan with his work ethic and his indomitable attitude was ready. And he announced his arrival in no uncertain terms, winning the first race on the first day of the Hong Kong season. Teetan INTERNATIONAL RACEHORSE

KARIS TEETAN ON TEOFILO CALVA

KARIS TEETAN ON THUNDER DANCE

continued as he started, ending the season on 50 winners and fourth position on the log, behind greats like Douglas Whyte, Joao Moreira and Zac Purton. His second season is almost finished and while Teetan may not have quite scaled the heights of the previous year, he is still giving each and every ride 100 percent. A work ethic that saw him attending the Audemars Piguet QE II gala dinner as the jockey elect aboard California Memory for Tony Cruz. “It has been an incredible journey for me. To have fifty winners in my first season was just amazing. Here in Hong Kong the more work you put in, the better your chances are, but you must also get a chance with the trainers. Here you are riding against 12 of the best jockeys in the world, you must try to find the right ride, but I cannot complain. “This year I had a very slow start, but it is picking up. What really helped me a lot here is that I can ride bottom weight. It is an advantage here, as once the horses step up in class, they straight away get light weights. So automatically I get a chance and then you win on them. It’s a big help for me. “ This ability to ride bottom weight saw Teetan become the only jockey apart from Moreira to ever swing a leg over the reigning number one horse in the world, the John Moore trained Able Friend. And in true Teetan style, he steered Able Friend straight to the number one box.

KARIS TEETAN ON SUPREME FLIGHT

are such good jockeys here, you learn by just watching them. It has been a steep learning curve and it comes with the highs and the lows. You just have to stay positive, stick your neck out and make the most of what you get. “I am always looking and trying different things to improve. I am here for the long run and the hard work definitely pays off. I am riding a horse in an international Group 1 on Sunday in only my second season. Something I would never have had the opportunity to do at home. If I do well then it goes on my CV and that’s a big thing. And with his drive to always improve, Teetan is not content to spend the offseason in a leisurely fashion. “Riding here opens doors anywhere in the world for me. I am hoping to go to Japan for a three weeks stint this offseason. It will be a huge learning experience and can only benefit me in the future.” Teetan pauses a moment, before adding “the Japanese travel their horses all over the world you know and you never know when they might need a light weight jockey”.

Humble, hard working, with his feet firmly planted on the ground and always smiling, Teetan has never forgotten where he comes from. He has helped his father set up a business so he could leave the early mornings of cutting cane behind. The talented rider is firmly on his way to stardom, yet Teetan has never forgotten the life lessons he learned along the way. “I am “I just want to be here, I don’t care what I have to do; trials, just happy to be here in Hong Kong, to ride, to work hard and jumpouts, morning work, I just keep learning every day. There to learn. Everything else is a bonus.” 96

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AVONTUUR SOUTH AFRICA’S LEADING BREEDER LEADING SA BREEDER BY AVERAGE EARNINGS PER RUNNER 2014/15 (NHRA to 27 May 2015 - 49 or more runners)

1 2 3

BREEDER AVONTUUR ESTATE DRAKENSTEIN STUD LAMMERSKRAAL STUD

RUNNERS 49 83 90

EARNINGS R4,677,725 R6,330,400 R6,575,038

AEPR R95,464.00 R76,270.00 R73,056.00

LEADING SA BREEDER BY % WINNERS / RUNNERS 2014/15 (NHRA to 27 May 2015 - 49 or more runners)

1 2 3

BREEDER AVONTUUR ESTATE LAMMERSKRAAL STUD WILGERBOSDRIFT

RUNNERS 49 90 128

WINNERS 27 48 59

% WNRS / RNRS 55.1% 53.3% 46.1%

LEADING SA BREEDER BY % BT WINNERS / RUNNERS 2014/15 (NHRA to 27 May 2015 - 49 or more runners)

1 2 3

BREEDER AVONTUUR ESTATE HIGHLANDS FARMS STUD GJ ARMITAGE

RUNNERS 49 187 66

BT WINNERS % BT WNRS / RNRS 3 6.1% 11 5.9% 3 4.5%

HOME OF LEADING SIRES:

Oratorio

VA R

AVONTUUR ESTATE

PO Box 1128, Somerset West 7129 General Manager: Pippa Mickleburgh • T el: (021) 855 1442 • Mobile: 083 658 4404 Email: stud@avontuurestate.co.za • Web: www.avontuurestate.co.za INTERNATIONAL RACEHORSE

B E H I N D T H E Text and Photos by Liesl King

Liesl King travels to England where she spends at day at Ascot, not in her normal role as journalist and photographer but as groom. Hats off the grooms and racing staff that work endlessly to make every race day seem effortless and every animals welfare their top priority.

FIELD HEADING FOR THE PULLUP 98

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SCENES OF THE

EPSOM DERBY

tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a rare sunny summerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day. There is a palpable excitement in the air, for today is Investec Derby Day. At precisely 4.30pm 12 three-year-old colts will take on the strenuous, undulating 2400m of the Epsom Downs racecourse in the 236th running of the Group 1 Investec Derby, billed as the greatest flat race in the world. The first glimpse most racegoers will catch of the runners is in the parade ring. Yet behind the scenes, a veritable army of stable staff will have been hard at work since daybreak. Curious, I decide to investigate just what it entails having a runner on a big day.

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Its 5am and the alarm has just gone off. Time to roll out of bed, grab a quick coffee and head for the yard, the dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s runners need to be prepared. While the travelling head lad rolls the lorry into position, the lads assigned to each runner are busy giving their charges a final polish, fitting travelling boots and stable rugs. Then its time to load the bridles, extra rugs, should the fickle English weather turn colder, water buckets, grooming kits, breakfast for the horses and most importantly snacks for their human companions for the long drive down. Meanwhile the travelling head lad has made sure that each runnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passport, the silks its jockey will wear and his own suit are all safely stowed in the lorry. Before loading can commence, each horse is presented at the scale to be weighed, as any weight loss during the race is carefully monitored. A quick check whether everybody has their horse attendant passes and its time to go. The dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s runners are led up the ramp one at a time, slotted into their berths and the door closed. 100 INTERNATIONAL RACE HORSE

Despite the first runner only going off at 2pm, we rumble out of the yard at 7am sharp. Top speed for lorries of this size is 90km per hour and a long two and a half hour journey from Newmarket to Epsom lies ahead. With some Derby Day racegoers also attempting to avoid the inevitable traffic jams, it may take even longer. Fortunately most horses are good travellers, but just in case there is a mounted camera in the lorry, showing the driver just what his cargo is getting up to, via a dashboard screen. While long, the journey is peaceful, with just a slight commotion, as one of the horses happens to glance out of his window as the lorry crossed the DartfordBridge. I guess the long drop to the water and Docklands below is enough to give anyone a fright. Before long we hit the expected traffic jam, but fortunately we are not far from the course. Time for the lads to head into the back of the lorry, ready to offload their charges as

soon as we pull up to the ramp.Thankfully both have travelled well without breaking a sweat and they stroll calmly off the ramp. The travelling head lad is hoping to keep his spot at the ramp a little longer, as he needs to hose down the lorry, but a queue is forming and there is only time to scoop out the manure, before the ramp has to be hoisted back up and the lorry sandwiched between one from Ireland and a fellow Newmarket trainer’s, in a neat row. With security wristbands firmly in place, the lads lead their charges to their allocated stables, where each horse’s microchip is scanned and checked againstits passport, before rugs, boots and bandages are removed and sweat marks sponged off. A small scoop of breakfast and its time to leave the horses to settle in, while the staff head for the canteen and breakfast. Here some light entertainment is provided as a lad manages to set the toaster and his toast on fire before its back to business. The travelling head lad heads off to declare the day’s runners, before depositing the silks, chamois, pads and girthsin

the weighing room. The course is still empty and it is an ideal opportunity to have a quick look around. We marvel at the extreme camber near the winning post and of course there is a giant fun fair on the infield. After all, it is Investec Derby Day. An hour before the first and thestable’s runner needs to be prepared. A good grooming is followed by the application of quarter marks and its racing bridle, before hoof oil is applied as a finishing touch. Once the sponsor’s jacket is donned, the ladleads his charge out of the stable area, where an official ticks it off as present and correct. With a habit of getting rather warm under the collar, the colt in the first sports a leather covered lip chain for the first time and it seems to be having the desired effect, as he walks demurely up the hill past the large and noisycrowd. In the parade ring the head lad awaits his arrival, armed with a water bucket, sweat sheet and all the necessary paddock equipment. Once the jockey is legged up and last minute instructions INTERNATIONAL RACEHORSE

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have been issued, it is race time. The field thunders round Tattenham corner and down the steep hill before the climb up to the finish. Epsom Downs is a course like no other, with the height from itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highest point to the lowest, being the equivalent of a staggering nine double decker busses, stacked one on top of the other! The crowd roars as the winner flashes past the post. The track drops again and the jockeys ease their mounts down andaround the final bend before pulling up to a walk. Not only does the track rise and fall, but it is also cambered steeply towards the inside rail, requiring considerable skill from horse and rider. Once pulled up, the field heads back towards the finish where the lads await their charges. Runners are unsaddled on the track in front of the grandstand and offered a welcome drink of water, before heading for the queue at the wash bays. The day flies by in a blur of activity and colour. The crowd roars, Golden Horn has won the Derby with Frankie Dettori celebrating in style. Jack Hobbs, with William Buick in the irons is the runner-up, providing trainer John Gosden with a superb one-two.Yet back at the stables, the work carries on relentlessly 102 INTERNATIONAL RACE HORSE

and we watch the Derby on the canteen TV. Time for that quintessential cup of tea and a bite to eat, before the process starts all over again with the next runner. Finally as the last race thunders down the hill, it is time to pack up and hit the road. The horsesload quickly, happy to be heading home, but there is still a long drive ahead as racegoers and lorries vie to be first out of the gates. By the time we approach the stable, it is nearly 9pm,yet the day is far from done. Here horses come first and the tired runners have to be settled in their boxes, with a well-deserved evening meal, before the lorry can be offloaded and all the gear stowed away. One final check of the horses, the adjustment of a rug and a day that started over 15 hours earlier is finally over. Today a new champion was crowned, a new name added to the Derby honour roll, yet behind the glamour and tradition, the pomp and circumstance,exists a fascinating, yet essential world of hard work and long hours. As the stable gates finally swing shut behind us, we may not be celebrating a Derby winner, but we celebrate the safe return of two runners and a job well done. And tomorrow? Tomorrow we do it all over again.

Vercingetorix

(SAF)

Equus Champion; International G1 Winner; Timeform 124

Equus Champion 3yo Colt South Africa Undefeated G1 Winner in South Africa Won G1 Jebel Hatta in Dubai Best Performed Son of Silvano 2nd to World Horse Of The Year, Just A Way, in G1 Dubai Duty Free VERCINGETORIX (SAF) - winner of the JEBEL HATTA G1 at Meydan, Dubai 2014 THE PROPERTY OF A SYNDICATE • 2015 STUD FEE - R40,000 LF

PO Box 259 Robertson 6705 Stud Manager: John Slade • Tel: 023 626 2342 • Fax: 023 626 2585 Mobile: 083 630 0433 • Farm Mobile: 073 140 1921 INTERNATIONAL RACEHORSE E-mail: info@mainechance.co.za • Web: www.mainechance.co.za

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SARATOGA

SETS THE STAGE

The very essence of horse racing - the fastest runners, the biggest players, the highest fashion, the most lavish parties and the top-dollar bloodstock sales - explodes like a cascade of colorful fireworks across the otherwise sleepy village of Saratoga Springs, New York, for about six spectacular weeks each summer

Text and Photos by Michele MacDonald

his year the action could be livelier than ever, with a centerpiece of the meet, the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale, set with a catalog of bluebloods sure to gain more attention following the exploits of American Pharoah, a sale graduate who covered himself in Triple Crown glory. “It will be really cool at Saratoga this year,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning Jr. after visting American Pharoah at Churchill Downs in early June. “It’s going to be really fun.” The Saratoga racing meet, which annually yields up exciting twoyear-olds, top fillies, elite grass runners and championship-caliber three-year-olds and older runners, particularly in the showpiece

104 INTERNATIONAL RACE HORSE

$1,250,000 Whitney Handicap and equally valuable Travers Stakes, begins on July 24 and extends until September 7. Fasig-Tipton will conduct the select sale on August 10-11, with a New York-bred yearling sale following on August 15-16. While Browning said the sale company can’t claim any particular credit or long-term advantage from the fact that American Pharoah was offered at the 2013 select sale by breeder Ahmed Zayat, he said the colt’s historic racing feats for Zayat, who bought him back for $300,000, will revitalize the sale - as well as the entire sport of racing in America. “It’s fantastic, it really is. None of us ever know when or where

(a champion will emerge) and we have absolutely nothing to do with it, but it’s still a great sense of accomplishment. It’s exciting for the sale, it’s exciting for the sales company,” he said. “And it helps the business. Even folks I’ve talked to in the last week that have been in the game that may have slowed their participation a little bit are excited - it’s put a smile on everyone’s face, it’s put a little bounce in everybody’s walk, it’s kind of renewed confidence and enthusiasm,” he continued. “If there are folks that were thinking about getting in the game, it’s certainly going to help push them over the edge.” Media coverage nationally and worldwide is a major boost,

and Browning particularly cited the cover coverage by the weekly magazine Sports Illustrated. “It’s great for our business to be on the front cover. There’s somebody - I don’t know if it’s a seven-year-old or a tenyear-old or a 65-year-old reading the article right now who is saying, ‘I want to own horses. I want to get involved in this business.’ There are folks out there, men and women, boys and girls - someone is reading Sports Illustrated today and saying ‘This is going to be really cool.’ We never know when it’s going to come to fruition, but it’s all good.” Fasig-Tipton officials were still working as of early June on finalizing the selected sale catalog, but Browning promised INTERNATIONAL RACEHORSE

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that buyers, who are drawn to the sale from around the world, will find it worth the wait. “We’re going to be up in number of horses and up in quality. The sale has been really strong the last few years and the success of the sale graduates - not just American Pharoah, but lots of good horses have come out of that sale in recent years - has helped, so it’s going to be a very good catalog this year. We’re very excited about it,” he said. Other horses sold by Fasig-Tipton that have won Grade 1 106 INTERNATIONAL RACE HORSE

events or otherwise distinguished themselves so far in 2015 include Donn Handicap winner Constitution, Santa Anita Derby winner Dortmund, Kentucky Derby runner-up Firing Line, Singapore Cup winner Parranda, Santa Anita Oaks winner Stellar Wind and Las Virgenes Stakes winner Callback. Buyers at last year’s Saratoga sale spent $33,284,000 on 114 yearlings, with an average price of $291,965. American construction magnate Willis Horton haltered the sale topper, spending $1.25 million for a War Front filly who is a half sister to his 2014 champion juvenile filly Take Charge Brandi.

Black Minnaloushe

(USA)

ARABIAN BEAT (SAF) - winning the SOUTH AFRICAN NURSERY G1 at Turffontein 2015

THE PROPERTY OF A SYNDICATE • 2015 STUD FEE - R25,000 LF

Black Minnaloushe (USA)

Sire of 9 G1 Winners to date

107

Celebrating

Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame

the best in Canadian Horse Racing The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame congratulates the Class of 2015, being inducted August 5, 2015

THOROUGHBRED James Bannon | Roger Laurin

| Mine That Bird | Robert M. Anderson | Stewart Elliott

STANDARDBRED H. Charles Armstrong | Harry Eisen | Artsplace | J Cs Nathalie | William Gale

LEGEND HONOUREES Harold H | Col. K.R. (Rud) Marshall

Established in 1976 to honour and celebrate excellence in Canadian horse racing, the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame recognizes people and horses that have made significant contributions to Standardbred and Thoroughbred racing in Canada. Located at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, the hall adds new members annually.

For information or to purchase tickets for the 2015 induction Gala, visit INTERNATIONAL RACE HORSE 108 www.canadianhorseracinghalloffame.com 555 Rexdale Blvd., Toronto, ON M9W 5L2

Artsplace World Record. Photo credit Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Archives

JCs Nathalie. Photo credit Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Archives

CANADIAN HORSE RACING

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2015

The importance of history is monumental. The champions of the past must be properly celebrated and remembered and the difference makers who have paved the path for future champions to embark on must be recognized. The Canadian horse racing industry strongly believes in harnessing the history and honoring those individuals and horses. And they do so through the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. By Shannon Ella

he Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame was founded in 1976 after a group of racing enthusiasts came to the conclusion in 1973 that they needed to properly honor its pioneers, horses and contemporary heroes of Canadian racing. The Hall of Fame went for 20 years without a permanent location to pay homage to their honorees, until they partnered up with the Ontario Jockey Club on August 22nd, 1997 and were given a great location at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame offers visitors a one of a kind look into 250 years of rich history and heritage of both theThoroughbred and Standardbred horse racing industry in Canada. On Wednesday, August 5th, 2015 The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Induction Gala will take place at the Mississauga Convention Centre to honor their 2015 inductees from both the Standardbred and Thoroughbred industries. A total of 10 horses and people have been elected to the Hall of Fame. Standardbred inductees include horses Artsplace, J Cs Nathalie and people H. Charles (Charlie) Armstrong, William (Bill) Gale and Harry Eisen. The Thoroughbred inductees are Mine That Bird, Robert (Bob) M. Anderson, James (Jim) Bannon, Stewart Elliott and Roger Laurin.

STANDARDBRED INDUCTEES: In the Standardbred Male Horse Category the chosen inductee is Artsplace. Following an undefeated four-year-old season with sixteen races Artsplace won the 1992 O’Brien Award and Dan Patch Award winner as Horse of the Year. He was a World Record holder in his two-year-old season, winning the Breeders Crown in a time of 1:51.1 at Pompano Park in Florida. While under the care of trainer Bob McIntosh, Artsplace was driven throughout his racing career by Hall of Famer drivers John Campbell, Bill O’Donnell, Cat Manzi, and Bill Gale. Artsplace won37 races and bankrolled over $3 million. As a breeding stallion, Artsplace produced top horses from the time his first crop raced in 1996.To date, his progeny, including 18 millionaires, have accumulated over $173 million in earnings with an average of $126,372 per starter. Many of Artsplace’s sons and daughters have gone on to sire champions, including Art Major who sired 2008 Meadowlands Pace champion Art Official, who won in 1:47, at the time a world record for three year old pacers, and the second fastest race mile in harness racing history. The Standardbred Veteran Horse Category inductee for 2015 is JCs Nathalie. He has gone on to produce two millionaires for owner John Lamers of Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada -- pacing colt Dreamfair Vogel, and pacing mare Dreamfair Eternal. Dreamfair INTERNATIONAL RACEHORSE

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Vogel won 19 races and over $1.1 million with a race record of 1:49.3, while Dreamfair Eternal won 56 races and over $2.5 million in purse earnings, was Canada’s Horse of the Year in 2010 and was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2014. In total J Cs Nathalie has produced 13 horses of which 11 have started and banked more than $4.5 million in purse earnings, making her a very worthy recipient of the 2015 induction. William (Bill) Gale, 66 of Woodstock, Ontario, Canada has been chosen as the 2015 inductee in the Driver/Trainer Category. Gale was one of Canada’s leading drivers for a period that spanned the 70s, 80s and 90s. Gale recorded 16 consecutive $1 million+ seasons between 1982 and 1997. His driving career spanned over 30 years, where he won 6,375 races, started 32, 134 times and earned $42.1 million. In the fall of ’91 at Pompano Park he won a pair of Breeders Crown Championships, as he guided King Conch to a World Record 1:56.2 win in the $300,000 TwoYear-Old Colt Trot and Three Wizards to an upset victory over Die Laughing and Artsplace (also a 2015 CHRHF inductee) in the $357,000 Breeders Crown for Three-Year-Old Pacing Colts. In 1991, William Gale was honoured with an O’Brien Award as Canada’s Driver of The Year following a season where he exceeded $3.2 million in purse earnings. H. Charles (Charlie) Armstrong, 93, of Brampton, Ontario, has been a true Icon in the Ontario and North American Horse Industry for over 60 years. Following the death of his father Elgin, Charlie and his wife Lenore took over the operation of Armstrong Bros. Farm, and as Chairman of Armstrong Holdings Brampton Limited. Charlie oversaw the growth of the farm into the second largest Standardbred breeding operation in North America. The Armbro name was ever-present in the winner’s circles of prestigious races for both trotters and pacers, producing such champions as Armbro Flight, Armbro Feather, Armbro Omaha and hundreds of others. Of note, Charlie Armstrong and fellow hall of famer, Gustav Schickedanz were the breeders of champion trotter Goodtimes, who at the end of his 11 year race career was retired as the richest Canadian Bred Trotting Horse of all time. Other notables include two-time Breeders Crown winner Village Jiffy, as well as such horses as Village Jove and Village Jolt. Stallions standing at the Armstrong breeding operation included King Conch, Camotion, Dream of Glory, Armbro Emerson and Adios Pick to name a few. The family company was dispersed in 2005; however Charlie, along with his daughters, continues to raise and race Standardbreds under the name Village Acres Limited. Charlie’s involvement in racing extended far beyond that of a breeder and owner and resulted in a long list of achievements for his commitment to the racing industry. In 1999 he was named Little Brown Jug Wall of Fame Honouree in 1999 and the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association presented him with the Van Bussell Award in 2003. The 2015 Standardbred Communicator Inductee is the late Harry Eisen who spent his life loving and covering horse racing in Ontario. Eisen who once said he saw his first harness race when he was “three or four years old,” sold tip sheets at Dufferin Park Racetrack as a boy. Eisen was a lifelong journalist and spent many years exposing the sport of horse racing to the public, 110 INTERNATIONAL RACE HORSE

Bill Gale. Photo credit Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Archives

Charles Armstrong. Photo credit Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Archives

Harry Eisen. Photo credit Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Archives

Stewart Elliott. Photo credit Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Archives

including the majority of his 40 years at the London Free Press and described his work as a “labour of love”. Eisen’s regular column titled, “Mostly About Horses” kept horse lovers in the loop. As a highly regarded handicapper, Eisen also made the Western Fair selections for the Free Press. In 1980, he became the first nonhorseman to be inducted to the Western Fair Raceway Wall of Fame. THOROUGHBRED INDUCTEES: The 2015 Thoroughbred Male Horse Inductee is Mine that Bird who was bred in Kentucky by Canadian Breeder, Peter Lamantia and partners. The colt was purchased as a yearling by Canadian trainer Dave Cotey for $9,500 on behalf of owners Dominion Bloodstock, Derek Ball and Hugh Galbraith. In his juvenile year at Woodbine, he began with an impressive 4 wins in 5 starts, earning the 2008 Sovereign Award for Champion 2-year old. Later in 2008 Mine That Bird was sold to Mark Allen (Double Eagle Ranch) and Leonard Blach (Buena SuerteEquine) of New Mexico. The impressive gelding gained international attention with his 2009 Kentucky Derby longshot performance paired with infamous jockey Calvin Borel when they made a sweeping 21 length from ‘last to first’ victory. Mine That Bird’s

Mine that Bird. Photo credit John Stephen Hockensmith.

Triple Crown pursuit was dashed with a 2nd place finish in the Preakness to Kentucky Oaks winning filly Rachel Alexandra, and a 3rd in the Belmont. Mine That Birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total career purse earnings were $2,248,496 in 18 starts (5-2-2). Toronto-born, second generation jockey Stewart Elliott will be the 2015 inductee in the Jockey Category. In 2004, Stewart made headlines around the world when he became the first jockey in 25 years to win the Kentucky Derby in his first appearance riding Smarty Jones. The pair followed up with a dominating win in the Preakness, only to have the Triple Crown taken from them when Birdstone beat them by a length in the Belmont. During a career consisting of over 29,000 starts, the horses ridden by Elliott amassed earnings in excess of $93 million with wins in 4,650 races. In 2010 he was named the winner of the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award. Stewart Elliott currently stands 36th on the all-time jockey list for career wins, and 5th on the all-time win list amongst Canadian-born riders. The 2015 inductee for the Thoroughbred Builder is Robert M. (Bob) Anderson, a long-time horseman based in St.

Thomas, Ontario, Canada. As President of Anderson Farms, he was involved with the breeding, racing and selling of both Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses for 41 years in Canada, U.S., and Europe. As a former Director of the Woodbine Entertainment Group (formerly OJC) and past national President of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society from 1981-82, Anderson was also a Board member of Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association in the U.S.A, a Steward of the Jockey Club of Canada as well as a member of the Ontario Racing Commission Advisory Board, the First Chairman of the Guelph Research Centre for Equine Research and member of the E.P. Taylor Equine Research Fund. Anderson bred and matured over 1,400 thoroughbreds including known champions Pinafore Park, Larkwhistle, and Prince Avatar. He was the breeder of successful siring stallions Ascot Knight, National Assembly and Alydeed. His Standardbred success stories include Pampered Princess, a champion at two and three and winner of $1.74 million; as well as champions and world record holders SouthwindAllair and Cabrini Hanover. INTERNATIONAL RACEHORSE

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Harold B. Photo credit Canadian Sportsman Archives

Bob Anderson. Photo credit Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Archives

Jim Bannon. Photo credit G.Pimental Photography courtesy of ACCT

Toronto’s Jim Bannon is the chosen 2015 Thoroughbred Communicator inductee. Jim was part of the first Simulcast Racing TV Show in North America in 1981. Being in front of the camera was where Jim felt most comfortable and his extensive Thoroughbred racing knowledge is what propelled Bannon into a career that includes a television analyst, commentator and handicapping expert with followers at racetracks and living rooms all across North America. From that humble start, Bannon quickly became the face of Thoroughbred racing in Canada. Jim became a television analyst, commentator and handicapping expert for the CBC’s Queen’s Plate and Breeders’ Cup shows and in 2010 he was rewarded with a Gemini Award as Canada’s Best Sports Analyst. For the past 40 years he has published the popular Woodbine Journal, a staple for bettors at Woodbine Racetrack. In addition to Bannon’s journalistic endeavours he gives generously of his time as an educator in handicapping seminars and a contributor to the community of Etobicoke, Ontario which brought him to be voted into the Etobicoke Hall of Fame in 2010. He is head of the Chaplaincy Program at Woodbine, a Director of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. Roger Laurin was chosen as the Thoroughbred Veteran for 2015. Born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada to the son of Hall of Famer Lucien Laurin, Roger came into his own when he took charge of conditioning a filly named Miss Cavandish for Harry S. Nichols. Miss Cavandish became one of the top two fillies racing in the United States that year. From there the list of graded stakes horses he conditioned reads like a who’s who of 1960’s and ‘70’s racing. He trained Drumtop who won numerous top stakes and who broke three track records in 1971 for John Moseley, while at the same time conditioning the 1971 2-year-old Eclipse champion filly Numbered Account for Ogden Phipps. In 1984 Chief’s Crown won the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and was named the 2-year-old male Eclipse Champion. Roger continues to keep his hand in the game with a small stable based at Woodbine.

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Roger Laurin. Photo credit Laurin Family

Col Marshall. Photo credit Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Archives

LEGEND INDUCTEES: The Legend Inductee for 2015 in the Standardbred category is Harold H. Harold H was bred by G. H. Leatherdale and foaled in Dresden, Ontario, in 1894. He was sired by Roadmaster and his dam was Little Belle by Brown Dick. Trained by Al Proctor, Harold H was six-years-old when he raced for the first time in an era when standardbreds raced multiple heats in which winners were determined on a best-in-summary basis. In his first start, at London, Ontario, on June 19, 1900, he won all three heats; the fastest in 2:20¼. A week later, he swept three heats at Hamilton, Ontario; a sign to what would become an illustrious career. Col. K.R. (Rud) Marshall is the 2015 Legend Inductee in the Thoroughbred Builder category. Marshall was a decorated war hero at the Battle of the Somme and at Amiens in World War I and later a commanding officer at the 48th Highlanders. He was a soft-spoken, quiet, self-effacing sportsman who served on the boards of several charitable foundations, an avid polo player and steeplechase rider. He assumed presidency of the Ontario Jockey Club in 1942 when the King’s Plate at Woodbine Park was still under the rules established in 1860. In 1961, Marshall walked across the track to the winner’s circle at Woodbine in Toronto to the boisterous applause of a huge crowd to his Queen’s Plate Champion Blue Light, jockey Hugo Dittfach and trainer Patrick MacMurchy. Following his death in 1962, Marshall’s stable was managed by his son Peter, who won the 1966 Queen’s Plate with Titled Hero. The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame’s dedication to honoring those difference makers in the Thoroughbred and Standardbred industries is evident as they put such an effort into choosing the inductees each year. Through each inductee’s story it is clear that the 2015 inductees chosen more than deserve to be honored in such a grand way.

Querari

(GER)

A Leading First Season Sire 2015

CHAMPERY (SAF) - 3 starts, 2 wins, 1 place, R96,875; 3rd PERFECT PROMISE SPRINT L.

DYNAMIC SPEED (SAF) - 4 starts, 2 wins, 2 places, R110,625; 2nd EAST CAPE NURSERY L, 4th DAHLIA PLATE L.

SPRING WONDER (SAF) - 3 starts, 1 wins, 1 place, R63,125; 4th PRETTY POLLY STAKES G3.

THE PROPERTY OF A SYNDICATE • 2015 STUD FEE - R15,000 LF

PO Box 259 Robertson 6705 Stud Manager: John Slade • Tel: 023 626 2342 • Fax: 023 626 2585 Mobile: 083 630 0433 • Farm Mobile: 073 140 1921 E-mail: info@mainechance.co.za • Web: www.mainechance.co.za

Syndicate Manager: John Freeman RACEHORSE Tel: 021INTERNATIONAL 418 0566 Email: john@johnfreeman.co.za

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Silvano

(GER)

South Africa’s Champion Sire 2013

VERCINGETORIX (SAF) - winning the JEBEL HATTA G1 at Meydan, Dubai 2014 THE PROPERTY OF A SYNDICATE • 2015 STUD FEE - R200,000 (R50,000 non refundable nom, R150,000 LF)

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Johnson Lam gives the Dragon a final pat.

Text & Images By Liesl King

FAREWELL

AMBITIOUS DRAGON On the 16th of April the announcement that we all had been hoping would not come,was made. Ambitious Dragon, one of the greatest champions in the history of Hong Kong horse racing and twice crowned as Hong Kong’s Horse of The Year, was to retire.

mbitious Dragon ended his career with a record of 13 wins from 30 starts and HK$58,722,850 earned in prize-money, making him the sixth-highest earner in Hong Kong history.Yet the brilliant New Zealandbred son of Pins, so ably campaigned by ex South African trainer Tony Millard, almost never made it to Hong Kong. “Ambitious Dragon was not even destined for Hong Kong. He was one of six horses that one of my owners purchased in New Zealand. He didn’t show much in training and ran a few trials with no great success, so when it came to selecting the horses to come to Hong Kong, he was not included. At the last minute, one of the horses destined for Hong Kong went lame and they decided to send Ambitious Dragon instead. When he first arrived, he had so many problems. I wondered whether we would ever get him to the track. But we worked through them one by one and slowly he turned the corner.” Ambitious Dragon certainly turned the corner, with Group 1 victories in the Hong Kong Classic Cup, the Hong Kong Derby, the Audemars Piguet QE II Cup, the Hong Kong Stewards Cup, the Hong Kong Gold Cup, the Longines Hong Kong Mile and the Hong Kong Jubilee Cup. Quite an extraordinary record, for a horse that appeared to have no talent at all.

The bay with the electric burst of speed achieved a peak international rating of 124, which ranked him as the equal 11th best horse in the world in 2013 - Able Friend is the only Hong Kongbased horse to have been rated higher. That ranking was earned with a storming victory in the HKG1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) in March of that year, which turned out to be his final success. “In my opinion, he is as good as you get, and why I say that is because he was so versatile,” said Millard.“I have yet to see a horse, in my time here in Hong Kong, win Group 1 races at 1400m, 1600m, 1800m and 2000m. He also ran second in the 2400m Group 1, and, frankly speaking, in his younger days, I would have thought he could have maybe won a Group 1 over 1200m. That type of versatility you just don’t get, and that is why a champion has no distance - that horse is a champion, he can do it - and that, to me, was Ambitious Dragon. “He was unique.We just had to look after him carefully because he was very fragile, like many good horses are. We were very sparing in the way we raced him. The last time I had one as good as him was more than 20 years ago, in that same league, with that kind of versatility. It took me 20 years to find another one, so we really looked after him. INTERNATIONAL RACEHORSE

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Photo courtesy of HKJC

Amibitious Dragon Longine s HK

mIle victory

“He was also special because he was a quiet, laid-back horse. He was basically a gentle giant. I was humbled that he did come my way and that we managed to develop him, because you don’t often get the chance as a trainer to be able to do that. It is the ultimate to have a really good horse and train it the way you would like, and I have got to thank Johnson Lam his owner, because he left it to me; I made the calls and we got the results. We had the team behind us and we had the right people at the right time - that is what a horse needs, it needs a good groom and a good work rider because they can’t do it on their own, it is a team effort. “It is about winning the Group 1s and he won seven. And it is about being Horse of the Year and then coming back and doing it again to establish why you are a good horse. Dragon did it and then he came back again, it wasn’t a one-off season. He proved he was a champion. I hope that one day, if I train long enough and live long enough, I might get another like him. It won’t be easy because a horse like him usually comes along just once in a lifetime.” Seven jockeys rode Ambitious Dragon throughout his career. Another ex South African and 13-time Hong Kong Champion Jockey, Douglas Whyte, partnered him to four victories, including his win in the International Gr.1 Audemars Piguet QE II Cup, while Zac Purton was in the saddle for his last three successes and his final start. 118 INTERNATIONAL RACE HORSE

Ambitous Dragon farewell ceremony . Photo courtesy of HKJC

“Still, to this day, he is one of the best horses I’ve ridden here in Hong Kong,” said Whyte. “He gave me the most unbelievable feeling of any horse I’ve ever ridden - his turn-of-foot was incredible. He was a champion, he was dour and he was as honest as the day is long.” Defeated in the APQEII Cup on his last outing of 2012/2013, Ambitious Dragon subsequently suffered a tendon injury when preparing for his 2013/2014 debut. A long spell at the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Beas River complex resulted in a good recovery. Yet “Dragon” was unable to recapture the brilliance of his prime. His eagerly-awaited first race for 18 months came in the HKG2 Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy this past October. He thrilled his many fans with a running-on third on that occasion, beaten only three quarters of a length, but was unable to better that in three subsequent starts. Ambitious Dragon’s last race was a solid fifth behind Hong Kong’s new Champion, Able Friend, in the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup on 15 March. A quirky horse, with incredible talent and an exceptional ability to quicken with such brilliance at the end of a race, the legend that is Ambitious Dragon will live long in the memories of those who fortunate enough to see him run.

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SOUTH AFRICAN STATS 2015 BYERLEY TURK, 3YOS, GREYVILLE, 10APRIL 2015, 1400M 1 Heartland c Dynasty –Moonlit Prairie (USA), by Cozzene (USA) 2 Kingvoldt c Western Winter (USA) – Red Parade, by Parade Leader (USA) 3 Easy Lover c Right Approach (GB) – Miss Gold Digger, by Rich Man’s Gold (USA) Age:3; Starts: 6; Wins: 3; Placings: 3; Earnings: R257 975 Sire DYNASTY is the sire of 26 stakes winners – in 2015 FUTURA Badger’s Drift G1, Arniston Rainbow Quest G3, Act Of War Cordoba G1, SAINT SOPHIA Saint Ballado LR, HEARTLAND Cozzene G3 1st Dam Moonlit Prairie (USA). Winner in South Africa. Dam of 5 winners: 2007: SAVONA (c Spectrum): Winner in South Africa. 2008: JACKSON (c Dynasty): 6 wins, Champions Cup, G1, Daily News 2000, G1, Cape Derby, G1, Politician S, LR. 2009: JADE BAY (g Jallad): 6 wins, Lebelo Sprint G3, Umngeni Hcp, LR. 2010: ARTFUL BAY (c Antonius Pius), 2 wins in South Africa 2011: HEARTLAND (c Dynasty), R2 200 000NYS, 3 wins in South Africa, Byerley Turk G3, 3rd Cape Classic G3 2nd Dam PRAIRIE REIGN (USA). Unraced. Dam of 3 winners. CORINTO. 6 wins in Peru. SAARCASTICLY. 4 wins in USA. Broodmare sire: COZZENE. Sire of the dams of 77 stakes winners – PIVOTAL Polar Falcon G1, JACKSON Dynasty G1, DISTANT WAY Distant Music G1, TOCCET Awesome Again G1, RIVER’S PRAYER Devon Lane G1, TANGERINE TREES Mind Games G1, ZAFTIG Gone West G1, ZO IMPRESSIVE Hard Spun G1, MACH GLORY Honour And Glory G1, MEGANS BLUFF Pine Bluff G2, ZEBEDEE Invincible Spirit G2, ROYAL BENCH Whipper G2, BROAD STREET Agnes Tachyon G2, EPICE AROME Daiwa Major G2, CHANGING WORLD Spinning World G3, CIMA DE PLUIE Singspiel G3, MEMORIAL MANIAC Lear Fan G3, CHOPININA Lear Fan G3, DESPITE THE ODDS Speightstown G3, MEMPHIS TENNESSEE Hurricane Run G3, CEPA PRIVADA Pintonazo G3 HEARTLAND Dynasty G3, Sadler’s Wells Fort Wood Fall Aspen Dynasty Commodore Blake Blakes Affair Joy Petite Caro Cozzene Ride The Trails Moonlit Prairie Gone West Prairie Reign Classic Reign CAMELLIA S, G2, FILLIES AND MARES, TURFFONTEIN, 25 APRIL 2015, 1160M 1 Bichette 3 f Western Winter (USA) – Bardot, by Badger Land (USA) 2 Pej 4 f Kahal (GB) – Miss Crystal, by Model Man Tzigane 5 m Doowaley (IRE) – Tough Wood, by Complete Warrior (USA) Age: 3; Starts: 7; Wins: 3; Placings: Earnings: R419 375 Sire WESTERN WINTER is the sire of 81 stakes winners. In 2015 COLD AS ICE National Assembly G2, BICHETTE Badger Land G2, Mr Roy Rakeen G3, Frosted Honey Primo Dominie G2, Kingvoldt Parade Leader G3, Path To Travel Citidancer LR 1st dam, BARDOT, 5 wins in South Africa, Jacaranda Hcp G3, East Coast Hcp LR Dam of 4 winners: 2008: VIVA MARIA (f Jet Master), 5 wins in South Africa, Woolavington S G1, Flamboyant S G3 2009:TRIBAL CODE (c Western Winter), 4 wins in South Africa 2010: BLIZZARD BELLE (f Western Winter), 3 wins in South Africa 2011: BICHETTE (f Western Winter), 3 wins in South Africa, Camellia S G2 2nd dam TINSELTOWN, Winner in South Africa Dam of 9 winners: HARRISON: 8 wins in South Africa, Spring Hcp G3, Christmas Hcp LR BARDOT: See Above Nicholson: 2 wins in South Africa, 2nd Ascot Fillies Nursery G3, dam of SPBathgate Bacall: 5 wins in South Africa, 2nd TR Lewis Memorial Hcp LR, dam of G3W CONNERY Sharief Song: 11 wins in South Africa, 3rd Champions Cup G1 Kinski: Winner in South Africa, dam of G3W NYSEAN BOLT Broodmare sire BADGER LAND is the sire of dams of stakes winners - 40 stakes winners -JEPPE’S REEF Jallad G1, REBEL QUEEN Kahal LR,VIVA MARIA Jet Master G1, REBEL KING National Emblem G1, RUSSIAN SAGE Jallad G1, EBONY FLYER Jet Master G1, CAPTAIN’S LOVER Captain Al G1, HAPPY SPIRIT Silvano G2, ON HER TOES Western Winter G1, LADY SHARI Judge T C G1, HAPPY LANDING Al Mufti G1, BADGER’S COVE Joshua Dancer G2, TRUE MASTER Jet Master G3, DEELIGHTFUL IRVING Afternoon Deelites G2, IRVING’S BABY Quiet American G3, GIFTED FOR GLORY Silvano G3, WE

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THREE Silvano LR, DISCO AL Captain Al G3, PINE PRINCESS Captain Al G1, BICHETTE Western Winter G2 Gone West Western Winter Chilly Hostess Badger Land Bardot Tinseltown

Mr Prospector Secrettame Vice Regent Impressive Lady Codex Gimieroom Dowdstown Charley Nunnery Lane

COLORADO KING S, G2, TURFFONTEIN, 4 APRIL 2015, 2000M 1 Wylie Hall (AUS) 5 h Redoute’s Choice (AUS) – Beauty Belle (AUS), by Ideal Planet (AUS) 2 Henry Higgins 6 g Caesour (USA) – Karukera, by Jallad (USA) 3 Cagiva 5 g Silvano (GER) – Blue Paradise, by Jallad (USA) Age: 5; Starts: 19; Wins: 5; Placings:9; Earnings: R2 444 625 Sire REDOUTE’S CHOICE is the sire of 123 stakes winners. In 2015 WYLIE HALL Ideal Planet G2, LANKAN RUPEE Stravinsky G1, SCISSOR KICK Quest For Fame G3, PEEPING Encosta De Lago LR, BURNSTONE Encosta De Lago LR, VAVASOUR Red Ransom G2, Royal Descent Kaapstad G1, Mutamakkin Quiet American G3, Abidewithme Zabeel G1, Reemah Testa Rossa G1 1st dam BEAUTY BELLE, won 5 races in Australia Dam of 7 winners: 2001: ABSOLUTE CHAMPION (g Marauding), 7 wins in Australia and Hong Kong, Hong Kong Sprint G1, Centenary Sprint Cup G1, Pago Pago S G2, 2nd Hong Kong Sprint G1 2003: AMAZING VENTURE (g Viscount) 3 wins in Hong Kong 2006:TWO BEAUTIES (f Red Ransom), 2 wins in Australia 2007: IRIDESCENTE (f Commands), 2 wins in Australia 2008: FAMILY GIRL (f Zeditave), 2 wins in Australia 2009: WYLIE HALL (c Redoute’s Choice), 5 wins in South Africa, SA Derby G1, Colorado King S G2, Derby Trial LR, 2nd Vodacom Durban July G1, 3rd London News S G3 2nd dam ELECTRIC BELLE, Unplaced in Australia Dam of 10 winners: ROANOKE BOY: 10 wins in Australia, AJC Razor Sharp LR Voltage: 6 wins, 2nd VATC Tristarc S, LR, dam of G1W DRUM, G1W ANAMATO Broodmare sire IDEAL PLANET is the sire of the dams of 7 stakes winners –WYLIE HALL Redoute’s Choice G1, CHARNWOOD GREEN Charnwood Forest LR, ORBIT EXPRESS Dangerous G3, ABSOLUTE CHAMPION Marauding G1, WOOL ZONE Flying Spur LR, Danzig Danehill Razyana Redoute’s Choice Canny Lad Shantha’s Choice Dancing Show Planet Kingdom Ideal Planet Ideal Image Beauty Belle Sovereign Edition Electric Belle Dame Belle COMPUTAFORM SPRINT, G1, TURFFONTEIN, 25 APRIL 2015, 1000M 1 Alboran Sea (AUS) 3 f Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE) – Lady’s Light (USA), by Toolighttoquit (USA) 2 Carry On Alice 3 f Captain Al – Carry On Katie, by Western Winter (USA) 3 Captain Of All 4 c Captain Al – Serious Side, by Fard (IRE) Age: 3; Starts: 9; Wins: 5; Placings: 3; Earnings; R1 942 250 Sire ROCK OF GIBRALTAR is the sire of 98 stakes winners. In 2015 ALBORAN SEA Toolighttoquit G1, ROYAL ZULU GUARD King’s Theatre LR 1st dam LADY’S LIGHT, Unraced Dam of 3 winners: 2006: Trafalgar Legacy (c Rock Of Gibraltar), 5 wins in South Africa and Singapore, 3rd Singapore Derby G1 2007: LIGHT EXPRESS (f Fastnet Rock), 2 wins in Australia 2010: ALBORAN SEA (f Rock Of Gibraltar), $105 000PYS, 5 wins in South Africa, Allan Robertson Championship G1, Cape Flying Championship G1, Computaform Sprint G1, 2nd Golden Slipper G1, Southern Cross S G2. 2nd Dam, LADY’S ANSWER, Unraced Dam of 8 winners: ERICA’S DREAM: 16 wins in USA, Matron Hcp G3, Gardenia Hcp LR, dam of G3W ADREAMISBORN TWOSIES ANSWER: 9 wins in USA, Berlo Hcp LR, dam of champion ANSWER LIVELY Broodmare sire TOOLIGHTTOQUIT is the sire of dams of 2 stakes winners – ALBORAN SEA Rock Of Gibraltar G1, SMILE SAMANTHA Reparations LR Danehill Rock Of Gibraltar Offshore Boom Toolighttoquit Lady’s Light Lady’s Answer

Danzig Razyana Be My Guest Push A Button Dixieland Brass Raksh Northern Answer Sweet Lady Briar

GODOLPHIN BARB, G3, 2YOS, SCOTTSVILLE, 26 APRIL 2015, 1200M

The Stats Pages are a regular feature from International Racehorse Magazine looking at the black Type Winners from the quarter preceding the Edition 1 Seventh Plain c Seventh Rock (AUS) – Amber Plain, by National Emblem 2 Beat The Retreat c Argonaut – Spring Lilac, by Joshua Dancer (USA) 3 Mr Roy c Western Winter (USA) – Chambre’, by Rakeen (USA) Age: 2; Starts: 3; Wins: 2; Placings: 1; Earnings: R164 375 Sire SEVENTH ROCK is the sire of 2 stakes winners. In 2015 SEVENTH PLAIN National Emblem G3, Stonehenge Twig Moss LR, Seventh Symphony London News LR 1st dam, AMBER PLAIN, 6 wins in South Africa Dam of 2 winners: 2008: SILVERY PLAIN (f Silvano), Winner in South Africa 2012: SEVENTH PLAIN (c Seventh Rock), R400 000MYS, 2 wins in South Africa, Godolphin Barb S G3, 2nd Summer Juvenile S LR 2nd dam, NORTHUMBRIA, 3 wins in South Africa Dam of 5 winners: EAST WIND: 5 wins in Mauritius and South Africa, Derby Trial G3, 3rd Michaelmas Hcp LR Red Beech: 4 wins in South Africa, 2nd Dion Derby G3, died. AMBER PLAIN: See Above Broodmare sire NATIONAL EMBLEM is the sire of the dams of stakes winners – LEGAL EAGLE Greys Inn G1, CAPTAIN’S DAUGHTER Captain Al LR, ORACLE NEWS London News G3, SEVENTH PLAIN Seventh Rock G3, KINEMATIC COUNTESS Count Dubois G3, ONLY EMILY Captain Al LR, LADY MAGPIE Dupont G3, FOX HUNT Fard LR Danehill Offshore Boom Rubiton Ruby Clipper Miss Clipper National Assembly National Emblem Title Page Harry Hotspur Northumbria Countess Palotta Rock Of Gibraltar

Seventh Rock

Amber Plain

GOLD BOWL, G2, TURFFONTEIN, 25 APRIL 2015, 3200M 1 J’s Outsider 5 g Miesque’s Approval (USA) – Zest For Spice, by Qui Danzig (USA) 2 Lions Emblem 4 g Lion Tamer – Model Emblem, by National Emblem 3 Heart Of A Lion 4 g Seul Amour – Action Lady, by Counter Action Age: 5; Starts: 13; Wins: 5; Placings: Earnings: R509 250 Sire MIESQUE’S APPROVAL is the sire of 4 stakes winners. In 2015 J’S OUTSIDER Qui Danzig G2, Judicial Dolpour G3 1st dam, ZEST FOR SPICE, 4 wins in South Africa Dam of 2 winners: 2007: ZEST FOR LIFE (c Kahal), 2 wins in South Africa 2009: J’S OUTSIDER (g Miesque’s Approval), R120 000KZNYS, 5 wins in South Africa, Gold Bowl G2 2nd dam, GINGER CAKE, won 6 races in South Africa, Chairman’s Hcp G2 Dam of 3 winners: WESTERN PROSPECT: 8 wins in South Africa, Gold Circle Derby G2, Elevation S G2, Lonsdale Stirrup Cup G3, 2nd Colorado King S G2, 3rd Gold Bowl G2 Broodmare sire QUI DANZIG is the sire of the dams of 9 stakes winners – BUY AND SELL National Emblem G1, VIA AFRICA Var G1, J’S OUTSIDER Miesque’s Approval G2, BEDLOE’S ISLAND Fort Wood G2, PIERRE JOURDAN Parade Leader G1, ALBERT MOONEY Captain Al LR, OCEAN’S SWIFT Captain Al LR, JET JAMBOREE Jet Master LR, COUNT THE MONEY Among Men G1 Mr Prospector Miesque’s Son Miesque Miesque’s Approval With Approval Win Approval Negotiator Danzig Qui Danzig Qui Royalty Zest For Spice Proclaim Ginger Cake Oatcake KOREA RACING AUTHORITY FILLIES GUINEAS, G2, 3YO FILLIES, GREYVILLE, 2 MAY 2015, 1600M 1 Alexis f Dynasty – Rydethecreek, by Parade Leader (USA) 2 Inara f Trippi (USA) – Mountains Of Mist (IRE), by Shirley Heights (GB) 3 Ataab (AUS) f Flying Spur (AUS) – Azwa (IRE) by Haafhd (IRE) Age: 3; Starts: 8; Wins: 4; Placings: 1; Earnings: R378 875 Sire DYNASTY is the sire of 28 stakes winners. In 2015 ALEXIS Parade Leader G2, FUTURA Badger’s Drift G1, ACT OF WAR Cordoba G3, Dynamic Theatrical LR, HEARTLAND Cozzene G3, SAINT SOPHIA Saint Ballado LR, Arniston Rainbow Quest G3 1st dam, RYDETHECREEK, Unplaced in South Africa Dam of 1 winner: 2011: ALEXIS (f Dynasty), R200 000RTRS, 4 wins in South

By Sarah Whitelaw

Africa, KRA Fillies Guineas G2, 3rd Umzimkhulu S G3 2nd dam MISS RYDER, 5 wins in South Africa Dam of 7 winners: WESTON PAINT: 10 wins in South Africa and Zimbabwe, OK Grand Challenge G2 WINONA: 5 wins in South Africa, East Coast Hcp LR, 2nd Gold Circle Oaks G2 Broodmare Sire PARADE LEADER is the sire of the dams of 2 stakes winners –ALEXIS Dynasty G2, KINGVOLDT Western Winter G3 Fort Wood Dynasty Blakes Affair Parade Leader Rydethecreek Miss Ryder

Sadler’s Wells Fall Aspen Commodore Blake Joy Petite Kingmambo Battle Creek Girl Red Ryder Miss Honeychild

KOREA RACING AUTHORITY GUINEAS, G2, 3YOS, GREYVILLE, 2 MAY 2015, 1600M 1 The Conglomerate (AUS) c Lonhro (AUS) – Republic Lass (AUS), by Canny Lad (AUS) 2 Mac De Lago (AUS) c Encosta De Lago (AUS) –Macavelli Miss (AUS), by Vettori (NZ) 3 Light The Lights c Western Winter (USA) – First Arrival, by Northern Guest (USA) Age: 3; Starts: 8; Wins: 5; Placings: 1; Earnings: R662 825 Sire LONHRO is the sire of 51 stakes winners. In 2015 THE CONGLOMERATE Canny Lad G2, BLACK VANQUISH Flying Spur LR, GENERALIFE Redoute’s Choice G3, TOWER OF LONHRO Danehill LR, CALAVERITE Oratorio LR, WAWAIL Redoute’s Choice G2, EXOSPHERE Danzero G2, BUCKINGHAMPSHIRE Exceed And Excel LR 1st dam, REPUBLIC LASS, won 6 races in Australia, AJC Oaks G1, Ranvet Rawson S G1, Adrian Knox S G3, 3rd Caulfield Cup G1, AJC Queen Elizabeth II S G1, etc. Dam of 5 winners: 2004: DANCE OF DANES (f Danehill Dancer), Winner in Australia 2005: LIBERTARIAN (g Elusive Quality), 3 wins in Australia 2006: REPUBLIC LAD (g Encosta De Lago), 4 wins in Australia 2009: DESIGN FOR LIFE (g Flying Spur), Winner in Australia 2011: THE CONGLOMERATE (c Lonhro), AUS$160 000 IPYS, 5 wins in South Africa, KRA Guineas, G2, Politician S G3. 2nd dam, SWIFT SEASONS, Unplaced. Dam of 2 winners: REPUBLIC LASS: See Above VERBITO: 6 wins in Australia Broodmare sire CANNY LAD is the sire of the dams of 60 stakes winners – REDOUTE’S CHOICE Danehill G1, PLATINUM SCISSORS Danehill G1, GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT More Than Ready G1, OFCOURSEICAN Mossman G1, RIVER LAD Top Echelon G1, THE CONGLOMERATE Lonhro G2, SESSIONS Lonhro G2, MANHATTAN RAIN Encosta De Lago G1, MNEMOSYNE Encosta De Lago G1, CELTS Lonhro G3, CLOWN MASTER Lonhro G1, TAMPIKO Lonhro LR, RENAISSANCE Lonhro G2, GIRL GUIDE Churchill Downs G3, GREGERS Commands G2, TIGER QUEST Where’s That Tiger LR, SAFEGUARD Exceed And Excel G3, LASER HAWK Artie Schiller G1, GENERAL RIPPA General Nediym G3, STARCHEEKA Starcraft G3, DANCES ON WAVES Anabaa G2, HAPPY ZERO Danzero G1, I AM INVINCIBLE Invincible Spirit G3, NEROLI Viscount G1. The LONHRO/CANNY LAD cross has produced THE CONGLOMERATE G2, SESSIONS G2, CELTS G3, CLOWN MASTER G1, TAMPIKO LR, TERRITORY LR, RENAISSANCE G2. Zabeel Octagonal Eight Carat Lonhro Straight Strike Shadea Concia Bletchingly Canny Lad Jesmond Lass Republic Lass Cox’s Ridge Swift Seasons Cascapedia L JAFFEE EMPRESS CLUB S, G1, F&M, TURFFONTEIN, 11 APRIL 2015, 1600M 1 Majmu (AUS) 3 f Redoute’s Choice (AUS) –Spontaneous (CHI), by Hussonet (USA) 2 Trophy Wife 3 f Tiger Ridge (USA) – My Squeeza, by Goldmark 3 Tamaanee (AUS) 3 f Teofilo (IRE) – Cangino (AUS), by Perugino (USA) Age:3; Starts:7; Wins: 6; Placings: 1; Earnings: R1 895 000 Sire REDOUTE’S CHOICE is the sire of 120 stakes winners. In 2014 MAJMU Hussonet G2, LANKAN RUPEE Stravinsky G1, HAMPTON COURT Broken Vow G1, BONARIA Last Tycoon G1, ROCK MAGIC Bubble Gum Fellow LR, PANZER DIVISION Hussonet LR, SCISSOR KICK Quest For Fame G3, LA AMISTAD Riverman LR, SEASIDE Hennessy LR, HONORINE Honour And Glory G2, TANGO’S DAUGHTER Anabaa G2, A TIME FOR JULIA Jade Hunter G3, LILLIBURLERO General Nediym G3, ABIDEWITHME Zabeel LR, STRAWBERRY BOY Strawberry Road LR.

WYLIE HALL 1st Dam SPONTANEOUS, 2 wins in Chile, Clasico Polla De Potrancas G1 Dam of 1 winner 2011: MAJMU (f Redoute’s Choice), $300 000 IEYS, 4 wins in South Africa, SA Fillies Nursery G2, Starling S G2, Pretty Polly S G3, Ruffian S LR. 2nd Dam GALOISE Unraced Dam of 3 winners: SPONTANEOUS: See Above Lao Tzu: 12 wins in Chile, 3rd Raimundo Valdes Cuevas G3 Broodmare sire HUSSONET is the sire of the dams of 39 stakes winners –IL VENEZZIO Merchant Of Venice G1, ANIMAS Easing Along G1, MR RODRIGO Hurricane Cat G1, LE CAESAR Caesarion G2, DIVA SPIRIT A P Indy LR, MAJMU Redoute’s Choice G3, WINDFINDER Shirocco LR, PORSENNA Dylan Thomas LR, ALL THE TALK Stratum G3, DIVINE BABY Easing Along LR, PERFECT FRIEND Easing Along G2, PIPPA Belong To Me G1, HURACAN RODRIGO Hurricane Cat LR, ASCOT PRINCE Sir Cat G1, PUERTA DE CRISTAL Ocean Terrace G3, ALCOHUAZ Merchant Of Venice LR, HASTA NUNCA Star Dabbler G3, PUERTO BOTANY Merchant Of Venice G2, ASHTAR Merchant Of Venice Danehill Redoute’s Choice Shantha’s Choice Hussonet Spontaneous Galoise

Danzig Razyana Canny Lad Dancing Show Mr Prospector Sacahuista Smooth Performance War Wind

POINSETTIA S, G3, FILLIES AND MARES, SCOTTSVILLE, 26 APRIL 2015, 1200M 1 Jet Belle 5 m Jet Master –Bella Bianca (ARG), by Ahmad (ARG) 2 Varikate 5 m Var (USA) – Katies Star, by Modern Day (USA) 3 Goldie Coast (AUS) 4 f Choisir (AUS) – Drama Of Life (USA), by Royal Academy (USA) Age: 5; Starts: 21; Wins: 7; Placings: 6; Earnings: R1 732 000 Sire JET MASTER is the sire of 71 stakes winners. In 2015 JET BELLE Ahmad G3, Touch The Sky Royal Academy LR, Lockheed Jetstar Jallad LR, WHATALADY Model Man G3, Red Flame Jet Master G3, Glorious Jet Elliodor LR, Helderberg Blue Fusaichi Pegasus G1, GATHERING FAME Western Winter LR, MLJet Spectrum G3, 1st Dam BELLA BIANCA (ARG) ARCSA Champion Female Stayer in 1997 and 1998, 7 wins in South Africa, Gold Cup G1, Gerald Rosenberg Hcp G2, Maurice Passmore Hcp LR, 3rd Gold Bowl G1,The Oaks Gr2, etc. Dam of 2 winners: 2006: PENNROCK (f Western Winter), 2 wins in South Africa 2009: JET BELLE (f Jet Master), R275 000 NYS, 7 wins in South Africa, Gold Bracelet G2, Poinsettia S G3 -twice, 2nd Sceptre S G2, 3rd SA Fillies Classic G1, SA Oaks G2, Woolavington S G1 2nd Dam BIANCA MARIA, 2 wins in Argentina, GP Criadores G1. Dam of BELLA BIANCA: See Above Blanca Ragazza: Winner in Argentina, 2nd CL. Los Criadores G2, 3rd CL La Mission G1. Broodmare sire AHMAD is the sire of dams of 52 stakes winners. JET BELLE Jet Master G3, STORM RANCHER Bernstein G2, FASTIDIDADO Rancher LR, CORSALONE Roman Ruler G2, RIO DE LA PLATA Rahy G1, ANGEL COMANCHE Alpha Plus LR, EL AZOR Lasting Approval G1, O SOLE MIO Grand Reward LR, INDIAN HAVEN Bernstein G2, ALTHEAGIB Handsome Halo LR, POSSIBLE GLORY Honour And Glory LR, PLURALISTA Halo Sunshine LR, TURCO D’ORO Capo D’Oro LR, SOUTH REMERA Southern Halo G2, CON FACTURA Bon Point G3, DOCTOR SI Bernstein G3, FLAG’S BOY Flag Down G1, VISA PARADE Parade Marshall G1,TRAGO FUERTE

El Compinche G2, PATCHOULI MOON Al Mufti G3, DORYLDA Bernstein G3, CURSORA Candy Stripes G1, SAGE APPLE Romanov G2, EL MAHARAJA Spend One Dollar G1, MARTINO New Colony G3, MR PENSKY Numerous G1, KNOW Slew Gin Fizz G3, LUNA LOCAL Equalize G1, GORYLLA New Colony G1 Rakeen Jet Master Jet Lightning Ahmad Bella Bianca Bianca Maria

Northern Dancer Glorious Song Rollins Jolly Laughter Good Manners Azyade Saint Sever La Fornarina

PRESIDENT’S CHAMPION CHALLENGE, G1, TURFFONTEIN, 25 APRIL 2015, 2000M 1 Wylie Hall (AUS) 5 h Redoute’s Choice (AUS) – Beauty Belle (AUS), by Ideal Planet (AUS) 2 Majmu (AUS) 3 f Redoute’s Choice (AUS) – Spontaneous (CHI), by Hussonet (USA) 3 No Worries 5 g Kahal (GB) – Coastal Waltz, by Rambo Dancer (CAN) Age:5; Starts: 20; Wins: 6; Placings: 9; Earnings: R3 644 625 Sire REDOUTE’S CHOICE is the sire of 123 stakes winners. In 2015 WYLIE HALL Ideal Planet G1, MAJMU Hussonet G1, LANKAN RUPEE Stravinsky G1, SCISSOR KICK Quest For Fame G3, PEEPING Encosta De Lago LR, BURNSTONE Encosta De Lago LR, VAVASOUR Red Ransom G2, Royal Descent Kaapstad G1, Mutamakkin Quiet American G3, Abidewithme Zabeel G1, Reemah Testa Rossa G1, Shaama Snowland G1 1st dam BEAUTY BELLE, won 5 races in Australia Dam of 7 winners: 2001: ABSOLUTE CHAMPION (g Marauding), 7 wins in Australia and Hong Kong, Hong Kong Sprint G1, Centenary Sprint Cup G1, Pago Pago S G2, 2nd Hong Kong Sprint G1 2003: AMAZING VENTURE (g Viscount) 3 wins in Hong Kong 2006:TWO BEAUTIES (f Red Ransom), 2 wins in Australia 2007: IRIDESCENTE (f Commands), 2 wins in Australia 2008: FAMILY GIRL (f Zeditave), 2 wins in Australia 2009: WYLIE HALL (c Redoute’s Choice), 5 wins in South Africa, SA Derby G1, Colorado King S G2, Derby Trial LR, 2nd Vodacom Durban July G1, 3rd London News S G3 2nd dam ELECTRIC BELLE, Unplaced in Australia Dam of 10 winners: ROANOKE BOY: 10 wins in Australia, AJC Razor Sharp LR Voltage: 6 wins, 2nd VATC Tristarc S, LR, dam of G1W DRUM, G1W ANAMATO Broodmare sire IDEAL PLANET is the sire of the dams of 7 stakes winners –WYLIE HALL Redoute’s Choice G1, CHARNWOOD GREEN Charnwood Forest LR, ORBIT EXPRESS Dangerous G3, ABSOLUTE CHAMPION Marauding G1, WOOL ZONE Flying Spur LR, Danehill Redoute’s Choice Shantha’s Choice Ideal Planet Beauty Belle Electric Belle

Danzig Razyana Canny Lad Dancing Show Planet Kingdom Ideal Image Sovereign Edition Dame Belle

SA DERBY, G1, 3YOS, TURFFONTEIN, 25 APRIL 2015, 2450M 1 Legal Eagle g Greys Inn (USA) – Young Sensation, by National Emblem 2 Deputy Jud g Judpot (USA) – Star Deputy (NZ), by Deputy Governor (USA) 3 French Navy g Count Dubois (GB) – Redoubtable, by Elliodor (FR)

Age: 3; Starts: 5; Wins: 3; Placings: 1; Earnings: R1 411 875

Southern Halo

Sire GREYS INN is the sire of 6 stakes winners. In 2015 LEGAL EAGLE National Emblem G1, CHEKILLI Joshua Dancer G2, Gone Baby Gone Lode G3, One Man’s Dream Flaming Rock G3 1st dam, Young Sensation, 6 wins in South Africa, 2nd Scarlet Lady Hcp LR, 3rd Gerald Rosenberg S G2 Dam of 2 winners: 2009: WHITE WHISPER (f Var), 2 wins in South Africa 2011: LEGAL EAGLE (g Greys Inn), R425 000, 3 wins in South Africa, SA Derby G1, Derby Trial LR 2nd dam FAIR MODEL, 4 wins in South Africa, Allan Robertson Fillies Championship G1, Fillies Championship G2, 2nd Argus Bloodline Guineas G1, Cape Fillies Guineas G1, Garden Province S G1 Dam of 6 winners: Young Warrior: 14 wins in Mauritius and South Africa, 2nd Selangor Cup G2 Young Sensation: See Above

Woodman’s Girl Catbird Purrpurrlena Magdalena

Halo Northern Sea Woodman Becky Be Good Danehill Fitting Snaadee Cafe Opera

SA NURSERY, G1, 2YOS, TURFFONTEIN, 25 APRIL 2015, 1160M 1 Arabian Beat c Black Minnaloushe (USA) – Arabian Design, by Al Mufti (USA) 2 Shaama (AUS) f Redoute’s Choice (AUS) – Absolut Glam (AUS), by Snowland (AUS) 3 Mystical Twilight c Great Britain (GB) – Fading Light, by Bel Byou (IRE) Age:2; Starts: 3; Wins: 2; Placings: 1; Earnings: R718 125

Broodmare sire NATIONAL EMBLEM is the sire of the dams of stakes winners – LEGAL EAGLE Greys Inn G1, CAPTAIN’S DAUGHTER Captain Al LR, ORACLE NEWS London News G3, SEVENTH PLAIN Seventh Rock G3, KINEMATIC COUNTESS Count Dubois G3, ONLY EMILY Captain Al LR, LADY MAGPIE Dupont G3, FOX HUNT Fard LR Sir Tristram Lady Giselle Christmas Tree Great Verdict Summoned National Assembly Ideal Planet Title Page Beauty Belle Model Man Electric Belle Winged Princess SA FILLIES NURSERY, G2, 2YO FILLIES, TURFFONTEIN, 25 APRIL 2015, 1160M Zabeel

Greys Inn

1 Entisaar (AUS) f More Than Ready (USA) – Purrpurrlena (AUS), by Catbird (AUS) 2 Frosted Honey f Western Winter (USA) – Honeytrap (FR), by Primo Dominie (GB) 3 Varumba f Var –Muamba (ARG), by Pure Prize (USA) Age:2; Starts:3; Wins: 2; Placings: 1; Earnings: R383 750 Sire MORE THAN READY is the sire of 140 stakes winners. In 2015 ENTISAAR Catbird G2, ALWAYS ALLISON Fusaichi Pegasus G2, CONSUMER CREDIT London News G3, SIR SINGO Redoute’s Choice LR, NAYELI Danehill LR, READY FOR VICTORY Zabeel LR, HAYBAH Exceed And Excel LR, HARDTOSAYNOTGO Storm Cat LR, 1st dam, Purrpurrlena, 4 wins in Australia, 2nd Newcastle JC Newmarket Hcp G3 Dam of 1 winner: 2012: ENTISAAR (f More Than Ready), IEYS $300 000, 2 wins in South Africa, SA Fillies Nursery G2, Ruffian S, LR, 2nd Pretty Polly S G3 2nd dam, MAGDALENA, 5 wins in Australia, WATC Burgess Queen Hcp LR Dam of 6 winners: Purrpurrlena: See Above Star Cat: 4 wins in Australia, 3rd Royal Sovereign S G2 Tetsuko: 3rd Sweet Embrace S G2 Broodmare sire CATBIRD is the sire of the dams of 9 stakes winners –ENTISAAR More Than Ready G2, CATKINS Dubawi G2, HAWKSPUR Purrealist G1, REAL CHARM Reset LR, ATACAMA Pentire LR, PINCH RIVER Denman LR, LADY ROYALE Captain Rio G2, MYSTIC PRINCE Reset G2