Parade Magazine July 2017 by Parade Magazine

IT PAYS TO OWN A KZN-BRED KZN-breds qualify for the annual KZN Breeders Race Day with an overall stake in excess of R2,6 Million on the day.

STALLIONS FOR 2017

act of war

capetown noir

crusade

eightfold path

Dynasty - Si Senorita by Cordoba Summerhill Stud

Western Winter - Akinfeet by Fort Wood Summerhill Stud

Mr Greeley - La Traviata by Johannesburg Scott Bros

Giant’s Causeway - Divine Proportions by Kingmambo Scott Bros

flying the flag

irish flame

Just as well

linngari

Galileo - Halfway To Heaven by Pivotal Bush Hill Stud

Dynasty - Clock The Rock by Flaming Rock Bush Hill Stud

A.P. Indy - No Matter What by Nureyev Spring Valley Stud

Indian Ridge - Lidakiya by Kahyasi Summerhill Stud

mogok

mustaJeeb

noble tune

redoute’s promise

Storm Cat - Coup de Folie by Halo Scott Bros

Nayef - Rifqah by Elusive Quality Bush Hill Stud

Unbridled’s Song - Serena’s Cat by Storm Cat Rathmor Stud

Redoute’s Choice - Perfect Promise by Caesour Bush Hill Stud

the apache

the assayer

toreador

willow magic

Mogok - Apache Rose by Dolpour Scott Bros

Galileo - Crystal Charm by Danehill Yellow Star Stud

Danehill - Purchasepaperchase by Young Generation Bush Hill Stud

Dubawi - La Willow by Tierce Summerhill Stud

starting stalls

Tracy Robertson Photography cover â&#x20AC;&#x201C; greys inn.

arade is a Gold Circle publication and showcases thoroughbred horseracing, breeding and tote (pari-mutuel) betting in South Africa. Views expressed in Parade are solely those of the writers and the organisations they represent.

EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES: Andrew Harrison (Editor) T: 031 314 1917 E: andrewh@goldcircle.co.za

ADVERTISING & SUBSCRIPTIONS: Warren Lenferna T: 031 314 1922 F: 031 314 1779 E: warrenl@goldcircle.co.za

GOLD CIRCLE PHOTOGRAPHER Nkosi Hlophe T: 031 314 1922 E: nkosih@goldcircle.co.za

DESIGN & LAYOUT Denzil Govender T: 031 314 1920 E: denzilg@goldcircle.co.za

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06 10 14 20 24 28 32 34

Tsogo Sun Sprint PE Racing Hong Kong - New Technology White Turf Racing The Man with the Midas Touch Gavin Hunter Innovative Syndication

Book Review - The Life of George Fordham

36 38 40 42 44 46 47 50 52

Strokes to Success Teal - Unlikely Hero What A Winter - Stallion Success Dubawi - Super Sire Avontuurâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pippa Mickleburgh Callan Murray in Hong Kong Cape Thoroughbred Sales National Yearling Sales Ashburton Training Centre

54 Greys Inn - Gets a chance 58 Heavy Metal - A second life 60 Racing Association 62 Graded Race Results 88 Horsing with Hennessey

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Editor’s Note Scottsville’s Festival Of Speed race meeting had all the ingredients to what makes horse racing the great sport that we, who are intimately involved, know it can be. The event brought out an array of emotions that were on public display – pre-race tension, raucous celebration, relief and the shedding of a quite tear. Missing were the general public.

Contributors

Getting spectators back to the track is a hoary old chestnut and in spite of the industry’s best efforts, no one has come up with a sustainable solution. On the other hand, getting the crowds to attend a Formula 1 motor race has never been a problem but on a cold afternoon of boredom I switched channel to watch the start of the Monaco Grand Prix – I like to watch the start because in a macabre way there is always a crash or three to add spice to the crashing bore of watching the same drivers in the same cars going around and around the same few miles of tarmac for two hours. But millions watch proceedings on television and the pre-race build-up is often more

Andrew Harrison Editor

interesting than the race itself. The presenters are not patronising and an array of talking heads. They are entertaining without being over the top, articulate, knowledgeable and not pushing an agenda. They are confident that they are talking to a well informed and passionate audience and they are there to entertain as well as inform without being the centre of attention. Martin Brundle, a former F1 driver himself, dodging through the crowded starting grid

Ada van der Bent

Henk Steenkamp

pursued by his cameraman, was great entertainment and his short interviews with racing personalities and celebrities pertinent and to the point. Surely racing can do that with a roving mike, a dedicated paddock camera and a sharp producer. If we can’t get them to the track, let us at least entertain them at home.

Liesl King

Robyn Louw

By the time you read this the Vodacom Durban July will be on our doorstep. While horse racing may be battling through hard times like the rest of the country, the July has lost none of its popular appeal but those at Gold Circle responsible for putting the day together have not taken anything for granted even though every bookable space has been taken. The Vodacom Durban July will once again be the highlight of Africa’s racing calendar.

Sarah Whitelaw

Candiese Marnewick

I trust that you enjoy this edition of PARADE and it can also be viewed electronically on facebook https://www.facebook.com/Parade.Equine and issue.com/parade.mag

Michael Clower

Charl Pretorius

SOUTH AFRICAN RACECOURSE GPS CO-ORDINATES KENILWORTH S 33 59.808 E 18 28.723 8km from centre of Cape Town and 12 km from Cape Town International airport DURBANVILLE S 33 50.446 E 18 38.308 20 km from centre of Cape Town and 14 km from Cape Town International airport

TURFFONTEIN S 26 14.386 E 28 03.185 4km from centre of Johannesburg and 25 km from OR Tambo International airport

GREYVILLE S 29 50.833 E 31 00.965 35 km from from King Shaka International Airport

FAIRVIEW S 33 56.008 E 25 22.865 26km from centre of Port Elizabeth and 22km from Port Elizabeth airport

SCOTTSVILLE S 29 36.618 E 30 24.047 arade MAGAZINE | July 2017 4 2km from centre of Pietermaritzburg and 75 km from centre of Durban

KIMBERLEY S 28 43.677 E 24 50.346 7km from centre of Kimberley and 10 km from Kimberley airport

VAAL S 26 44.601 E 27 54.283 8 km from Vereeniging, 60km from Johannesburg and 75km from OR Tambo international airport

sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;manga khumalo and carry on alice.

alley ull B V does it in style

As a builder of character, racing is up there with war and poverty, wrote Les Carlyon, who added, racing can even cause poverty. But racing also brings out an array of emotions that were on full display at Scottsville â&#x20AC;&#x201C; raucous celebration, relief and the shedding of a quiet tear. by Andrew Harrison

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s’manga khumalo and bull valley.

or champion trainer Sean Tarry is was a bit of both. Bull Valley’s clinical performance in the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Sprint was celebrated with loud, fist-pumping and back slapping while star mare Carry On Alice bowed out of racing with a tear after signing off her racing career in the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint. Relief was etched on Dennis Drier’s face after boom colt Sand And Sea gave him his seventh Gr1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion but Les Taylor and his friends gave it the full treatment after Paul Matchett’s outsider Brave Mary romped home in the Gr1 Allan Robertson. A group hug and dance on the members viewing balcony almost saw them topple over the rail before they bolted to the paddock to the refrain of, “you’ve just seen the next Igugu.”

General consensus before the meeting was that the inside 5m strip of turf that had been protected at the previous meeting, would provide the best going. As a result, all dived for the strip of supposedly superior going in the first three sprints and there were the usual hard luck stories. Not so for Anton Marcus who had sussed out the going aboard Attenborough a fortnight back, winning from the extreme outside barrier. By the running of the Tsogo Sun, attention had switched to the outside and S’Manga Khumalo took full advantage of 16 draw on Bull Valley. He catapulted his mount out of the pens and was barely headed with London Call matching strides up the centre. A furlong out, there were still plenty in contention but Bull Valley kept finding and drew off to win rather comfortably

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gunter wrogemann and brave mary.

from Search Party and the veteran Barbosa. Top weight and last year’s winner Talktothestars found traffic just as he was unwinding a run and lost all momentum, ruining his chances. A lightly raced son of Toreador, this was Bull Valley’s fifth victory from just nine starts. Carry On Alice bowed out of racing on a fitting note as she added a fifth Gr1 to her CV and the 11th success of her career. With celebrations under way, Tarry walked off to one side, alone with his emotions while co-owner Chris van Niekerk was also dabbing away with his handkerchief. “I’m shedding a few tears. This is a bit embarrassing.” Regular pilot Khumalo always had Carry On Alice up with the pace and she responded as any tough campaigner would, hitting the front when it counted and fighting all the way to the line. Three-year-olds Just Sensual, winner of the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas, and last season’s Gr1 Allan Robertson winner The Secret Is Out chased hard, the former closing late, but they were no match. Van Niekerk confirmed that the daughter of super sire Captain Al would now be shipped to Australia for a date with a stallion still to be decided on. “She will miss the season,” said Tarry, “but that’s OK but we won’t be able to buy them,” he quipped to Mike de Kock. “But we know who will!” referring to Rafeef and Mustaaqeem, both progeny of Tarry’s star mare National Colour who stands Down Under and races in the blue and white silks of Sheikh Hamdan.

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The grey Bela-Bela, having her first outing since the Sun Met back in January, finished just off them and Justin Snaith will have been well pleased with her performance. Giving start in a Gr1 sprint is usually tantamount to disaster but Sand And Sea made light of this seeming mishap turning in a superb performance under Anton Marcus in the Gold Medallion. Sand And Sea is a magnificent specimen of a thoroughbred and strutted the paddock like he owned it. “You can see that he thinks he’s good,” commented Drier. “He’s a brute of a horse,” said Marcus. “He takes time to get going but he does it so easily.” Sire Twice Over was a superb racehorse, numbering the Gr1 Champion Stakes and the Gr1 Juddmonte International Stakes amongst his victories and this triumph is a cracking start to his stud career in South Africa. Tarry’s day did not get off to the best of starts, Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery winner Green Plans having to play second fiddle to 30-1 outsider Brave Mary in the Allan Robertson. Gunter Wrogemann had his mount travelling well within herself in the early exchanges but when asked the question, the daughter of Brave Tin Soldier responded as if she had jumped in at the two-furlong pole. She simply raced clear to win as she liked much to the delight of her connections. A simple tonguetie would appear to have been the key to unlocking her potential, winning her maiden by five lengths. Whether she is another Igugu, only time will tell, but Les Taylor and his mates live in hope. Co-owner Dean Bayley missed the party but Dubai would probably have been rocking.

Klawervlei

Stud

Champion South African Breeders 2014 & 2015

SIRES 2017 Captain Al (SAF)

Pomodoro (SAF)

AL MUFTI - OFF TO WAR BY COMPLETE WARRIOR

JET MASTER - GOLDEN APPLE BY NORTHERN GUEST

Champion Sire SA 2014/15. Champion Sire of 2-y-o’s for the last 8 consecutive seasons. Twice Equus Outstanding Sire. 9 South African Stallion records broken. Sire of 172 stakes horses, 14 Gr1 winners, 24 Gr1 placed (to 29th May 2017). 2017 yearling average R1,208,875. Yearlings have sold for R5,2m, R4,5m, R3,7m, R3,6m, R3,2m, etc. 2017 STUD FEE: R250,000

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, etc. Dam by 10 x Champion Broodmare Sire SA, NORTHERN GUEST. 2017 yearling average R143,800. 2017 STUD FEE: R12,000

Captain Of All (SAF) CAPTAIN AL - SERIOUS SIDE BY FARD Equus Champion Sprinter 2015. Highest rated horse in South Africa at 126. Won 7 races, 2 - 4 years, (1000-1200m) from 12 starts in South Africa; R2,251,900. By CAPTAIN AL - Champion Sire SA 2014/15. 8 times Champion Sire of 2-y-o’s SA. Equus Outstanding Sire twice. Sire of 14 Gr1 winners. 2017 STUD FEE: R10,000

Red Ray (SAF) WESTERN WINTER - NACARAT BY PAS DE QUOI

NEW

“BLUE BLOODED SPEED MACHINE” 5 wins 1200-1400m, R1,998,750. MR 117 - 3rd highest rated horse in SA (May 2017). Won The Mercury Sprint G1, Cape Classic G3; Somerset Plate L; 2nd SA Nursery G1, Cape Flying Championship G1, Golden Horse Sprint G1; 3rd Cape Guineas G1, Cape Flying Championship G1, etc. 2017 STUD FEE: R12,000

Count Dubois (GB) ZAFONIC - MADAME DUBOIS BY LEGEND OF FRANCE Equus Outstanding Sire; A leading sire - sire of EDICT OF NANTES (Gr1), FRENCH NAVY (Equus Champion 3-y-o 2015), DOOR OF DECEPTION, MADAME DUBOIS, as well as ZAITOON (Gr1), ASYLUM SEEKER (Gr1), ZEENO (G1), BIARRITZ (G2), etc. 2017 yearling average R126,667. Yearlings have sold for R2m, R1m, R775,000, R600,000, R500,000, etc. 2017 STUD FEE: R10,000

Coup De Grace (USA) TAPIT - HOME COURT BY STORM CAT (USA) Won 5 races 1200-1600m (miler) incl Amsterdam S G2, $200,000, Bay Shore S G3, $300,000, Oh Say S L, $50,250; 3rd King’s Bishop S G1, $500,000. By TAPIT - Champion sire USA 2014, 2015 and current leading sire USA 2016. Dam is by multiple Champion Sire and Champion Sire of 2yo’s, STORM CAT. 2017 STUD FEE: R50,000

Jay Peg (SAF)

Seventh Rock (AUS) ROCK OF GIBRALTAR - RUBY CLIPPER BY RUBITON Sire of SEVENTH PLAIN (Equus Champion 2yo Colt 2015; won Gold Medallion G1, Golden Horseshoe G1, etc); GUINESS (Tsogo Sun Medallion G1), STONEHENGE (G3), THE STONE THROWER (G3), ROCK VALLEY (G2p), SEVEN GRAND, SEVENTH SYMPHONY, etc. 2017 yearling average: R98,235. 2017 STUD FEE: R8,000

Twice Over (GB) OBSERVATORY - DOUBLE CROSSED BY CAERLEON Timeform 128. Champion UK & European Racehorse. Won 12 races £2,526,584. Won Champions Stakes Gr1 (twice), Coral Eclipse Stakes Gr1, Juddmonte International Stakes Gr1. Sire of 2 winners from his frist crop incl SAND AND SEA (Gold Medallion G1). 2017 yearling average: R314,429. Yearlings sold for up to R2,1m, R1,2m, R800k, R700k. 2017 STUD FEE: R50,000

William Longsword (SAF)

CAMDEN PARK - LAPTOP LADY BY AL MUFTI Equus Outstanding International Performer. Equus Champion 3-y-o Male. Timeform 126. Sire of: SHE’S A DRAGON (G1p), VICTORIOUS JAY (G2p), WOLJAYRINE (G3), PEGGY JAY (G3, G2p), FLASH DRIVE (G3), OLYMPIC OWEN (G3), HOT AFFAIR (G3), SILICONE VALLEY (G2p), EXIT HERE (G3), FLASH DRIVE (G3), etc. Yearlings have sold for R1,1m, R1m, etc. 2017 STUD FEE: R10,000

CAPTAIN AL - PAGAN PRINCESS BY FORT WOOD

NEW

“BLUE BLOODED G1 GUINEAS WINNER”. By Champion Sire, CAPTAIN AL from the family of VICTORY MOON. Half-brother to G1 winner REAL PRINCESS. Dam by multiple Champion Broodmare Sire, FORT WOOD. 6 wins 1400-1600m, R4,123,500 incl Cape Guineas G1, The $500,000 CTS Mile, etc. 2017 STUD FEE: R25,000

The Source

Pauline Herman

Dorset Noble and Craig Zackey had it easy in the Listed World Sports Betting East Cape Derby.

Dorset Noble a classy performance

Cape Town raiders continued their domination of the R350 000 Listed World Sports Betting (WSB) East Cape Derby but this time there werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t too many complaints from the locals for not winning one of the Eastern Capeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s big races. by Henk Steenkamp

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The Challenge is growing in stature and has become a huge crowd favourite in PE, especially after Gogetthesheriff nearly won all three legs last season. Horse Care Unit. The Community Chest was also a charity beneficiary at the Friday meeting. The cherry on the cake for the PE crowd would have been a local winner in the Derby. It was way back in 2009 that a PE trainer last won the Derby when the smart Lizard’s Desire did

Latenitefever and piere strydom.

lthough racing fans in Port Elizabeth could not celebrate a home victory they thoroughly enjoyed a classy performance by the Cape Town-based winner Dorset Noble in the battle of the three year-olds over 2400m. The downgrading of their Derby (Gr3 to Listed) also did not stop the Fairview team from producing a great race day in May, this time on a Saturday and not the regular Mother’s Day Sunday outing. “We haven’t tried a Friday-Saturday double header in PE before and thought we would experiment and see how it goes,” said Phumelela’s racing executive Clyde Basel. “It was a huge success. Well done to WSB and the other sponsors. “The betting pools looked good and we had a good crowd in despite a bit of chilly weather. The Derby winner looks like a real good stayer ¬¬– well done to the Candice Bass-Robinson stable,” Basel added. It certainly was a bumper weekend with two days of racing combined with various festivities to keep the party animals happy. Racegoers got treated to gourmet food, craft beer, live performances, kid’s entertainment and the impressive annual fashion show from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University students. There is always a strong charity drive at the big PE race meetings and PE born jockey Piere Strydom got some of his colleagues involved in raising funds for the East Cape

the job for the Mitch Wiese stable. Since then the PE trainers have been hard at work to have a look in but there was no chance this time, although Gavin Smith did well to ran second and third. The Australian-bred Dorset Noble was way too strong for his opposition though, even with his “third choice” jockey in the saddle. There was a bit of drama surrounding the jockeys as Aldo Domeyer was carded to ride Dorset Noble but did not make the trip from Cape Town. Lyle Hewitson was excited to pick up the ride as he knew he had a good chance of making it two in a row after winning the Derby last year on Captain Splendid for trainer Justin Snaith. Unfortunately, Hewitson had a bad fall in an earlier race on the day, resulting in a broken collar bone. Craig Zackey stepped up to take the ride. On receiving the spectacular Derby trophy Zackey said that it was unfortunate what happened and that the trophy must go to Hewitson. Hewitson highly appreciated this gesture. “He donated the winning trophy to me out of pure goodness of his heart. It really lifted my spirits and Craig deserves to be recognised for that,” Hewitson said. It did not seem to bother Dorset Noble who was on his back. “He was really very professional about everything. He is classy and has a bright future,” Zackey said. Robert Fayd’Herbe represented the winning stable and feels the gelding will get better with age. “He takes everything in his stride and stays the trip,” he said of Dorset Noble. It was no surprise that the Smith stable did the best of the locals in the Derby. Smith was in fine form on the day and the R150 000 Listed Epol Dahlia Plate for two year-olds over 1200m was won by the Smith trained Querari filly, Joking. Joking took full advantage of her weight pull to show the boys how it should be done. JP van der Merwe was in the saddle. “I had a plan with the filly but needed time. The 1000m

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The filly Joking showed the boys how to do it in the Listed Epol Dahlia Plate with JP van der Merwe in the saddle.

races were too short for her but with a light weight she had a chance this time,” Smith said. Van Der Merwe said the stable always thought highly of Joking and was a bit disappointed that she did not win some of her earlier starts. He acknowledged that the light weight worked in his favour. The weekend’s action started on the Fairview Polytrack on the Friday (before moving to the turf track the next day) with the highlight the conclusion of the WSB East Cape Poly Challenge. The Challenge is growing in stature and has become a huge crowd favourite in PE, especially after Gogetthesheriff nearly won all three legs last season. This time the third and final leg was won by Our Icon and jockey Greg Cheyne for the stable of the East Cape champion trainer Alan Greeff. No horse won all three legs and the marketing manager of WSB, Ryno du Plessis, was disappointed not to give away the bonus of R250 000. The consolation bonus of R50 000 went

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to the connections of Sir Duke, trained by Tara Laing, for the horse that performed the best over the three legs. Sir Duke ran second in the first leg and won the second leg with Callan Murray doing the riding. Laing and Greeff were full of praise for the WSB sponsorship of the Challenge. “I won two of the three legs (not with the same horse) and it is always nice to win these races,” Greeff said. WSB is also the sponsor of the Derby and Du Plessis said it was probably appropriate that a stable that WSB is involved in as a sponsor (Bass-Robinson) won the big race of the weekend. Du Plessis gave the day the sponsor’s thumbs up. “It was a fantastic day. Karin le Roux (Promotions manager at Fairview) and her team and Phumelela did a great job.” The festival ended with a human race as the Mister PE finalists gave it their all down the Fairview track … not quite the same dress code as the famous 13th race at the Vodacom Durban-July but we are getting there!

eorealism N

neorealism and track rider shinjiro kaneko.

It came as no surprise to see Japanese entrant Neorealism storm to victory in the G1 Auedamars Piguet QE II Cup at Sha Tin on the last Sunday of April. 14

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and that gadget

by Liesl King

Maurice dominating the turf at Sha Tin. One international race however has eluded the Japanese and it is the one they covet most, the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Each year the Japanese trainers send their best to France. Each year a vast contingent of fans and assorted media descend on Longchamp and each year, despite their best attempts they have returned home without the winner’s trophy.

Fitness and speed The main factor that seems to put the Japanese contenders a step above their opposition is their fitness coupled with the ability to maintain high speeds for long distances. The likes of Victoire Pisa putting daylight between himself and the rest of the field in the 2011 Dubai World Cup is but one example. Normally when a runner skips clear to such a great extent, the field behind don’t bother to chase, as the chances of the leader tiring and coming back to them is almost one hundred percent guaranteed. Except if that runner is a Japanese runner. Extreme fitness seems to be something all Japanese trainers strive towards. Training tracks on Hokaido Island are often steep up-hills, with each workout being timed. Attention is also paid to heart rate, recovery rate and the smallest technological detail that can help the trainer to get his horse to a peak of absolute fitness.

Latest techno gadget

apan can no longer be considered newcomers to the racing industry and their horses are now forging paths to victory all over the world. While their local racing is still closed to foreign raiders except for a select number of events, the Japanese trainers have taken full advantage of the ability to travel internationally. Japanese runners have won the Melbourne Cup and Hong Kong is a happy hunting ground with the likes of Lord Kanaloa, A Shin Hikari and most recently the outstanding miler

So it came as no surprise that Neorealism arrived in Hong Kong sporting the latest techno gadget in racehorse training. Something so revolutionary that it had not yet been spotted anywhere else in the world. Track rider Shinjiro Kaneko's goggles causing quite a stir at morning trackwork as it appeared to be fitted with a camera like device. In fact it is more than a camera, it is also a monitor. Manufactured by Horsecall Japan, it is sold as an aid to training and displays heart rate and speed. The monitor, which the rider can see, displays the horse's heart rate in real time and the track work times for each 200-metre split. The heart rate data is recorded via pads inserted in the girth strap, while the camera attachment is fitted with a GPS and the data is displayed in a small monitor attached to the rider's eyewear. It enables the rider to know exactly how fast he's travelling and to have an indicator of how much the horse is exerting himself. It also enabled Hori, who had not yet arrived in Hong Kong, to download and evaluate the data back in Japan. It's the latest Japanese technology and Neorealsim’s trainer Noriyuki Hori is not the only Japanese trainer using it. It wasn’t Neorealisms first venture to Hong Kong, with the gelding contesting the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile at the International meeting in December. Neorealism, who can be an uptight horse, didn’t take well to his new surroundings, finishing a well beaten ninth behind Beauty Only (IRE).

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Attention is also paid to heart rate, recovery rate and the smallest technological detail that can help the trainer to get his horse to a peak of absolute fitness. This time however Neorealsim arrived well in advance of the race and appeared far more relaxed during morning trackwork, despite the media frenzy that his riderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique head gear attracted. Neorealsim had defeated former stablemate Maurice in last August's G2 Sapporo Kinen (2000m), his first victory at

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Group level and with his chilled attitude Hori expected his horse to be competitive in the QE II. He was not wrong. With no obvious speed in the race, Joao Moreira had wanted to lead on Neorealism, but a slow start meant he was forced to slot the colt in midfield. The United States (IRE) and Brett Prebble led over Blazing Speed (GB) and Neil Callan and Pakistan Star (GER) and Silvestre de Sousa in third, an usual position for a horse that prefers to trail the field. With Prebble applying the brakes down the back straight, Moreira could wait no longer and with 800m left to go he pulled Neorealism out, sending the chestnut around the field and on his way, all the while increasing the pace. It took the field a while to realise that Neorealiam was not going to stop and come back to them. The United States and Werther joined the chase down, while De Sousa got to work on Pakistan Star but they had all left it far too late. Neorealism was presented at peak fitness by Hori and the colt effortlessly continued to power down the home straight at top speed.

Neorealism and Joao Moreira salute

The gap was just too much even for the flying Pakistan Star. At the line the gap was only a neck, but a neck was enough for victory. Pakistan Star had to settle for second with Werther and Hugh Bowman in third. Moreira returned, standing high in the saddle to the joy of the attending Japanese fans. It may have been plan B, but it was a plan well executed. It all stemmed from a trainer not afraid to use technology, a trainer who prepared his horse to a level of fitness seldom seen and a jockey who knew that the horse underneath him was capable of using that fitness to run away from a high class Group One field. In an usual twist of fate another star won in Japan on that Sunday. In the Gr1 Tenno Sho (Spring) defending champion Kitasan Black broke the course record set by the legendary Deep Impact in 2006 as he cruised to his fifth Gr1 victory. His next mission? A date with destiny as he attempts to become the first Japanese winner of the Qatar Prix de lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Arc de Triomphe. His chances? Pretty damn good!

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TIMEFORM 128 AT 3 YEARS SIRE OF 7 INTERNATIONAL G1 WINNERS SIRE OF 78 STAKES PERFORMERS

FIRST SA CROP ARE CURRENTLY 2YO’S

(IRE)

L E A D I N G

E U R O P E A N

S I R E

ORATORIO’S INTERNATIONAL RUNNERS RATED 100+ BY RACING POST (UK) MILITARY ATTACK (G1) MANAWANUI (G1) BEETHOVEN (G1) TORIO´S QUEST (G2) ETON FOREVER (G3p) LOLLY FOR DOLLY (G2) MOONWALK IN PARIS (G2p) TENOR (L) MOURINHO (G1) FENCING MASTER (G1p) KING TORUS (G2) VIZTORIA (G2) PEARL MIX (G2p) TEMIDA (G1) ALONG CAME CASEY (G3p)

123 118 117 117 115 115 115 115 114 114 114 114 113 113 111

BIZ THE NURSE (G1) TECHNOKRAT (L) CHALNETTA (L) MATORIO (G2p) TAKAR (G3) TALIP HAN ALBICELESTE (G1p) CAMELIA ROSE (G1p) HIGH DUTY (L) OBLITERATOR SONS OF JOHN (G3; G1p) CHERRY COLLECT (G2; G1p) SCREAM BLUE MURDER (G3) HAWKE (L; G3p) BUCKLAND

111 111 110 110 109 109 108 108 108 108 106 106 106 106 106

BLUE ANGEL (G3p) GEORGIAN BAY BELLE MASQUEE ICE STONE LORD OF GRACIE ROCK A DOODLE DOO SONS OF JOHN (G3) ALMALYK BIG AUDIO (G2p) VOLA E VA (G1p) BANCHEE (G1) CATCH THE EYE ESENTEPE (G3) SCIOLINA (G3p) SHIRAZ ATTACK (G3p)

105 105 104 104 104 104 104 103 103 103 102 102 102 102 102

WEDDING FAIR (L) ITORIO INORATO UPSALA (G2p) JOHAN BACH PENTAGONO (L) CAPE FACTOR (L) CLENOR (G3p) FACIASCURA (G3) ITORIO (G2p) MISS SOLIS (G2p) MY JOLIE ORATORIO LATINO (L) SALLEN SHALAMAN

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

102 102 101 101 101 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100

CHAMPION EUROPEAN SPRINTER 2004 SIRE OF 7 INTERNATIONAL G1 WINNERS SIRE OF 69 STAKES PERFORMERS

VA R

L E A D I N G

S O U T H

A F R I C A N

S I R E

V A R ’ S L E A D I N G S TA K E S H O R S E S VARIETY CLUB (G1) VIA AFRICA (G1) VAL DE RA (G1) CONTADOR (G1) AUGUST RUSH (G1) RIVARINE (G1p) PRINCESS OF LIGHT (G1p) VILLANDRY (G1) VALDIVIA (G1p) NORMANZ (G1) VARALLO (G1p) OUR DESTINY (G1p) VACHERIN (G2) VALETA (G1p)

DOLLAR DAZZLER (G2) MASTERMIND (G2p) MISS OCTOBER (G3) SABADELL (L; G2p) VARIKATE (G2) VARUMBA (G2p) SCHIFFER (L; G2p) HARRY LIME (G2) VOUS ET VAR (G2p) LA REVERE (G2p) HAPPY FOREVER (G2) A WOMENS WAY (G2) SOLARIUM (G3p) EXQUISITE TOUCH (G3)

ISCA (L; G3p) BOIS DE VAR (G3p) EASY GAME (L; G3p) LE VAR (L; G3p) VALBERG (G3p) WESTERN STORM (G3p) WOUNDED KNEE (G3p) SPEEDPOINT (G3p) TWITTER (G3) LADY VAR (G3p) VARIOMETER (L) SEA CAT (L) TAR HEEL (L) LORD JONATHAN

VAUCLAIR (L) MISS MARKER LA VOLTA (L) WISHFUL EYE (L) CASUAL VAR JABU LOCHLORIEN (L) KNOCK’EM OUT VAREUSE JUAN TWO THREE (L) STAR BURST GALAXY CUP CAKE HIDDEN RAVE DE VAR HYT

GARIBONDY SHE’S A PIPPA (L) VARIETY STAR (L) VIVALDA HANABI (L) JUNGLE JIM VIVA LA VAR VARUNA MATIES WILDEKAT CARNABY STREET ENCHANTING CATHY WINTER PASSION (L) ESTEREL (L)

USA

SIRE OF 3 CHAMPIONS

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White Turf an experience like no other

Horseracing is a sport enjoyed by many all over the world. A half ton of horseflesh thundering along at roughly 60km per hour down an emerald strip of grass â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an iconic image that has been witnessed by many over the centuries.

by Liesl King

nitially grass was the obvious choice of surface. It grew abundantly pretty much everywhere that the kings and queens decided to race their horses against each other. Fast forward a couple of hundred years and dirt also becomes an acceptable surface to race thoroughbreds on. It would however take a giant leap and a few hundred years before synthetic tracks such as Polytrack or Proride became a third alternative. Few however know that there is a fourth surface that thoroughbred horses race on and even fewer know that it has been happening for over a hundred years, long before the advent of synthetic tracks. That surface is snow. Actually to be precise it is a thick layer of frozen ice, covered with a layer of snow. Where on earth does this strange racing take place you may ask? On a frozen lake in a ski resort of course! St Moritz however is not just any ski resort, it holds an iconic position in history as the very first ski resort and it all started

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It is clearly the place to be with planes and helicopters queuing to land at the tiny Samedan airport high in the Alps. with a bet. In September of 1864, Caspar Badrutt, a hotel pioneer in the village of St Moritz, made a wager with four British summer guests that if they came back in winter and did not enjoy themselves he would refund their money. If however they found a wintery St Moritz to their liking, they could stay as his guests as long as they liked. It was the start of winter tourism in the Alps. Since then St Moritz has become the playground of the rich and famous, been immortalised in songs, hosted two Winter Olympics, over 20 Bobsleigh World Championships and four Alpine World Ski Championships. It is also the home of the only horseracing meeting on snow, the famous White Turf. Actually racing in St Moritz started with a skijoring race. Skijoring is rather like water-skiing. Except that snow skies are used and instead of a boat pulling the skier, he is towed along by a galloping racehorse! Skiing roughly three meters behind the galloping horse, the skier steers and controls the

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horse with sleigh-length reins. The horseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s harness consists of a bridle, a breast collar with traces, and a surcingle. The traces are made of flexible heavy cord attached to a singletree, swinging bar and a flag-shaped piece of heavy fabric is attached to the traces between the horse and skier to minimize the risk of being hit by flying ice. Sleigh-length reins are used to keep the skier at a safe distance. The skier then holds the bar in one hand while holding the reins in the other. Skiers wear a helmet with a visor or goggles, elbow and kneepads, thick gloves and padded ski clothing. Skijoring started in 1906 with a race from St Moritz to ChampfĂ¨r. The skiers departed individually at one minute intervals. Philip Mark, the president of the Alpina Ski Club and his gelding Blitz were the fastest, completing the ten kilometre route in 20 minutes and 22 seconds. The next year a decision was made to reduce the distance to 2700m and to move the race to the frozen lake of St Moritz. It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t long before horseracing and even trotting races were added to the winter fun on the lake. These days the White Turf meeting takes place over three Sundays with the skier with the most points being crowned the King or Queen of the Engadine. The grand finale of the White Turf thoroughbred races, the G2 Grosser Preis von St Moritz also takes place on the final Sunday before a crowd of almost 12000. It is clearly the place to be with planes and

helicopters queuing to land at the tiny Samedan airport high in the Alps. Apart from the fact that everything happens on snow, it is pretty much business as usual for the assembled thoroughbreds. Morning track work takes place on an oval track across from the stables. Small changes are made to compensate for the conditions; snow after all means temperatures can fall well below zero. The horses wear special snow shoes and thick Newmarket exercise sheets, while the riders hide behind scarves and ski masks. Blowing out almost as much steam as their steeds. The snow shoes are normal steel shoes to which a toe grab as well as two side grabs have been added, with an inner rubber shoe, preventing snow from balling under the horseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hooves. The three grabs effectively lift the horse off the ground and it must feel as if it is walking on stilts. Some horses find this rather strange, trotting along gingerly, rather like sixteen-yearolds in their first pair of stilettos. Some however, like the South African bred Tellina, attending his first White Turf meeting, love the feel of snow, striding along as if they have worked on a frozen surface all their lives. Tellina in fact was so comfortable that after a few training track circuits, his workrider took him straight onto the racetrack for a half pace gallop. His pricked ears and flying hooves said it all. Just like on any other racing surface, racing on snow carries

Flying snow, galloping horses and a pop star winning the celebrity skijoring race under a brilliant blue sky. risks. A clipping of heels in the home straight in the first race on the final day resulted in a three-horse pile-up. A track inspection after the incident revealed that a longitudinal crack had formed in the ice in the home straight next to the inner rail. While the ice on the lake is around 60cm thick and hence perfectly safe to race on, cracks can allow water to rise from beneath the ice, thus undermining the racetrack. With the safety of horses and riders paramount, the rest of the meeting was abandoned. Racing on the frozen lake at St Moritz was all that I had imagined and more. Flying snow, galloping horses and a pop star winning the celebrity skijoring race under a brilliant blue sky. It is racing in a way that you have never experienced before. It is colourful, vibrant and above all great fun. So if you want a racing experience like no other then pack your winter woolies and head to St Moritz for the White Turf, you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be disappointed.

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Midas ouch T the man with the

Many colourful characters have won the coveted Durban July over the years but none quite as colourful and imposing as the man who was commonly known as the Platinum King - Charles William Engelhard Jr. by Robbyn Ramsay

ngelhard began racing horses in 1957, appeared at his first public auction in 1960, and through the following decade his horses, like his business, moved into world dominance. Engelhard’s famous silks – green, scarlet sash, yellow sleeves, green cap - were carried to victory far and wide internationally under his Cragwood Stables banner. But, some petty Jockey Club bureaucracy rejected those colours in South Africa and Engelhard was forced to change them to green with yellow crossed sashes and a yellow and green halved cap. So, it was Engelhard’s ‘South Africanised’ colours that were carried to victory by jockey Raymond Rhodes aboard Numeral in the 1964 Durban July. Numeral was originally trained by Tony Magua (grandfather of Joe Soma) and was narrowly beaten at the Vaal first time out by one of George Azzie’s charges, Sea Rover. Ace jockey Tiger Wright leant over and said: “Mr Azzie, you’d better buy this horse because you will never beat him again!” Taking Wright’s advice, Numeral was acquired by Azzie on behalf of Charles Engelhard and in 1962 the horse really stamped his class with a gutsy win in the 1962 Castle Summer Tankard (Summer Cup) at Turffontein. George’s grandson Michael recalls the heady Engelhard days. “Charles Engelhard was introduced to my Granddad by Punch Barlow (founder of present day Barlowworld) and

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it started an incredibly successful association. Back in those days ‘big’ trainers only had about 30 to 40 horses in their yards and 90% of my Granddad’s horses belonged to Charles Engelhard. “It was always a big thing when Mr Engelhard was coming out to South Africa – everything was spic and span in the yard. My Granddad never had to buy any equipment; Mr Engelhard supplied everything from currycombs to blankets - all sent out in boxes from Newmarket in England – nothing but the best. I was like a stable rat as a kid always hanging around the yard and was allowed to go with them to the sales at the Milner Park showgrounds on condition that I kept quiet and behaved myself. “Mr Engelhard would make himself comfortable alongside my Granddad on the stands with a crate of Coca Cola at his feet and a pocketful of cigars and proceed to break the highest bid record three or four times during the sale! He always got what he wanted because he had the means. “A Yugoslavian man named Savva Panitza, was Engelhard’s racing manager and he used to sweep into the yard driving a Corvette Stingray, a car which was coveted by every young guy in Joburg! “In 1964 my brother and I knew that Mr Engelhard’s good horse Numeral had been earmarked as Granddad’s July horse. So, we were most surprised after lunch one Sunday to see Numeral just standing in his paddock so we started

“Mr Engelhard would make himself comfortable alongside my Granddad on the stands with a crate of Coca Cola at his feet and a pocketful of cigars and proceed to break the highest bid record three or four times during the sale! He always got what he wanted because he had the means.” chasing him around! Granddad and my Dad came rushing out demanding to know what the hell we thought we were doing. ‘We’re getting him ready for the July’, replied us kids. We got the hiding of our lives and couldn’t sit for a week! What we didn’t know was that Numeral was in fact resting an injury! David King, Azzie’s stable jockey got married and was going on honeymoon so Azzie asked young Raymond Rhodes if he would go to Durban with him for the 1964 winter season. “That’s how I got to ride Numeral in the July,” recalls Rhodes. “I had him just off the pace most of the way and he ran on strongly to beat Speciality by a neck. Jerez was third. Mr Engelhard wasn’t there to lead us in and although I obviously met the man on numerous occasions and rode a lot for him he was not one for socialising with jockeys , in fact I always got the impression that I was viewed as nothing more than the ‘hired help’! I won a lot of big races for him but you never got anything over and above your normal 10% - unless you won a handicap. Raymond Rhodes was also the jockey privileged enough to have been associated with Hawaii, one of the greats of the South African turf and one of the best horses ever owned internationally by Charles Engelhard. Bred at Archie Dell’s Platberg Stud in the Karoo, Hawaii was by the Italian-bred sire Utrillo out of the great broodmare Ethane (dam of William Penn) but there are many who will swear blind that this pedigree was questionable. Joy II also stood at Platberg and many were of the opinion that he, and not Utrillo, was the sire of Hawaii. But, as there was no way of proving it in those days, the speculation remains unproven. Ridden in all his races by Rhodes, Hawaii enjoyed an illustrious career. “I was lucky enough to still be riding for George Azzie at the time that Hawaii came along. Jockeys actually talk nonsense when they say they know from the first time they get on a horse that it is something special – it’s only

Jane and Charles Engelhard.

through gallops that you can you make that call. Hawaii was however better than average early on. He was a very good looking colt and was voted Champion Yearling at the annual sales,” recalls Rhodes. Hawaii’s major wins included the African Breeders’ Plate (1966), the Chairman’s Handicap (1967), the South African Guineas (1967), the Clairwood Winter Handicap (1967) the Cape Mellow Wood Guineas (1967) and the Transvaal Spring Champion Stakes (1968). “I rode Hawaii in the 1968 July and he was obviously highly fancied to win it”, reminisces Raymond Rhodes. “But, he was never a happy horse at Greyville – the close crowd; the noise; the narrow walkway from the parade ring out onto the course – he just didn’t ever relax and it took its toll. (The race was won that year by the rank outsider Chimboraa followed home by Hawaii’s half brother William Penn and Smash and Grab.) Hawaii was fairly well beaten and of course the easiest person to blame was me, the jockey! “We probably never saw the best of Hawaii in South Africa,” reckons Rhodes. “He was sent to race in America in his prime and unlike jockeys of today, I was never consulted with a view to giving his new jockeys advice or anything like that. Mr Azzie went to see him race in the States but I never saw the horse again.”

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Among Hawaii’s wins in the United States was a track record-setting performance in the mile-and-a-half Man O’ War Stakes on turf at Belmont Park. Hawaii retired from racing after the 1969 racing season having won 21 of 28 career starts with earnings of US$371 292. In his career his major awards included South African Champion Two-Year Old (1966), South African Champion Three-Year Old (1967) and American Champion Turf Horse (1969). He stood at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky and famously sired Henbit, who raced in England and won the 1980 Epsom Derby. Hawaii was elected to the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame in 1977. But, back to the man with the Midas Touch. Educated in South Africa, England and the USA, Charles Engelhard joined the American Army Air Corps and served as a bomber-pilot during WWII. He married a tall and striking woman, Jane Reiss, in 1947 and the couple purchased Cragwood, a 172acre equestrian estate in New Jersey. In Engelhard’s quest for forging his own success, he travelled extensively to South Africa throughout the 1940’s and 1950’s. He established a business partnership with Harry Oppenheimer, and his firm De Beers, and also served

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as chairman of the American – South African Investment Company, Ltd. of Johannesburg. As a resourceful industrialist, Engelhard exploited a loophole in central bank regulations that permitted the export of art objects. He formed The Development and Investment Company of Southern Africa Ltd, a corporation that purchased gold directly from the South African mines and cast it into statues, jewellery, pulpit pots and other religious objects. These “objects d’art” were then exported to Hong Kong, where they were melted down at Engelhard’s refinery and returned to gold bullion, used for his industrial purposes or sold on the open market! Engelhard was rumoured to be the inspiration for the fictional character Auric Goldfinger in the Ian Fleming novel and subsequent James Bond film. The two men met through one of Engelhard’s London-based bankers, Robert Fleming & Company, founded by Ian’s grandfather. It was this company that incorporated Engelhard’s Development and Investment Company of Southern Africa - established in an effort to skirt export rules. Engelhard took the Goldfinger talk lightly but never denied the association!

Charles Engelhard kept two homes and a couple of game lodges in South Africa. The first residence was a magnificent country home called “Mbulwa” overlooking Sabie, just an hour’s drive from the Kruger National Park. The second was the "Courthouse" a sprawling 25-acre spread in Johannesburg’s Hyde Park. The “Courthouse”, now known as Summer Place, was subsequently owned by several colourful characters. They included the controversial Italian “businessman” Mario Chiavelli and then the entrepreneurial Krok twins Solly and Abe who made millions from selling skin-lightening products before expanding their interests to casinos, which included the Golden Horse Casino built at the Scottsville racecourse in Pietermaritzburg. The Engelhard family visited South Africa once or twice a year and their notorious hospitality drew a constant stream of royalty, famous actors, singers, society figures, politicians and foreign dignitaries to their dinner table – all important for the social and business entree that they provided. The table décor is said to have included stacks of Krugerrands given away as party favours. Cragwood was the name of Engelhard’s primary home – a mansion situated in Far Hills, New Jersey in the USA. Besides his South African real estate, Engelhard owned homes across the globe. He owned an apartment in New York’s Waldorf Towers; a retreat at Boca Grande in Florida; a summer home at Dark Harbour in Maine; a flat at the Grosvenor Hotel in London; an apartment in Rome and in Paris; a fishing lodge in Quebec and the entire second floor of the Dolder Grand Hotel in Zurich. Engelhard's competitive nature at auctions sometimes worked to his disadvantage. He was superstitious and favoured horses born on his birthday. He once went to $177,000 for a filly, born on his birthday and sold on his wife's birthday. He named her Many Happy Returns and she took 21 starts to break her maiden! Other investments, like the son of Northern Dancer and Flaming Page he purchased in 1968 for $84,000, paid off handsomely. That was Nijinsky, who earned international fame as the winner of the English Triple Crown in 1970, Britain's Horse of the Year that season and voted Horse of the Millennium in 2000. Engelhard owned umpteen good horses the world over. Ever the philanthropist, Engelhard supported numerous

Engelhard was rumoured to be the inspiration for the fictional character Auric Goldfinger in the Ian Fleming novel and subsequent James Bond film.

humanitarian and benevolent causes across the world and his fascination with South African wildlife saw a dam on the Letaba River in the Kruger National Park named in his honour in gratitude for his donations to the SA National Parks Board. Living the high life however took its toll and Engelhard’s health steadily deteriorated. On the physical side, this once slim, attractive US Air force pilot became almost grotesquely obese. He had an arthritic hip, but he had a pathological fear of hospitals and fell into the hands of quacks in Switzerland. He soon became dependent on strong painkillers. Simultaneously he had all the signs of being a severe diabetic, but refused accepted treatment. His physical condition became acutely uncomfortable. At 54 Charles Engelhard should have been at the pinnacle of his life but self-neglect led fairly rapidly to his early death from a heart attack at this Florida retreat in 1971. His passing was tragic and probably unnecessary. The heirs to the extensive Engelhard estate were his wife Jane and her five daughters led by Annette (who later married top fashion designer Oscar de la Renta). They were patently uncomfortable as their interests in South Africa were becoming increasingly politically incorrect in the USA and they wanted to get out as fast as they could. Engelhard’s business interests here were sold to Anglo American and Jane, encouraged by her daughters, did a deal with Harry Oppenheimer. In dispersing Engelhard’s bloodstock interests a particularly difficult situation arose in South Africa. He owned the champion Elevation and many of his racing friends came forward to say that they each had the right of first refusal because of their close friendship. Elevation was however eventually auctioned and never left George Azzie’s yard as he was knocked down to Dennis Mosenthal for three times the highest private offer from Engelhard’s so called friends!

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Gavin Hunter by Michael Clower

Gavin Hunter tells Michael Clower about his fascinating racing life.

ew people in racing have played as many roles as Gavin Hunter but to most in South Africa he is best known for his 13-year stint as a stipe. Policing the rule book is an unenviable job. Hardly a day goes by without the stipendiary stewards finding fault with jockeys and trainers, hitting them with hefty fines and even depriving them of their livelihoods for weeks at a time. The resulting resentment can often be cut with a knife, and in the current counselling-conscious climate you might think that few warrant professional care more than those who wield the stick in the boardroom. “The funny thing is that, provided you have the integrity to do what is right, it’s never held against you – at least with very few exceptions,” says Hunter quietly and almost to himself as he seeks to contradict the generally held view. “In my time there were very few nasty incidents and with the jocks none at all. Every one of those who got a holiday never held it against me.” The nastiest came in December 2001 when racehorse owner Mark Lifman was banned for life for involvement in race-fixing. Hunter acted as prosecutor in a hearing held by what was then the Jockey Club. “I’m not going to mention names,” he says firmly. “But it is all documented and you can look it up.” It was one of the worst chapters in the long history of South African racing. Yuri Ulianitski, a notorious villain known simply as ‘The Russian,’ recognised the money to be made in racing and set about intimidating jockeys by the simple expedient of telling them that they and their families would be killed if they didn’t do what he said. He got them to hook horses and Lifman, who has always maintained his innocence, became involved in the race-fixing. As he was a registered owner he was subject to Jockey Club rules and was banned for life. Earlier that year Freddy Macaskill had disobeyed Ulianitski’s orders and won a race he should have lost. He was given a horrific beating. Brandon Morgenrood, somewhat understandably, refused to testify and was banned for life (later reduced to five years) while Greg Cheyne, despite being told he was a dead man if he didn’t do the same,

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admitted his part and was suspended for six months. The Russian, who later fell foul of the Cape Town underworld and whose body was found in Milnerton riddled with bullets, made things uneasy for Hunter by having his car repeatedly and very obviously followed. “It was all very, very nasty,” he recalls feelingly. “The inquiry lasted several weeks but we had to stick it out. The thoroughness of it all displayed our determination to wipe out any semblance of nefarious practice.”

Not much of a jockey Hunter, his snow-white hair the only real sign of his 75 years, was born in the era of the British Raj in Poona when it’s parade grounds echoed to the sound of marching troops. You wonder, fleetingly, whether this is where his military bearing emanates from. But no, he never went into the army and after attending his first racemeeting at the age of seven his heart was set on becoming a jockey. He might have been light enough, certainly to be a jump jockey. He weighed less than 48kg when he boxed for his

“I became a poacher turned gamekeeper,” he grins at the analogy. “I started in July 1994 and Mike Tillett, the chairman of the stipendiary board, taught me everything.” chipped in and at the age of 26 Hunter became a public trainer at the famous racing village of East Ilsley working his horses on the Berkshire downs. He trained over 400 winners in 21 years. The best, he believes, was Des Scott’s Queen To Conquer, third in the 1973 Irish Oaks before being sold for big money. She is the greatgrandam of Querari. But the best known was the 1978 Ascot Gold Cup winner Shangamuzo. “He was a disaster and a raving lunatic,” Hunter doesn’t mince words – he believes in calling it like it is, and often a spade a something shovel. “He would try to kick his way out of the horsebox going to the races and he needed no work which was why he used to sweat like hell.” However the horse’s two owners were worse. After Hunter had won the Bessborough at Royal Ascot and the Doncaster Cup they insisted on the horse travelling to France for the Prix Gladiateur because one of them wanted to celebrate his wedding anniversary in style –“I said no but he ran and it bloody near killed him.” The following March they transferred him to Michael Stoute who added insult to injury by winning the great Ascot race with the horse. English public school (Clifton) but, sadly, he didn’t have the talent. “I had a few rides but I never rode a winner.” After failing his Cambridge entrance exam, much to the disappointment of his oil executive father, he resolved to become a trainer. He worked for Ivor Herbert, Harry Thomson Jones and Atty Corbett before being appointed private trainer to a rough diamond haulage contractor whose purpose, it soon became horribly clear, was to stop everything until the weight was low enough, and the price big enough, to put the money down. “It terrified me,” says Hunter shaking his head at how close he came to losing his licence before he had hardly started. “I survived one season and then packed it in.” Hunter is reliving his life on the second floor of the Kenilworth grandstand. It’s an hour before racing and, other than the catering staff, there is hardly a soul around to listen to the enthralling story. The next chapter was far more satisfactory and, when he became seriously ill, Sovereign Cruises founder Teddy Langton told his young protegee that he would make him an offer he couldn’t refuse to buy the stables. Two other owners

Financial disaster Some years later a Texas oilman asked Hunter to buy him three high-priced yearlings – “but he turned out to be a conman and I was really in trouble.” Hunter sued but each time he obtained a judgement the Texan appealed. “I ended up owing £30,000 in legal fees plus Tattersalls for the cost of the horses. I had to sell up.” That was in 1986 and Hunter turned to sports promotion. For several years his clients included Coolmore and Robert Sangster for whom he organised their annual golf tournament in Barbados, bringing people from all over the world. But in 1992 there was an economic crisis and the business dried up. Hunter’s owners had included Laurie Jaffee and Graham Beck as well as the Scott Brothers and they sent an SOS saying the South African stipes were being head-hunted for Hong Kong and Malaysia. Would Hunter step in? “I became a poacher turned gamekeeper,” he grins at the analogy. “I started in July 1994 and Mike Tillett, the chairman of the stipendiary board, taught me everything.”

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Of all the things he has done in racing Hunter gives the clear impression that the one that has given him most satisfaction is the part he has played in bringing top horses into South Africa. his apprenticeship.” He talked things over with Basil Marcus but Richard Fourie was going to give up racing to become a professional fisherman. He reluctantly agreed to give it six months. Hunter was not long in repaying the favour. He glances across the course and up towards the start of the first race. “The starts were terrible when I came here. The stipes and starters were giving horses stalls certificates after they had been loaded using blinkers or tapes. “I said this was ridiculous - the job had to be done properly. David McGilivray (also a stipe) was just as strict as me and we warned trainers that they would lose their tickets if the horses couldn’t walk into the pens, or be led in, without any additional help.” The end result was some of the smoothest loading procedures in the world. Hunter shakes his head. “It’s gone back a bit now,” he says with masterly understatement. “I’m involved in a number of horses and I get absolutely furious when I see how some animals behave. They mess it up for all the others. You can get perfectly sensible horses waiting in the pens for five minutes and they then get left because they’ve gone to sleep.”

Career change In 2007 the National Horseracing Authority said he must retire and Hunter became a jockey’s agent but it was much management as agent, promoting the jockey’s career as well as booking his rides. “I spotted a guy who was a good jockey but wasn’t getting the rides he should and was coming to the end of

R120 4 ISSUES

Hunter is proud of the part he played in the way Fourie’s riding developed and his progress up the log to the extent that he was head-hunted to go to Hong Kong. He took over Karis Teetan with the same result and then Aldo Domeyer. But there was a major drawback with all three. “Once you’ve got them up there, and they are making big money, they don’t like having to pay you so much. I charged 6% whereas some of the men in Jo’burg charge 10% - but they began to feel they could do it themselves. In the end I gave it up. I felt I was just punishing myself.” Of all the things he has done in racing Hunter gives the clear impression that the one that has given him most satisfaction is the part he has played in bringing top horses into South Africa. He suggested buying Al Mufti and was instrumental in the purchase of July winner Devon Air as well as horses like Take The Floor, Spanish Pool and Sapieha. These days he is buying them here – “Joey Ramsden and I found Variety Club and Red Ray”- and acting for a few clients including Drakenstein syndicates. Otherwise he is playing golf (handicap deteriorated from nine to 19) and exercising his three dogs from the Constantia Hills home he shares with Karin, his partner of 23 years and the mother-in-law of Ed Dunlop. The dogs are all rescue jobs and are named after jockeys. Manny Mercer, a boyhood hero, is still alive and kicking but Frankie Dettori recently died. Dougie Whyte (the cat) hardly shed a tear.

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“Solid Foundations Lead to Success”

Syndication innovative

by Charl Pretorius

Denzil Govender

Innovative syndication is racing’s lifeblood TURF TALK editor Charl Pretorius remembers the days when racehorse ownership was really hard, but people queued up for individual ownership privileges. 32

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ith today’s relaxed rules and a variety of affordable ownership options presented by the game’s progressive ‘young guns’, new owners could be standing in line again, soon. In the old days, before individual racing colours were granted, prospective new racehorse owners were required to attend a full meeting of the old SA Jockey Club Board at Turffontein. It was a sweaty experience for youngsters, intimidating and nasty. Some gave up before getting there. There was a waiting list, and the board of ‘wise men’ only convened

once or twice a month. The Chairman and a variety of other toffee-nosed snobs, the Club’s lawyers and even the Jockey Club’s Chief Investigative Officer sat in a circle in a large boardroom. Each was handed a certified report of the applicant’s financial records, down to the latest bank accounts. You had to dress the part, expect a full investigation into your personal affairs and stomach the haughty accents of men who fancied themselves a whole lot better than others. One, I recall, wore a bowtie and looked as if his Armani underpants were a size too small. I quietly plotted to steal the wheel caps off his Merc if ever presented with a chance. They would ask you questions, in turn, some trying to impress the others with wisecracks about money management; others condescending to nastiness.

Interview In my own interview, somewhere around January 1989, I remember the late Dirk Blignaut, then Jockey Club Investigator and actually a very nice, down-to-earth man, sitting next to me and whispering under his breath, “Relax, they have to do this. Don’t worry.” And then, after all that, I was granted colours with the provision that I could own up to 50% of one horse and that my behaviour would be monitored. Open colours would be extended when my financial situation allowed it, and upon the review of another application. That was a good enough start and I soon had 50% of a filly running – sadly she defined the slang term, ‘soupmeat’, and finished last a few times, but I loved her all the same and the pride and fun she brought every time she went to the racetrack was unequalled. I went on, over the next 25 odd years, to enjoy near 50 wins and perhaps 70 places in partnership, every new winner leaving a feeling as good as the previous, or better. Where am I going with all of this? Well, there is a case to be made and indeed there have been calls in some quarters for a return to the old system of strict control and the elimination of ‘non-paying’ owners who are crippling trainers. Tightened control has its merits. But in modern, competitive times where different forms of entertainment are vying for every rand this may diminish, rather than grow, the already depleted owners’ ranks. There are no more lengthy applications.

Syndicate You can get your name in the race card in case of a limited number of owners, or race in a syndicate. Nobody will look at your bank statements. And things will only get nasty if you’re considered to have brought the game into disrepute. In the last few years – the last six months especially, we’ve seen determined and persistent efforts by trainers and upand-coming bloodstock agents to bring new owners into the game by packaging the experience in an affordable way and making communication with respective stables easier. It seems to be working, and this is most encouraging to see.

Wherever you lay your hat, it’s important for all of us who love racing to continue promoting it with innovative ways of feeding ownership, the lifeblood of the sport. Quite interesting is the large number of young professionals expressing an interest in racing, how little they know about the sport to start with and how most of them are actually drawn in because they love the animal, the magnificent horse. There is a beautiful, natural way in which our noble thoroughbreds always appeal to the young. Somewhere, between 1990 and maybe 2008, we lost an entire generation of racing lovers, but a proportion of them are coming back due to efforts by the likes of Green Street Bloodstock, Imagine Racing and young trainers like Mathew de Kock going all out to attract new owners.

Entry options Justin Vermaak’s Green Street Bloodstock has a variety of entry options. He is active at most of the sales, has expanded to Singapore and recently started partnering small GSB owners with larger, established to buy runners of super quality. Sandy Wilson and Catherine Hartley of Imagine Racing aim at a cross-section including women and people of colour and Catherine said: “We started seven years ago, we try to make noise in reaching people. We have young guys and women involved, in fact Colleen Naicker joined us right at the start and is still with us. Some fall off, some stay on board long-term. There are options for everyone.”

1% buy-in system Mathew de Kock, with the help of Easy Equities CEO Charles Savage, has devised a 1% buy-in system, whereby new owners get a small share of horses for a small investment, with training costs, etc., thrown in. Right now, Mat has two yearlings available to follow on the success of Puget Sound, the first horse syndicated with a large number of mini-shares. Klawervlei’s Grant Knowles has been very successful with his ‘Tractor’ Syndicates and others, and he’s assisting Turf Talk with their first syndicate launched last month. Wherever you lay your hat, it’s important for all of us who love racing to continue promoting it with innovative ways of feeding ownership, the lifeblood of the sport. In the bygone years referred to, the closest you’d get to a trainer would be if he gave you a fat ‘klap’ for asking for a tip on course. Nowadays all of them welcome new participation, and all will help you to get started. - tt.

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THE DEMON - The Life of George Fordham Author: Michael Tanner Publisher: Authorhouse Reviewed by: Robbyn Ramsay

n racing, as in all things, there are stars. Then there are real stars. And then there’s genius! From the pen of acclaimed British Turf historian Michael Tanner, who also wrote Michael Roberts - A Champion’s Story after the plucky South African jockey won the coveted British Championship in 1992, comes an extraordinarily well researched book about an extraordinary 19th century jockey. George Fordham, lauded throughout the sport as ‘The Demon’, is considered by many to have been the finest jockey of his era on the English Turf. He rode a total of 2,587 winners, which included 16 English Classics, and he was crowned British Champion Jockey a staggering 14 times. Yet history has not been kind to Fordham. Fate saw his career overshadowed by that of bitter rival Fred Archer, a jockey deemed his inferior. The finest jockey is not necessarily the most successful. Or the most celebrated. When legend becomes entangled with fact it’s the legend that tends to be perpetuated! Nowhere is this truer than on the Victorian Turf. Fred Archer attracted attention like a firecracker tossed through an open window. But George Fordham “The Demon” was the finest. He was a genius. And defining genius taxes conventional criteria. Fordham’s talent was truly God-given. Twenty years Archer’s senior, Fordham’s prolific career overlapped that of his pale, lanky and brooding rival Archer who was nicknamed ‘The Tinman’ owing to his insatiable pursuit of ‘tin’ - Victorian slang for money. ‘The Demon’ was the very antithesis of ‘The Tinman’. Fordham was rubicund, squat and affable. And if Archer rode like a man with the devil at his elbow, Fordham rode like a wizard with a wand at the ready. The deposed 14-times champion fought a guerrilla campaign against the young pretender for more than a decade; and despite the inevitable loss of the war Fordham bested Archer in countless skirmishes. When the ‘tyranny of the scales’ eventually became too much for Fred Archer’s fragile psyche and brittle constitution, he put a gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. He was 29 years-old. Gone before his time; a tragic waste. Thus are legends implanted in our sporting consciousness: books are written; and laurels awarded.

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Yet Fordham was considered Archer’s superior by the majority of contemporary jockeys, trainers, horsemen and scribes. Fordham was the one jockey Archer feared and whose talents reduced him to utter frustration; ‘The Demon’ was the itch he couldn’t scratch. Thus are legends expunged from our sporting consciousness: books are not written; and laurels wither and die. Thus, it is high time George Fordham received his due. Nobody can deny that the worth of any competitor is gauged by those he competes against, and the measure of George Fordham is the greatness of the jockey deigned his inferior. The question remains: if Fred Archer is fit to be mentioned in the same breath as 20th century icons Gordon Richards and Lester Piggott, just how good a jockey does that make the unsung George Fordham? Author Michael Tanner shines a light on the life of this remarkably gifted and personable jockey to place him atop the pedestal he so richly deserves. Available in paperback and digital: www.authorhouse.co.uk or www.amazon.co.uk

Strokes to Success by Lisa Barrett

Horse have a way of turning lives upside down, whether by choice or chance, and this was the case with an American horse called Metro, a successful racehorse who, after suffering a career ending injury, landed up becoming the Jackson Pollock of the equine world, and through his painting has created a new technique to help horses with similar problems.

etro’s story begins with an ending. After suffering with bone chips in his knees, his promising racing career, where he won $300 000 at the Belmont track, ended. Adopted by Ron and Wendy Krajewski in 2009, the ardent animal lovers had never owned a horse in their lives before and were in for an adventure they never could have imagined. Ron admitted they were quite naïve when it came to racehorses and the problems that they could have as a result of their careers on the track. Originally purchased as a riding horse for Wendy, Metros knees were a major problem and the bone chips had taken a hefty toll which the vets said would lock up and he would have continual daily pain for the rest of his life. There were treatments available that could help, but they were extremely expensive, and at the time the Krajewski’s just didn’t have that sort of money. Being great horse lovers, they didn’t just want to leave Metro to languish in a pasture somewhere, or worse be put down, so they watched him carefully as they thought of something they could do to enhance his quality of life. Ron noticed that Metro liked to bob his head to get attention and pick things up in his mouth. The artist in Ron wondered could he teach him to paint, at first he dismissed it as a silly idea, but it’s a measure of how much time Ron was willing to invest in him that he was prepared to do this: firstly he taught him how to touch his nose to the canvas for treats, then how to hold the brush. Metro took to it like a fish to water, and soon started making up and down strokes, nickering as he went – a sure sign that he was enjoying it.

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With Ron acting as both art director and assistant and picking the colours, he gets the paintbrushes ready for Metro who waits impatiently to get going. Painting from left to right, his style is like that of Jackson Pollock, who was famous for his splatter and drip technique. Sometimes Metros strokes are thick and solid, others are broken and softer, which lets the base colours on the canvas show through, it’s all according to his mood at the time. “It all just vibrates on the canvas," says Ron. Soon Metro’s “ability” caught the attention of the local media and within a short time his story had gone viral. By 2014, there was a long waiting list for his artworks. Thanks to the sales of his early paintings, they were able to afford some treatments for his legs which were leaving him in continual pain. Initially the treatments worked wonders and the bone growth slowed down significantly, but then they stopped being as effective, and it seemed as if Metro was back to square one. However, as publicity increased and more people started to buy his paintings, Ron and Wendy were able to afford more expensive, and experimental treatments. Metro’s vet created a technique by which Tildren was applied to his knees. The results were impressive, and within a few months the bone growth had receded, giving him many more years of pain-free existence. It Is now hoped that this same drug and technique can be rolled out and used on other horses with bone and knee chip problems, giving them a new lease on life and reducing their pain and enhancing the quality of their lives. Ron has a special area in the barn set up for Metro to do

Metro took to it like a fish to water, and soon started making up and down strokes, nickering as he went – a sure sign that he was enjoying it. metro accessories.

metro and porkchop.

Metro has become and equine ambassador with his paintings now being shown in major galleries and branching out into bags and other accessories, he is drawing attention to the plight of retired racehorses and the issues they can sometimes face, in the process saving his own life as well. his paintings, and when he paints his loyal friend, Pork Chop, another rescue and his best friend comes to watch with Ron, who keeps a casual eye over his efforts. According to Ron, Metro is an "A-list extroverted personality" and in his element at the easel. All he has to do is put the easel in the field and he will stop eating and walk up and stand right in front of it. As to how much Metro can see to

paint is another story, as horses have a blind spot in front of their noses, but Ron believes Metro likes the feel of running a brush over the canvas in a form of what Ron affectionately calls “controlled chaos”. Yet people seem to love his painting which vary in price from $50 to $500, half of the proceeds go to a charity called New Vocations which retrains and rehomes former racehorses. So far Metro has “donated” $80 000 which has helped 60 horses find new leases on life or homes. Metro has become and equine ambassador with his paintings now being shown in major galleries and branching out into bags and other accessories, he is drawing attention to the plight of retired racehorses and the issues they can sometimes face, in the process saving his own life as well. As Ron put it "There's something about painting which really interests Metro," adding "I don't think he'll ever get tired of it." From retired racehorse to painting maestro, it’s been a long and winding road for Metro, but as long as he has his brush, it’s likely to be a colourful one. arade MAGAZINE | July 2017 37

A Teal

Fairytale

by Ash Maharaj

The story of then Rothmans sponsored Durban July winner Teal is one from the book of racing fairytales. The scrappy, tiny nuisance that a breeder couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be happier to get rid of to the nationwide hero making the headlines in the 1995 July is a story scripted for the movies. 38

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rainer of Teal, Pat Shaw, has the best recollection of the horse who won the three big 3 year old races in Durban that season. Shaw, who trained successfully in both his native South Africa and Singapore, considers the diminutive chestnut to be the one of the best South African horses he ever conditioned. Little did he know that a chance visit to the Germiston Sales grounds on his way to Johannesburg airport for a Mauritian holiday would be make him a national hero and more

importantly, win South Africa’s greatest race. Shaw takes up the story. “Michael (de Kock) was asked to look at a horse at the sales before leaving for the airport and I found myself in the parking lot waiting for him with Wendy (Pat’s wife) and Diane (de Kock). This little horse got loose and started hurtling towards the parking lot. As you can imagine his breeders came running after him, Alan and Vera Sutherland, along with the groom.” Shaw clearly liked what he had just seen, albeit unintentional as he exclaimed, “What horse was that?”. Upon looking up the colt’s pedigree, Shaw found that it was in fact a half-brother to a horse he had by Jabal Tarik who had already won 3 races. Shaw was interested in the colt and asked Alan Sutherland, “how much do you want for him?” the response was quick. “Take him, we’ll talk business later,” recalls Shaw of Sutherland’s words. The purchase price was eventually set at R48 000 and with both parties satisfied, the colt changed hands, the transaction would change South African racing forever. Teal had been offered at numerous sales prior to Shaw purchasing him, but things didn’t map out as planned for his breeders. There would be no one interested in the horse mainly due to his small size. A typical case of how the horse finds you.

No takers Shaw then went through the process of offering the horse to all his big owners but there were no takers. However, Shaw wasn’t completely out of options. He offered the horse to the late Dan Botes, a new owner in his yard. Shaw recalls, “He looked over the barn door then went to his car and wrote the cheque.” He paid Shaw R60 000 for the colt after a few months of keep and other expenses. Once in full work the youngster didn’t appear to have lost any of the rambunctious nature he displayed at his previous home. “He was very naughty, eventually I had to geld him because as big (referring to his tiny build) as he was he wouldn’t let anyone into his box, he was a little terrorist.” But work and play were two very different things for Teal, who showed ability early on. “He had an action like leopard,” Shaw recalls. Teal proved to be quite a handful during races before Shaw got to the bottom of him. “He used to run away from everything; at Greyville he ran right across the course to the grandstand and got beat a head, we took him back to Turffontein and he did the same thing there, and it cost him in the classic.”

Smart move Then Shaw decided to cut the blinkers down to an inch; it turned out to be a smart move as Teal went on to win the South African Guineas, Daily News 2000 and ultimately the big one, the Rothmans July Handicap. In those three big races he found a pilot as small as he was in the great jockey

From literally chasing birds at the Vaal to winning the Rothmans July, this chestnut gelding was certainly made to fly! Johnny Geroudis. Shaw’s take on what Teal did for his career as a trainer. “He completely changed racing for me. I only got my license in 1990 and every trainers dream is to win the July, and by 1995 I had won the Derby and the Classic, so when Teal won the July I thought what’s left? And that’s when I started to think international.”

Blue blood Teal certainly lived up to his blue blood. A son of Foveros (GB) who had finished the runner-up in the Group 2 Lockinge whilst racing in Europe, he was named Champion Sire in South Africa on eight occasions. His dam line was just as royal, his mother Northern Banner (CAN) was a daughter of the most influential sire of the 20th Century, Northern Dancer (CAN). Apart from Teal, Northern Banner also produced 26 time winner, Lono (Wavering Monarch) which is no mean feat for any broodmare. His damsire Northern Dancer, was a little bigger than the average pony, but much like his grandson, Teal, what he lacked in size, he more than made up for in attitude and heart. Northern Dancer was bred by prominent Canadian businessman and philanthropist, E. P. Taylor and the bay colt made his dream of winning the Kentucky Derby a reality. Taylor put a $25 000 price tag on the colt as a yearling, but there would be no takers, he would have been the steal of the century.

Horseracing immortality Internationally Northern Dancer found horseracing immortality in another way, he produced the likes of Sadler’s Wells, Nijinsky II, Danzig, Fairy King, Northern Taste, Storm Bird and Nureyev at stud, cementing a legacy that all started with a little faith and hope. Similarly his effect on that July day via his grandson Teal, had knock on effects to many, launching trainer Shaw to a highly successful international career, jockey Geroudis to Singapore and also afforded his late owner Dan Botes, one of the greatest days in his life. Horses like Teal come into the lives of not just owners and trainers, but pure enthusiasts alike, and they show us all that there’s always a diamond in the rough. From literally chasing birds at the Vaal to winning the Rothmans July, this chestnut gelding was certainly made to fly!

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What A inter W the making of

by Sarah Whitelaw

Former champion sprinter What A Winter has made a sensational start to his stud career. Not only has the multiple Equus Champion’s progeny been extremely successful on the racetrack (at the time of writing, What A Winter had already three first-crop two-year-old stakes winners), but What A Winter continued to be a sales ring sensation, with his yearlings fetching up to R2.8 million in 2017.

is offspring Dutch Philip and Magical Wonderland (who had previously triumphed in the Listed Somerset 1200 and Listed Perfect Promise Sprint respectively) recently won the Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery and Listed Kenilworth Fillies Nursery. Always a standout, What A Winter was one of the best sprinters to race in South Africa so far this century, with his 15 career wins including four at Gr1 level-the Cape Flying Championship (twice), Computaform Sprint, and Mercury Sprint. So how did the What A Winter success story come about? The four time Gr1 winner was bred by the Daytona Stud, whose Mike Barnard touched on the mating. “A client of mine owned Waseela (dam of What A Winter) and decided to put her on a mare sale. However, she did not get a bid and so was not sold, and my wife Gail, took the mare over in return for making a donation to a charity of her choice. At the time, Waseela (by Ahonoora) was in foal to (Daytona’s resident sire) Qui Danzig, who turned out to be KZN champion What A Question (whose 7 wins included the Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes and Gr3 Byerley Turk). “Gail took Waseela over and we decided to give her a chance and send her to Western Winter. When the foal was born, it was clear that he took more after his dam than Western Winter – he was a strong, stocky horse and was a tremendous standout – even as a young horse.

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He was always a horse with great confidence and a wonderful temperament.” Unfortunately, Waseela did not enjoy the best of luck after foaling What A Winter. She did not get in foal when returning to Western Winter, but later produced a Qui Danzig filly (the unraced What If). Her son Prince Of Wings (by Jet Master), a R400 000 yearling buy, won in South Africa, before being exported to Mauritius, where he won a further five races. After that, Waseela battled to get in foal and eventually got in foal to Philanthropist, but unfortunately died of old age while in foal to Philanthropist. Waseela, who is descended from Hyperion’s dam Selene, was produced by a Troy (damsire of world leading sire Street Cry) half-sister to Irish 2000 Guineas winner Wassl (Mill Reef). Her third dam is Coronation Stakes winner Haymaking, and this is the same family as the legendary sire Sir Tristram. Mike remembers well the day that What A Winter made his racetrack debut, “(Trainer) Mike Bass was confident of a big run and said it would take a good one to beat him. He duly arrived when scoring on his only outing at two (What A Winter defeated Snappy by a length and a quarter over 1000m at the now defunct Clairwood Park). Bass and his team got involved with What A Winter after Gail and Carol Bass were chatting during the middle of what was a terrible National sales for Daytona and Gail mentioned a wow weanling that Daytona had on the farm. They duly went to Daytona, where they saw and bought

Mike and Mamoushka.

What A Winter.” Mike, who has used What A Winter, is confident about the horse’s future. “He seems to stamp his stock, which is often a good sign. They are usually strong and stocky – like he was – with my only reservations, perhaps, being about hocks and size. Personally, I would send him tall, narrow mares, especially daughters of Fort Wood, which I think on paper would suit What A Winter down to the ground (the mating of What A Winter to a Fort Wood mare has already resulted in the stakes winner Fort Winter). “I am really positive about What A Winter, and what is especially pleasing, is that almost all of his runners have shown at least some form.” At the time of writing, What A Winter was South Africa’s Leading First Crop Sire, with his first crop black type performers including Dutch Philip (Listed Somerset 1200), Magical Wonderland (Listed Perfect Promise Sprint) and Fort Winter (Listed East Cape Nursery). He looks on track to join the likes of Captain Al, Dynasty and Jet Master as a South African bred champion who made it big at stud! On a side note, Daytona will be selling the last foal (a Judpot colt) out of their wonderful producer, Mamushka (herself by Daytona’s late stalwart sire Elliodor) at the 2017 KZN Yearling Sale. Mamushka, herself a dual winner over 1200m, produced 8 winners, including four time winner and G3 Byerley Turk runner up Opening Partner. However, it is as the dam of Tiza (Goldkeeper) that Mamushka will forever be remembered. Ironically, this mare (Mamushka) was also owned by Gail. The globetrotting Tiza, who won the Gr2 The Nursery and Gr2 Post-Merchants in South Africa, was exported to Europe, where he went on to win six more races including the Gr3 Prix de Ris-Orangis, Gr3 Prix de Seine-et-Oise, and Gr3 Lucien

Mike and what a winter.

He looks on track to join the likes of Captain Al, Dynasty and Jet Master as a South African bred champion who made it big at stud!

Barriere Prix du Meautry. According to Racing Post, Tiza’s last French victory came (at the grand old age of nine) when landing a conditions race over 1100m at Fountainebleau. One of the first (if not the first) South African-breds to win a group race in Europe, Tiza won or placed in 31 of 56 outings, and his official earnings stood at more than £375 000.

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ising King R new

by Lisa Barrett

dubawi.

The recent announcement that Dubawi’s stud fee has been raised to £250 000 for the current season, one wonders if this is another broadside in the ongoing struggle for supremacy between the two giants of the horseracing world, Darley and Coolmore.

ased on Dubawi’s current performances in the breeding shed, he is his the fastest sire of 50 Group One winners and has 27 individual Group One winners to date, along with 15.5% stakes winners and 9.4% Group winners, he is a worthy contender for the crown of King of Kings currently worn by Coolmore supremo and giant, Galileo? Even though Galileo’s covering fee has never been made public, speculation is that it is in the region of €400 000 a jump, and with the number of top Group One and Group winning mares that line up to fill his book, it’s no wonder the Magniers are laughing all the way to the bank. Thanks to Sadler’s Wells and his stranglehold on sires titles and championships, followed by his son Galileo, Darley are

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desperate to try and unseat Coolmore from their top spot. The next few years are going to be a challenge for Coolmore, and while Galileo has been a veritable goldmine for Coolmore over the years, the reality is that he is getting on, and will be 20 next year. Although he is still in good nick at the present time, Coolmore have to start planning for a future without him. That’s where his Group One winning sons: Australia, Gleneagles, Ruler Of The World and The Gurkha who stand alongside him at Coolmore in Ireland, are being primed to fill the immense shoes of their sire. However it’s still early days for them, and it will take a good few years before we see their progeny at the track, and hopefully carrying on where Galileo left off.

Galileo’s successor Many consider Dubawi to be Galileo’s successor, based at Coolmore’s great rivals, Darley’s Dalham Hall Stud. Dubawi comes with a pedigree and an equine history that makes one sit up and take notice. His dam Zomaradah was a Group 1 and Group 2 placed, and his sire is the late, great Dubai Millenium, who hailed from Seeking The Gold, one of Mr.Prospector’s best sons on the track. Dubai Millennium easily won his maiden at Yarmouth, and then as a three year old went onto to win the Predominate Stakes, a Listed race that many see as a good indicator and a trial for the Epsom Derby. A big, solid horse who liked the softer ground, many felt that he might battle with the firmer ground in the Derby, and they were right, he suffered his only defeat, coming ninth and it was the last time he was tried over a mile and a half, going back to shorter distances of up to a mile. After an impressive six length win in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Ascot, Sheikh Mohammed announced that he would be aimed at the 2000 Dubai World Cup, and that he was the best horse that had ever been prepared by Godolphin. Relishing the desert conditions, Dubai Millennium went onto win by six lengths, pulling away from the rest of the field in an imperious and devastating manner. Champion jockey, Frankie Deottori called Dubai Millennium “the best I've ever ridden... absolutely unbelievable”. Sheikh Mohammed was keen to test his theory about how good Dubai Millennium was by pitting him against the brilliant Group One winning colt, Montjeu. The media went wild with speculation, and Sheikh Mohammed offered to pay Montjeu’s Breeders Cup entry, and put down $6 million to back Dubai Millennium to win. The Sheikh challenged Montjeu’s trainer Vincent Tabor to a duel of champions, the morning that the wager was published, Dubai Millennium suffered a lateral condylar fracture of his leg while training. His life was saved by an operation, but his racing career was over, and the mouth-watering match of the decade was off! Dubai Millennium was retired and sent to stud at Dalham Hall. Given a Timeform rating of 140, the same as the great

Dubawi comes with a pedigree and an equine history that makes one sit up and take notice. Dancing Brave whose 1986 Arc victory was one of the most electrifying of recent times. With a stud fee of £100 000, much was expected from Dubai Millennium and his future seemed assured. However, in 2001 tragedy struck when he contracted grass sickness, and despite the best medical treatment and prolonged attempts to save him, the great horse was humanely euthanised under anesthetic on April 30. It was a monumental loss to the breeding and racing world, however Dubai Millennium had managed to sire a single crop of 56 foals, though it would be one colt in particular, Dubawi who would be his greatest advertisement, and a sobering reminder of what could have been. Dubawi certainly proved his mettle, not only as a threetime Group One winner, but by going one step further than his great sire: he produced six individual Group One winners from his first crop at stud, including Dubawi Heights, Mafki, Poet’s Voice (now a successful stallion in his own right as a leading first crop sire), and Prince Bishop, who along with Monterosso have both won the Dubai World Cup. Now with his multiple Group One winning son Postponed just being retired to stud due to an injury, the fairytale looks set for another chapter. South Africa has been blessed by a sprinkling of Dubawi in the form of Willow Magic, who stands at champion breeders Summerhill Stud, in KwaZulu-Natal. Willow Magic was a precocious winner of the S.A. Nursery Plate (Gr1) defeating Red Ray, then went on to win The Dingaans (Gr2) defeating several top Group One performers, before running a heartstopping second in the Gold Challenge to Horse of the Year, Legislate. With Willow Magic’s first foals hitting the ground this year, a new chapter of a champion begins.

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BreedeR day in the life of a

by Michele Wing

Pippa Mickleburgh, Avontuur Farm, CTS Emperor’s Palace Select Yearling Sale .

wake as the first rays of sunlight creep through the window panes. As I gaze out at the ever brightening skyline, the dawn heralds a new day. This is not just any day, it’s auction day. With the expectation of what is to come, I pull on some jeans and make myself a quick cup of coffee and stumble downstairs. Outside, the crisp, Highveld air makes me draw breath, as I pause to watch the early morning mist rising off the ground. Walking to the stables I am met by the whinnying of horses and the knocking of feed bins, as grooms busy themselves with measuring out rations for the first meal of the day. As I walk up and down the stable lines to the contented munching of yearlings, I am struck by the peace and beauty of these sleek animals. Nearly 3 years of planning and production have culminated in this day which will see them presented for sale. In a short 90 seconds their futures will be decided

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and hopefully a good price for their breeders. While the yearlings are being groomed, I leave the yard and go back inside for breakfast and more coffee. The atmosphere is one of cautious optimism as no one speaks of specific lots but seemingly everything else to do with the industry. Back out outside again, strings of yearlings are being walked, in long snake-like lines. Some are impetuous and pull on their lead lines, cavorting and jumping into the air. I smile at their youthful enthusiasm, as their handlers quietly cajole them into focussing on the task at hand. I meet up with Pippa Mickleburgh, stud manager of Avontuur. Her yearlings arrived from Stellenbosch five days earlier. Pippa: “CTS have their sales at hotels and casinos, with

temporary stables set up in the car parks, so we can’t get here any earlier than five days before. It is cutting it a bit fine, as if you have any travel injuries or problems, there isn’t time to treat them. The National TBA sale, which is over 3 days, is different, as we get there 10 days before. CTS has a much quicker turnaround. It can be stressful as our horses from the Cape travel 20 hours in the truck to get here and if anything goes wrong, which can happen, you have no time to fix it or allow the horse to recover. However, so far so good this year.” With all the planning and preparation, I wonder how Pippa is feeling? Pippa: “I don’t really feel nervous on auction day. You do have to be realistic about your draft but if you come with a nice draft and they are all ‘vet-clear’, then I am quite confident. We do the best marketing and PRO as we can, present them and turn them out as well as we can. If we are bid less than expected, we let them go, as that is what the market will pay. I don’t believe we can improve them in the hope of being offered more at another sale.” As her yearlings are having their feet oiled and their preparation for the first viewings of the morning, veterinarian, Jean-Charles Lepeudry, arrives to vet her horses for prospective buyers. Pippa: “Having vets assess yearlings is common practice for the more discerning buyer and top of the range purchase. Essentially, vets check that the yearling’s eyesight is normal, that there are no heart murmurs or any joint distensions and that they walk and trot true. Many of the leading farms will have 36 x-rays taken of each yearling prior to coming to the sale which are lodged in a repository on the sale ground. Once vetted, the x-rays are then assessed to make sure that there’s nothing the vets can’t see in the physical examination, that the x-rays will show up. Taking x-rays was very fashionable several years ago, when all the farms did it. However, it’s an expensive undertaking at R6 000 per yearling. I have been to some sales where none of the x-rays have been viewed so we now rather wait and should a prospective buyer wish to have them taken we do so at the sales ground ahead of the auction. The one exception is the CTS Premier Yearling Sale in Cape Town in January as international buyers will only purchase a yearling with clean x-rays. For that sale we x-ray our whole draft ahead of time.” As prospective buyers arrive at the Avontuur stables throughout the day to view the yearlings, I once again marvel at the patience of these young horses. Pippa: “Some trainers arrive and ask for the whole string to be shown to them whilst others come with a short-list. However, at the National Yearling Sale where the yearlings are there for 10 days, they can be shown up to 60 times. That is on top of being hand-walked for exercise each morning and evening. My niece who works for Magic Millions in Australia, walked 22 kilometres showing yearlings to prospective buyers over the

Avontuur’s three lots sold for an aggregate of R2 950 000 and an average of R983 333. A wonderful result in any breeder’s book. duration of a recent sale.” Whilst I comprehend what Pippa has just said, she goes on; “You must remember that they don’t exercise the yearlings at Magic Millions in Sydney like we do here so that 22 kilometres is just walking horses for clients.” With the start of the auction approaching and the Emperor’s Palace D’Oreale Grande and the sales marquee filling up, Pippa puts the finishing touches to her yearlings. A quick spray of coat shine, oil on their faces, quartermarks on their hindquarters and more oil on their feet. They shine and gleam enough to make any South African Showing Champion proud. William, the groom, looks exceptionally smart in his attire, as he sets off with Cizeron, lot 32, a grey colt by Var, out of Gr1 winning mare , Sarabande. For the first time, Pippa shows just a hint of nervous anticipation. Pippa: “My work is now done. The buyers have been to look and the vets assessed them. Now, what will be, will be.” I wish her luck, as I turn to follow William and Cizeron, who is dancing at the end of William’s lead line. As lots 28, 29 and 30 go into the ring, I feel my heart starting to pound in my chest. I catch myself, as if this is how I’m feeling, I wonder about Pippa. I look out across the auction hall but can’t see her. To calm my own nerves I strike up a conversation with natural horseman, Malan du Toit, who is standing at the entrance to the ring. I am in awe at the quiet reassurance he imparts to these young horses as he manages the free flow of yearlings into and out of the marquee. It’s William’s turn and as he and Cizeron pass me, with Cizerzon stepping close to William for encouragement, I find myself whispering “Godspeed you two”, under my breath. The next 90 seconds pass in a flash with auctioneer Andrew Miller knocking down his gavel at R650 000.00. I whoop with delight and shout out to William who is still in the ring and can’t hear me. I felt so proud of them at that moment that they could have been mine. Back at the stables William is all smiles and I have final word with Pippa at the end of the evening. Avontuur’s three lots sold for an aggregate of R2 950 000 and an average of R983 333. A wonderful result in any breeder’s book. As the night settles and I reflect on the day, I quietly excuse myself for a night cap. The adrenalin of the auction catches up with me as I head to bed feeling privileged to have experienced such a day.

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allan C urray M in hong kong

Ash Maharaj

Callan Murray and Andrew Harding.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club threw a spanner in works in the life of the high riding Callan Murray in mid-May when they called and invited the youngster to the Chinese island for a short riding stint. by Ash Maharaj

t’s a phone call that many would like to receive but for one so young and new to the professional jockey ranks it came as a huge surprise. Murray is a likeable character and has proven himself as a talented jockey, grabbing every opportunity. He had no involvement in the racing industry prior to joining the South African Jockey Academy. He recalled. “A family friend was a steward and recommended that I start riding because I was small. I applied for the Academy in October and by January I was living there.” Murray rode his first race aboard Captain Lars for trainer Mike De Kock with whom he has now built a strong affinity and rode his first winner aboard the Charles Laird-trained Tennessee Strategy (AUS) in the famous Jooste silks, at the now defunct Clairwood Park. From there he never looked back, becoming Champion Apprentice for the 2015 – 2016 Season. Hungry for experience and a vision to improve his riding he made a trip to Australia late last year. “I learnt a lot from the racing. It’s very technical and pace related because the

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tracks are really tight, it definitely improved me as a rider.” Following a successful Champions Day where he rode three Gr1 winners, Murray received an offer to ride in Hong Kong and consulted De Kock before making a decision. “I spoke to Mr De Kock because I’m trying to keep on good terms with him, I basically let him make the decision. I gave Hong Kong my circumstances and they agreed to them. I got the best of both worlds”.

Focus and determination Murray made it clear that focus and determination will be key to success in Hong Kong. “I’ve come to realise that it’s a big opportunity that I have to make the most of. There’s no time to mess around, so I’m going to put my head down and work hard.” He has been appointed as a club jockey which allows him to freelance. Due to the current season already midway, the Jockey Club have given Murray his own Agent. “I want to go there with an open mind and to learn is the main thing. But as a competitive rider, I don’t just want to ride there, I want to do well.”

Dream Debut by Ada van der Bent

A R3.8 million Dynasty colt consigned by Highlands Farms Stud provided a dream sales debut for the Kieswetter family, new owners of the historical stud and one of the jewels of Western Cape breeding.

amed Grab The Light, the sales topper stepped into the ring as the third-last lot of the sale and it was Jehan Malherbe of Form Bloodstock whose final bid was enough to prise the colt away from the underbidders. Regally-bred, the own brother to triple Gr.1 winner Jackson is out of the Cozzene matron Moonlit Prairie, a scion of the outstanding family from which descend leading American sire Smart Strike and a host of Canadian champions. The prized colt is also a full brother to the Gr.3 Byerley Turk winner Heartland and a half-brother to Jade Bay (Jallad), who captured the Gr.3 Lebelo Sprint. The Dynasty colt broke the stranglehold of a trio of Captain Al fillies which had hogged the top of the leader board for much of the day, the most expensive of which was bought by Chris van Niekerk’s Rainbow Beach Trading for R2.6-million. Consigned by leading vendor Klawervlei (as were six of the top-priced lots), the own sister to stakes-placed Captain’s Causeway is out of the dual winner Giants Bounty, a Giant’s Causeway mare from the immediate family of Invincible Spirit and Kodiak, leading sires in Ireland and England respectively. MV Magnier, son of Coolmore boss John Magnier, featured prominently on the buyers’ list as the purchaser of nine lots, prime amongst which the R1.7 million Captain Al own sister to last season’s champion juvenile colt Always In Charge. Magnier’s other purchases included two of a quartet of youngsters to sell for an even million, a Silvano colt and a rare daughter of leading American sire Kitten’s Joy. At the close of business, it was clear that the returns failed to match those of 2016 and for the second year running, all the key indicators were down. A slightly reduced catalogue was always going to impact on the returns, with 132 of the 159 entered selling for a total of R41,650,000, down from R63,085,000 last year. The average fell from R377,754 to R317,939 while the median decreased from R225,000 to R175,000. In a repeat of 2016, Klawervlei Stud again led the vendors list, having sold 30 lots for R15,775,000 at an average price of R525,833. The popularity of Dynasty was such that he was by far the leading sire on average, his eight lots selling for R856,250 apiece, a huge lead over Oratorio, whose five lots averaged R530,000.

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CTS Graduates Cape Thoroughbred Sales graduates continue to perform with distinction in South Africa during the period from February until the end of May 2017.

he poster- girl would be multiple Grade 1 heroine, Carry On Alice whilst high-powered juveniles, Sand and Sea and Brave Mary also clinched races at Group 1 level. Carry On Alice (Captain Al ex Carry on Katie) was sold by Klawervlei Stud at CPYS 2013 for R475 000 and has compiled a brilliant record as a durable sprinter traversing the country. She has taken on and beaten the best, providing infinite pleasure to her fortunate connections, and after the mare’s stylish G1 SA Fillies Sprint win is now slated to go to stud in Australia where her progeny could fetch big money. Deep pockets were not needed to secure Brave Mary, however – Green Street Bloodstock astutely “nicking” this daughter of Brave Tin Soldier for a measly R40 000 at the CTS Johannesburg Ready To Run Sale. The intrigue of an unpredictable equine market is that diamonds in the rough, like Brave Mary, can be unearthed. She made a sharp midrace move to put the result of the G1 Allan Robertson beyond doubt, proving too swift for fellow graduates, the SA Fillies Nursery winner Green Plains and Neptune’s Rain. Sand and Sea (Twice Over ex Sea Point) won the G1 Gold Medallion, his visually impressive stretch run proving irresistible. Inbred to Blushing Groom, it was his second win from as many starts and helped trainer Dennis Drier retain a stranglehold on this 1200m race. He has more than vindicated his connection’s decision to buy this Drakenstein Stud bred colt for R1 million at CPYS 2016. French Navy is getting on in years, yet can still mix it with formidable rivals when all parts are in working order. Legal Eagle is the undisputed champion miler in SA with a merit rating of 123, so it was a sterling effort at level weights for this son of Count Dubois to get within spitting distance in the G1 Horse Chestnut over 1600m at Turffontein in early April. Search Party and Just Sensual are two CTS graduates to recently sneak the second spot in Grade 1 races. The Cape Merchants winner, Search Party, finished behind Bull Valley in the G1 Tsogo Sun Sprint at Scottsville, and is a consistent and game sprinter capable of picking up an important Stakes win. There was also honour in defeat for Just Sensual - outrun by Carry On Alice in the G1 SA Fillies Sprint. She must have a plausible chance of soon adding to her Classic haul over a more suitable distance. Some very smart horses have done well over the years in the Cape Winter Series, despite its humble Grade 3 status. Dynasty colt, African Night Sky is poised to round off the sequence after convincing victories in the Guineas and Classic. By Dynasty out of Starzene, and bred at Highlands, he was an R850 000 item at CPYS and has impressed with his tractability and turn of foot. He might prove vulnerable in the leg over 2400m, often run in the slush, yet regardless arade MAGAZINE | July 2017 48 final

of what happens there, trainer Justin Snaith has sights set on significant races during the Cape summer at year end. Freshman sire and former Champion speedster, What A Winter has made an auspicious start to his career in the breeding sheds. Two of his progeny, Dutch Philip and Magical Wonderland have clearly inherited some of his sprinting prowess and they are cleaning up in juvenile features in the Cape. Sold for 460K and 450K respectively, they won both Nurseries at Kenilworth towards the end of May and seem bright prospects. Other CTS graduates to proudly showcase their origins are Smiling Blue Eyes, Janoobi and Safe Harbour. The latter was a bargain buy at 180K at a Ready To Run sale and deserves an honourable mention having repeatedly endured tough contested seconds in key races - most recently in the G1 SA Fillies Classic. All of Safe Harbour’s place cheques are adding to earnings, of course, and providing an excellent return on outlay. Smiling Blue Eyes overcame a wide draw to sweep through from the rear in the G2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas, with Janoobi winning the colts’ equivalent using pace-forcing tactics. Trainer Mike de Kock envisaged the narrow and twisting Greyville circuit as perfect for the son of Silvano’s freewheeling running style, and they duly landed the G2 KZN Guineas when invading Durban with this Maine Chance bred entry. Gimme Six (Gimmethegreenlight ex District Six) used powerful acceleration to win both the G2 Umzimkhulu Stakes and G2 KZN Fillies Guineas. She was bred at Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud. Wind Chill may be diminutive, yet also has the ability to turn on the turbo’s and she got the job done in the G2 SA Oaks at Turffontein. Meanwhile, rejuvenated 2014 CTS RTR purchase, Ten Gun Salute, raced himself into the G1 Durban July picture, making a wild run from the top of the straight to triumph in the G2 Betting World 1900. Cape Thoroughbred Sales have made a dynamic impact on the South African scene in a relatively short period. They are now supported by virtually all of the country’s best commercial breeder’s, stage professionally run auctions in pleasing locations, and are constantly striving to enhance the buying experience. Putting together a variety of auctions catering to different niche segments and reconciling the needs of vendors and buyers is also an integral part of their approach. The worth of all that marketing effort, plus compiling attractive catalogues, is ultimately judged by thoroughbred performance on the track. So, by featuring prominently in prestigious Graded races around the country, CTS graduates are testimony to a winning formula.

South Africa’s Leading Sales Company

MAGICAL WONDERLAND

JUST SENSUAL

BRAVE MARY

JANOOBI

WILLIAM LONGSWORD

SAND AND SEA

GIMME SIX

DUTCH PHILIP

GREEN PLAINS

SMILING BLUE EYES

CARRY ON ALICE - CTS graduate ‘superstar’ bid farewell to racing after landing the SA Fillies Sprint G1 - the fifth G1 race of her career.

SEARCH PARTY

It’s A Lifestyle

Contact Adrian Todd (MD) E: adrian@cthbs.com or Amanda Carey (Sales & Operations Manager) E: amanda@cthbs.com T: +27 (0) 21 873 0734 M: +27 (0) 82 465 4020 W: www.capethoroughbredsales.com

Sets the Bar goddess var

Candiese Marnewick

by Ada van der Bent

The 2017 edition of the National Yearling Sale witnessed a new high when the all-time record price was broken at the third and final session.

his honour fell to Goddess Var, who lived up to her name in the sales ring when she established a new benchmark for the sale at R5-million which eclipsed previous best of R4.75 million set two years ago. A show of hands quickly saw the price spiral into the millions, with Mario Ferrreira and Jehan Malherbe emerging as the main contenders for the cracking daughter of Var consigned by Varsfontein Stud. Following a horns-locked encounter, it was Malherbe who had the greater fire power and he prevailed at R5 million. Purchased on behalf of Shadwell, the filly is a third generation Varsfontein-bred and hails from one of the finest families in the South African stud book. She is the first foal of Captain Al mare Fidelity, a winning daughter of champion Promisefrommyheart, also the dam of exciting young stallion Master Of My Fate. Third dam Secret Pact, a stakes winning own sister to legendary Horse of the Year London News, also produced Gr.1 Majorca Stakes victress Covenant and stakes winner Secret Heart, who is best known as the dam of

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Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf hero Pluck. Mike de Kock will train the sales topper and he neatly described her as “a filly worthy of Shadwell.” It certainly proved a moment in time for vendors Varsfontein. “Overwhelmed,” said Susan Rowett, co-owner of the stud with brother John Kalmanson, who was clearly overcome with emotion. Varsfontein have retained virtually every female member of this celebrated family and as stud manager Carl de Vos rightly pointed out: “She is only the third filly we have sold from this family, one of which of course is the dam of Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf winner Pluck.” The sale’s most expensive colt was a R4 million son of Silvano, which had let the way for the first two days and he too, had gone the way of Malherbe. Following an opening bid of R500,000, robust bidding on Matador Step quickly saw the price speed past a million Rand, steadily breach the two and three-million mark and when the R3.5 million plateau was reached, Malherbe and

trainer Alec Laird were left standing as the main protagonists. The former’s pocket proved deepest and when auctioneer Steve Davis brought down the gavel one final time, Malherbe did the honours of signing the price list. A classy bay, the colt is the first foal of Western Winter mare Maxixe and is destined for the stable of Dean Kannemeyer, who trained the dam’s own brother, champion miler Capetown Noir. “He was a lovely colt, very balanced,” Dean remarked. ”I realised he was going to go for big money, but then, I know what the family is capable of.” Grandam Akinfeet, the champion broodmare of 2013, also produced the tough as teak Gr.3 winner Across The Ice to the cover of Western Winter. Matador Red was born and raised at Lammerskraal Stud, and as stud manager Sally Bruss remarked: “I always thought he was one of the nicest colts we’ve bred.” Hong Kong-based trainer and ex-pat Tony Millard was also in attendance and he snapped up a R2.2-million son of Oratorio on behalf of a Hong Kong client. The colt is out of Gr.1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Emerald Beauty, an Argentine-bred daughter of Equalize from the power-packed “E” family, which provided Tony, father Terrance and brotherin-law Geoff Woodruff with such champions as Empress Club, Ecurie, Epoque, Eventuail and Elusive Fort. Another seven-figure lot possibly destined for David Ferraris in Hong Kong was a R1.1-million Dynasty colt knocked down to father Ormonde Ferraris, who had trained the dam, Gr.2 Gerald Rosenberg winner, Hawker Hunter. “She was such a genuine mare and good-legged, just like this colt,’ the veteran trainer remarked. Youngsters by proven stallions were hot commodities with established sires Var, Silvano, Dynasty and Captain Al the emerging as the top four stallions by aggregate, led by Var on R13,205,000 for 23 lots sold, On Average, Captain Al ranked first with an impressive R938,182 for 11 yearlings, headed by the R3.6 million daughter out of the exemplary broodmare Mystic Spring, which has joined the Drakenstein fold.

”I realised he was going to go for big money, but then, I know what the family is capable of.” On a more poignant note, the sale marked the last opportunity to acquire a yearling by one of the most influential stallions ever to stand in this country, the late Fort Wood. For many years, his dominance on the racetrack has been mirrored in the sales ring and it was one of his daughters which held the previous sales record. He had eight yearlings on offer, the most expensive of which turned out to be the first foal out of splendid Gr2 winner Welwitschia, which fetched R1.6-million. Form Bloodstock’s Jehan Malherbe was by far and away the leading buyer, his 29 purchases totalling R20,245,000. Next buyer on the list was Shadwell South Africa, whose five lots (grossing R9,2 million) included the sales topper as well a R2.6 million Gimmethegreenlight colt. With the R5 million record priced filly adding turbo power, Varsfontein Stud emerged as the leading vendor, selling 23 horses for R15,495,000 at an average of R673,696. Mauritzfontein, Wilgerbosdrift, Lammerskraal and Drakenstein Stud rounded off the top five leading vendors. The sale continued the trend of a polarized market where the best offerings proved popular, however, the lack of a strong middle market was again in evidence, and this is a cause for concern, as breeders are not recovering input costs on horses. Difficult economic times and a diluted buying bench have contributed to a much thinner market, as reflected in the overall statistics. For the third year in succession, there was a retreat in both the average and median. The former dipped slightly from R320,015 to R304,550, while the median shrunk from R200,000 to R180,000. On a positive note, the aggregate of R111,770,000 showed a modest 4.5% increase on last year’s total of R106,885,000.

Top Lots Lot

Sex

Breeding

Vendor

Buyer

Price (R)

395

filly

Var-Fidelity

Varsfontein

Shadwell South Africa

5 000 000

colt

Silvano-Maxixe

Lammerskraal

Form Bloodstock

4 000 000

filly

Captain Al-Mystic Spring

Cheveley Stud

Drakenstein Stud

3 600 000

colt

Gimmethegreenlight-Mocha Special

Mauritzfontein

Shadwell SA

2 600 000

380

colt

Oratorio-Emerald Beauty

Wilgerbosdrift

William Mocatta

2 200 000

filly

Captain Al-Monpazier

Boland Stud

M Ferreira

2 000 000

121

colt

Dynasty-Quick Single

Varsfontein

Form Bloodstock

1 800 000

330

filly

Captain Al-Castle Pine

Varsfontein Stud

Form Bloodstock

1 800 000

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Ashburton a look at

Candiese Marnewick

by Candiese Marnewick

It’s a tranquil setting to the right of the N3 highway off the Ashburton turnoff as you near Pietermaritzburg, with its magnificent open backdrop of mountains that encompass the views with acacia trees in the distance.

long tar driveway reveals a club house on the left that offers breakfast with spectacular early morning track views as the sun edges over the backs of the racehorses walking in the rings and galloping up one of the three tracks. Those who frequent Ashburton Training Centre enjoy its small and personal feel – a training centre that can house 457 horses during Champions Season and has seen the likes of trainers Vaughan Marshall, Paul Lafferty, Anne Upton, Dave Goss, Robin Watkinson, Des Rich (Gary Rich’s father), Nic Veldman, Herman Brown Jnr, Terry Lowe, Darren Fur, Mike and Pat Riley all training horses there at some point during their careers, some with immense success and July winners. Weiho Marwing enjoyed a successful stint out of the training boxes of Ashburton. Turning left off the tar takes you to the tunnel which is also a separate walkway to the track for the horses, whilst overhead you might hear the thudding of hooves as the horses work on the track over the tunnel. There is a warm atmosphere that is hard to describe and why so many out-of-town owners love visiting on Saturday mornings to watch their proud

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Thoroughbreds strut their stuff. Ashburton is situated perfectly – far enough to feel out of town and in the wilds so to speak with no commercial infrastructures in view, yet close enough to not feel the effort to drive there from Pietermaritzburg or Durban. There is the sound of hooves and horses breathing in the crisp winter air, and exhaling foggy silhouettes as the Thoroughbred athletes ring in their respective strings on the soft sand; calls from the trainers of stable numbers identifying horses and instructing the work riders and apprentices on what needs to be done. Girths being tightened, whips tucked into back pockets, legs being checked, notes being taken. In between the serious business of watching and assessing each gallop (and Des Egdes always on his white metal perch!) - there is plenty of banter between the trainers, jockeys, apprentices and riding masters in the mornings – whilst they are all competitive on race day, there is plenty of comradery and teamwork evident in the mornings, all gathered for a single purpose of a common love of the Thoroughbred racehorse and a game we all love. If a horse gets loose or injured everyone clubs in to assist.

Shane Humby has recently relocated to Ashburton from the Cape; and the visiting trainers currently stabled there for Champions Season includes Johan Janse van Vuuren, who had the great grey Negroamaro amongst others there for the duration of the previous Champions Season. KZN’s own Champion Trainer Duncan Howells is a permanent resident with a string of approximately 100 quality, well-bred horses, including July past and present hopeful, Saratoga Dancer. Others to come out of the stable include the crack fillies Gypsy’s Warning, Same Jurisdiction and the mighty Via Africa amongst many. Saratoga Dancer, the Gary Player Stud Farm-bred son of Mambo In Seattle scorched to a fifth place in the Vodacom Durban July last year, and looks to better that performance this year after two promising starts for the Champions Season, whilst Australian-bred Ten Gun Salute has thrown his name into the hat as a strong July contender after winning the Gr2 Betting World 1900 from a quality field. Howells and a few other resident Ashburton trainers drew the bulk of the honours at last year’s Gold Circle Racing Awards with six of the horses taking home the premier awards – including Dawn Calling for best performance by two-yearold filly, Paul and Beth Gadsby’s Gunner as best performance by two-year-old colt; Cosmic Light for best performance by three-year-old filly (Howells Racing), Same Jurisdiction (best performance by older mare – Howells Racing), and Weiho Marwing trained Mac De Lago claiming two Awards for best performance by an older horse and over middle distance. The best performance by a two-year-old filly category was dominated by Ashburton and Howells trained fillies Lunar Rush, A Woman’s Way and the subsequent winner, Dawn Calling. Duncan Howells currently leads the KZN Trainers log with almost a million in stakes more than his closest competitor stabled at Summerveld. Ashburton has seen a KZN Champion Trainer before with Cyril Naidoo, the stable yard now occupied by Des Egdes. Housed in the Howells Racing Stable is the likes of Gr2 winner A Woman’s Way, Elusive Enchantment, Legend, Lunar Rush – the KZN Yearling Sales Million winner of 2016, July hopefuls Ten Gun Salute and Saratoga Dancer, Cosmic Light, Dawn Calling, Secret Captain (half-brother to Bela-Bela and a full brother to R3,7million graduate off the 2017 National Yearling Sale), and the record national yearling sales filly of her time Savannah Cat – who sold for R4,750 000 in 2015. Duncan has an army full of well-bred handsome youngsters coming through the ranks by leading sires nationally and internationally – the string is easily recognisable with neatly hogged manes and trimmed tails. The husband and wife team of Paul and Beth Gadsby had brilliant Gr1 success with the son of Gimmethegreenlight, Gunner, winning the Gr1 Premiers Champions Stakes at Greyville last year. Another exciting horse is the daughter of Kildonan, Vision To Kill, owned by Robert Mauvis, who should make her name known in the feature races this season.

Duncan Howells currently leads the KZN Trainers log with almost a million in stakes more than his closest competitor stabled at Summerveld. Belinda Impey has amongst her string, the first winner for sire Crusade in Miss Millionaire. Her other prolific horses she has had in her care include Winter Magic, Kept Secret and Jet Man. Other trainers include Gary Rich who is sporting a stable filled with some exciting well-bred youngsters, including the juvenile filly Pina Colada. Under Gary’s care he has trained Stakes winner Slew Per Scarlet, Khazakh Floater, Rebel Prince and Spark Of Peace. Lowan Denysschen recently purchased a smart Gimmethegreenlight filly at the Nationals – a bargain at R100 000 out of the brilliant race mare Polzeath, the dam of 4-time winner Miss Minver. Lowan has had amongst the horses in his care (and with his father, the late Paul Denysschen) Gr1 winner Amberpondo, Sizzling Sauce (Merchants winner), Rusedski, Greenwood, Met runner Beckers Theme, Lump Sum and 10-time winner Punters Dream. Trimontium went on to win five times and currently in the stable is 5-time winner, Pure Valor. Des Egdes is a regular in the winner’s enclosure and has trained the likes of Ship’s Gossip, Festive Forever, Modern Day, Red Flyer and Shah’s Star amongst them. Julie Dittmer has had the likes of Julie’s Boy, Three Degrees, Mr Wizzard and Sharp Awakening amongst her career stars at Ashburton. The sister team of assistants Haley and Tarryn Crawford bring home the winners from their small band of home grown horses under the guidance of their mother and trainer, Lola Crawford. Established in 1984 after Scottsville closed as a training facility, the three tracks consist of a 2100m oval grass track with banked turns, an 1800m light sand track and a 500m heavy sand track. There is also a 350m trotting ring which has recently been upgraded. The stables are comfortably apart from each other, some equipped with mechanical walkers while small paddocks are dotted in between the stables, all sporting spectacular 180 degree views of the hills of Bishopstowe and towards Camperdown. Gauteng Champions Season raider Johan Janse Van Vuuren is back at Ashburton with his powerful string including the likes of the smart Green Pepper, New Predator, Brazuca (AUS) and Girl On The Run in his arsenal. As they say, dynamite comes in small packages - expect Ashburton to be prominently featured once again in August 2017’s Gold Circle Racing Awards with the substantial horse power stabled near Pietermaritzburg during Champions Season – not to be missed.

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greys inn

by Robyn Louw

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Rosedene Stud’s resident stallion Greys Inn will shuttle to Highlands for the first six weeks of the forthcoming breeding season. He is big, he is impressive and with a number of Gr1 winners and a Dual Horse Of The Year to his credit already, one can’t argue his credentials.

“

asically we’re trying something new,” says Graeme Koster. “The one who initiated the idea was Pippa Mickleburgh. She loves Greys Inn and asked if we couldn’t get him closer for the first month because a lot of the Cape shareholders find travelling difficult. It is a long haul to the Karoo and back,” he acknowledges. “We considered a number of studs and then Mr Kieswetter and Craig Carey kindly offered to stand him at Highlands. Highlands is really central for everyone and one couldn’t find a better stud manager or a better farm, so we gratefully accepted.” Greys Inn will be doing stud duty at Highlands from the beginning of September. “With the colder climate in the Karoo, our mares start cycling later so our breeding season starts later, so it actually works out quite well,” continues Graeme. “Greys Inn has travelled the world and never struggled. I think he’ll take it in his stride. We think he’s a great racehorse and deserves every opportunity and hopefully

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he’ll throw a few more champions and leave a legacy.”

About Greys Inn Conceived in Australia, foaled in the Kentucky Bluegrass, raised in South Africa and raced with distinction all over the world ,Greys Inn has a fascinating backstory. Greys Inn is by Zabeel out of an unraced mare called Great Verdict. Great Verdict, by Christmas Tree out of broodmare of the year, Summoned was a AUD340k purchase at the Inglis sale in Sydney. She was procured by Robin Bruss on behalf of Mrs Bridget Oppenheimer, who wanted a mare to send to Horse Chestnut, then just starting his breeding career at Claiborne in Kentucky. At the time of purchase, Great Verdict was in foal to Zabeel and once she’d shipped to Kentucky, duly produced the bay colt who would be christened Greys Inn. Mike de Kock handled the colt for the duration of his racing career and is still a majority shareholder, which is no small compliment. Mike was assigned Greys Inn by way of his annual allocation from Mauritzfontein. Asked about the horse’s incredibly international pedigree, nevermind his CV, Mike chuckles,“There wouldn’t be too many horses in the world who’ve got as many airmiles as he does!” Greys Inn made his track debut at Newmarket on 28 October 2003. It was a 1200m maiden plate and given his pedigree, Mike says they weren’t expecting much, but Greys Inn showed his class to win by a length. Three weeks later he was tried over 1600m and won by 3 ¼ lengths. Then the flu hit forcing a long layoff and the next time Greys Inn stepped out

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was March 2004, when he finished a close 3rd over 1400m at Turffontein as his single Triple Crown prep. In the SA Guineas at Newmarket, he finished 5 lengths off Grand Emporium from the widest draw, but he won the SA Classic by 2 ½ lengths and followed up in the SA Derby, beating Saddlewood home a short head. Mike remembers he was still ‘quite fat’ when they took him to Durban and he finished 3rd in the Daily News 2000 as his July prep. South Africa was celebrating 10 years of democracy and for the 2004 running of the July, so the no 10 saddlecloth carried a South African flag. Greys Inn duly went to post as number 10 and memorably came back a 2 ½ length winner for Mrs O.

Globetrotting After the July, Greys Inn shipped to Dubai where he ‘did pretty well’. He made his Dubai Carnival debut in the 1600m Gr3 Al Fahidi Fort on the Nad al Sheba turf on 11 February 2005, finishing 4th behind Yard-Arm. A month later he won the 2400m Gr3 Dubai City of Gold Stakes by 4 ½ lengths and then finished 4th in the 2400m Gr1 Dubai Sheema Classic, only beaten 2 ½ lengths. From Dubai, the “little South African Lion” set sail for Hong Kong where he finished ¾ length second to the mighty Vengeance Of Rain (also, incidentally by Zabeel) in the prestigious QEII Cup. It was a huge effort and Mike reflects, “with a bit more luck, he could have won it.” “We decided to have a crack at Australia with him, but

the only way to get there was via Singapore, so he spent three months with Pat Shaw.” Unfortunately, things went awry Downunder. “We’d asked for a companion horse in quarantine and I think it must have brought something in, because Greys Inn got a bad case of the snots. He kept losing weight, although he always worked well, funnily enough,” he muses. Greys Inn made his Australian debut in the 2000m G1 Yalumba Stakes at Caulfield to finish 4th by 2 ¾ lengths. At the end of October he lined up for the G1 Cox Plate, finishing 8 lengths off Makybe Diva and he also started in Makybe Diva’s 2005 G1 Melbourne Cup, sadly finishing downfield. “We weren’t very successful, but we had a good time,” chuckles Mike. “Myself, Steven Jell and Weichong Mawing rented a house outside Melbourne and we had a lot of fun. The whole experience was awesome. The parade through town was another experience. I could try and describe it, but unless you witnessed it, you wouldn’t believe it. Everything is horse racing in Melbourne that week. One can see why people get pretty close to the horses and to the industry and they have a great respect for it. The public love the horses there. There’s also a lot of gambling and a helluva lot of information for the punter. You can’t believe how organised and well run it is.” After Australia, Greys Inn went back to Dubai where he was ½ a length second to Linngari in the 2006 G3 Al Rashidiya before finishing a long way back in the Sheema Classic. “He started getting little injuries, so we retired him and brought him home. I bought him from Mrs Oppenheimer and syndicated him.” The fact that Mike felt strongly enough about the horse to buy into him speaks volumes and he still owns ‘a fair chunk’ along with Rosedenes Graeme Koster. Asked to describe what he was like to work with, Mike says, “Right from the start, he was a real man, he took no nonsense whatsoever. He was also a very strong horse and we had to get special permission to race him in a stronger bit. But he had a very good mind and he was very brave. He had to be to cope with all the travelling and everything he had to overcome,” he reflects.

To advertise in Parade Magazine contact Warren Lenferna 031 314 1926

Progeny It’s hard to look past dual Horse of the Year, Legal Eagle, but Greys Inn has also produced the likes of Forries Waltz (G2 Al Rashidiya), Royal Bencher (SA Derby), Canterbury Tale (Gold Bowl), King Of Pain (Rising Sun Gold Challenge), Chekilli (Hawaii Stakes) as well as sprinting talent, November Rain. “With respect, one has to say he hasn’t had the greatest of mares,” says Mike, “and to come up with a Gr1 winner each crop as well as Legal Eagle – he can’t be the worst stallion around. And he’s done it the hard way. I think going to the Cape will be a positive move and hopefully he’ll get good support. To stand at a farm like Highlands is great. He’s good value for money and he has the ability to give you a champion, which says a lot. Hopefully he’ll get some good mares and throw a few more.” arade MAGAZINE | July 2017 57

Durban July winner takes to the

heavy metal and s’manga khumalo.

aving run 28 times for 6 wins, 12 places and earnings of R3 799 780 in prize money, Heavy Metal was retired from racing at the end of 2015. Owners Chris and Erich van Niekerk spent some time deciding where to retire him and their paths led to Sue Gilliatt of Global Herbs. Sue’s 15 year old twin daughters, Amy and Beth are both competitive junior riders currently competing on another Bosworth bred Thoroughbred Rieperbahn (Baroon x Hot Madame), who is the current 1m KZN eventing Champ, and the mare Fairy Lane by Tamburlane. The family have fallen in love with Heavy Metal and he has started his eventing career with some aplomb, winning rosettes at all his shows thus far. Although he is still learning about his new career, he is very keen in the country and his workmanlike nature and heart are evident

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cross country tracks

On the 6th of July 2013, Heavy Metal (Silvano x Percussion by Baroon), bred by the Orfords at Bosworth Farm Stud made history when winning the Durban July. Partnered by S’Manga “Bling” Khumalo, their win gave S’Manga the historical accolade of being the first black jockey to win South Africa’s most prestigious race. in everything he does. Clearly a very special character, the Gilliatt girls adore him and we expect to see him rising through the competitive eventing ranks as surely as he succeeded on the race track.

Ice Machine In the same stable – yard is another successful racing son of Silvano, Ice Machine (Silvano out of the Elliodor mare, Skid Alley), also aged 8. Ice Machine was trained by Charles Laird for 10 wins (including the Grade 2 Drill Hall Stakes) and 11 places winning stakes money of R1,389,700.

Ice mAchine and Heavy Metal with Heike harvey.

He was retired from racing in August 2016 and has started learning the basics to compete in dressage, show-jumping and cross-country with eventer Heike Harvey in KZN. These two former racing champs look to be continuing their winning ways in their new careers and we look forward to seeing them progress onwards and upwards. Mayday and Maxine spalding.

Mayday Not quite as successful on the track but also retired to KZN, is Mayday, a four year old gelding who raced a handful of times only before being retired last year. Mayday is by Royal Air Force out of the Rakeen mare Ardent Lady and has started his new career with Maxine Spalding in Shongweni, who tells us their story: “In July 2016, I was on the hunt to find the ‘next big thing’ after the unfortunate loss of my super star OTTB. I hunted high and low with the mind set of wanting a thoroughbred to mend my broken heart, then to school up and compete competitively in Eventing and Show Jumping within the next few years. I decided to message a few trainers I knew, one of them being Kuyan Kotzen, to see what his father, Glen, had coming off the track. He messaged to say he had a little gelding by Royal Air Force but he was unfortunately in Cape Town. Due to being in Durban, the hunt continued as I was not prepared to buy a horse I had never seen. I visited a few yards, tried a few horses and even had one vetted but nothing really caught my eye. After weeks of being unsuccessful and feeling hopelessly disappointed, my mom excitedly showed me a photo of a beautifully put together bay with a little white spot by Royal Air Force that Thoroughbred Rehoming Centre was trying to rehome. It was Mayday, the same horse Kuyan had! The response on his advert was overwhelming and my little green jealousy monster come out. “Mom, let’s just buy him and if he’s not my type, I can school him up and sell him on!” Thank goodness I have a mom who supports my wild and sometimes stupid decisions because 3 weeks later and after a 36 hour trip from Phillipi to Durban Shongweni Club, my Mayday walked off the box. It was love at first sight! I hadn’t

“Mom, let’s just buy him and if he’s not my type, I can school him up and sell him on!” even ridden him yet but I knew he was the one. I have now owned him for 9 months and in this time we have mainly concentrated on dressage to develop a good firm foundation in all he does. We have entered 2 dressage shows, getting scores in the high 60’s and placing 1st and 2nd. We have done one cross country training day where he never put a foot wrong and exceeded my wildest expectations. Our next big challenge is the Royal Agricultural Show where we will enter a few showing classes. I would never recommend buying a horse unseen but Mayday is exactly what I’ve dreamed. From his floating trot, to his mature mannerisms, to his cute neigh and sometimes cheeky 4 year old personality, I think I struck gold with him!”

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hampions C OF THE GAUTENG TURF CELEBRATED

by Merle Parker

The 2017 RA Feature Season Awards were held at Emperors Palace on Tuesday 30 May 2017 and the following winners were celebrated at the event.

Clayton Mathee, Mathew de Kock, Diane de Kock, Mike de Kock & RA Chairman Michael Leaf – horse of the season – Rafeef (AUS)

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special award was handed to Mike de Kock on having attained 3000 winners – Mike expressed his thanks to his family and his team who carry out their duties with passion and commitment. Chris van Niekerk was also called upon to collect a special award for National Colour who produced two grade 1 winners on Champions day at Turffontein. The adjudicators panel comprised Vee Moodley (Chairman), Clyde Basel, Vidrik Thurling and Robert Garner. The equine section was judged on performance in graded races during the season while the human categories were based on a points system. The Racing Association congratulates all the winners and takes this opportunity to thank roleplayers for their contribution in making 2016/2017 a successful racing season.

2017 RA Feature Season Awards Champion 2 year old filly:

Green Plains

Champion 2 year old colt/gelding:

Mustaaqeem (Aus)

Champion 3 year old filly:

Orchid Island

Champion 3 year old colt/gelding:

Al Sahem

Champion Older Horse:

Rafeef (Aus)

Champion Sprinter:

Rafeef (Aus)

Champion Middle Distance Horse:

Legal Eagle

Champion Stayer:

Al Sahem

Champion Work Rider

Sam Mosia

Champion Apprentice

Lyle Hewitson

Champion Breeder of the Season

Varsfontein Stud

Champion jockey of the season

S’Manga Khumalo

Champion Trainer of the Season

Sean Tarry

Champion owner of the season

Mayfair Speculators (Nominee: D L Brugman)

Horse of the Season

Rafeef (Aus)

Sean Tarry, Larry Wainstein & Chris van Niekerk – Special Broodmare Award – National Colour

Larry Wainstein & Mike de Kock – Special Award 3000 winners

Lyle Hewitson & Academy Master Robert Moore – winning apprentice

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Graded

race

Results by Ada Van der Bent

TONY RUFFEL STAKES (GRADE 3) - R250,000 - 1450m - Turffontein 1st R156,250, 2nd R50,000, 3rd R25,000 - February 11 1. EKTIFAA (AUS) 3yo b.f. by More Than Ready - Stellar Vinia (Redoute’s Choice) 2nd dam: Calvinia (Varick) 3rd dam: Karroo (Blakeney) Owner: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum Bred by: Fairway Thoroughbreds Trainer: M F de Kock Jockey: C Murray 2. Matador Man 3yo b.g. by Toreador - Sahara (Mogok) Owners: G D Tooch, G L Blank, G J Nassif, J Nassif, Z L Nassif, J Sarkis and R M Scott Bred by: Scott Bros 3. Doosra 3yo b.c. by Captain Al - Caughtintheslips (Caesour) Owners: J F and L M F Wernars and Mrs T J Wernars Bred by: Varsfontein Stud Then came: Chili Con Carne, Al Fahad, Dawnbreaker, Misty Roller Non-runners: Maximizer, Life Is Good Won by: 0.50 - 3 - 1. 25 Time: 1-28.46 Coming off a 105-day break, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s filly EKTIFAA elected to bypass the Three Troikas against her own gender and instead, squared off against the boys. That gamble paid off handsomely; Mike de Kock’s charge went on to teach some talented colts a galloping lesson. Restrained off the heels of pacesetter Chili Con Carne, the Australianbred pounced at the 300m mark and bounded away to put daylight between herself and her field. Momentarily caught flat-footed, favourite Matador Man gave chase, but the filly was not for the catching, and she went on to hold her rival by a cosy half-length, with Doosra three lengths adrift in third. A back-to-back winner of this event for the stable, Ektifaa also completed an auspicious graded stakes double, having travelled to Cape Town in late October where she upstaged a field of local fillies in Kenilworth’s Gr2 Choice Carriers Championship. Remarkably, it took Mike de Kock’s charge took four starts to break her maiden. Now a four-time winner, this latest success also pushed her earnings to R574,250. Significantly, she handed Anna Pavlova a two-length beating over the course and distance in her penultimate start and that one paid her a huge compliment by landing the Three Troikas. A $600,000 yearling purchase, Ektifaah is by high-profile shuttle sire

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More Than Ready out of Stellar Vinia, a half-sister to a quartet of top class fillies: multiple New Zealand champion Calveen (Canny Lad), Gr3 winner Fireworks (Snitzel) and the Gr1-placed Australian stakes winners Kosi Bay (Spinning World) and Striker (Van Nistelrooy; dam of Gr3 Western Australian Oaks victress First Impressions). Stellar Vinia has a yearling colt by More Than Ready’s Gr1 winning son, Sebring. THREE TROIKAS STAKES (GRADE 3) - R250,000 - 1450m - Turffontein 1st R156,250, 2nd R50,000, 3rd R25,000 - February 11 1. ANNA PAVLOVA 3yo b.f. by St Petersburg - Shatrang (Royal Applause) 2nd dam: Doomna (Machiavellian) 3rd dam: Just A Mirage (Green Desert) Owners: Mesdames C Soal and M Soal Trainer: R R Sage Bred by: Summerhill Stud (Pty) Ltd Jockey: J P van der Merwe 2. Visuality 3yo ch.f. by Visionaire - Personify (Personal Hope) Owners: C J H van Niekerk and Portapa (Pty) Ltd Bred by: Rothson Stud 3. Last Chirp 3yo ch.f. by Announce - Wise Wren (Argosy) Owner: St John Gray Bred by: Graystone Stud Then came: Pool Party, Elusive Strike, Al Hawraa (Aus), Babbling Brooke, Comme-Ci-Comme-Ca, Zaakhira (Aus), Maleficent, Triple Digit, Rouge Allure Won by: head - 1 - neck Time: 1-30,20 ANNA PAVLOVA overcame a chequered passage to gain her first black type in a rousing cliff-hanger finish to this Gr3 event. The Robbie Sage runner settled towards the rear of the field as Last Chirp set the fractions up front. The leader maintained her advantage well into the straight until passed by Visuality approaching the final furlong. That one looked a winner, but drifting under pressure, she moved across Anna Pavlova, who had to switch around for a clear run but closing relentlessly under a strong drive from Juan Paul van der Merwe, she got up in a head-bobbing finish to register her first win at stakes level and third in a row. Remarkably consistent, the now four-time winner’s sole off-the-board finish in ten starts came prior to her hat-trick of wins, when a lack-lustre seventh in the Gr3 Starling Stakes. Anna Pavlova made her own little bit of history as she is the first South African stakes winner for her sire, St Petersburg, a Gr3-winning,

ektifaa

JC Photographics

Australian-bred son of Nureyev. He started his stallion career down under and counts Gr1 winner Solzhenitsyn amongst his Australasian progeny. In addition to Anna Pavlova, his South African runners also include Gr3-placed Blushing Peter. Anna Pavlova was bred at Summerhill from English import Shatrang, whose last registered foal is a juvenile filly by Mullins Bay. Shatrang’s half-sister Nadira (Nashwan), produced Summerhill-bred Gr1-placed stakes winner Showmetheway (Muhtafal), while grandam Doomna (Machiavellian), is a winning full sister to the stud’s erstwhile standout stallion Kahal. TOMMY HOTSPUR HANDICAP (GRADE 3) - R250,000 - 1000m Turffontein 1st R156,250, 2nd R50,000, 3rd R25,000 - February 14 1. WRECKING BALL 3yo b.f. by Great Britain - Picadilly Miss (London News) 2nd dam: Marlagain (Man Of Property) 3rd dam: Spookie (Phantom Earl) Owners: G J Maroun, G H Normand, J C Buffy and Mr and Mrs M Aboud Bred by: Worldwise Breeding Syndicate Trainer: G J Maroun Jockey: J Penny 2. Dollar Dazzler 6yo b.g. by Var - Isla Bonita (Joshua Dancer) Owners: M C Gerber and J F and L M F Wernars Bred by: Klipdrif Stud 3. Queen Laurie 3yo b.f. by Great Britain - Maggie Kay (Lecture) Owner: G J Maroun Bred by: Worldwise Breeding Syndicate Then came: Percival, African Ruler, Pure Blonde, Highway Explorer (Aus), Splendid Garden, Captured Wind, Greasepaint, British Royale, Doing It For Dan Won by longhead - 1. 50 - neck Time: 56,46 The dash up the Turffontein straight proved a triumph for trainer Grant Maroun as his three-year-old fillies WRECKING BALL and Queen Laurie took first and third places. Queen Laurie set a searching gallop until Wrecking Ball, under replacement rider Jarryd Penny, wrested the lead from her stable companion approaching the final furlong. It looked as if Maroun had a one-two in the bag, however, Dollar Dazzler flashed up late on the stand side and in a thrilling finish, the post came just in time for Wrecking Ball, the filly holding on for victory by a diminishing longhead. Queen Laurie plugged on gamely for third, another length and a half back.

just sensual

Liesl King

This was a deserved maiden stakes success for the winner, who had picked up her first black type as a late two-year-old when runnerup to the colt Hack Green in the Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes at Greyville. Together with her stable companion, she has become a regular in the various Gauteng sprint features this summer and clearly, Maroun has no qualms about taking on the boys. In the Gr3 Lebelo Sprint, only the colt Rivarine had their measure, when Queen Laurie finished a neck in front of Wrecking Ball. Both fillies are by the underrated stallion Great Britain, as is Swallow Stakes victress Hashtag Strat. A stakes-winning own brother to successful English sire Cape Cross, the son of Green Desert has enjoyed quite a flush of speedy winners this season. Wrecking Ball was bred from the accomplished London News mare Picadilly Miss. Owned and trained by Maroun, she captured the Listed Gardenia Handicap and went one better than her daughter when second in the Lebelo. Grandam Marlagain won the Gr3 Diana Stakes while her own sister Marla landed the Gr3 Sceptre Stakes. PRIX DU CAP (GRADE 3) - R250,000 - 1400m - Kenilworth 1st R156,250, 2nd R50,000, 3rd R25,000 - February 25 1. JUST SENSUAL 3yo b.f. by Dynasty - Consensual (Camden Park) 2nd dam: Isadora Duncan (Dancing Champ) 3rd dam: In Camera (Contraband) Owners: Mayfair Speculators (Pty) Ltd Bred by: Klawervlei Stud Trainer: J Ramsden Jockey: A Marcus 2. Captain’s Flame 4yo b.f. by Captain A - Kindling (Fort Wood) Owner: Mrs S Plattner Bred by: Cheveley Stud 3. Gimme Six 3yo b.f. by Gimmethegreenlight - District Six (Mujadil) Owners: H Adams, K P Truter and Mrs J Truter Bred by: Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud, K P Truter and Nadeson Park Then came: A Time To Dream, Silver Mountain, Goodtime Gal, Whose ThatGirl, Miss Marker, Nutbush Citilimits, Can Cope, Anglet, Come Fly With Me, Alexis, Beach Goddess Won by: 0.50 - 1. 25 - 0.75 Time: 1-27,44 Cape Fillies Guineas victress JUST SENSUAL bounced back to her best with a thoroughly professional victory in this Gr3 event. It was a welcome return to the winning trail, as the filly had fluffed her lines in the rich CTS Mile where she had attempted to make the

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janoobi

JC Photographics

running and not surprisingly, tired badly at the finish to finish with just four behind her. Prior to that, she had put together a three-win streak capped by her Guineas success. Settled on the rail by jockey Anton Marcus, the three-year-old raced within striking distance of pacesetter Captain’s Flame, who brought them into the straight. She maintained her lead going through the 400m mark but grudgingly gave best when Just Sensual loomed alongside a furlong out, The Guineas winner claimed the advantage inside the final 100m and asserted her authority to score rather more cosily than the half-length margin. Trained by Joey Ramsden for Mayfair Speculators, the Klawervleibred is by Dynasty out of champion juvenile Consensual, dam also of Gr2-placed Ad Idem (Jet Master). She is a descendant of the grand racemare and blue hen Sun Lass. BETTING WORLD GAUTENG GUINEAS (GRADE 2) - R1,000,000 - 1600m Turffontein1st R625,000, 2nd R200,000, 3rd R100,000 - March 4 1. JANOOBI 3yo b.c. by Silvano - Shasta Daisy (Rakeen) 2nd dam: Scented Royal (Royal Prerorative) 3rd dam: Diorissimo (Triple Bend) Owner: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Bred by: Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd Trainer: M F de Kock Jockey: P Strydom 2. Al Sahem 3yo b.c. by Silvano - Alderry (Al Mufti) Owner: Al Adiyaat South Africa (Pty) Ltd Bred by: Owner 3. Heavenly Blue (AUS) 3yo gr.c. by Snitzel - Simply Carina (El Prado) Owners: Mr and Mrs W V Rippon, Mr A and Mrs R Chadha and M F de Kock and L M Nestadt, Bred by: Arrowfield Group (Pty) Ltd and Cloros Bloodstock Then came: Tilbury Fort, Matador Man, Unagi, Furiosa (Aus), Doosra, Chili Con Carne Non-runner: Daffiq Won by: head - 1. 25 - 1. 25 Time: 1-39,82 Trainer Mike de Kock reached a notable milestone in his illustrious career when JANOOBI became his 3000th winner, courtesy of an allthe-way victory in the first leg of the Triple Crown. On a day which saw De Kock triumph in three of the four graded stakes on offer, the colt also completed a stakes double for Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell, whose Rafeef had earlier won the Gr2 Hawaii Stakes. Ironically, the

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smiling blue eyes

JC Photographics

maestro trainer was away in Dubai, son Matthew deputising for his illustrious father. Janoobi did it the hard way, dictating matters from the jump under jockey Pierre Strydom. At the top of the straight, he still enjoyed a commanding two-length lead but soon had to contend with stable companion Heavenly Blue and Al Adiyaat’s favourite Al Sahem. With Heavenly Blue failing to quicken, it was the latter who drew alongside 150m from home and the pair raced to the line virtually as one. Janoobi kept finding under pressure and at the wire, had a head to spare over his game adversary, who was tasting defeat for the first time. Heavenly Blue finished a length and a half back in third. This was a second graded success for Janoobi, who had landed the Gr3 Protea Stakes as a juvenile. In his most recent starts, he faded late to finish fifth in the Gr2 Dingaans and then travelled to Cape Town for the CTS 1600 on Met day, where he finished fourth, just over two lengths behind Cape Guineas winner William Longsword. The result proved another triumphant one-two for Maine Chance stalwart Silvano, who once again underlined his ability to dominate major stakes races. As recently as Met day, his daughters Nightingale and Star Expess fought out the finish to the Gr1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes and who will forget his historical achievement in 2015 when his Maine Chance bred sons Power King, Punta Arenas and Tellina filled the prime three places in the Gr1 Vodacom Durban July! Janoobi too, is a product of the Maine Chance paddocks. Purchased on behalf of Sheikh Hamdan for R1. 2-million at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale, he is an own brother to the Gr3 winning sprinter Sedge. Their dam Shasta Daisy never raced, but is one of a number of stakes producing daughters of the champion juvenile Scented Royale. An excellent broodmare, she produced 17 foals and counts five stakes performers amongst her 13 winners. She is also ancestress of the outstanding sprint fillies Sweet Sanette and Franny, as well as Gr2 winner Philippa Johnson, the dam of Hawaii Stakes hero Chekilli. WILGERBOSDRIFT GAUTENG FILLIES GUINEAS (GRADE 2) - R500,000 1600m - Turffontein 1st R312,500, 2nd R100,000, 3rd R50,000 - March 4 1. SMILING BLUE EYES 3yo gr.f. by Dynasty - Sage Blue (Badger Land) 2nd dam: Grey Blue (Jamaico) 3rd dam: Blue Swift (Joy II) Owner: Al Adiyaat South Africa (Pty) Ltd Bred by: Highlands Farms Stud (Pty) Ltd Trainer: S G Tarry Jockey: R Danielson 2. Al Hawraa (AUS) 3yo b.f. by New Approach - Ijaaza (Redoute’s Choice) Owner: Sheikh Hadam bin Rashid Al Maktoum Bred by: Shadwell Stud Australasia Ltd

rafeef

JC Photographics

3. Orchid Island 3yo b.f. by Silvano - Ilha Grande (Tiger Ridge) Owner: Wilgerbosdrift (Pty) Ltd Bred by: Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein

2. New Predator (AUS) 4yo b.c. by New Approach - Head Over Heels (Fastnet Rock) Owners: J F and L M F Wernars Bred by: D Austin, Qld

Then came: Babbling Brooke, Belle Rose, Ektifaa (Aus), Anna Pavlova, Redberry Lane, Maleficent, Safe Harbour, Visuality, Elusive Strike, Last Chirp, Santiburi (Aus), Being Fabulous (Aus), Pool Party Non-runners: Biblical Susan (Aus), Oriental Oak, My Friend Lee Won by: 2. 50 - 1 - 0.75 Time: 1-40,47

3. Fort Ember 4yo b.f. by Elusive Fort - Glowing Ember (Kahal) Owners: Dr K G Bakos and Mr G M Bakos and Messrs I Levitan and P Peter Bred by: Arc-En-Ciel Stud

Unfancied SMILING BLUE EYES overcame the deepest draw of all to gain a commanding victory in this, the first leg of the Triple Tiara. In the process, she completed a Guineas hat-trick for trainer Sean Tarry, who also saddled the past two winners Siren’s Call and Heaps Of Fun. Travelling wide into the straight under Raymond Danielson, the strapping grey unleashed a strong challenge hard up against the stand side and delivered the knockout punch at the quarter mark. Mike de Kock’s fancied pair Ektifaa and Orchid Island also loomed strongly in the centre but there was no denying the grey, who clearly revelled in the sticky going and she powered away to score by daylight. De Kock, who had no less than five runners in the race, had to settle for second and third, with the lesser fancied Al Hawraa finishing a length in front of Orchid Island. Owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum’s Al Adiyaat South Africa, Smilin Blue Eyes has now put together a fine three-win streak and came into this classic off a length victory in the Gr3 Fillies Mile. Significantly, she has scored all three wins in yielding going. A R650,000 graduate of the Cape Premier Yearling Sale, Smiling Blue Eyes is yet another fine product to emerge from the famed Highlands paddocks. By the farm’s flagship stallion Dynasty, she is an own sister to Gr2 Gold Circle Derby second Sage Throne and a half-sister to the champion three-year-old Russian Sage (Jallad). Her dam Sage Blue is a half-sister to Gr1 SA Derby winner Silver Sliver (West Man). This is the family of the Jamaico own sisters, the champions Grey Sun and Cerulean Blue. HAWAII STAKES (GRADE 2) - R400,000 - 1400m - Turffontein 1st R250,000, 2nd R80,000, 3rd R40,000 - March 4 1. RAFEEF (AUS) 4yo br.c. by Redoute’s Choice - National Colour (National Assembly) 2nd dam: Rainbow Cake (Mr Eats) 3rd dam: St Blazey (Marazion) Owner: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Bred by: Arrowfield Group (Pty) Ltd and Klawervlei Stud Trainer: M F de Kock Jockey: C Murray

Then came: Kangaroo Jack, Will Pays, Romany Prince, French Navy, Bulleting Home, Talktothestars Won by: neck - 1. 25 - neck Time: 1-26,21 Sheik Hamdan’s RAFEEF, a son of former joint Horse of the Year National Colour, lived up to his pedigree when he broke through at stakes level with a gutsy, hard-fought victory. Favourite New Predator took the race by the scruff of the neck from the jump and set a decent pace up front from the filly Fort Ember, Rafeef and Kangaroo Jack. At the quarter mark, the race turned into a three-way duel with New Predator coming under strong pressure from both Kangaroo Jack and Rafeef. Responding to Callan Murray’s urgings, Rafeef ground his way past New Predator inside the final furlong and while the favourite refused to buckle, Rafeef fought on doggedly to take the spoils by a head. New Predator was gallant in defeat, while Fort Ember rallied strongly to edge a tiring Kangaroo Jack for third. Highly regarded by trainer Mike de Kock, Rafeef made an inauspicious start to his career when unplaced in the Gr1 SA Nursery last season. He has not looked back since, winning five and placing second in seven subsequent starts, the most recent of which when runner-up in last month’s Listed Wolf Power 1600m. The colt is the latest stakes winner for Australian powerhouse stallion Redoute’s Choice and is the second foal of his illustrious dam. Trained by Sean Tarry, the remarkable sprinter carried Chris van Niekerk’s silks to victory in all of the Computaform, Mercury and SA Fillies Sprints. Named the joint 2005 Horse of the Year honours with De Kock’s grand mare Ilha Da Vitoria, the grey embarked on an international campaign which saw her win once more in Dubai. In what was probably her finest effort, she failed by just a half-length to lift the prestigious Gr1 Nunthorpe Stakes at Newmarket. Sent to Australia, National Colour started life as a broodmare by visiting Gr1 winner Sebring. The resultant foal, the filly Circle Of Speed was sent to South Africa, where she scored twice for Van Niekerk. Rafeef is her second foal and was acquired for $800,000 as a yearling. In fact, Shadwell also purchased the mare’s next two foals, both by Redoute’s Choice and both are inmates of the De Kock yard. Her fifth foal, a grey filly by Redoute’s Choice’s successful son Snitzel sold for $675,000 at this year’s Easter Yearling Sale.

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nother russia

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ACACIA HANDICAP (GRADE 3) - R250,000 - 1600m - Turffontein 1st R156,250, 2nd R50,000, 3rd R25,000 - March 4 1. NOTHER RUSSIA 4yo ch.f. by Tiger Ridge - Mother Russia (Windrush) 2nd dam: Russian Muse (Russian Fox) 3rd dam: Terpsichore (Drum Beat) Owner: Mauritzfontein (Pty) Ltd Bred by: Wilgerbosdrift Trainer: M F de Kock Jockey: C Zackey 2. Bella Sonata 4yo ch.f. by Silvano - Bella Cantata (Singspiel) Owners: Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd Bred by: Riyo Stud 3. Kilauea 4yo b.f. by Trippi - Kyllachy (Fort Wood) Owners: D and R Collins Bred by: Lammerskraal Stud Then came: Polyphonic, Tahini, Pennington Sands, Shaama, Banking April, Flying Ice, Silver Class, Leisure Trip, Cassie O’Malley, Off The Mark, Sensible Lover Non-runner: Work Ethic Won by: longhead - 3. 75 - 0.75 Time: 1-39,62 The progeny of star racemares featured prominently on Guineas day with champion Mother Russia’s daughter NOTHER RUSSIA gaining her first stakes success here. Making her stakes debut, the De Kock-trained chestnut cornered at the tail end of the field and began her challenge up the stand side as Kilauea took the lead at the quarter mark. Bella Sonata likewise made a serious forward move up the inside rail, and she looked the winner inside the final furlong. However, jockey Carl Zackey switched Nother Russia to the centre, and finding another gear, she came from the clouds to collar Bella Sonata on the line for a shorthead success. Nother Russia boasts an enviable formline. The four-time winner has never finished worse than third in all her starts. Runner-up in her first two outings, she then put together a fine hat-trick, which included a 5.5-length maiden romp. She entered the Acacia off a narrow defeat over 2000m. Bred by Mary Slack’s Wilgerbosdrift, the Tiger Ridge filly races in the famous Mauritzfontein/Oppenheimer silks of daughter Jessica, who purchased the filly for R550,000 at the 2014 National Yearling Sale. With Jessica not present, Mary accepted the winning trophy and quipped: “How exciting, I’m even wearing the same lucky hat I wore when Mother Russia won the Queen’s Plate!”

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brazuca

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That was arguably Mother Russia’s finest effort in a 13-win career, ten of which were at stakes level. The champion older filly of 2009, the daughter of Windrush also accounted for the Gr1 Majorca Stakes, Paddock Stakes and Empress Club Stakes, while her string of seconds included the Gr1 J&B Met (twice), the Gr1 H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut, Cape Fillies Guineas, Woolavington 2000 and the Summer Cup. Sadly, the mare died in 2015, leaving Nother Russia as her first and only foal. COLORADO KING STAKES (GRADE 2) - Turffontein - 2000m 1st R250,000, 2nd R80,000, 3rd R40,000 - March 25 1. BRAZUCA (AUS) 4yo ch.c. by Teofilo - Base Paradise (Choisir) 2nd dam: Catnipped (Rory’s Jester) 3rd dam: Final Claus (Christmas Tree) Owners: J F and L M F L M F Wernars Bred by: Wall Street Thoroughbreds (Pty) Ltd, NSW Trainer: J A Janse van Vuuren Jockey: G Lerena 2. Deo Juvente 5yo b.g. by Trippi - Circle Of Life (Complete Warrior) Owner: Mayfair Speculators (Pty) Ltd Bred by: Northfields Stud (Pty) Ltd 3. French Navy 5yo b.g. by Count Dubois - Redoubtable (Elliodor) Owner: C J H van Niekerk Bred by: G J Armitage Then came: Samurai Blade (Aus), Let It Rain, Kings Archer, Stonehenge Won by: 3 - 0.75 - shorthead Time: 2-04,24 Australian-bred colt BRAZUCA made a much deserved breakthrough at graded stakes level with an impressive first stakes success in the Gr2 Colorado King Stakes. Stonehenge quickly went to the front at the jump and opened up by daylight, an advantage he maintained well into the straight. When he cried enough 300m out, Brazuca, French Navy and the favourite Deo Juvente virtually started their challenge in tandem, with the Australianbred quickening best. Brazuca swept into the lead approaching the final furlong and having kicked clear, entered uncharted waters as he had yet to score over the 2000m trip, However, the chestnut gave his connections not a moment’s worry to cruise home an easy threelength winner from Deo Juvente, who had about a length to spare over French Navy. This was a way overdue first stakes success for Jarryd and Laurence Wernars’ colt. Third in the Gr1 Golden Horseshoe at two, he earned

seattle singer

himself the tag of bridesmaid at three when runner-up in no less than three Classics: the Gr1 Cape Guineas, Cape Derby and SA Classic, in addition to which he finished third behind Horse of the Year Legal Eagle in the Gr1 Premier’s Champions Challenge. By Coolmore shuttler Teofilo, Brazuca is the second Stakes winner out of unraced Base Paradise, also the dam of Mr Utopia (Elusive Quality), a Gr3-placed Listed stakes winner Australia. Grandam Catnipped (Rory’s Chester) won the Gr2 Maribyrnong Plate as a juvenile. Incidentally, Brazuca is the second South African stakes winner to emerge from this female family. Bumps, a half-sister to Catnipped, is the grandam of Rock Of Gibraltar filly Rich Girl. Winner of the Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes and runner-up in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship at two, she went on to claim the rich Ready To Run Cup at three. SENOR SANTA STAKES (GRADE 2) - Turffontein -1160m 1st R250,000, 2nd R80,000, 3rd R40,000 - March 25 1. CHAMPAGNE HAZE 4yo b.g. by Kahal - Vin Fizz (Qui Danzig) 2nd dam: Tradition (Last Tycoon) 3rd dam: Consolation (Troy) Owners: J F and L M F Wernars, P Chetty, B G Gardner, A B Giuricich, et al Bred by: Summerhill Stud (Pty) Ltd Trainer: G M Alexander Jockey: G Lerena 2. Wrecking Ball 3yo b.f. by Great Britain - Picadilly Miss (London News) Owners: G J Maroun, G H Normand, J C Buffy and Mr and Mrs M Aboud Bred by: Worldwise Breeding Syndicate 3. Splendid Garden 5yo ch.g. by Black Minnaloushe - Gardener’s Delight (Giant’s Causeway) Owners: B Riley, M G Azzie and Mrs S Azzie Bred by: Highlands Farms Stud (Pty) Ltd Then came: Bull Valley, Queen Laurie, Dollar Dazzler, Doing It For Dan, Talktothestars, Arabian Beat, African Ruler, Will Pays Non-runners: Trip To Heaven, Graduation Day Won by: 2 - neck - head Time: 65,49 The withdrawal of Diadem and Merchants winner Trip To Heaven threw the Senor Santa wide open and favouritism went to his stable companion Bull Valley (Toreador), whom he had defeated by a diminishing neck in the Merchants. After threatening briefly as the whips came out, Bull Valley’s effort petered out and he could manage

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no closer than fourth place behind the winner CHAMPAGNE HAZE. Gary Alexander’s charge came from off the pace and quickened impressively to finish two lengths clear of Gr2 Tommy Hotspur victress Wrecking Ball (Great Britain). She came out tops in a three-way battle for second over Splendid Garden and Bull Valley. This was a career-best effort from Champagne Haze and a second come-from-behind win over the sprint distance. A maiden juvenile winner over a mile and runner-up to Abashiri in last season’s Gr2 Gauteng Guineas, he also landed the lucrative CTS Ready To Run Cup over 1400m. His lethal late kick obviously makes him just as effective over 1200m. Yet another posthumous stakes winner for the much-missed Kahal, the Summerhill-bred had big boots to fill, being a half-brother brother to Alexander’s outstanding galloper Pierre Jourdan (Parade Leader) a dual classic winner of the Gr1 SA Classic and Gr2 Gauteng Guineas and runner-up in both the Gr1 SA Derby and Durban July. Champagne Haze added to a red-letter day for champion breeders Summerhill Stud and his dam, Vin Fizz, as his year-younger half-sister Belle Rose (Golden Sword) had earlier won the Listed Oaks Trial. Runner-up in the Sceptre Stakes, Vin Fizz is out of English-bred Tradition (Last Tycoon), who emulated her dam Consolation (Troy) when third in the Cheshire Oaks. Also third in the Lancashire Oaks, Consolation is a half-sister to Morcon (Morston), Europe’s outstanding miler of 1984. The last foal of Vin Fizz is a yearling filly by Visionaire. SYCAMORE SPRINT (GRADE 3) - Turffontein - 1160m 1st R156,250, 2nd R50,000, 3rd R25,000 - March 25 1. SEATTLE SINGER 3yo b.f. by Sail From Seattle - Royal Drummer (Kilconnel) 2nd dam: Drummer Girl (Al Mufti) 3rd dam: Swinging Girl (Mullineaux) Owners: A J van Huyssteen, F N Englezakis and R P Macnab Bred by: Ascot Stud (Pty) Ltd Trainer: C Spies Jockey: C Zackey 2. Crystal Glamour 4yo b.f. by Seventh Rock - Eastern Glamour (Fort Wood) Owner: D Jansen van Rensburg Bred by: Ascot Stud (Pty) Ltd 3. Al Danza 3yo b.f. by Captain Al - Jet Danza (Jet Master) Owner: D Shawe Bred by: Klawervlei Stud Then came: Lumya, Movie Show, Old Em, She’s A Dragon, Joan Ranger, Heaps Of Fun, Last Chirp, Be Mine Tonight, Shaama (Aus), Penny Serenade, Swift Sarah, Seattle Lady

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orchid island

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Non-runners: Tiger’s Touch (Aus), Arissa, Evening Breeze\ Won by: 1. 50 - 1 - neck Time: 65,56 SEATTLE SINGER finally fulfilled her early promise when she downed a competitive field to record an overdue first stakes success. The Corné Spies-trained three-year-old jumped from the extreme outside draw and smoothly moved into contention as Old Em carved out the early fractions up the centre. Galvanized by Carl Zackey a furlong from home, Seatle Singer’s displayed a sparkling turn of foot to seal victory in a matter of strides. With favourite Joan Ranger fading out of contention, it was left up to Crystal Glamour and Al Danza to make a race of it, but the Spies filly prevailed by a length and a half . Seattle Singer had shaped with a good deal of promise as a juvenile. Campaigned predominantly at stakes level, she put together an impressive string of seconds, notably against the colts. Beaten a halflength by Janoobi (Silvano) in the Gr3 Protea Stakes, her finest effort came in the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Medallion where only champion Always In Charge (Captain Al) finished ahead of her. Add to that seconds in the Gr3 Strelitzia and Ruffian Stakes and she clearly looked way above average. It’s been tougher going this season though and prior to the Sycamore, the filly had scored just once in eights starts. The Sycamore result proved a triumph for Ascot Stud, breeders of both the winner and runner-up. Seattle Singer is by former resident stallion Sail From Seattle, whose premature death at age 12 has been starkly underlined by his current position at the top of the juvenile sires list. His daughter also sent her value skyrocketing, as she is now a stakes winning own sister to a Gr1 winner, the Cape Flying Championship hero Gulf Storm. Their dam, the speedy Royal Drummer, is a half-sister to the stakes-performed Lecture trio of Rock Opera, Rock Concert and Hit Song. The champion juvenile filly of her generation, Rock Opera won the Gr1 Allan Robertson, ran third in the UAE 1000 Guineas and has produced English Gr2 winner Heavy Metal (Exceed And Excel). Rock Concert finished third in the Allan Robertson and is the dam of Gr3-placed What About Me (Tiger Ridge), while own brother Hit Song won the Gr2 SA Nursery. Royal Drummer’s yearling filly is an own sister to Gulf Storm and Seattle Singer. KING’S CUP (GRADE 3) - R250,000 - 1600m - Greyville (Polytrack) 1st R156,250, 2nd R50,000, 3rd R25,000 - March 31 1. BULLETING HOME 5yo b.g. by Western Winter - Kapen Cat (Lion Hearted) 2nd dam: Chilly Hostess (Vice Regent) 3rd dam: Impressive Lady ( Owners: Mr & Mrs M L P Rattray Bred by: Lammerskraal Stud

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Trainer: Jockey:

S G Tarry K de Melo

2. Royal Armour 4yo b.g. by Jay Peg - Royal Palm (Fort Wood) Owners: S P and Mrs A M Pienaar Bred by: Waterford Stud 3. Secret Warning 4yo b.g. by Kahal - Emperor’s Warning (Caesour) Owners: R R Naidoo, V Archary, M Chetty and S T Pather Bred by: B le Roux Then came: Arctica, Budapest, Captain Aldo, Double Clutch, Last Tiger, Pearl Emblem, Fifty Cents, Ashton Park, Sylvester The Cat Non-runner: Nicklaus (Brz) Won by: 3. 50 - 1. 50 - neck Time: 1-34,47 The familiar red and white silks of Mike Rattray were a welcome sight in the winner’s enclosure following the victory of BULLETING HOME in this precursor to the KZN Winter Season. A stalwart of the South African racing scene and former owner of the famed Lammerskraal Stud, Rattray’s name has been associated over the years with a number of giants of the turf, notably the homebred Horse of the Year recipients Yard-Arm and Celtic Grove. While Bulleting Home may not be in that exalted league, he nevertheless set the Greyville polytrack alight with a scintillating effort. Trained by Sean Tarry and ridden by Kevin de Melo, the five-year-old settled on the rail, just off the pace set by Sylvester The Cat. At the top of the straight, De Melo found a timely split between a weakening Captain Aldo and Pearl Emblem and sent his mount into the lead approaching the final furlong. Having skipped clear of his field, it was left to outsider Royal Armour to make a race of it, however, there was no catching the Tarry runner who was clearly in a galloping mood and he cruised home by a handsome three and a half lengths. This was the sixth and most lucrative success for the winner, who was returning from a stint on the Highveld where most recently he had run a non-threatening seven lengths off Rafeef in the Gr2 Hawaii Stakes. Bred at Lammerskraal, he is the 86th stakes winner sired by the farm’s magnificent champion stallion, the late Western Winter. Bulleting Home is incestuously bred, as his sire and dam Kapen Cat are half-siblings. The mare has a juvenile colt by Silvano and foaled to Duke Of Marmalade in 2016. WILGERBOSDRIFT SA FILLIES CLASSIC (GRADE 1) - R1,000,000 - 1800m Turffontein 1st R625,000, 2nd R200,000, 3rd R100,000 - April 1 1. ORCHID ISLAND 3yo b.f. by Silvano - Ilha Grande (Tiger Ridge) 2nd dam: Ilha Da Vitoria (Candy Stripes)

heavenly blue

3rd dam: De Memoria (Equalize) Owner: Wilgerbosdrift (Pty) Ltd Bred by: Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein Trainer: M F de Kock Jockey: A Delpech 2. Safe Harbour 3yo b.f. by Elusive Fort - Saint Isidore (Rakeen) Owners: C J H van Niekerk and W Smith Bred by: Dr R J Antrobus 3. Bi Pot 3yo b.f. by Judpot - Alexandra Bi (Darshaan) Owner: Varsfontein Stud Bred by: Owner Then came: Belle Rose, Oriental Oak, Al Hawraa (Aus), Being Fabulous (Aus), Captain Gambler, Philae, Babbling Brooke, Maleficent, Smiling Blue Eyes, My Friend Lee Won by neck - longhead - neck Time: 1-51,05 There was a thrilling finish to the second leg of the Triple Tiara, with only two necks and a head separating the first three home and victory going to Silvano filly ORCHID ISLAND, who was notching up her first Gr1 success in a race sponsored by her owner, Mary Slack’s Wilgerbosdrift. Under Anthony Delpech, Mike de Kock’s charge unleashed a sustained finish up the straight to join Safe Harbour and Bi Pot inside the final furlong and proving strongest in the finish, she went on to prevail by a neck in a blanket finish. Orchid Island first stepped into the spotlight when disposing of nine male opponents in the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes and most recently ran third in the Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas. A three-time winner, who has never finished further back than third in all six starts, she clearly appreciated the extra. Bred by the Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Studs, she is trained by Mike de Kock, as were here dam and grandam before here. Orchid Island is the first foal out of the three-time winning Listed Oaks Trial victress Ilha Grande, who has a yearling colt by Ideal World. Orchid Island’s illustrious grandam Ilha Da Vitoria set the turf alight with a notable Gr1 Summer Cup victory. The diminutive grey daughter of Candy Stripes shared Horse Of The Year honours with champion sprinter National Colour, who of course is now the dam of Gr1 winners Rafeef and Mustaaqueem. SA CLASSIC (GRADE 1) - R2,000,000 - 1800m - Turffontein 1st R1,250,000, 2nd R400,000, 3rd R200,000 - April 1 1. HEAVENLY BLUE (AUS) 3yo gr.c. by Snitzel - Simply Carina (El Prado) 2nd dam Astra (Theatrical)

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3rd dam Savannah Slew (Seattle Slew) Owners: Mr and Mrs W V Rippon, Mr A and Mrs R Chadha and M F de Kock and L M Nestadt Bred by: Arrowfield Group (Pty) Ltd and Cloros Bloodstock Trainer: M F de Kock Jockey: C Murray 2. Al Sahem 3yo b.c. by Silvano - Alderry (Al Mufti) Owner: Al Adiyaat South Africa (Pty) Ltd Bred by: Owner 3. Furiosa (AUS) 3yo b.c. by Fastnet Rock - Suitely (Woodman) Owners: H Adams, C J H van Niekerk, K T Yap and Mayfair Speculators Bred by: Raffles Dancers (NZ) Pty Ltd Then came: Unagi, Janoobi, Kampala Campari, Alaadel (Aus), Crowd Pleaser, Tilbury Fort Won by: 3 - 0.50 - 2. 25 Time: 1-49,96 Sean Tarry may have saddled an unprecedented seven winners on the day, yet it was Mike de Kock who claimed both Gr1 marquee events. Thirty minutes after Orchid Island’s success in the SA Fillies Classic, HEAVENLY BLUE completed the classic double in scintillating style. The grey made a dash for the inside rail at the top of the straight and once he had shaken off the attentions of outsider Unagi, he was punched out by Callan Murray to score by three lengths from the chasing favourite Al Sahem. In the process, he comprehensively turned the tables on the runner-up, who had finished just over a length ahead of him in the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas. On that occasion, De Kock’s colt had to settle for third after appearing flatfooted in the yielding going. Unbeaten in two starts as a juvenile, Heavenly Blue tasted his first defeat in November when going down by a head in the Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes and also ran second in the Gr2 Dingaans. Heavenly Blue’s victory provided Arrowfield stallion Snitzel with a second new Gr1 winner in the space of just 24 ours. Earlier, the son of Redoute’s Choice sired the first three home in the Gr1 AJC Sires Produce Stakes at Royal Randwick in Australia. The dam, American-bred Simply Carina, is a winning daughter of the outstanding racemare Astra, who in turn carried the late Allan Paulson’s silks to repeat Gr1 victories in both the Beverley Hills and Gamely Handicaps. The next dam Savannah Slew, a dual Gr3 winner of the Linda Vista Handicap and La Brea Stakes, also bred Gr3 Palm Beach Stakes hero Admiralty (Strawberry Road).

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legal eagle

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H F OPPENHEIMER HORSE CHESTNUT STAKES (GRADE 1) - R1,000,000 1600m - Turffontein 1st R625,000, 2nd R200,000, 3rd R100,000 - April 1 1. LEGAL EAGLE 5yo b.g. by Greys Inn - Young Sensation (National Emblem) 2nd dam: Fair Model (Model Man) 3rd dam: Winged Princess (Another Prince) Owners: Mayfair Speculators (Pty) Ltd Bred by: Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm Trainer: S G Tarry Jockey: A Marcus 2. French Navy 5yo b.g. by Count Dubois - Redoubtable (Elliodor) Owner: C J H van Niekerk Bred by: G J Armitage 3. New Predator (AUS) 4yo b.c. by New Approach - Head Over Heels (Fastnet Rock) Owners: J F and L M F Wernars Bred by: D Austin, Qld Then came: Rafeef (Aus), Fort Ember, Romany Prince, Kangaroo Jack, Mac De Lago (Aus), Fareeq (Aus) Won by: 2. 25 - 1. 75 - 3 Time: 1-36,00 Ruling Horse of the Year LEGAL EAGLE repeated his success in the race last year with a commanding, all-the-way victory, proving yet again that he has no equal over a mile. Unraced since his second in the Gr1 Sun Met, the five-year-old was allowed to set his own pace up front under regular pilot Anton Marcus and enjoyed a length advantage over his rivals which he had more than doubled by the time he crossed the line clear of stable companion and fellow Gr1 winner French Navy. This was the sixth Gr1 success for the Mayfair colour-bearer and increased his earnings to over R8.6-million. A classic winner of the Gr1 SA Derby, he put together a fine Gr1 treble comprising the Queen’s Plate, H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes and Champions Challenge at four. This season, he has successfully defended his crown in both the Queen’s Plate and Horse Chestnut, and will no doubt be aimed at a repeat of the Premier’s Champions Challenge at the end of the month. By far the best Stakes winner sired by champion Greys Inn (Zabeel), Legal Eagle was bred by Avontuur Stud manager Pippa Mickleburgh out of Young Sensation, who likewise was trained by Tarry. Second in the Listed Scarlet Lady and third in the Gr3 Gerald Rosenberg Handicap, she is a half-sister to Gr2 Selangor Cup runner-up Young Warrior (Complete Warrior). Grandam Fair Model (Model Man) won the Gr1 Allan Robertson Fillies Championship and traces to the Dells’

arade MAGAZINE | July 2017

equisite touch

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famed blue hen mare Ethane, the dam of five stakes performers, amongst which champion two and three-year-old Hawaii and the multiple Gr1 winner William Penn. MAN O’WAR SPRINT (GRADE 3) - R250,000 - 1100m - Turffontein 1st R156,250, 2nd R50,000, 3rd R25,000 - April 1 1. EXQUISITE TOUCH 3yo b.f. by Var - Lavender Sky (Elliodor) 2nd dam: Storm Surge (Golden Thatch) 3rd dam: Surge Ahead (On Your Mark) Owner: C J H van Niekerk Bred by: Waterford Stud Trainer: S G Tarry 2. Green Pepper 3yo b.f. by Gimmethegreenlight - Pimento (Fort Wood) Owners: P A Pearson & Vendel Civils (Pty) Ltd Breeder: Varsfontein Stud 3. Favour’s Pride 3yo b.f. by Harry Hall - Sacred Sister (Manshood) Owner: Favour Stud Bred by: Owner Then came: Red Chesnut Road, Raasmaal (Aus), Aussie Austin (Aus), Ektifaa (Aus), Pillar Of Hercules, Clever Guy, Seattle Singer, British Royale Won by: 3. 25 - 1. 25 - neck Time: 61,53 The ladies ruled here, with EXQUISITE TOUCH leading home two other fillies and extending the dominance of the Sean Tarry/Chris van Niekerk team to a perfect five from five on the day. Racing in midfield early on as Clever Guy carved out the early pace, the Var filly produced a remarkable turn of foot to deliver the killer blow a furlong out. In fact, she made speedball Green Pepper look decidedly flatfooted to come home smoking by more than three lengths. Green Pepper was followed home by Favour’s Pride, with fourth-placed Red Chesnut Road the first male home. Exquisite Touch completed a fine stakes double here, this success coming on the back of a convincing victory in the Listed Bauhinia Stakes. Also successful in the Ruffian Stakes as a juvenile, the triple stakes winner was bred by Waterford Stud and cost owner Chris van Niekerk R350,000 at the inaugural Emperors Palace Select Yearling Sale. She is out of four-time winner Lavender Sky, from the family of SA Guineas and Queen’s Plate hero Crimson Waves (Bush Telegraph) and Gr2 Dingaans winner Unparalleled (Lateral).

ilitshe

JC Photographics

CARADOC GOLD CUP (GRADE 3) - R250,000 - 2850m - Turffontein 1st R156,250, 2nd R50,000, 3rd R25,000 - April 1 1. ILITSHE (AUS) 6yo b.g. by Fastnet Rock - Reem Albaraari (Sadler’s Wells) 2nd dam: Habibti (Habitat) 3rd dam: Klairessa (Klairon) Owner: The Carefree Syndicate Bred by: Caradale (Pty) Ltd Trainer: J L van Heerden Jockey: R Munger 2. Let It Rain 4yo b.g. by Dynasty - Gardener’s Delight (Giant’s Causeway) Owner: H Adams, D Chinsammy and Mrs T Chinsammy Bred by: Highlands Farms Stud (Pty) Ltd 3. Save The Rhino 5yo b.g. by Mogok - Endangered Species (Sapieha) Owners: G M Maree and G M Kotzen Bred by: Scott Bros Then came: Zafira, Frikkie, Storm Warning, Supertube (Aus), Fortune Fella, Royal Honour, Coby Non-runner: Smart Mart Won by: 0.75 - 0.75 - 1. 25 Time: 3-0,85 Australian-bred ILITSHE was rewarded for consistency when he won the marathon Gr3 Caradoc Gold Cup. Let It Rain was driven into the lead from the jump and opened up by a good six to seven lengths. He looked to have caught this rivals napping as he maintained that advantage well into the straight, however, Iitshe was by now warming to the task swooped on the longtime leader close home to score going away. Let It Rain, a half-brother to Soft Falling Rain was nothing if not game in defeat in his first attempt over the marathon trip and he finished ahead of Aquanaut Handicap runner-up Save The Rhino. Successful in the Listed Derby Trial at three for Mike de Kock, Ilitshe was acquired by trainer Jurgen van Heerden as an early four-year-old and has paid his way since. Successful in three of his last five starts, he also finished third, just over a length behind Royal Honour (Archipenko) in last month’s Listed Aquanaut Handicap. Now a six-time winner with earnings of R510,450 to his name, Ilitshe is a half-brother to Irish Derby second Morshdi (Slip Anchor), who also landed both the Gr1 (then) Italian Derby and Gr1 Grosser Preis von Baden. Their dam is the placed juvenile Reem Albaraari, a daughter of the magnificent champion Habibti. In contrast to her grandson, she dominated the European sprint division in 1983 when successful in the

barrack street

JC Photographics

Gr1 William Hill July Cup, Gr1 Prix de l’Abbaye, Gr2 Vernons Sprint Cup and Gr2 William Hill Sprint Championship. PROTEA STAKES (GRADE 3) - R200,000 - 1100m - Turffontein 1st R125,000, 2nd R40,000, 3rd R20,000 - April 1 1. BARRACK STREET 2yo b.c. by Dynasty - Laptop Lady (Al Mufti) 2nd dam: Ladies Game (Elliodor) 3rd dam: Leucothea (Cornish Prince) Owners: Mayfair Speculators (Pty) Ltd and C J H van Niekerk Bred by: Klawervlei Stud Trainer: S G Tarry Jockey: A Marcus 2. Laurent Du Var 2yo b.g. by Antonius Pius - Varsity Belle (Var) Owners: T Spies, L Naidoo, R S Chapman, H Bhowany and Miss B T Beedasy Bred by: Dr V Kritzinger 3. Boatswain (AUS) 2yo b.c. by Poet’s Voice - Unhappy (Redoute’s Choice) Owner: C Bird Bred by: Bronte Bloodstock (Pty) Ltd, Grimbley Bba Pty Ltd and Packaging Investments Australia (Pty) Ltd Then came: Quinlan, Whorly Whorly, Silver God Won by: 1 - 1. 25 - 1. 50 Time: 62,59 BARRACK STREET continued his progress up the black type ladder when adding this Gr3 dash to his victory in the Listed Storm Bird Stakes. Once they had settled down, Sean Tarry’s charge held a narrow advantage over Laurent Du Var, with newcomer Boatswain giving plenty of cheek on the standside. Approaching the furlong mark, Anton Marcus let out the reins and having claimed the advantage, Barrack Street stamped his authority on the race to score by a length and provide the stable with a sixth consecutive win on the card, which would eventually grow to seven by the end of the meeting. Runner-up Laurent Du Var was game in defeat while Boatswain caught the eye by staying on for third. Now successful in three of four starts, the Klawervlei-bred Barrack Street boasts a blockbuster pedigree. By Highlands stalwart Dynasty, he is a half-brother to the champion and successful sire Jay Peg (Camden Park). They are out of the fine broodmare Laptop Lady, who is also the dam of Gr3 Lebelo Sprint winner Cyber Case (Casey Tibbs) and the Stakes winning Silvano filly Epona.

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gimme six

Nkosi Hlophe

PRETTY POLLY STAKES (GRADE 3) - R200,000 - 1100m - Turffontein 1st R125,000, 2nd R40,000, 3rd R20,000 - April 1

UMZIMKHULU STAKES (GRADE 3) - R250,000 - 1400m - Greyville 1st R156,250, 2nd R50,000, 3rd R25,000 - April 9

1. GREEN PLAINS 2yo b.f. by Gimmethegreenlight - Savannah Leigh (Jet Master) 2nd dam: La Deportista (Sportsworld) 3rd dam: Blushing Breeze (Comic Blush) Owner: C J H van Niekerk Bred by: Gary Player Stud (Pty) Ltd Trainer: S G Tarry Jockey: S Khumalo

1. GIMME SIX 3yo b.f. by Gimmethegreenlight - District Six (Mujadil) 2nd dam: Cidaris (Persian Bold) 3rd dam: Secret Sunday (Secreto) Owners: H Adams, K P Truter and Mrs J Truter Bred by: Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud, K P Truter and Nadeson Park Trainer: S J Snaith Jockey: A Delpech

2. Celestina 2yo b.f. by Kahal - Sully’s Lander (Jet Master) Owners: Sean Tarry Racing CC Bred by: Piemonte Stud

2. Final Judgement 3yo ch.f. by Judpot - Final Claim (Proclaim) Owners: P G de Beyer and Tripple H Trust Bred by: Varsfontein Stud

3. Star Profile 2yo b.f. by Bold Silvano - West Wacker (Western Winter) Owners: T Spies, A J Esterhuizen, L Naidoo and D G Pavkovich Bred by: Ascot Stud (Pty) Ltd

3. Sail 3yo b.f. by Philanthropist - Cutty Sark (Fort Wood) Owners: Drakenstein Stud Bred by: Drakenstein Stud

Then came: Desert Rhythm, Spring Breeze, Outlander Non-runner: Kissable Won by: 2. 75 - 0.50 - 0.50 Time: 62,91

Then came: Dawn Calling, A Womens Way, The High Life, Trippi’s Girl, The Secret Is Out, La Gitanila, Tanami, Karatage Non-runner: Kilmokea Won by: 0.75 - 0.50 - 1 Time: 1-27,45

Only seven turned out for this black type event and it was GREEN PLAINS who took her tally to two wins from just three starts with a fluid victory. After tracking pacemaker Spring Breeze, she drew alongside at the quarter mark and accelerated away to come home unchallenged, the winning margin flattering runner-up and stable companion Celestina Green Plains had made a winning debut over 800m on the last day of December before running second to subsequent Ruffian Stakes victress Daring Diva (King Of Kings) at the Vaal in February. The filly continues the rich vein of form enjoyed by her young sire Gimmethegreenlight, her victory coming barely 24 hours after Gimme The Star’s success in the Listed East Cape Guineas. Owner Chris van Niekerk had parted with R350,000 to acquire his latest stakes winner from Gary Player Stud at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale. She is the first foal of Jet Master mare Savannah Leigh, a half-sister to Listed stakes winner Juan Pablo (Winter Romance). Grandam La Deportista landed the Gr2 JB McIntosh Fillies Classic as a juvenile and went on to run third in the Gr1 SA Fillies Guineas.

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Cape visitor GIMME SIX opened her KZN winter campaign on a winning note in this Gr3 event restricted to sophomore fillies. Settled midfield early on, she made her challenge up the inside just as Sail and Final Judgement looked the main protagonists 300m out. Galvanized by Anthony Delpech, she drew level inside the final furlong and asserted in the closing stages to finish just under a length in front of Final Judgement, with Sail a half length back in third. This was a first stakes success for the Justin Snaith filly, whose last run on February 25 yielded a black-type third in the Gr3 Prix du Cap. She is the latest in a steady stream of stakes winners for Varsfonteinbased Gimmethegreenlight, which include Green Plains (Gr3 Petty Polly Stakes), Gimme The Stars (Ibhayi Stakes and East Cape Guineas) and Beataboutthebush (Breeders Guineas). Gimme Six races for Hassen Adams, Ken and Jane Truter, who co-bred the filly with Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud. She is out of imported District Six, a winner in Ireland and South Africa, who has a yearling filly by Rock Of Rochelle. The mare’s own sister Irony was runner-up in both the Gr2 Mill Reef Stakes and Gr3 Molecomb Stakes, while half-sister Carioca (Rakti) won the Premio Seregno. Significantly, the grandam Cidaris is a half-sister to blue hen mare Mystic Spring, who produced champions Rabiya and Bela-Bela and is also the grandam of champion All Is Secret.

africa rising

Nkosi Hlophe

BYERLEY TURK (GRADE 3) - R250,000 - 1400m - Greyville 1st R156,250, 2nd R50,000, 3rd R25,000 - April 9 1. AFRICA RISING 3yo ch.c. by Visionaire - Sucha Looka (Braashee) 2nd dam: Sucha Dancer (Northern Guest) 3rd dam: Final Wonder (Persian Wonder) Owners: C J H van Niekerk & Portapa (Pty) Ltd Bred by: Summerhill Stud (Pty) Ltd Trainer: S G Tarry Jockey: L Hewitson 2. Copper Force 3yo b.g. by Royal Air Force - Eastern Copper (Al Mufti) Owners: E A Braun and Cape Leopard Trust Bred by: Dr I R Heyns 3. Buffalo Soldier 3yo b.g. by Warm White Night - Only In Philly (Polish Numbers) Owners: Mayfair Speculators (Pty) Ltd Bred by: Klawervlei Stud Then came: Kenny Trix, Boldly Respectable, Gunner, Amazon King, Scarrabeast, Marshall That, My Pal Al, Bling Swing Non-runners: Gingerbread Man, Red Chesnut Road, Head Honcho Won by 0.75 - 2 - 1. 25 Time: 1-27,05 AFRICA RISING rose to the occasion in the Byerley Turk to provide the red-hot Sean Tarry stable with yet another stakes success. Racing in the familiar Van Niekerk silks, the chestnut ran a similar race to Gimme Six, settling in midfield while tracking the favourite Copper Force. The latter slipped into the lead 300m from home but soon came under pressure as Africa Rising loomed large on his inside. The Tarry runner got the better of his adversary in the closing stages and drew off to score by the best part of a length. This was a third victory for the winner, who had not seen action for almost four months, that when sixth behind William Longsword in the Gr1 Cape Guineas. Victory here pushed the coltâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s earnings to just over R900,000, more than half of which is made up of his second in the rich Emperors Palace Ready to Run Cup in November. A R625,000 graduate of the 2015 Johannesburg Ready To Run Sale, he hails from the second crop of former Summerhill stallion Visionaire, who relocated to Lammerskraal in 2016. Africa Rising was bred at Summerhill and is the first stakes winner out of Sucha Looka, a half-sister to stakes winning stayers Charisma (Salaadim) and Stud Master (Desert Team). This is the family of Gr1 Administratorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Classic winner Last Watch, Gr1 Natal Oaks winner Spring Wonder and Oaks Trial winner and SA Oaks runner-up Salutation.

nother russia

JC Photographics

HSH PRINCESS CHARLENE EMPRESS CLUB STAKES (GRADE 1) R1,000,000 - 1600m - Turffontein 1st R625,000, 2nd R200,000, 3rd R100,000 - April 22 1. NOTHER RUSSIA 4yo ch.f. by Tiger Ridge - Mother Russia (Windrush) 2nd dam: Russian Muse (Russian Fox) 3rd dam: Terpsichore (Drum Beat) Owner: Mauritzfontein (Pty) Ltd Bred by: Wilgerbosdrift Trainer: M F de Kock Jockey: C Zackey 2. Bella Sonata 4yo ch.f. by Silvano - Bella Cantata (Singspiel) Owners: Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd Bred by: Riyo Stud 3. Tahini 4yo b.f. by Silvano - Taomina (Langfuhr) Owners: Mrs M P Foulkes and Mr O de W Foulkes Bred by: Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd Then came: Safe Harbour, Trophy Wife, Polyphonic, Heaps Of Fun, Al Hawraa (Aus), Anna Pavlova, Fort Ember, Intergalactic, Juxtapose, Kilauea, Negroamaro, The Centenary (Nz), Star Express Non-runner: Al Danza Won by: 1. 50 - 1. 50 - shorthead Time: 1-36,86 The yellow and black silks made famous by the late Harry and Bridget Oppenheimer and worn by such Titans of the turf as Horse Chestnut, Greys Inn and more recently Smart Call, again rose to prominence when NOTHER RUSSIA, a filly bred by daughter Mary Slack and owned by grandaughter Jessica Slack, broke through at the top level in this mile event. The four-year-old raced handy throughout, delivered the killer blow 300m out when shaken up by jockey Craig Zackey and cruised home unchallenged. The chestnut continued her excellent form, having made a winning stakes debut in the Gr3 Acacia Handicap, where she jumped from the widest draw of all and came from virtually last to collar Bella Sonata on the line. This time, a favourable inside draw saw her race much handier and she again had the beating of the Silvano filly. Now a five-time winner, Nother Russia boasts an enviable formline, never having finished worse than third in nine starts. In addition, she also emulated her dam, the champion Mother Russia, who captured this race seven years ago and like her daughter, was trained by Mike de Kock. Jessica purchased the filly from the Wilgerbosdrift draft for R550,000

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african night sky

Liesl King

at the 2014 National Yearling Sale, money well spent, considering the filly sent her future broodmare value soaring with this first Gr1 victory, which also pushed her earnings to just past the million Rand mark. (For pedigree details, see Acacia Handicap above) HIGHLANDS STUD WINTER GUINEAS (GRADE 3) - R250,000 - 1600m Kenilworth 1st R156,250, 2nd R50,000, 3rd R25,000 - April 29 1. AFRICAN NIGHT SKY 3yo b.g. by Dynasty - Starzene (Cozzene) 2nd dam: Star Queen (Kingmambo) 3rd dam: Starboard Tack (Seattle Slew) Owner: A L A Crabbia Bred by: Highlands Farms Stud (Pty) Ltd Trainer: S J Snaith Jockey: B Fayd’Herbe 2. Our Mate Art (AUS) 3yo b/br.g. by Artie Schiller - Laureldean Dream (Stravinsky) Owners: M W Bass, B Ressell and N M Shirtliff Bred by: Grandlodge Thoroughbreds (Pty) Ltd and Ken Bee Sports (Pty) Ltd 3. Loadshedder 3yo b.g. by Gimmethegreenlight - Oange Dancer (Danehill Dancer) Owner: Mrs S Plattner Bred by: Cheveley Stud Then came: Perovskia, Turbulent Air (Aus), Verdier, Candid, Newlands (Aus), I Travel Light, Best Nut Ever, Elevated, Mangrove, Ollivander, Rinjani (Aus) Won by: 1. 25 - 1. 75 - head Time: 1-39,10 Fred Crabbia’s AFRICAN NIGHT SKY returned to his very best form when landing the first leg of the Winter Series. Patiently ridden by Bernard Fayd’Herb from the extreme outside draw, the gelding travelled three wide amongst the backmarkers as the Aussie-bred trio of Rinjani, Our Mate Art and favourite Turbulent Air dominated up front. At the top of the straight, African Night Sky commenced his challenge flush up the stand side and picked them off one by one to draw alongside new leader Our Mate Art at the furlong mark. Having skipped clear of his rival, he asserted his authority by a length and a quarter at the line. This was a welcome return to form by Justin Snaith’s charge, a fluent winner of his first two starts over 1200 and 1400m and narrowly defeated third time out. Rested after an unplaced effort behind Guineas winner William Longsword in the rich CTS Mile on Met day, the gelding returned on April 1 and put up a pleasing prep for this race

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neptune’s rain

Nkosi Hlophe

when a close-up fifth over 1400m. On pedigree, both remaining legs, the Winter Classic and Derby, should be well within the scope of the Highlands-bred son of classic stallion Dynasty. He is the first foal of American import Starzene, who won the Listed Java Handicap over 2450m and was runner-up in the two-mile Gr2 Gold Bowl. The female line originates from Canada and is that of Gr1 winner Hangin On A Star (Vice Regent), Starzene’s third dam. STRELITZIA STAKES (GRADE 3) - R200,000 - 1100m - Scottsville 1st R125,000, 2nd R40,000, 3rd R20,000 - April 30 1. NEPTUNE’S RAIN 2yo b.f. by Antonius Pius - Water Is Gold (Rich Man’s Gold) 2nd dam: Waterwise (Counter Action) 3rd dam: Water Fun (Elliodor) Owner: D D MacLean Bred by: Highlands Farms Stud (Pty) Ltd Trainer: D C Howells Jockey: K de Melo 2. Made In Hollywood 2yo b.f. by Querari - Sheer Fantasy (El Prado) Owners: Mayfair Speculators (Pty) Ltd, B P Finch and Mrs K Finch Bred by: Dr I R Heyns 3. Gold Image 2yo ch.f. by Horse Chestnut - Velvets Reflection (Tamburlaine) Owners: Mesdames C Soal and M Soal Bred by: Golden Touch Thoroughbred Services and Mr M Kidd Then came: Princess Peach, Awesomeness, Under The Stars, Holly’s Vision, Lolita Delago, Vanity Fair, Great Aim, Roy’s Mojarra, Flamboyant Won by: 1. 25 - 2 - 0.75 Time: 62,01 There was a lengthy delay to the Strelitzia when a false start was called, resulting in a number of the unsettled runners playing up considerably before the field was finally despatched. Lolita Delago and Flamboyant more or less had the race to themselves early on, with the latter holding a narrow advantage at the quarter mark. NEPTUNE’S RAIN, who was covered up by jockey Kevin de Melo in the early stages, switched out for a run and she picked it up smartly to surge into the lead a furlong from home. On her outside, favourite Made In Hollywood applied pressure but Duncan Howells’ filly kept on resolutely to maintain a half-length advantage at the line. For owner Dave McLean, the filly’s victory was not just his first stakes success, it also set the seal on a fine double, as juvenile colt Procal Harum had earlier landed the opener. Howells paid R425,000 for Neptune’s Rain at last year’s CTS March

the secret is out

Sale, which was by far the highest price of the Antonius Pius yearlings on offer. Howells had previously trained his Gr2 Debutante winner My Sanctuary. The son of Danzig has also sired the talented fillies Yoshie, a multiple stakes winner of 13 races and juvenile stakes victress Arria. Water Is Gold, the dam of Neptune’s Rain, is a three-time winning halfsister to Gr3-placed sprinter Mary Stuart (Black Minnaloushe), while grandam Waterwise landed the Gr3 Champagne Stakes. GODOLPHIN BARB STAKES (GRADE 3) - R200,000 - 1100m - Scottsville 1st R125,000, 2nd R40,000, 3rd R20,000 - April 30 1. WOLJAYRINE 2yo ch.c. by Jay Peg - Woelfin (Wolfhound) 2nd dam: Cosmos Field (Model Man) 3rd dam: Field Princess (Northfields) Owners: T Y Lin and Ms J Ng Bred by: Favour Stud Trainer: V H Marshall Jockey: M Byleveld 2. Sir Frenchie (Aus) 2yo b.c. by Choisir - Volando (Viscount) Owners: A J van Huyssteen and W Henderson Bred by: G Walsh, L Maxsted and S Tuxen 3. Varallo 2yo b.c. by Var - Covenant (Western Winter) Owner: The Fire Racing Trust Bred by: Varsfontein Stud Then came: Mujallad (Aus), Argo Magic, Autumn In Seattle, Real Vision, Elegant General Won by: 1 - 1. 25 - head Time: 62,50 Trainer Vaughan Marshall is back in town. No stranger to big race success at Scottsville, he promptly upset the apple cart in the Godolphin Barb with rank outsider WOLJAYRINE, who caused quite a stir by breaking his maiden at the expense of some exalted rivals. Racing in the vanguard as Autumn In Seattle set the pace up front, Vaughan Marshall’s chestnut accelerated smartly to take the lead at the furlong mark and he drew clear to score from Sir Frenchie. It was just over a length back to the hitherto unbeaten Varallo who won the scramble for third. The colt was bet into the red but did himself no favours by jumping sideways as the gates opened. This was only the second start for Woljayrine which came in the wake of a promising debut three weeks before over the Greyville poly, where he showed good pace before weakening late to run sixth, just over three lengths behind the winner. Marshall picked up his newly-minted stakes winner for R250,000 at

Nkosi Hlophe

last year’s Cape Premier Yearling Sale from breeders Favour Stud. The colt is the seventh stakes winner sired by Jay Peg and was bred from Goldfields Sprint third Woelfin, a winner of seven races over the minimum trip. She in turn is out of stakes-placed Cosmos Field, a halfsister to Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas victress Field Flower (Silvano) and Gr2 KZN Derby hero Royal Land (Badger Land). It is interesting to note that Jay Peg is out of a mare by Al Mufti, while Woelfin is by his half-brother Wolfhound. POINSETTIA STAKES (GRADE 3) - R250,000 - 1200m - Scottsville 1st R156,250, 2nd R50,000, 3rd R25,000 - April 30 1. THE SECRET IS OUT 3yo b.f. by Captain Al - Secret Of Victoria (Goldkeeper 2nd dam: Mystic Spring (Royal Academy) 3rd dam: Secret Sunday (Secreto) Owners: G M Miller and B G Nelson Bred by: BBP Syndicate Trainer: V H Marshall Jockey: M Byleveld 2. Vision To Kill 3yo b.f. by Kildonan - Royal Vision (Alami) Owners: M J R Mauvis and S Osman Bred by: M J R Mauvis 3. Live Life 3yo b.f. by Trippi - Viva (National Assembly) Owner: Hunkydory Investments 15 (Pty) Ltd Bred by: Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm Then came: Neala, Frosty Friday, Old Em, Captain’s Flame, Miss Varlicious, Real Princess, Nightingale, Strategic Move, Chestnuts N Pearls, Our Destiny, Chevauchee (Aus) Won by: 0.50 - shorthead - neck Time: 68,52 In a triumphant return to the Scottsville track, THE SECRET IS OUT defeated a classy field of older fillies while completing a fine Gr3 double on the day for the Marshall stable. Favourite Live Life made a decisive forward move as they hit the rising ground, but jockey Byleveld gathered The Secret Is Out for one final effort and the threeyear-old willingly responded to swoop up on the outside. A blanket could have covered the first five home as she had a half-length to spare over outsider Vision To Kill, who headed Live Life for second, with Neala a neck back in fourth. Winless in four starts since she lifted last season’s Gr1 Allan Robertson over the track and trip, first-time blinkers appear to have done the trick for The Secret Is Out, and considering she has scored three of her four wins up the tricky Scottsville strip, she is likely to return on May 27 for the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint.

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deo juvente

JC Photographics

That said, she has now emulated her champion own sister All Is Secret, who captured both the Allan Robertson and Poinsettia in a glittering career which also yielded additional Gr1 success in the Mercury Sprint and Thekwini Stakes. Marshall trained both the sire Captain Al and dam, the dual Gr2 winner Secret Of Victoria, a daughter of broodmare par excellence Mystic Spring whose Captain Al yearling filly sold for R3. 6-million at the National Yearling Sale a week later. Secret Of Victoria’s 2016 foal is also by Captain Al. PREMIER’S CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE (GRADE 1) - R4,000,000 - 2000m Turffontein 1st R2,400,000, 2nd R740,000, 3rd R380,000 - May 6 1. DEO JUVENTE 5yo b.g. by Trippi - Circle Of Life (Complete Warrior) 2nd dam: Teclafields (Northfields) 3rd dam: Tecla Bluff (Snow Bluff) Owners: Mayfair Speculators (Pty) Ltd Bred by: Northfields Stud (Pty) Ltd Trainer: G V Woodruff Jockey: C Murray 2. Legal Eagle 5yo b.g. by Greys Inn - Young Sensation (National Emblem) Owners: Mayfair Speculators (Pty) Ltd Bred by: Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm 3. Nother Russia 4yo ch.f. by Tiger Ridge - Mother Russia (Windrush) Owner: Mauritzfontein (Pty) Ltd Bred by: Wilgerbosdrift Then came: French Navy, Master Sabina, Brazuca (Aus), Juxtapose, Stonehenge, Celtic Captain Won by: longhead - head - 3 Time: 2-4,66 The relatively unheralded DEO JUVENTE burst the bubble of Horse of the Year and favourite Legal Eagle with a first Gr1 success in this rich event. Geoff Woodruff’s charge came up trumps in a desperate, head-bobbing three-way finish to give young jockey sensation Callan Murray a third top level win on the day. Anton Marcus certainly rode a confident race on the 1-5 favourite and when he moved into contention at the quarter mark, the writing appeared to be on the wall. However, he soon had a race on his hands as Deo Juvente stuck to him like glue on his inside, while recent Gr1 Empress Club victress Nother Russia also joined in the fray over the final 100m. Legal Eagle was now flat to the boards and shifted in under pressure but Deo Juvente battled all the way to the line to take the honours by a head. Legal Eagle made it a one-two for Mayfair

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Speculators. Nother Russia’s effort was truly out of the top drawer, considering she was meeting males for the first time. Remarked winning trainer Geoff Woodruff: “We obviously schemed of a way to beat Legal Eagle; not nice I know but we felt that he did not truly see out 2000m, his best ratings coming over a mile.” Deo Juvente had not visited the winner’s enclosure since his first black type success in the Gr2 Victory Moon Stakes way back in November 2015, also under Murray. In the interim, the five-year-old reached the frame in several graded Stakes, notably when second, a neck behind stable companion Master Sabina (Jet Master) in the 2015 Gr1 Sansui Summer Stakes. This career-defining victory also catapulted his stakes earnings to R3,572,050, a far cry from the R500,000 he cost Mayfair at the 2013 National Yearling Sales. The fifth local Gr1 winner sired by ruling champion stallion Trippi, Deo Juvente was bred by Robin Bruss’ Northfields Stud and is out of champion racemare Circle Of Life. She spent her early broodmare years in the States, visiting the likes of Gone West, Giant’s Causeway and Johannesburg prior to being repatriated with her Smarty Jones filly foal. That was Gracie Jones, who ended up a Stakes-placed winner of seven races. Mina Salaam, the Medaglia d’Oro foal she was carrying at the time of her return, became her dam’s first black type winner when scoring at stakes level, both here and in Zimbabwe. Grandam Teclafields, a daughter of Horse of the Year Tecla Bluff, managed just one win on the track, but proved a veritable goldmine at stud and counted a treble of top level winners amongst her nine winning foals. In addition to Circle Of Life, she produced 2006 Gr1 J&B Met hero Zebra Crossing to champion Jallad, while a mating to top sprinter Shalford yielded Gr1 Champions Cup winner African Lion. SA DERBY (GRADE 1) - R2,000,000 - 2450m - Turffontein 1st R1,250,000, 2nd R400,000, 3rd R200,000 - May 6 1. AL SAHEM 3yo b.c. by Silvano - Alderry (Al Mufti) 2nd dam: 2nd dam Derry Wood (Fort Wood) 3rd dam: Ballinderry (Royal Prerogative) Owner: Al Adiyaat South Africa (Pty) Ltd Bred by: Owner Trainer: S G Tarry Jockey: A Delpech 2. Pagoda 3 b.g. by Mogok - Pascha (Wolfhound) Owners: K Gengan, R Devan, G V Woodruff and Mrs S E M Louw Bred by: Varsfontein Stud 3. Heavenly Blue (AUS) 3yo gr.c. by Snitzel - Simply Carina (El Prado) Owners: Mr and Mrs W V Rippon, Mr A and Mrs R Chadha and M F de Kock and L M Nestadt

rafeef

Bred by:

Arrowfield Group (Pty) Ltd and Cloros Bloodstock

Then came: Okavango Delta, Captain At Sea, Lee’s Pick, Furiosa (Aus), King Of Blues Won by: 1. 75 - 1 - 5.25 Time: 2-34,51 Silvano colt AL SAHEM made light work of the final leg of the Triple Crown to add his name to the SA Derby honours roll. Sean Tarry’s colt showed his true ability when he took the lead fully 400m out and powered home to prove his superiority by the best part of two lengths over Derby Trial winner Pagoda and SA Classic hero Heavenly Blue. “Everything went my way and he got to the front so easily,” said winning jockey Anthony Delpech. “I knew it would take a good one to beat me.” “We knew our guy would step up today,” added Tarry. “From the start of the Triple Crown things didn’t go right for him He was always behind the eight ball fitness wise in the first two legs and after the Classic we thought to get busy with him, but we stuck to the plan. From the moment he stepped off the float we knew he was a bomb and we said he was a Derby horse.” A facile winner of his first two starts, the colt was then relegated to the bridesmaid role in the first two legs, the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas and Gr1 SA Classic, but was never in danger of defeat here. Bred by his owner Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Al Sahem made it a classic double on the day for Silvano, the Maine Chance stallion having sired the first two home in the preceding Gr2 SA Oaks won by daughter Wind Chill. Al Sahem, his 20th locally-bred Gr1 winner, is out of Al Mufti mare Alderry and is bred on the same Silvano x Al Mufti cross as champions Bold Silvano and Kings Gambit. Successful in the Gr2 November Handicap, Alderry also ran third in the first two legs of what is now the Triple Tiara, the SA Fillies Classic and Gauteng Fillies Guineas. Her half-brother Royal Vintage (Rich Man’s Gold), a Gr2 winning juvenile in South Africa, was exported to Dubai where he captured the Al Bastakiya and finished second in both the UAE Derby and Guineas. Silvano also sired Alderry’s half-sister Tirza, the dam of this season’s Gr3 Victress Stakes winner and Gr1 Majorca Stakes third, Goodtime Gal (Royal Air Force). Alderry has a juvenile filly by Trippi and a yearling own brother to the Derby winner. COMPUTAFORM SPRINT (GRADE 1) - R1,000,000 - 1000m - Turffontein 1st R625,000, 2nd R200,000, 3rd R100,000 - May 6 1. RAFEEF (AUS) 4yo br.c. by Redoute’s Choice - National Colour (National Assembly) 2nd dam: Rainbow Cake (Mr Eats) 3rd dam: St Blazey (Marazion)

JC Photographics

Owner: Bred by: Trainer: Jockey:

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Arrowfield Group (Pty) Ltd and Klawervlei Stud M F de Kock C Murray

2. Talktothestars 5yo b.g. by Overlord – Tellittothestars (Spaceship) Owner: F C de Beer Bred by: Scott Brothers 3. Carry On Alice 5yo b.m. by Captain Al – Carry On Katie (Western Winter) Owners: C J H van Niekerk, Dr J A Warner and Klawervlei Stud (Pty) Ltd, Bred by: Klawervlei Stud Then came: Brutal Force, Wrecking Ball, Isca, Trip To Heaven, Rivarine, Doing It For Dan, Jo’s Bond, Splendid Garden, Pillar Of Hercules, Dollar Dazzler, Elusivenchantment, Pivotal Pursuit, Moofeed (Aus) Non-runner: Ronnie Rocket Won by: 1. 25 - neck - head Time: 55,95 The grande dame of sprinting, Carry On Alice, was all the rage to defend her Computaform Sprint crown but the De Kock genius was to the fore again as a drop to a sprint and a set of quarter-cup blinkers brought out the best in RAFEEF. The favourite enjoyed a narrow advantage approaching the 300m, however she had to bow to the colt’s explosive forward surge and he went on to earn his Gr1 spurs by just over a length, while champion sprinter and last year’s runner-up Talktothestars nabbed Carry On Alice for second. The mare was lucky to take third by a head over Brutal Force. “He quickened like a machine,” was jockey Callan Murray’s ecstatic comment after the win. Previously successful in the 1400m Gr2 Hawaii Stakes and runner-up in the Listed Wolf Power 1600m, Rafeef has now won six of ten starts and has joined the millionaire ranks with earnings of just over R1. 2-million. (For pedigree details, see Hawaii Stakes above) SA NURSERY (GRADE 1) - R1,000,000 - 1160m - Turffontein 1st R625,000, 2nd R200,000, 3rd R100,000 - May 6 1. MUSTAAQEEM (AUS) 2yo b.c. by Redoute’s Choice - National Colour (National Assembly) 2nd dam: Rainbow Cake (Mr Eats) 3rd dam: St Blazey (Marazion) Owner: Sheikh Hadam bin Rashid Al Maktoum Bred by: Arrowfield Group (Pty) Ltd and Klawervlei Stud Trainer: M F de Kock Jockey: C Murray

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wind chill

JC Photographics

2. Naafer (AUS) 2yo b.c. by Lonhro - Very Discreet (Exceed And Excel) Owner: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Bred by: D Peacock 3. Wonderwall 2yo b.c. by Querari - Westwardly (Silvano) Owner: C J H van Niekerk Bred by: Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd Then came: Whorly Whorly, Boatswain (Aus), Barrack Street, Quinlan, Laurent Du Var, Coastal Torrent, Alex The Great Won by: 4 - 2 - 0.75 Time: 65,80 Trainer Mike de Kock looks to have another potential champion on his hands in the shape of Australian-bred juvenile MUSTAAQEEM. Sheikh Hamdan’s colt started an even-money favourite following a hugely impressive 7.5-length debut romp and he fully justified that confidence to hack up by a handsome four lengths. It was race over fully 400m out as the colt quickly disposed of his rivals and strode to a four-length victory in the hands of Callan Murray. “When he dug down at the 400 I knew it was race over,” confirmed Murray. “Coming into this race I was confident and I tell you what I still had a bit more in hand.” It was an Australian one-two for both owner and trainer, with stable companion Naafer a well-beaten second. De Kock hinted afterwards that the unbeaten colt may well continue his career in Dubai instead of going for the Gr1 Gold Medallion. “I won’t be surprised if I’m instructed to take him overseas,” he quipped. “I will put him away now. I don’t want to run the legs off him but the other one (Naafer) will probably go to Scottsville.” Mustaaqeem provided his connections with the first leg of a unique Gr1 family double on the day, as four-year-old own brother Rafeef subsequently upstaged a star-studded field of sprinters in the Computaform Sprint. The product of two champions, the full brothers are a prime example of “putting the best to the best and hoping for the best”. They are by Champion stallion Redoute’s Choice out of South African-bred National Colour, a Joint Horse of the Year and champion sprinter. The mare is once again in foal to Redoute’s Choice. WILGERBOSDRIFT SA OAKS (GRADE 2) - R1,000,000 - 2450m Turffontein 1st R625,000, 2nd R200,000, 3rd R100,000 - May 6 1. WIND CHILL 3yo b.f. by Silvano - Windin The Willows (Western Winter) 2nd dam: Hasta Lueago (Kenmare) 3rd dam: Follies Bergeres (Pas De Seul) Owners: Mayfair Speculators (Pty) Ltd

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Bred by: Trainer: Jockey:

Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd J A Soma A Marcus

2. Oriental Oak 3yo b.f. by Silvano - Quickwood (Fort Wood) Bred by: Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein 3. Royal Utopia 3yo ch.f. by Ideal World - Queen’s Bay (Fort Wood) Bred by: Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Then came: Bi Pot, Orchid Island, Captain Gambler, Belle rose, Costa Da Sol, Smiling Blue Eyes, Emerald Bay, Parabola Non-runner: Being Fabulous (Aus) Won by: 2. 50 - shorthead - 0.75 Time: 2-35,21 WIND CHILL progressed from a second in the Oaks Trial to lead home a Silvano one-two in the Oaks proper. Smiling Blue Eyes and Orchid Island, winners of the first two legs of the Triple Tiara, were in warm order for this Classic but neither got in a blow as Wind Chill moved smoothly through her field under Anton Marcus to strike the front at the furlong mark and win with the minimum of fuss. She was followed home by paternal half-sister Oriental Oak, who took second by the bob of a head from 75-1 longshot Royal Utopia. The newly-minted stakes winner ventured into uncharted waters over this extended trip, coming off three consecutive seconds over 2000m, the most recent of which when going down by a longhead to Belle Rose (Golden Sword) in the Oaks Trial. Trained by Joe Soma, the R400,000 yearling purchase is the latest stakes winner for champion owners Mayfair Speculators. Bred at Maine Chance Farms, she also initiated another splendid Classic double for her sire, with Al Sahem taking the SA Derby just over half an hour later. Windin The Willows, the dam of Wind Chill, is a full sister to Gr2 Skeaping Trophy winner Grey Arrow and is out of an Australian-bred Hasta Lueago, grandam also of the stakes winning fillies Pan Amm (Jet Master) and Rosinante (Divine Act). Wind Chill’s fourth dam, the champion juvenile Durtal (Lyphard) is a half-sister to champion filly and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Detroit. SA FILLIES NURSERY (GRADE 2) - R400,000 - 1160m - Turffontein 1st R250,000, 2nd R80,000, 3rd R40,000 - May 6 1. GREEN PLAINS 2yo b.f. by Gimmethegreenlight - Savannah Leigh (Jet Master) 2nd dam: La Deportista (Sportsworld) 3rd dam: Blushing Breeze (Comic Blush) Owner: C J H van Niekerk Bred by: Gary Player Stud (Pty) Ltd

joan ranger

Trainer: Jockey:

S G Tarry S Khumalo

JC Photographics

Owner: Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd Bred by: Owner

2. Winter’s Forge 2yo b.f. by Western Winter - Forge Ahead (Parade Leader) Owner: Mrs L C A Bouwer Bred by: Wicklow Stud

3. Trophy Wife 5yo b.m. by Tiger Ridge - My Squeeza (Goldmark) Owner: C J H van Niekerk Bred by: Wilgerbosdrift

3. Daring Diva 2yo b.f. by King Of Kings - Delightfull Diva (The Sheik) Owner: G C Kalil Bred by: Owner

Then came: Flying Ice, Zante, Intergalactic, The Centenary (Nz), Heaps Of Fun, Al Hawraa (Aus), Pennington Sands, Inanna Won by: neck - 1. 25 - neck Time: 2-5,39

Then came: Desert Rhythm, Star Profile, Twelve Oaks, Kissable, Winter Watch, Fish River (Aus), Silver Thursday, Outlander, Phillydelphia Non-runner: Fancifilly Won by: 1 - 1. 25 - neck Time: 66,33

Varsfontein homebred POLYPHONIC, winner of the Listed Jacaranda Stakes a fortnight ago, stepped up another gear to add this Gr2 race to her growing resumé. In contrast to the Jacaranda where she came from virtually last in the straight, Alec Laird’s charge raced far handier in third, as Girl On The Run carved out the pace up front. Set alight by jockey Pierre Strydom at the quarter mark, she drew alongside the pacemaker, who did herself no favours by drifting off course. Polyphonic took the lead entering the final furlong and though Girl On The Run came back at her, she held on to win by just under a half length, while last year’s winner Trophy Wife stormed up late for third. This Gr2 success not only sent Polyphonic’s already considerable broodmare value soaring, it also pushed her earnings to just over R715,000. A half-sister to Gr1 hero Master Plan (Jet Master) and Listed winner Great Rumpus (Black Minnaloushe), Polyphonic is by Varsfontein’s admirable resident stallion Judpot out Princess Polly, whose half-sister Perfect Polly (Model Man) produced Judpot’s champion first-crop daughter Along Came Polly. Princess Polly has a colt foal by Master Of My Fate and is once again in foal to Judpot.

The powerful Sean Tarry stable got the day off to a cracking start when juvenile filly GREEN PLAINS stormed to victory in the Fillies Nursery. Approaching the 400m mark, Andrew Fortune went for broke on pacemaker and favourite Daring Diva but Green Plains was always travelling ominously well, while Winter’s Forge was making up ground quickly on the inside. Daring Diva gamely tried to hold onto her lead but Green Plains soon had her measure. Winter’s Forge came through quickly on the inside and although making up ground on the winner, she was unable to get to terms with Green Plains, who scored by a cosy length. Daring Diva tasted defeat for the first time when third, just over a length back. This was a second graded success for Green Plains and came on the back of a fluent three-length score in the Gr3 Pretty Polly Stakes on April 1. Now a dual stakes winner of three from four, her sole defeat came at the hands of Daring Diva at the Vaal in February. (For pedigree details, see Pretty Polly Stakes above) GERALD ROSENBERG STAKES (GRADE 2) - R400,000 - Turffontein, 2000m 1st R250,000, 2nd R80,000, 3rd R40,000 - May 6 1. POLYPHONIC 4yo b.f. by Judpot - Princess Polly (Royal Chalice) 2nd dam: Young Polly (Del Sarto) 3rd dam: Polly Peg (Rock Council) Owner: Varsfontein Stud (Pty) Ltd Bred by: Owner Trainer: A G Laird Jockey: P Strydom 2. Girl On The Run 4yo ch.f. by Silvano - Girl From Grenada (Badger Land)

CAMELLIA STAKES (GRADE 2) - R400,000 - 1160m - Turffontein 1st R250,000, 2nd R80,000, 3rd R40,000 - May 6 1. JOAN RANGER 4yo b.f. by Horse Chestnut - Fashion Edition (Rambo Dancer) 2nd dam: Shopping Around (Complete Warrior) 3rd dam: Well Dressed (Silverware) Owner: P U van Schoor Bred by: Owner Trainer: M N Houdalakis Jockey: P Strydom 2. Crystal Glamour 4yo b.f. by Seventh Rock - Eastern Glamour (Fort Wood) Owner: D Jansen van Rensburg Bred by: Ascot Stud (Pty) Ltd

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marinaresco

Nkosi Hlophe

3. Crown Of Roses 6yo b.m. by Tiger Ridge - Girolata (Vettori) Owners: Mr K and Mrs L R A Zackey and Mr I J Bartleson Bred by: Ambiance Stud Then came: Green Pepper, Tiger’s Touch (Aus), Just Vogue, Jameson Girl, Samarra, Lumya, Easy Game, Seattle Singer Non-runner: Exquisite Touch Won by: neck - 1 - 1. 50 Time: 66,88 The withdrawal of fractious favourite Exquisite Touch at the start threw this sprint wide open and it was top weight JOAN RANGER who came through to win the dash for the second year running. She was put into the clear 300m from home by Pierre Strydom and in a driving finish, held off the attentions of a determined Crystal Glamour to score by a longhead. This was win number five for the Lucky Houdalakis-trained filly, who has more than paid her way since last year’s victory by running third in the SA Fillies Sprint and fourth in both the Garden Province and Mercury Sprint. In her penultimate start, she chased home Exquisite Touch in the Listed Bauhinia, while giving the year-younger filly all of 5.5 kg for a length beating. Now a dual Gr2 winner with considerable paddock value, the fouryear-old has also rewarded owner/breeder Peter van Schoor with career earnings fast approaching R900,000. One of eight locally-bred stakes winner for the late champion Horse Chestnut, Joan Ranger is a half-sister to the smart fillies Fanzene (National Emblem), a six-time winner of the Gr3 Magnolia Handicap, and Miss Turbulence (Jet Master), who won eight and shared third in the (then) Gr2 Hawaii Stakes. Out of Gr3-placed Fashion Edition, her third dam is the Gr1-placed, Gr2 winning juvenile Well Dressed (Silverware). GOLD BOWL (GRADE 3) - R500,000 - 3200m - Turffontein 1st R312,500, 2nd R100,000, 3rd R50,000 - May 6 1. HERMOSO MUNDO 4yo b.g. by Ideal World - Escoleta Fitz (Fitzcarraldo) 2nd dam: Escoleta (Mariache) 3rd dam; Escola Do Samba (by Redtop) Owners: N C Smith, G D Cahn, G Morris, Neil Patrick Smith, S Singleton and W Volschenk Bred by: Mauritzfontein Stud Trainer: W H Marwing Jockey: K Zechner 2. Lions Emblem 6yo b.g. by Lion Tamer - Model Emblem (National Emblem)

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Owner: E Verdonese Bred by: Owner 3. Coby 6yo b.m. by A P Arrow - Dignify (Rambo Dancer) Owners: Mrs J P Gardner and Mr B G Gardner Bred by: G A R Sturlese and Summerhill Stud Then came: Let It Rain, Ilitshe (Aus); Supertube (Aus), Savage Wind, Sergeant Pepper, Fortune Fella, Storm Warning, Smart Mart, Woody Cape, Kanonkop, Night Shadow Won by: 5.25 - neck - neck Time: 3-27,85 Notwithstanding a three-month rest and a change of stable, HERMOSO MUNDO made short work of the opposition in his first outing at stakes level. There was no pace on in the early stages as Coby and Sergeant Pepper ambled their way at the head of affairs before S’Manga Khumalo decided to speed things up and send Savage Wind around them. Savage Wind led into the straight from Ilitshe but they were soon swamped by the closing pack. However, none were going better than Hermoso Mundo and he quickened up smartly under Karl Zechner to put the race to bed a long way out. The son of Ideal World came home lonely, putting just over five lengths between himself and Lions Emblem, who repeated on his runner-up effort of twelve months ago. Hermoso Mundo was making his debut for the Weiho Marwing stable, having won twice for Alec Laird, who had purchased him for R200,000 at the KwaZulu-Natal Yearling Sale. The gelding has now recouped that with interest, this career-best effort increasing his earnings to R500,950. Bred at Mauritzfontein, he is out of the champion racemare, Escoleta Fitz. Trained by Mike de Kock, the Argentine import raced with distinction, counting both the Gr1 Paddock and Garden Province Stakes amongst her ten career wins. Hermoso Mundo is her first stakes winner, although she already boasted stakes-placed Eugenes (Fort Wood) amongst her previous runners. The mare foaled a colt by Byword in 2016. Escoleta Fitz traces to the famed Argentinian taproot mare Empiric, ancestress of well-known South African-performed champions Empress Club, Epoque, Ecurie, Elusive Fort and Eventuail. This branch comes through her stakes winning daughter Escolastica, the grandam of Escoleta Fitz. Her descendants include a host of Argentinian Gr1 winners as well as French 2000 Guineas runner-up and emerging young French-based sire Rio De La Plata.

janoobi

INDEPENDENT ON SATURDAY DRILL HALL STAKES (GRADE 2) - R500,000 1400m - Greyville 1st R312,500, 2nd R100,000, 3rd R50,000 - May 7 1. MARINARESCO 4yo b.g. by Silvano - Gay Fortuna (Fort Wood) 2nd dam: Gay Regina (Fort Wood) 3rd dam: Welsh Damsel (Elliodor) Owners: M W Bass, F Green, B Ressell and N M Shirtliff Bred by: Mauritzfontein Stud Trainer: C L Bass-Robinson Jockey: B Fayd’Herbe 2. Victorious Jay 4yo b.g. by Jay Peg - Rub A Dub Dub (Jallad) Owners: V Ragoonath and Ms J Ng Bred by: Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud 3. Saratoga Dancer 5yo b.g. by Mambo In Seattle - Super Elle (Model Man) Owners: Mr and Mrs R J Trotter, D C Howells, G J Westwater, C V Winter, Mr and Mrs R A J Nidd and Mrs S Westwater Bred by: Gary Player Stud (Pty) Ltd Then came: New Predator (Aus), Captain America, Sail South, Bulleting Home, Champagne Haze, Baritone, Black Arthur, No Worries, Budapest, Kingvoldt, Ten Gun Salute (Aus) Non-runners: Just Ask Me, Rocketball Won by: shorthead - shorthead - neck Time: 1-22,55 To borrow the oft-used phrase that ‘form is temporary while class is permanent’, last season’s champion three-year-old MARINARESCO regained the winning thread with a gutsy head victory over a distance far short of his best. Unraced since finishing fifth in the Gr1 Met in January, the BassRobinson-trained champion came from off the pace and unleashed a lethal turn of foot to snatch victory on the line. Victorious Jay and Saratoga Dancer looked the likely contenders for victory 100m out, but jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe found a timely split between the two and in a in a head-bobbing finish, the blinkered four-year-old put his nose down on the line to claim victory by a shorthead. “What a game little horse,” Fayd’Herbe remarked of the winner. “He showed his usual finishing speed and quickened up really well.” Marinaresco had failed to shape in all of the Green Point Stakes, Queen’s Plate and Met since his Gr1 Champions Cup success and this splendid pipe-opener augurs well for the four-year-old’s KZN winter campaign. “He came to Durban early and we let him take his time,” explained Assistant-trainer Robert Fayd’Herbe. “This really was a bonus win as he has bigger fish to fry.”

Nkosi Hlophe

Raced by Marsh Shirtliff, Bryn Ressell and partners, the Mauritzfonteinbred’s victory set the seal on a momentous weekend for Maine Chance stallion Silvano, whose Classic treble is surely one for the record books. Marinaresco is out of dual stakes winner Gay Fortuna (and is a three-parts brother in blood to Silvano’s Gr1-placed son, the dual Gr3 winner, Bulsara. Gay Fortuna foaled to Ideal World in 2015. DAISY GUINEAS (GRADE 2) - R600,000 - 1600m - Greyville 1st R375,000, 2nd R120,000, 3rd R60,000 - May 7 1. JANOOBI 3yo b.c. by Silvano - Shasta Daisy (Rakeen) 2nd dam: Scented Royal (Royal Prerorative) 3rd dam: Diorissimo (Triple Bend) Owner: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Bred by: Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd Trainer: M F de Kock Jockey: P Strydom 2. Secret Captain 3yo gr.c. by Captain Al - Mystic Spring (Royal Academy) Owner: D D MacLean Bred by: Cheveley Stud 3. Zodiac Ruler (Aus) 3yo b.g. by Zoffany - Sybarite (Last Tycoon) Owner: A L A Crabbia Bred by: Fowler Thoroughbreds (Pty) Ltd, Vic Then came: Copper Force, Africa Rising, Matador Man, Horizon, Gingerbread Man, Summer Sky, Gunner, Gimme The Stars, Mess Won by: 1. 75 - head - head Time: 1-35,27 Fresh off a Gr1 double at the previous day’s Turffontein meeting, the Mike de Kock/Sheikh Hamdan axis added a Classic success when JANOOBI led from start to finish in the Gr2 Daisy Guineas. The colt led from the jump and was never headed to come home almost two lengths clear of his field. The next three finished on top of one another, with Secret Captain holding off Zodiac Ruler and Copper Force by a head. Winning jockey Pierre Strydom, who has now partnered the colt in his last six starts, remarked afterwards: “I was surprised he lasted all the way as he took the bit from the start and never relaxed. He pulled all the way and kicked again in the straight. Amazing!” Now a dual Guineas winner - he had won the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas in his penultimate outing - Janoobi made it a Classic treble for supersire Silvano, his Al Sahem and Wind Chill having won SA Derby and Oaks at Turffontein 24 hours earlier. (For pedigree details, see Gauteng Guineas above)

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gimme six

Nkosi Hlophe

DAISY FILLIES GUINEAS (GRADE 2) - R500,000 - 1600m - Greyville 1st R312,500, 2nd R100,000, 3rd R50,000 - May 7 1. GIMME SIX 3yo b.f. by Gimmethegreenlight - District Six (Mujadil) 2nd dam: Cidaris (Persian Bold) 3rd dam: Secret Sunday (Secreto) Owners: H Adams, K P Truter and Mrs J Truter Bred by: Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud, K P Truter and Nadeson Park Trainer: S J Snaith Jockey: A Delpech 2. Final Judgement 3yo ch.f. by Judpot - Final Claim (Proclaim) Owners: P G de Beyer and Tripple H Trust Bred by: Varsfontein Stud 3. Sail 3yo b.f. by Philanthropist - Cutty Sark (Fort Wood) Owner: Drakenstein Stud Bred by: Owner Then came: Al Danza, Visuality, Ektifaa (Aus), Dawn Calling, Lady Of The House, A Womens Way, The High Life Non-runner: Philae Won by: 1. 50 - 1. 25 - 1 Time: 1-36,39 Cape Town visitor GIMME SIX continued her progress through the graded stakes ranks with a convincing victory in the first classic of the KZN season. Justin Snaith’s charge had opened her stakes account in similar fashion in the Gr3 Umzimkhulu Stakes at the expense of Final Judgement and a month later, the pair renewed rivalry in this Classic. Settled about four lengths off the pace, jockey Anthony Delpech angled Gimme Six out for a run in the straight and after passing Final Judgement a furlong from home, drew clear to take the honours by a length and a half. The runner-up was once again game in defeat and with Sail finishing a further length away in third, the result exactly mirrored that of the Umzimkhulu. Describing Gimme Six as ‘a top, top filly’, jockey Anthony Delpech said: “Justin (Snaith) had her spot on and we have been fortunate. Last year we had Bela-Bela and now Gimme Six. I reckon her major asset is her blistering turn of foot. They went slow and it suited me. I think she will get further.” Snaith also paid tribute to his charge: “Gimme Six is an incredible filly. She’s taken the bit from the day she arrived and has never put a foot wrong in work.” Gimme Six continues the purple patch enjoyed by her sire Gimmethegreenlight, her victory coming hot on the heels of juvenile

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ten gun salute

Nkosi Hlophe

filly Green Plains’ success in the previous day’s Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery at Turffontein. The Avontuur-based young stallion’s success on the track has not gone unnoticed. At the National Yearling Sale, one of his colts was snapped up by Shadwell South Africa for the princely sum of R2. 6-million. (For pedigree details, see Umzimkhulu Stakes above) BETTING WORLD 1900 (GRADE 2) - R500,000 - Greyville 1st R312,500, 2nd R100,000, 3rd R50,000 - May 19 1.TEN GUN SALUTE (AUS) 4yo b.g. by Henrythenavigator - Ladybird Blue (Bluebird) 2nd dam: Black Tokk (Blakeney) 3rd dam: Such Style (Sassafras) Owners: Mrs H Kuhn & Red Jack Trading (Pty) Ltd Trainer: D C Howells Bred by: Beauvest Pty Ltd, Vic Jockey: M Yeni 2.Tilbury Fort 3yo b.c. by Horse Chestnut - Colleen (Restructure) Owners: M A Currie, W H Jacobs, S Mathen, E C van Niekerk, C Zoghby, Sean Tarry Racing CC and Mrs B M A Lahoud Bred by: G J Armitage =3.It’s My Turn 4yo b.g. by Dynasty - Jallad’s Queen (Jallad) Owner: A L A Crabbia Bred by: W J Engelbrech (Jnr) =3.Mr Winsome 4yo b.g. by Silvano - Al Shama (Al Mufti) Owners: R Meaker (Snr), G Nichas, B Ressell, B Zeidel and Mesdames G E Meaker and V J Dickerson Bred by: Riverworld Stud Then came: Elusive Silva, Hyaku, Banner Hill, Prince Of Wales, Macduff (Aus), Go Direct, Master Switch, Copper Pot, Serissa, Rocketball Non-runner: Jubilee Line Won by: 1.50 - 0.50 - deadheat Time: 1-58,87 TEN GUN SALUTE belied his long odds and considerably boosted his Vodacom Durban July prospects with a visually impressive victory under the Greyville lights. Settled near the rear of the field, the 36-1 shot was switched to the outside at the top of the straight by Musi Yeni and readily responded readily to sweep past the tiring pacemaker Serissa 300m out. It was race over as the Australian-bred skipped clear to win going away by 1.50 lengths from a chasing Tilbury Fort, with top weight It’s My Turn and Mr Winsome sharing third place.

bull valley

Successful in the Listed Michael Roberts Handicap at three, Ten Gun Salute has failed to cut the mustard in nine subsequent starts. In fact, the four-year-old entered this race off a last-place effort in the Gr.2 Drill Hall Stakes, hence his attractive odds. There was a valid excuse for that disappointing run however, as trainer Duncan Howells explained: “He pulled a back muscle and never worked for three or four days after the race. The physio did fantastic work as did my entire team and he worked twice a day for the last week. Even up till yesterday I was still thinking whether to run or not yesterday morning. I trotted him up and he was sound so I thought to myself, take your chances. I didn’t think he’d win as well as he did, but you know horses, they teach you a new thing every day.” This was the gelding’s fourth career win and boosted his earnings to just over R700,000. Ten Gun Salute was snapped up for just A$10,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and ten months later, sold for a handsome R1,150,000 at the 2014 CTS Ready To Run Sale. A son of English/Irish 2000 Guineas winner Henrythenavigator, he is one of 11 winners out of the dual Listed stakes winner and Gr.1 South Australian Oaks runner-up Ladybird Blue, who also produced Gr.3 South Australia Classic victress Red Typhoon (Hold That Tiger) and stakes-placed Bella Princess (Flying Spur). Out of English-bred Black Tokk, Ladybird Blue is a half-sister to Gr.1 Goodwood Handicap hero French Clock and to Ballarat Cup victress Dream About It, the grandam of dual Gr.1 winner Heart Of Dreams. HIGHLANDS STUD WINTER CLASSIC (GRADE 3) - R250,000 - 1800m Kenilworth 1st R156,250, 2nd R50,000, R25,000 - May 21 1.AFRICAN NIGHT SKY 3yo b.g. by Dynasty - Starzene (Cozzene) 2nd dam: Star Queen (Kingmambo) 3rd dam: Starboard Tack (Seattle Slew) Owner: A L A Crabbia Bred by: Highlands Farms Stud (Pty) Ltd Trainer: S J Snaith Jockey: B Fayd’Herbe 2.Our Mate Art (AUS) 3yo b/br.g. by Artie Schiller - Laureldean Dream (Stravinsky) Owners: M W Bass, B Ressell and N M Shirtliff Bred by: Grandlodge Thoroughbreds (Pty) Ltd and Ken Bee Sports (Pty) Ltd 3.Loadshedder 3yo b.g. by Gimmethegreenlight - Oange Dancer (Danehill Dancer) Owner: Mrs S Plattner Bred by: Cheveley Stud Then came: Ollivander, Turbulent Air (Aus), Verdier, Elevated Won by: 0.75 - 1.75 - neck

Nkosi Hlophe

Time: 1-53,45 Winter Guineas hero AFRICAN NIGHT SKY is on track to land the Winter Series following his fluent victory in this, the second leg. Justin Snaith’s charge stands to pocket the handsome R250,000 bonus, should he win the final leg, the Gr.3 Winter Derby on June 24. Fred Crabbia’s three-year-old settled midfield as Ollivander led stable companion Our Mate Art into the straight. The latter took the lead at the 300m mark, however just as in the Guineas, he had no answer to the powerful surge from African Night Sky, who once again had his measure by the best part of a length. In an exact repeat of the Winter Guineas, Loadshedder produced a stout finish to run third. Whether the first three will resume battle in the Derby remains to be seen, however, based on his dominance in the first two legs, the 2400m race looks at the mercy of the Highlands Stud-bred African Night Sky. (For pedigree details, see Winter Guineas above) TSOGO SUN SPRINT (GRADE 1) - R1,000,000 - 1200m - Scottsville 1st R625,000, 2nd R200,000, 3rd R100,000 - May 27 1.BULL VALLEY 4yo b.g. by Toreador - Star Of Liberty (Saumarez) 2nd dam: Top Times (Elliodor) 3rd dam: Paris Model (Sarnia Call) Owners: PCS (Pty) Ltd, G L Blank, Z L Nassif, G Nichas and J Sarkis Bred by: Ambiance Stud Trainer: S G Tarry Jockey: S Khumalo 2.Search Party 4yo b.g. by Captain Al - Princess Magdalena (Pennekamp) Owner: Mrs D J Sherrell Bred by: Ascot Stud (Pty) Ltd 3.Barbosa 7yo b.g. by Captain Al - Fine Feather (Best By Test) Owners: Mr and Mrs R J Trotter, R E Alexander, B B Campbell and The Apache Syndicate Bred by: Mrs J Trotter Then came: Gulf Storm, Bulleting Home, Exelero, London Call, Talktothestars, Captain’s Causeway, Table Bay (Aus), Sergeant Hardy, Attenborough, Captain Swarovski, Janoobi, Muscatt, Brutal Force Non-runners: Night Trip, Moofeed (Aus) Won by: 1.50 - 1 - shorthead Time: 67,72 Notwithstanding a two-month break, BULL VALLEY was razor sharp and blew some big guns out of the water to register a first top level success in this Scottsville showpiece sprint.

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carry on alice

Nkosi Hlophe

Jockey S’Manga Khumalo catapulted his mount out of the pens and was barely headed, with London Call matching strides up the centre. A furlong out, there were still plenty in contention but Bull Valley kept finding and drew off to win rather comfortably. A lightly raced son of successful Danehill stallion Toreador, this was Bull Valley’s fifth victory from just nine starts and second at graded stakes level, having accounted for the Gr3 Man O’War Sprint at three. This season, the talented speedster also landed the Listed Golden Loom Handicap and went down by no more than a neck in the Gr2 Merchants at Turffontein. He most recently finished fourth behind Champagne Haze in the Gr2 Senor Santa. Bred in the Western Cape by Dr Mariane Thomson at her Ambiance Stud, Bull Valley was produced from Gr3 Umzimkhulu Stakes second Star Of Liberty, a half-sister to Gr3 Diana Stakes runner-up Time Control (Complete Warrior), the dam of triple Stakes winner Control Freak (Tamburlaine). This is the female line of former Horse of the Year and accomplished stallion Model Man. Star Of Liberty’s juvenile filly and yearling colt are both by Judpot. SA FILLIES SPRINT (GRADE 1) - R750,000 - 1200m - Scottsville 1st R468,750, 2nd R150,000, 3rd R75,000 - May 27 1.CARRY ON ALICE 5yo b.m. by Captain Al - Carry On Katie (Western Winter) 2nd dam: Katie Firth (Best By Test) 3rd dam: Kyle (Free Ride) Owners: C J H van Niekerk, Dr J A Warner and Klawervlei Stud (Pty) Ltd Bred by: Klawervlei Stud Trainer: S G Tarry Jockey: S Khumalo 2.Just Sensual 3yo b.f. by Dynasty - Consensual (Camden Park) Owners: Mayfair Speculators (Pty) Ltd Bred by: Klawervlei Stud 3.The Secret Is Out 3yo b.f. by Captain Al - Secret Of Victoria (Goldkeeper) Owners: G M Miller and B G Nelson Bred by: BBP Syndicate Then came: Jo’s Bond, Joan Ranger, Bela-Bela, Miss Varlicious, Elusivenchantment, Live Life, Vision To Kill, Real Princess, Sail Won by: 1 - 1 - 0.75 Time: 67,81 Sean Tarry’s sprint queen CARRY ON ALICE fittingly signed off on her illustrious career with a second success in the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint. Victorious as a three-year-old and fifth in last year’s renewal, Sean

arade MAGAZINE | July 2017

sand and sea

Nkosi Hlophe

Tarry’s mare made no mistake this time round. Always up with the pace, she responded under regular pilot S’manga Khumalo, hitting the front when it counted and fighting all the way to the line to keep at bay hard-chasing Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Just Sensual. Carry On Alice has served her connections with distinction over four seasons and retires as an 11-time winner, having earned just under R4.6 million. Five of her victories came at the top level and also included the Gr1 SA Nursery as a juvenile, the Gr1 Computaform Sprint at four, and this season’s Gr1 Cape Flying Championship. Co-owner Chris van Niekerk confirmed that Carry On Alice’s future as a broodmare will be in Australia. Here’s hoping she enjoys the same success as his former champion National Colour, the dam of Gr1 winning full brothers Rafeef and Mustaaqeem. Bred at Klawervlei, as was the runner-up, Carry On Alice is one of just two foals out of Gr2 Debutante victress and Gr1 Paddock Stakes runner-up Carry On Katie. Grandam Katie Firth is a half-sister to Gr1 SA Derby hero Kale (Elliodor), Gr1 Paddock Stakes third Pratique (Model Man) and Gr3 Gold Bracelet runner-up Kyllachy (Fort Wood). This is also the family of champion Kildonan and Gr1 winner Sound Of Rhum, the dam of Fort Wood’s SA Guineas winner Dunsinane. ALLAN ROBERTSON CHAMPIONSHIP (GRADE 1) - R750,000 - 1200m Scottsville 1st R468,750, 2nd R150,000, 3rd R75,000 - May 27 1.BRAVE MARY 2yo b.f. by Brave Tin Soldier - Mary Lou (Rich Man’s Gold) 2nd dam: Kentucky Lass (Kentucky Slew) 3rd dam: Smart Casual (Sweet Song) Owners: L Taylord and D Bayley Bred by: R Plersch Trainer: P F Matchett Jockey: G Wrogemann 2.Green Plains 2yo b.f. by Gimmethegreenlight - Savannah Leigh (Jet Master) Owner: C J H van Niekerk Bred by: Gary Player Stud (Pty) Ltd 3.Neptune’s Rain 2yo b.f. by Antonius Pius - Water Is Gold (Rich Man’s Gold) Owner: D D Maclean Bred by: Highlands Farms Stud (Pty) Ltd Then came: Princess Peach, Light On Her Toes, Call To Account, Daring Diva, Zarnitsa, Gold Image, Victory Trip, Twelve Oaks, Crymeariver, Under The Stars, Great Aim Non-runner: Touch Of Magic (Aus) Won by: 1.75 - 3 - 1 Time: 68,30

There was a bit of a turn up in this juvenile fillies event when 20-1 outsider BRAVE MARY notched up a first stakes success at the expense of favourite and Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery victress Green Plains. Always prominent, the Paul Matchett-trained juvenile quickened smartly a furlong out to skip clear and was not for the catching, coming home almost two length clear of a well strung-out field. The filly’s Gr1 score came on the back of a 6.50-length romp at the Vaal on 9 May at fourth time of asking and immediately pushed her earnings to R554,250, a far cry from the paltry R40,000 she cost as a juvenile. “We’ve come a long way, but it’s all been worthwhile. A job well done,” remarked Matchett. Brave Mary joins champion juvenile Rabada as the second top level winner for her sire Black Minnaloushe and is out of stakes-winning sprinter Mary Lou, who likewise was trained by Matchett. Under his tutelage she won the Listed Swallow Stakes and reached the frame in all of the Gr2 Camellia Stakes, Goldfields Sprint and Bauhinia Handicap. A half-sister to Gr1 Champions Cup hero African Appeal (Model Man), she is out of the seven time winning sprinter Kentucky Lass, whose half-sister Miss Casual (Commodore Blake) is the grandam of last month’s Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes victress Whose That Girl (Gitano Hernando). Mary Lou has a yearling filly by Await The Dawn, was barren in 2016 and is currently in foal to Var. TSOGO SUN GOLD MEDALLION (GRADE 1) - R750,000 - 1200m Scottsville 1st R468,750, 2nd R150,000, 3rd R75,000 - May 27 1.SAND AND SEA 2yo b.c. by Twice Over - Sea Point (Spectrum) 2nd dam: Compass Point (Model Man) 3rd dam: Manuka (Rainbow Dream) Owners: B Kantor, W J C Mitchell, N M Shirtliff and Mayfair Speculators (Pty) Ltd Bred by: Drakenstein Stud Trainer: D R Drier Jockey: A Marcus 2.Varallo 2yo b.c. by Var - Covenant (Western Winter) Owner: The Fire Racing Trust Bred by: Varsfontein Stud 3.Al Mariachi 2yo b.c. by Great Britain - Senorita Al (Captain Al) Owner: G P C Glover Bred by: Riverton Stud Also ran: Woljayrine, Naafer (Aus), Keanan’s Rock, Warrior’s Rest, Procal Harum, Sir Frenchie (Aus), Arianos Bagofgold, Sniper Shot, Autumn In Seattle Won by: 2.25 - neck - 1.50 Time: 68,34 The Scottsville crowd witnessed a potential champion in action when boom colt SAND AND SEA overcame a tardy start to earn his Gr1 spurs in just his second outing. The imposing colt gave his connections a few anxious moments when he literally walked out of the stalls and was trailing his field in the early stages. However, when jockey Anton Marcus popped the question entering the final furlong, he picked them up in a matter of strides and bounded clear to score in imperious fashion. “He’s such a brute of a horse and takes time to find his stride,” remarked Marcus. The colt had impressed when cracking his maiden against winners three weeks ago over the course and distance. Unbeaten in two starts, the sky looks the limit for this handsome individual, who strutted the paddock like he owned it. For trainer Dennis Drier, this was a sixth Gold Medallion success in eight years and seventh overall. It also proved a momentous landmark for

freshman sire Twice Over, a dual winner of the Gr1 Champion Stakes and also successful in the Gr1 Juddmonte International for Sir Henry Cecil. A R1 million purchase from last year’s Cape Premier Yearling Sale, Sand And Sea is the second foal of juvenile winner Sea Point, a Spectrum half-sister to the champion three-year-old miler and Gr1 Cape Guineas winner Pointing North (Joshua Dancer) and to Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes third Pointing East (Jallad). Third dam Manuka placed at Gr2 level and produced Gr1 Computaform Sprint hero Rodoille (Elliodor), the Gr2 Diadem Stakes victor and sire Blue Tiger (Counter Action), as well as Prive (Saumarez), the dam of Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes victress Louvre (Doowaley). CAPE OF GOOD HOPE NURSERY (GRADE 3) - R200,000 - Kenilworth 1st R125,000, 2nd R20,000, 3rd R10,000 - May 27 1.DUTCH PHILIP 2yo b.c. by What A Winter - Upity Ann (Dominion Royale) 2nd dam: Napa Valley (Hard Up) 3rd dam: Ipanema (Copper De Luxe) Owners: Mayfair Speculators (Pty) Ltd, B Ressell and N M Shirtliff Bred by: Rex Stud Trainer: C L Bass-Robinson Jockey: A Domeyer 2.Speedpoint 2yo b.c. by Var - Cash Register (Casey Tibbs) Owners: Mr B P and Mrs K Finch Bred by: Drakenstein Stud 3.Zodiac Jack 2yo b.c. by Just As Well - Pisces Star (Kahal) Owners: O Schoeman and A J van Huyssteen Bred by: Estate G J Royden-Turner Then came: Virtue, Supreme Orator, Dollar Tractor, Morning Catch, Badawee Won by: 0.75 - 1.50 - 0.75 Time: 73,92 The combination of Candice Bass-Robinson, Aldo Domeyer, the stallion What A Winter, and a partnership of owners Mayfair Speculators, Marsh Shirtliff and Bryn Ressell continued their stranglehold on the Cape juvenile features at yesterday’s Kenilworth meeting. Domeyer was in sublime form and booted home six winners, amongst which DUTCH PHILIP, who continued his march up the stakes ladder by adding the Gr3 Cape of Good Hope Nursery to his fluent score in the Listed Somerset 1200 three weeks previously. This time, the colt had to work a bit harder to get the better of a rousing scrap with Joey Ramsden’s colt Speedpoint over the final 300m. A furlong out, the Ramsden challenger actually got his head in front, however, a confident Domeyer extracted a powerful rally from Dutch Philip and the pair drew off to score by just under a length. Dutch Philip now sports an enviable formline of four wins and a place from as many starts and with earnings of R316,875, he is well on his way to recouping his R460,000 purchase price at last year’s CTS March Yearling Sale. The colt also continued the rich vein of form enjoyed by red-hot freshman sire What A Winter, whose daughter Magical Wonderland set up the stakes double for the same connections when landing the Listed Kenilworth Fillies Nursery a half hour earlier. Incidentally, she had claimed the Listed Perfect Promise Sprint on the same day Dutch Philip won the Somerset 1200. Bred by Rex Stud, Dutch Philip is the first foal of the versatile five-time winner Upity Ann and is the second member of the family to win this race. Hard Up gelding Sicily, an own brother to his grandam Napa Valley, landed the spoils way back in 1990. This is the Ipanema branch of the talented family of Island Belle (Ulysses), whose descendants include Gr1 winner Yquem and stakes winners Montrachet, Island Chief, Hard Line, Rushing Wind, Ice Wind and Nordic Breeze.

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and the pleasure that they have given me. In the specific context of Horse Racing, my most lucid recollections relate to the July Handicap, my favourite sporting event by far. The first July that I can remember dates back to 1966. It was the year in which the much-loved Sea Cottage ran a gallant fourth behind his stable companion, Java Head. It was a remarkable placing as only weeks before the big event a hired gunman had shot Sea Cottage in his hindquarter on the Blue Lagoon Beach close to the Newmarket Stables (still standing, adjacent to King’s Park Rugby Stadium in Durban). Sea Cottage, winner of twenty of the twenty-four races that he contested, never unplaced, was rated by those who actually saw him race as the greatest racehorse this country is ever likely to see.

Dramatic, nail-biting finish Midst great excitement, Sea Cottage returned to Greyville the following year to fight out a dramatic, nail-biting finish with Jollify. Despite conceding twelve kilograms to his younger rival, Sea Cottage got up on the line to share the ultimate prize. It was the first of only two dead-heats in the history of the July, the other being that of Pocket Power and Dancer’s Daughter in 2008. In 1970, my older brother, Gerard, in his early twenties at the time, rather recklessly staked his entire June salary on Naval Escort to win the big race for a second time. It was something the colt (half- brother to the mighty Sea Cottage) simply couldn’t do. The four-year old plodded home in eighth position behind the unfancied winner, Court Day. Quite commendably, after that scalding financial loss, and up to the time of his premature death forty years later, my brother never wagered more than ten rand on a “bleedin’ racehorse”. Kevin Shea’s storming finish aboard Ipi Tombe in 2002 comes readily to mind as one of the most thrilling July’s that I’ve ever watched. In a desperate finish, the gutsy filly had her run timed to perfection by Shea and swooped ahead of her rivals just before the line.

Bleak July A particularly bleak July for me was the one raced in 2005. For two reasons. A friend told me that she’d dreamed that a horse with “dun” in its name had featured in the finish. That year both Dunford and Dunsinane were in the race. As I didn’t give the eventual winner, Dunford, a snowball’s chance of featuring in the finish, we opted to include only Dunsinane in our quartet permutation. It was a costly mistake, one that saw us lose out on a dividend in the region of two hundred thousand rand, if I remember correctly. Also, during the running of that year’s race, the well-performed grey colt, Rabiya, favourite in the race, suffered a compound fracture of his off hind cannon bone and had to be euthanased. That alone, reason enough for a sombre mood.

Sea Cottage, winner of twenty of the twenty-four races that he contested, never unplaced, was rated by those who actually saw him race as the greatest racehorse this country is ever likely to see. Twenty years ago, with Max Schmelling, a lovable Boxer dog, and Stella, an old Ayrshire cow, as companions, I lived on a very challenging smallholding in Old Thomas River, midway between Cathcart and Stutterheim in the Eastern Cape. There, without a vehicle, running water and electricity, I led a somewhat aimless hippie lifestyle, growing better dreadlocks than I did cabbages. The race that year took me back to my childhood, before the first televised July in 1976. Once again, I had to listen to a commentary on a battery-powered radio. Although my fancy for the race, the Anne Upton-trained Last Warning, failed to run a place, I was so pleased that, after decades of persistence, the forty-three-year old champion jockey Michael Roberts (we’re exactly the same age) rode his first July winner aboard Super Quality.

Cherished memory My most cherished memory, and the last that limited space permits me to share, relates to the July Handicap run fortyfive years ago in 1972. It was my first year out of school. Still living in a household where Racing was always the main topic of conversation, there was amusing disagreement between my parents about In Full Flight’s ability to win the big race. My father, a Syd Laird /Mazarin fan, was adamant that the three-year old colt, unexposed beyond 1600m, simply would not stay. My mother, on the other hand, saw no reason why he shouldn’t. Argument was suspended, and calm restored to our home, a few days before the race. Quite by chance, my mother had bumped into an old acquaintance, Norman Ferguson, owner of In Full Flight. “Edith, he’ll stay every inch of the trip,” the ruddy-cheeked Norman assured my mother. Although I wasn’t at home for the running of the race, a tape recording of the family gathering that particular afternoon became a treasured heirloom. My late mother, with uncharacteristic abandon and an endearing lack of decorum, drowned out Ernie Duffield’s commentary in the latter stages of the race with high-pitched screams for only one horse, the victorious, In Full Fight.

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Horsing with Hennessey

MemorieS a lifetime of

In Full Flight: The ill-fated winner of sixteen of his twenty starts, including the July Handicap and four other Group One Races.

A survey was conducted by M and S Bank in Britain to find out what people really valued. The findings indicated that although financial security and a well-paid job are considered important, good health is what really matters.

urthermore, a few of Life’s small, simple pleasures are highly regarded - having a pet, hugs and laughter, a reliable car (Oh Yes), peace and quiet, being cooked dinner (Oh Yes to that, too), and (you’ll relate to this one) … a bed with fresh sheets. Interestingly, sixty percent of respondents also considered memories to be extremely precious. I resonate with that sentiment, grateful for all the enduring ones that I have, and for the instant access to joy and laughter that come with happy memories. Spanning more than fifty years, I’ve gathered a lifetime of memories, some of my richest ones associated with horses P.T.O

arade MAGAZINE | July 2017