1. Art and Diseño

Racing
Cover Picture: Miss Frankel
(Frankel ex Val Da Ra) born
at Avontuur. Photo by Liesl King.
08 10 12
19 22 Gauteng Sansui Summer Cup
KZN Breeders Awards
Port Elizabeth Racing
QIPCO Champions Day
Racing Abassadors
Parade
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)
Tel: 031 314 1917
Email:[email protected]
ADVERTISING &
SUBSCRIPTIONS:
Olivia Abdulla
Mobile: 074 675 1657
Tel: 031 314 1545
Fax: 031 314 1779
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GOLD CIRCLE
PHOTOGRAPHER
Nkosi Hlophe
Tel: 031 314 1922
Email: [email protected]
DESIGN & LAYOUT
Denzil Govender
Tel: 031 314 1920
Email: [email protected]
Features
26
30
32
36
40
42
46
50
54
58
96
Legislate back on track
Piere Strydom
Sean Cormack
Tiger Dance
Jet Explorer
Dr Ralph Katzwinkel
The Tetrarch
Val De Ra
Equine Respiration
Horses during the Boer War
Horsing with Hennessey
Breeding
Statistics
60
62
68
66
84 94 Do milers make the best sires?
Avontuur Stud’s VAR
Graded Race Results
Racing Calendar
Al Mufti
Northern Dancer
Sales
65
68
70
Cape Premier Yearling Sale
CTS Ready-To-Run Sale
BSA Ready-To-Run Sale
Industry
72 74 78
80
R.I.P Jimmy Lithgow
Gold Circle News
Racing Association
Trotting South Africa
PARADE MAGAZINE
3
Contributors
Michael Clower
Ada van der Bent
Liesl King
Henk Steenkamp
Michele Wing
Editor’s Note
It takes more than just talent to ride 5000 career winners as a jockey.
It also requires dedication and plain hard work so all the accolades
attributed to Piere Strydom on riding his 5000th winner aboard the
Joey Ramsden-trained Act Of War in the Selangor Cup were thoroughly
deserved.
Piere is also one of the gentlemen of the profession and a journalists dream
as he is seldom unavailable for comment and gives information freely.
Gold Circle hosted the former Champion at a Friday night meeting at Greyville to mark the occasion
and it was gratifying to see how many racing enthusiasts made the effort to be on course and to
line up for an autograph session.
However, Piere has a long way to go to catch record holder, 56-year-old Canadian Russell Baze, who
at last count had 12208 victories to his credit.
The J&B Met is shaping into one of the battles of the season with the race pencilled in as Equus
Champion Legislate’s final appearance in South Africa and Louis The King back in top form after his
victory in the Sansui Summer Cup.
Also amongst the initial list of nominations are top three-year-olds Act Of War and Majmu and Jet
Explorer whose return to the track after serious injury was close to miraculous.
Friday Night Live at Greyville is proving to be a resounding success as Gold Circle’s marketing division
headed by Graeme Hawkins goes all-out to attract people back to the racecourse. With upgraded
facilities and a myriad of entertainment options, the sceptics have been silenced as the crowds and
a great vibe has returned to the racecourse.
Standard racecourse venues such as the Durban View restaurant and the first floor bar and
light meal venue have both been tastefully revamped as have the Owner’s and Trainer’s facilities
overlooking the paddock.
The Lightning Shot bar, named after the 1977 Rothmans Durban July winner, has undergone major
refurbishment and with live music acts every Friday night it has become a popular entertainment
venue. Adjacent is the Braai Zone, where patrons can choose their own cuts of meat and have them
braaied to perfection. Recently introduced on Friday nights is a Kid’s Zone where professional child
minders look after children while parents enjoy the races unencumbered in the knowledge that their
children are safe and well cared for.
On specific dates there is also a Night Market where patrons can browse stalls that offer a variety of
wares ranging from jewellery, clothing and trinkets to food and craft beer.
The Cape Summer Of Champions is in full swing in the Western Cape with superb racing and we
look forward to the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and the J&B Met in anticipation.
Andrew Harrison
Durban, South Africa
SOUTH AFRICAN RACECOURSE GPS CO-ORDINATES
Sarah Whitelaw
David Thiselton
KENILWORTH
S 33 59.808
E 18 28.723 TURFFONTEIN
S 26 14.386
E 28 03.185
8km from centre of Cape Town and 12 km from Cape Town International
4km from centre of Johannesburg and 25 km from OR Tambo
airport
International airport
VAAL
S 26 44.601
E 27 54.283
DURBANVILLE
S 33 50.446
E 18 38.308
20 km from centre of Cape Town and 14 km from Cape Town
8 km from Vereeniging, 60km from Johannesburg and 75km from
International airport
OR Tambo international airport
CLAIRWOOD
S 29 56.360
44 km from from King Shaka International Airport
E 30 58.124
ARLINGTON
S34 00.047
E 25 33.680
6 km from centre of Port Elizabeth and 4km from Port Elizabeth airport
GREYVILLE
S 29 50.833
35 km from from King Shaka International Airport
E 31 00.965
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
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
Cape Premier
Yearling Sale
22 - 23 January 2015
South Africa’s Premier Yearling Sale
featuring the CTS Million dollar
THE CTS MILLION DOLLAR
$1 000 000
Its A Lifestyle
ACT OF WAR - 2013
CPYS Graduate,
winning the
Selangor Cup Gr2
Adrian Todd (COO) E: [email protected]; or Amanda Carey (Sales Manager) E: [email protected] T: +27 (0) 21 873 0734 M: +27 (0) 82 465 4020 W: www.capethoroughbredsales.co.za
European Representative: Hermione Fitzgerald E: [email protected] M: +44 (0) 78 3349 8373
MORE THAN READY
ex YES SHE CAN CANCAN
by CANNY LAD
HIGHEST WEIGHTED SOUTH
AFRICAN 3YO IN 2012
FIRST 3YO IN 40 YEARS TO WIN
THE QUEEN’S PLATE G1
GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT (AUS) beating
VARIETY CLUB (TFR 131) in the 2012
L’Ormarins Queens Plate G1 over 1600m
at Kenilworth.
GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT
FIRST YEARLINGS 2015
CAPE PREMIER YEARLING SALE
22 - 23 JANUARY
LOT SEX
DAM
VENDOR
22
colt
Play Nice
Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud (Nadeson Park)
41
colt
Scorching
Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud (Nadeson Park)
50
filly
Silent Kiss (NZ)
51
filly
Silver Arc
60
filly
Sublime Spring
71
filly
Tango in the Forum
88
filly
Academy Colours (AUS)
112
filly
Comet Chaser
115
colt
Cosmic Jet
121
filly
District Six (IRE)
143
filly
Ginger Hill
146
colt
Glowing Amber (CAN)
178
colt
La Vida Bella (ARG)
181
colt
Lizzy’s Grace
197
filly
Miss Moneybags
Connemara Stud
Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud (Nadeson Park)
Moutonshoek
Highlands Stud
Klipdrif Stud (agent)
Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud (Nadeson Park)
Klipdrif Stud (agent)
Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud (agent)
Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud (Nadeson Park)
Highlands Stud
Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud (Nadeson Park)
Maine Chance Farms
Klipdrif Stud (agent)
VARSFONTEIN STUD
Carl de Vos | T: (021) 869-8238 | M: 082 800 8490
E: [email protected] | W: varsfontein.co.za
STALLION MANAGER: John Freemann | W: freemenstallions.co.za
RACING
TEXT: david thiselton. PHOTO: hack media
Louis is still TheKing
Gauteng Sansui Summer Cup
Five-times champion trainer Geoff Woodruff achieved the Gr 1 Gauteng
Sansui Summer Cup exacta for the second year in succession at a festive
Turffontein as the public hero Louis The King caught his stablemate, the rank
outsider Killua Castle, just before the line under a typically brilliant ride by
Piere Strydom to prevail in a thrilling finish reports DAVID THISELTON.
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PARADE MAGAZINE
W
oodruff didn’t do quite as well as last year
when sending out the trifecta but his remarks that Louis The King’s preparation had
gone perfectly and that Killua Castle’s last run from
a wide draw in the “bog” could be ignored proved
to be spot on.
Louis The King was placed perfectly about six lengths
off the pace that was set reluctantly by Bold Inspiration and was not a strong one.
The mare Jet Belle struck the front quite early in the
straight and took about a two length lead but challengers began coming from all sides in the drying
ground, which was officially posted as “good”.
The crowd roared as Louis The King, backed in to
18-10, began closing in on the outside but in the
meantime his 66/1 shot stablemate Killua Castle
had burst through in the centre. Louis The King then
showed the courage that
is the hallmark of all great
champions. Both protagonists drifted towards the
inside but it was the fouryear-old
Alchemy-bred
Black Minnaloushe gelding that responded to the
crowd’s urging and managed to extract the necessary extra, despite carrying
59kg and giving Killua Castle 2,5kg. The winning
margin was 0,25 lengths and there was then a further 2,75 lengths back to the Tyrone Zackey-trained
Gr 2 Victory Moon winner Judicial. The Gr 1 Gold
Cup winner the Brett Crawford-trained Wavin’ Flag
was next best ahead of the Victory Moon runner up,
the Alec Laird-trained Earl Of Derby. The Gavin van
Zyl-trained No Worries filled the all-important sixth
place, as the Tote paid out that number of places.
well positioned to strike and appeared to be cruising
at the 300m. However, he could only plug on gamely
and although he put 1,25 lengths between himself
and the rest of the field, the impression given was
that he might prefer an easier mile. French Navy finished third ahead of the winner’s fancied female stablemate Siren’s Call and Illuminati was fifth.
Superbly judged ride
Gavin van Zyl had a strong hand in the Gr 3 Fillies Mile
and in the end it was the most fancied of his quintet,
the Mauritzfontein-owned and bred Horse Chestnut
filly Banbury, that was given a superbly judged ride by
Piere Strydom to catch the tote favourite Smart Call
late and win by 1,25 lengths. The fancied Ataab was
a further two lengths back in third.
The Gr 2 Stonach Group Racing Merchants over
1160m was won by the
Highlands Farms Studbred three-year-old Trippi
colt Trip To Heaven, who
is trained by Sean Tarry
and was ridden by birthday boy S’manga Khumalo. The classy 2-1 favourite crept closer from some
way off the pace before showing a fantastic turn of
foot and winning by 1,5 lengths from One Man’s
Dream and the winner’s stablemate Blazing Al.
The Gr 2 Ipi Tombe Challenge over 1600m saw the
Woodruff-trained Arcetri Pink proving her liking for
course and distance and bursting out of the pack to
win comfortably under Gavin Lerena at odds of 6-1.
She is an Australian-bred by Rock Of Gibraltar and
won the Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas over course and distance last season. The top weight Classic Illusion ran
on well to just pip the favourite Carry On Alice for
second. The latter is a top class three-year-old and
didn’t have an ideal preparation as her seasonal reappearance was just nine days earlier and she should
bounce back from this defeat.
The Ormond Ferraris-trained three-year-old Toreador
filly Lazer Star remained unbeaten when showing
pace throughout to win the Gr 3 Hardware Magnolia
Handicap easily over 1160m under Weichong Marwing from Winter Star and Pej. The Tawny Syndicate
bred horse is owned by Marwing’s wife Anneline and
started 4/1 favourite.
Louis The King then
showed the courage that
is the hallmark of all great
champions.
Up-and-coming trainer
Up-and-coming trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren took
a chance entering Unparalleled in the Gr 2 Investec
Dingaans over 1600m considering the gelding had
taken five runs to win his maiden and was rated only
86. However, his belief in the Alchemy-bred by Lateral proved spot on as he came from a handy position
off a strong pace and galloped on strongly to win by
a facile 4,25 lengths under Gavin Lerena, defying his
55-1 odds.
The favourite Harry’s Son took a bump early but was
PARADE MAGAZINE
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RACING
PHOTOS: Candiese Marnewick
KZN
Breeders Awards
2014
The KZN Breeders Awards were held at Bellwood Cottages in the midlands
breeding region and the much-loved mare Beach Beauty received the final
accolade of her glittering racing career by being named Horse Of The Year.
Ashley de Klerk, Rodney and Lynn Clarkin receiving the Breeders Achievement Award from Linda Norval of Summerhill Stud.
International Achievement Awards presented to Robin Scott for The
Apache, from Jenny Blyth of Clifton Stud.
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PARADE MAGAZINE
Champion Freshman Sire presented by Koos de Klerk to Bruce le Roux
for stallion Fort Beluga.
OUTSTANDING 2YO COLT – sponsored by Odds On Colours
Winner: Harry Lime
Breeder: Rathmor Stud
OUTSTANDING 2YO FILLY – sponsored by Equine
Winner: Green Crest
Breeder: Mrs Margaret Filmer
OUTSTANDING 3YO COLT – sponsored by Piemonte Stud
Winner: Futura
Breeder: Guy Murdoch
OUTSTANDING 3YO FILLY – sponsored by Choice Carriers
Winner: Sarasota
Breeder: Rodney and Lynn Clarkin
OUTSTANDING OLDER MALE – sponsored by Epol Horse Feeds
Winner: Wild One
Breeder: Scott Bros
OUTSTANDING OLDER FEMALE – sponsored by Gold Circle
Winner: Beach Beauty
Robin Scott (left) and Bill Lambert (right) present George Rowles with Special Lifetime Achievement
Award.
Breeder: Late Trevor Armitage
OUTSTANDING SPRINTER MALE & FEMALE
– sponsored by Racing Association
Winner: In A Rush
Breeder: Peter Choice
OUTSANDING STAYER MALE & FEMALE
– sponsored by Equifeeds
Winner: Wild One
Breeder: Scott Bros
OUTSTANDING MIDDLE DISTANCE MALE
– sponsored by Piemonte Stud
Winner: Futura
Breeder: Guy Murdoch
OUTSTANDING MIDDLE DISTANCE FEMALE
– sponsored by Kuda
Winner: Beach Beauty
Breeder: Late Trevor Armitage
BROODMARE OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Gold Circle
Winner: Sun Coast
STALLION PROSPECT OF THE YEAR
– sponsored by International Racehorse Magazine
Winner: Fort Beluga
Jenny Blyth of Clifton Stud presented the award for Outstanding Middle Distance Male to Jessica
Hampton and Alex Hohne for Futura.
STALLION OF THE YEAR
– sponsored by Thoroughbred Breeders Association
Winner: Kahal
LEADING BREEDER OF THE YEAR
– sponsored by Almiray Vet Practice
Winner: Summerhill Stud
BREEDERS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
– sponsored by Summerhill Stud
Winner: Rodney Clarkin
SPECIAL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
– sponsored by Balmoral Stud
Winner: Mr George Rowles
ANITA AKAL INDUSTRY AWARD
Winner: Karin Render
INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
– sponsored by Spurwing Horse Feeds
Winner: The Apache
Breeder: Scott Bros
HORSE OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Gold Circle
Winner: Beach Beauty
Breeder: Late Trevor Armitage
Koos de Klerk and Robert Mauvis hand over the KZN Breeders Horse Of The Year Award to Sylvia
and Minou Armitage, awarded to Beach Beauty.
PARADE MAGAZINE
11
RACING
TEXT: henk steenkamp. PHOTOS: PHOTO’S: DEON BOTHA/COASTAL PHOTOS
UniqueDouble
in the wind
Last year a late switch from the grass to the Fairview poly track due to rain
could not bring the Port Elizabeth trainers their first Algoa Cup victory since
2009 when Surfin’ USA won under a brilliant ride from Pieré Strydom. This
year a gale force wind and a gutsy effort by the Mitch Wiese stable could
once again not stem the domination of the Western Cape raiders in the
East Cape’s biggest race, the Gr3 Betting World Algoa Cup, reports HENK
STEENKAMP.
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PARADE MAGAZINE
Disco Al and jockey
Anton Marcus complete
the unique Algoa Cup
double.
W
hat was significant though is that the East
Cape trainers did much better over the
Festival of Racing on the last weekend in
October than in the previous year. Yes, the Algoa
Cup went back to Cape Town on the Sunday and the
Listed Racing Association (RA) Stakes also went that
way on the Friday, but this time more races were won
by Port Elizabeth stables. Last year they managed
nine wins from 19 races. This time it was 11 from 17.
Yvette Bremner and Grant Paddock leading the way
with three winners each.
The R350 000 Algoa Cup is the big one of course
and as was the case last year - if you leave out Storm
Dancer that had only had one run for Gavin Smith
- the local challenge was left up to Wiese. Last year
the Wiese runners, Silent Partner and Forest Digger,
ran fifth and sixth respectively amongst the visitors.
Wiese acknowledged he was better prepared for battle this time. At one stage his charges looked possible
winners but the versatile Cape Town-trained Disco Al
prevailed to complete a unique double.
The five year old gelding became the first horse to
Mitch Wiese did the
best amongst the PE
trainers in the Algoa
Cup.
“Port Elizabeth kept up its’
reputation as the Friendly City,
the Windy City and a great
racing venue.”
win the Algoa Cup two years in a row. Not only that,
you have to dig really deep into undisclosed record
books to find a horse winning the same graded race
back to back but on different surfaces. This time
it was on the grass track that was in absolutely
impeccable condition.
In the long Fairview straight the runners fanned
to the outside rail with Forest Digger and Silent
Partner giving the locals plenty to shout about. Jockey
Anton Marcus battled to find a way through with
Disco Al but he stayed calm and when the gap
opened, he got the job done brilliantly to claim victory
for trainer Joey Ramsden and owners Vanashree and
Anant Singh and Ingrid and Markus Jooste. Forest
Digger, just over a length behind the winner, just kept
his stable mate out of second place. Behind Silent
Partner the next four places were filled by Cape Town
raiders.
Assistant trainer Alson Ndklana admitted he was
very worried about the chances of Disco Al with 200
meters to go but was delighted with the victory. “He
is an easy horse to train,” he said of the deserving
winner. Marcus said that Ramsden was confident
of a win, but that he felt it was going to be very
difficult to beat some of his fellow raiders. Ralph Fell
of Betting World was on course to hand over the
silverware, remarking that the Algoa Cup race day is
going from strength to strength.
On the Friday the RA Stakes for three-year-olds
seems to have produced yet another future star. The
colt Light The Lights won in impressive fashion with
jockey Greg Cheyne in the saddle for trainer Glen
Kotzen. Light The Lights showed that he could follow in the footsteps of former winners of this race
who went on to bigger things including Paris Perfect,
Big City Life (with Lizard’s Desire the runner-up), Bold
Silvano and Run For It.
Owner Hugo Hattingh of the Tripple H Trust was careful not to get too excited about the bright future of
Light The Lights. “Let’s take it step by step,” he cautioned. Kotzen, who trained Big City Life, added that
PARADE MAGAZINE
13
RACING
TEXT: henk steenkamp. PHOTOS: PHOTO’S: DEON BOTHA/COASTAL PHOTOS
the history of the race indicate that Light The Lights
will go on to bigger things. The winning cheque was
given a boost by the added bonus of R40 000 for the
connections from Bloodstock SA.
In the first three races on the Friday the RA dished
out a combined R55 000 in bonuses to the respective
winning owners. “It was a wonderful day with the
meeting also being the East Cape Horse Care Unit
Charity race day. This weekend is certainly growing
and we want to thank all the sponsors involved,”
Racing Association CEO, Larry Wainstein, said. “Port
Elizabeth kept up its’ reputation as the Friendly City,
the Windy City and a great racing venue.”
The Horse Care Unit, in partnership with the RA,
raised in excess of R160 000 with the selling of races
and the auctioning of various racing and sport memorabilia.
Racing on the Sunday was enjoyed with the Whisky and Cigar festival. Fairview Racecourse Promotions manager, Karin le Roux, said they are extremely
pleased with a successful day, notwithstanding the
very windy conditions. Phumelela’s national marketing manager and the man behind the brand, Racing.
It’s A Rush, Michael Varney, was also smiling. “It was
amazing. The buzz and excitement around the event
echoes our mantra that racing is indeed a rush. With
initiatives like the Whisky and Cigar festival we grow
the sport, getting new blood in,” he said.
Jonathan Snaith, representing the champion stable of
his brother, Justin, said the event has grown in its’
racing and hospitality. “The growth since I first attended this weekend seven years ago is amazing,”
he said. Kotzen might have summed up the weekend
most fittingly: “It is always good fun in PE.”
Some of the racing fans
enjoying the day in the
HB Christian Room at
Fairview.
Light The Lights and
jockey Greg Cheyne
won the Listed Racing
Association Stakes in
impressive fashion.
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PARADE MAGAZINE
AVONTUUR
Cape Premier Yearling Sale
22 - 23 January 2015, CTICC
LOT
NAME
SIRE
DAM
2
colt
Varational
Var (USA)
National Seeker
32
colt
Rivarine
Var (USA)
River Jetez
37
filly
Don’t Stop Dancing Dynasty
77
filly
She’s a Giver
Philanthropist (USA)
79
filly
Live Life
Trippi (USA)
80
filly
Spice Girl
Var (USA)
Viva la Belle (AUS)
89
filly
A Womens Way
Var (USA)
A Daughters Legacy
117
filly
Gratuity
Dynasty
120
colt
Varonella
Var (USA)
Devonella
158
colt
Attenborough
Western Winter (USA)
In Camera
171
colt
Le Harve
Var (USA)
191
filly
Keep the Faith
Bold Silvano
200
colt
Jika
Jay Peg
Sarabande
Valeta
Viva
Count the Cash
La Normandie (ARG)
Menorah
Muamba (ARG)
PO Box 1128, Somerset West 7129
General Manager: Pippa Mickleburgh
Tel: (021) 855 1442 • Mobile: 083 658 4404
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.avontuurestate.co.za
LOT 37 - DON’T STOP DANCING filly by Dynasty ex Sarabande by Goldmark.
‘Quality not Quantity’
LOT 32 - RIVARINE colt by Var (USA) ex River Jetez by Jet Master.
Cirrus Des Aigles - heading to the parade ring.
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PARADE MAGAZINE
RACING
TEXT & PHOTos: liesl king
QIPCO Champions Day
Perseverance pays off
Noble Mission and Al
Kazeem fight out the
finish in the QIPCO
Champions Stakes.
As has become the norm the past three years, the rains held off till a week
before QIPCO Champions Day and then the rain gods had a party, resulting
in ground that grew heavier and heavier as the day approached. LIESL KING
reports.
T
he inevitable happened with trainers withdrawing horses left right and centre and the remainder waiting until race day and a walk of the
course before making a decision. In true Irish fashion, Aidan and Joseph O’Brien were first out, sporting immaculate suits and shiny black brogues with
the obligatory umbrella just for show of course. Mud,
what mud be you talking of? Far more sensible was
Lord Grimthorpe in wellies and a thick coat, as he
steadily made his way around the course.
In some instances, the decision to run was left to
the very last minute as renowned Irish trainer Dermot Weld explained. “We’ve walked the course and
found it a mix of heavy and soft in places, but the
Free Eagle is here and at the moment we are running. We will however wait until Pat Smullen has
ridden in the first before making our final decision.”
Incredible to think that one would travel all the way
from Ireland and then withdraw minutes before the
start. Yet this is QIPCO Champions Day, Britain’s richest race day with prize-money totalling just over £4
million, or roughly R70 million!
Free Eagle was due to compete in the main race
on the day, the Gr.1 QIPCO Champion Stakes for a
stake of £1,358,750 or in South African terms R23.5
million to be precise. His stiffest competition was
PARADE MAGAZINE
19
RACING
TEXT & PHOTos: liesl king
to be globetrotting Cirrus Des Aigles (FR). Aged
eight, Cirrus Des Aigles was no spring chicken, but
this tough warrior was far from done and his recent
victories included the Gr.1 Prix Ganay and the Gr.1
Prix D’Ispahan, both at Longchamp Racecourse
followed by the Gr.1 Investec Coronation Cup on
Derby Day at Epsom.
Cirrus Des Aigles was on a roll and returning to
Deauville he added a fourth straight victory when
crossing the line first in the Gr.2 Prix Dollar. Sadly, he
was later to lose the race in the boardroom.
Soft ground specialist
On top of being a multiple Group One winner and
the class horse in the race, Cirrus Des Aigles was a
soft ground specialist. He simply loved mud and the
heavier the going the better. Hence, trainer Corinne
Barande-Barbe’s beautiful bay started as clear favou-
20
PARADE MAGAZINE
rite. Yet also in the race was Derby winner Ruler Of
The World (IRE), Al Kazeem, who had completed a
Group One hat-trick before an aborted stud career
and Noble Mission.
Frankel’s full brother
Noble Mission was blessed with the mixed fortune
of being the mighty Frankel’s full brother. It made
his name instantaneously recognisable, but it also
meant he was forever being compared to his extraordinary brother, who retired to stud unbeaten after
14 victories, culminating in this very race, the QIPCO
Champion Stakes in 2012. That day it was also wet
and Frankel ran for the first time in heavy going. He
didn’t like it, but his class carried him through and
he retired victorious having beaten Cirrus Des Aigles
by 1.75 lengths. Cirrus Des Aigles returned in 2013
and again lost, this time by a neck to Farhh. Now
Noble Mission.
Tears flowed freely as Lady Cecil
led her winner in. Two years ago,
a very sick Sir Henry Cecil had
led in his beloved Frankel and
here was his brother walking the
same route to the winners
enclosure.
Father and son Aiden
and Joseph O’Brien
walking the course.
Cirrus Des Aigles was back to make it third time lucky,
emulating his 2011 victory and nobody believed or
even dreamt that the likes of Noble Mission could or
would stand in his way.
Afterall while a decent horse, Noble Mission was
no world beater, his most notable achievement as
a three-year-old was a victory in the Gr.3 Gordon
Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. As a four-year old, he
certainly did not improve, with his only victory coming in the Listed Tapster Stakes. 2014 however saw
Noble Mission give a hint of the talent that he might
just possess, with a nine length victory in the Gr.3
Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown and victory in
the Gr.3 Hurley Stakes at Chester. Yet two Group
Three victories simply do not a champion make. Then
Noble Mission pulled up his socks to win his first
Group One, when returning victorious in the Tattersalls Gold Cup in May, earning him a place in the
QIPCO Champion Stakes.
But it was not enough to inspire confidence and with
a merit rating some ten lengths off his illustrious
brother, Noble Mission was largely ignored in the betting, with Cirrus Des Aigles the short priced favourite.
Racing however is never black and white and while
Cirrus Des Aigles looked a picture in the parade ring,
his canter down was anything but inspiring. Fighting
for his head and with Christophe Soumillon battling
for control, the gelding uncharacteristically charged
down the turf. Noble Mission on the other hand
went down quietly under James Doyle.
Turning for home it was not the colours of Cirrus Des
Aigles that greeted the packed stands, instead it was
the familiar green with pink sash of Prince Khalid
Abdullah as Nobel Mission brought the field home.
Nobody expected him to retain the lead and as
Soumillon made his move on Cirrus Des Aigles, surely
it was about to be all over. Yet Noble Mission kept
on flying.
In the end, it was the other forgotten hero, Al Kazeem, who joined the flying front runner with
400m left to go. A thrilling, head bobbing battle
ensued with neither giving an inch. Head to head
they flew, too close to call, but with one final surge
Noble Mission got his head in front when it mattered
most, to win by a neck.
Tears flowed freely as Lady Cecil led her winner in.
Two years ago, a very sick Sir Henry Cecil had led in
his beloved Frankel and here was his brother walking the same route to the winners enclosure. Noble
Mission had finally conquered the ever-present shadow of his brother, with a gutsy, gut wrenching performance and in the winner’s circle, posing for the large
crowd, stood not Frankel’s brother, but a horse called
Noble Mission.
PARADE MAGAZINE
21
RACING
TEXT & Photos: ash maharaj
YoungTrendy
Chic & Hip
Racing ambassadors have taken
on a stronger role in our sport in
recent times as the industry tries to
corner a piece of the social action that
other sports have used as a marketing tool for so many decades writes
ASH MAHARAJ.
22
PARADE MAGAZINE
T
he personalities involved with racing around the
world appeal to a new fan base that the sport
is trying to attract. They are generally young,
trendy, chic and hip. The core racegoer often finds
them an unnecessary distraction but with the sport
suffering from a mass market exodus, brand ambassadors draw the general public to events and hopefully the fresh faces convert the sceptics.
Popular entertainer,
Aaron Kwok.
Racing venues in South Africa are by and large dull
places and the entertainment value besides the racing itself does not engage in robust competition with
other entertainment forms. Whilst local racing gets
its house in order with respect to the medium to long
term upgrade of facilities, marketing teams need to
think of innovative ways of bringing in the new generation.
Social media
Racing is trying very hard to be the place to be seen
and to be seen with the social elite is somewhat
key to personal branding. Social media plays a key
role in building a personal brand with every word
on Facebook or Twitter forming an online persona.
Being seen around socially elite
events could be seen as being 'in' with high society. Social
media then assists in spreading
that message. This is where the
Racing Ambassador can be employed to rake in the numbers to
the races to showcase the brand
of horseracing.
The concept is very much borrowed from other sporting
events and festivals. However the
internationals have been getting
it right for many years. One such
event that introduced me to the racing ambassador
revolution of late was a Longines event I attended
in Singapore in 2012, where the headline personality
was the legendary Bollywood actress and former Miss
World, Aishwarya Rai.
The world's most beautiful women according to Hollywood actress, Julia Roberts, Rai was all the rage in
Singapore with unbelievable press coverage afforded
to the event she attended as Longines Amabassor of
Elegance, the Longines Singapore Gold Cup. In an
interview with her she recollected numerous visits to
South Africa, fondly remembering her visits to Sun
City, Cape Town and Durban. She was the winner of
the most prestigious Miss World contest at Sun City.
She was also a publisher's dream; self-assured, elegant and excited to be promoting 'her' event. With
the media frenzy comes the 'free' coverage worth
millions. The city was abuzz with Aishwarya fever as
it set the tone for a splendid raceday.
Aishwarya Rai at the Singapore races
The international fashion media were invited just to
interview her with the races as the side show, however because she was the racing ambassador for this
event, the headlines all spoke of Aishwarya Rai at the
Singapore races; a win-win for fans, racing, the sponsors and the ambassador.
WorldWatchReport, a leading international marketing research company in the luxury watch industry,
released a list of the most popular celebrity brand
ambassadors in the world.
The survey result showed that some of the famous
names from entertainment and sports were the most
popular headed by Tiger Woods, Aishwarya Rai and
British actress famous for her role in Oscar-winning
film Titanic, Kate Winslet. Winslet is also a Longines ambassador,
so racing is fortunate to have two
of the top three world leaders
in brand ambassadorial roles at
their events.
South Africa, too, has dabbled in
this type of promotion to bring
new blood to racing but there
has been a lukewarm reception.
However, it is in its infancy with
lots of work on the type of ambassador as well as profile to be
done. What has been learnt from
world racing, is that if the big names don't come,
then the fans won't either and the relative "cheaper"
acts will attract a lesser market appeal.
Racing is trying
very hard to be the
place to be seen
and to be seen
with the social elite
is somewhat key to
personal branding.
Aaron Kwok
On my latest trip to Asia's world city, Hong Kong,
I learnt more about this topic from a totally different market to cosmopolitan Singapore. The Chinese
market is one that the world is clamouring for and
branding in that market is essential. Getting the concept right the first time is even more important. The
Chinese love their own and none more so than Aaron
Kwok. He is one of the most popular artists in Asia
today. He is dancer, singer and actor all rolled into
one. His excellent stage performances have earned
him the nickname "the Michael Jackson of Hong
Kong". His concerts, be they in Hong Kong, China,
Singapore, the USA or Canada, are always sold out.
Being homegrown, he has membership at the Hong
PARADE MAGAZINE
23
RACING
TEXT & Photos: ash maharaj
Kong Jockey Club, a much sort after affiliation, and
can be branded as one of racing's own.
Young mix
The Racing, It's A Rush brand in South Africa has
gone for a young mix of black and white popular
culture stars as their ambassadors for Johannesburg
events. Finding the middle ground of trying to attract
an all-encompassing group from a culturally diverse
demographic could be ill conceived or a great marketing initiative. The exciting plans for the Cape Summer season and KZN Champions Season awaits as
these marketing brains try to grapple with the suitable personalities to rake in the crowds and the media that follow them.
24
PARADE MAGAZINE
Careful planning and execution
It costs a lot to bring in huge international celebrities and we will in all likelihood not see Hollywood
A-listers at a local racecourse anytime soon. With
racecourse attendances dwindling outside of the big
days we need more intelligent ideas to bring back
the crowds. Racing ambassadors are just one way of
effective activation but careful planning and execution is essential. It is however a tried and tested way
to engage with new audiences when done correctly.
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PARADE MAGAZINE
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PO Box 827, Germiston 1400 • Tel: +27 (0) 11 323 5700 • Fax: +27 (0) 11 323 5788/99 • Email: [email protected] • www.tba.co.za
FEATURE
TEXT: robyn louw. PHOTO: hamish niven photograpy
Jonathan Snaith with
Legislate.
Back on Track
JULY HERO
In her book, the Durban July Handicap, Molly Reinhardt wrote “The Durban
July is the one race in the South African racing calendar that above all others,
every owner, trainer, breeder and jockey wants to win. ROBYN LOUW reports.
26
PARADE MAGAZINE
M
onths of sweat, frustration, fears and hopes
are geared to 3 o’clock on the first Saturday
afternoon in July … A few minutes later the
dream is shattered, or a rainbow is blazing across a
cerulean sky. The greatest ecstasy and the bitterest
agony are hidden behind the bright silks and the
emerald turf. Trainers, owners, jockeys, big time
gamblers and small punters are revealed in their true
colours when the chips are down. Many can take
the triumphs, but not all can face the defeats. If you
can’t take it, you shouldn’t be in it – much better to
go into a nice quiet profession like undertaking – the
only job in the world where you can rely on dead
certs.”
The 2014 Vodacom Durban July will go down on record as one of the most stormy in recent history and
it certainly tested the connections to the limit. The
pace was muddling, the lead horses made contact
several times up the straight and there was that desperate final battle for the finish line. As the horses
flashed past the post, the
crowd stood stunned, not
sure what to make of what
we’d just seen. Then the
horrible wail of the objection hooter rang out. There
is no worse way to decide a
race than in the boardroom.
The crowd, and the connections, held their breath.
Focussed
our
own
thoughts, few noticed the
strain on Richard Fourie’s face as he headed Legislate
back up the chute. He’d felt something amiss after
the pull up and was anxious to get the horse checked
as fast as possible. Back in the parade ring, Justin
and his team sprang into action. After an awkward
wait, Legislate was finally declared the winner. The
connections made their way to the podium, but for
the first time in years, the winning horse did not reappear on the track to parade his victory sash in front of
the stands. Unbeknown to the public, Legislate was
back at the stables, having a temporary cast fitted.
Of course in racing, as in theatre, the show must go
on, and the revellers got back to their celebrations,
not realising the drama that would soon unfold.
By Saturday evening, rumours started circulating
that all was not well. On Sunday, the local tabloids
proclaimed that Legislate had broken down irretrievably, adding more fuel and confusion to the fire.
Justin was quick to respond and assure everyone that
Legislate had been thoroughly checked and had in
fact pulled up absolutely fine and that seemed to
draw a line under the matter.
Blessing in disguise
After his big race triumph, the big colt was given a
two month break. “In hindsight, that was probably a
blessing in disguise,” said Justin, speaking from their
Philippi base. “When he came back into work in
early September, our vet Dave Timpson looked him
over. We trotted him up and Dave said he wasn’t
happy. The horse was 2/5’s lame and on closer examination, we found he’d thrown a splint in the near
fore. As a precaution we had him x-rayed and discovered hairline fractures to his left cannon bone.”
“Having told everyone that the horse was fine, we
obviously felt a bit sheepish, but back in Durban
we’d been worried about
his joints and looking for a
problem there, rather than
at the bone. Obviously his
joints all came up clean and
we thought everything was
fine. When we saw the
X-ray results in September,
we were devastated all
over again. It didn’t look
as though he’d make the
season.”
Jono picks up the story. “The Sports Science
Institute of South Africa (SISSA) is headed up by
Professor Tim Noakes. It’s a fantastic organisation
that’s at the forefront of international research in
exercise science and sports medicine. Theo Calligeris
was one of the founding members and he happens
to be a friend of mine. When I told him what had
happened to Legislate, he said he had the perfect
machine for us to try. They’d used it for treating similar injuries in humans and found that it drastically cut
the recovery time. We had nothing to lose at that
point, so we went ahead and bought one and started
the treatment in early September.”
The machine has a small metal plate (about the size
of a stethoscope head) that is applied directly to the
injury site. The machine is quiet and non-invasive
Focussed our own
thoughts, few noticed the
strain on Richard Fourie’s
face as he headed
Legislate back up the
chute.
PARADE MAGAZINE
27
FEATURE
TEXT: robyn louw. PHOTO: liesl king
machine, so Legislate was unconcerned by it, which
was a tremendous help. It is worth pointing out just
what a phenomenal temperament the horse has – on
my visit, we were able to walk into his box, check his
legs and pose him for the camera – all without needing a headcollar. That’s quite something for a 4yo
entire! Legislate received treatment twice a day and
Justin also put him on an immediate regime of daily
visits to the beach.
Two weeks into his programme, they x-rayed again
and found the leg to be 95% back to perfect health.
They followed up with another two weeks as a
precaution and his final set of x-rays showed him to
be back to full soundness.
Jono continues “A process that should have taken
8 weeks, took 4. That machine literally cut his recovery time in half.” Justin concurs, “We wouldn’t
have been able to do this without that machine and
the beach. We started off taking him to the beach
every day and then gradually weaned him off as he
improved. It’s been a tough time for all of us. You’re
on a high after the big win, and then have the injury scare. You get over that and start planning for
the new season and then it looks as though that’s all
gone. We are so lucky that he’s got such great owners. There was never any pressure from their side or
any rush to get him back to work and I can’t tell you
how much that helps.”
Recovery
Legislate was slowly brought back into full work and
the team have been quietly excited by his progress.
He had his first grass gallop on Wednesday, 12 November, which was pronounced ‘sensational’. Jono
was visibly thrilled with their stable star, saying ‘From
past experience, he’s usually a bit sluggish after a rest
and takes a while to get going again, but it’s like he’s
never had a break. He’s been putting in some top
work at home and his grass gallop was the best I’ve
ever seen. Even Richard jumped off smiling, and said
he’s stronger than he was before his injury. The way
he’s working is very exciting and we really think that
he’s going to be a major contender for the summer
season. Legislate has a three-race programme - the
Green Point Stakes, the Queen’s Plate and the Met.”
“Richard is also riding so well. We thought he’d need
Legislate and Richard
Fourie winning the Gr2
Green Point Stakes.
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PARADE MAGAZINE
a ride or two, but he’s got straight back into it,
just like Legislate! On his first meeting back, he
rode two winners for us. And they weren’t just
ordinary wins – he rode them so well. So from our
side it’s all good news at the moment. We don’t
want to get ahead of ourselves. This is racing,
things can go wrong, things did go wrong, but
we’re back on track and we’re just very very excited for the season.”
Back to his best
Legislate made good on his gallop report, producing a sensational win in the Gr2 Green Point Stakes
on Saturday, 22 November. Richard Fourie was back
in the saddle and they won by 3.5 lengths gearing
down. With everything that’s gone before, it was
understandably a very poignant and emotional
moment for everyone involved.
With three grade ones under his belt already (Investec
Derby, Daily News 2000 and Vodacom Durban July)
it is hard to imagine what Legislate possibly still has
to prove. However, next on the agenda is the
L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate on 10 January 2015 and
then the J&B Met on 31 January 2015.
PARADE MAGAZINE
29
FEATURE
TEXT: andrew harrison. PHOTOS: liesl king
The Master
Strikes
Piere Strydom
5000
“To succeed at the highest
level a jockey must have
unwavering dedication and
commitment to his career. That’s
the only base to start from.
Complete focus and hard work is
essential.” The words of
South Africa’s
most decorated jockey,
Michael Roberts.
P
iere Strydom may not have 11 South African
Jockey titles behind his name, but there is no
doubting his dedication and commitment as he
notched the 5000th winner of his 32-year career in
the saddle aboard the crack colt Act Of War at Kenilworth on Sunday.
Piere started his riding career at the South African
Jockey Academy in 1982, and like Roberts, his first
career victory came at Scottsville aboard Saadabad
for Johnny Nicholson.
Over the years Strydom garnered the nickname
“Striker” for his deadly timing when riding a finish,
getting up when all thought he was beaten. One
of his most memorable races was the 1990 Joseph
Dorfman Memorial at Gosforth Park aboard the Jean
Heming-trained Tudor Rullah. Graeme Hawkins was
calling the race. “With 200m to go he was 20 lengths
off the pace; the only horse that couldn’t win! Piere
says 15 but I reckoned it was 20, and he got up on
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PARADE MAGAZINE
the line.” Three short-heads separated the first four
past the post.
Piere is well known for his perfect balance and ability
to judge pace, whether it be from the front or producing his mount at just the right moment to collar
the leaders and another career highlight came on 14
July 1990 when he rode seven winners on the card,
including the Pick 6. But for Piere, JJ The Jetplane’s
win in Hong Kong was the cherry on top.
“Our luck started with a good draw. The start was
not the greatest but he soon recovered to get a position close to Rocket Man. We started putting pressure on Felix Coetzee early up the straight, which
forced him to make a move on Rocket Man. At that
stage I could determine how much we had left in the
tank and knowing Felix had made his move I realised
it was going to be close but I could get there. The
finish ended up being a lot closer than I had hoped
for, proving the class of both horses.”
PARADE MAGAZINE
31
“If you had said
to me then that
I would one day
be stable rider
for Dennis Drier
as well as riding
for the champion
trainer and
people like Joey
Ramsden, I would
never have
believed you. I
honestly didn’t
think I would
ever ride
again.”
32
PARADE MAGAZINE
FEATURE
TEXT: MICHAEL CLOWER. PHOTO: nkosi hlophe
SeanCormack
Sean Cormack is a much-in-demand
jockey but it hasn’t always been like
this. He tells his story to MICHAEL
CLOWER
S
ean Cormack, now the height of fashion in
racing’s fickle world and with nine Grade 1s in
three seasons, is talking about the blackest time
in his life when a seemingly insurmountable weight
problem convinced him – and many others – that he
was finished.
“I went to Mauritius when I was not much more than
21. It was too young and I had too much fun. I put
on weight and, when I came back to South Africa, I
battled to handle it and I struggled. For six months
I stopped riding altogether and it really affected my
confidence. Indeed it affected a lot of areas in my
life.”
Cormack, 44, in boots and breeches, is sitting under
the trees that line the Kenilworth parade ring as the
horses are led round before the next race, one of the
few in which he doesn’t have a ride. He talks quietly
but determinedly as he goes back in time. His face is
a picture of concentration, his short dark brown hair
neatly brushed. Only the colourful tattoo on his right
arm looks out of place.
He was born in what was then Salisbury and when he
was seven, already dreaming of playing in the black
and white stripes of his beloved Newcastle United,
his chemical industry father transferred the family to
Durban. Cormack senior was keen on racing and a
great friend of Brian Sylvester, the futureowner of
the 1989 July winner Right Prerogative. ‘Uncle Brian’
took young Sean with him on some of his visits to
racing yards. The boy decided he should become a
jockey, not a footballer, even though he had never so
much as sat on a horse.
The Academy came as a rude shock. “I was only 13
and a soft kid - and the life there was a huge change.
But, as I now realise, I am a determined individual and
I persevere with most things.I got through it and the
tough times seemed to make me stronger.”
There is a clatter of heels as one of the horses in front
of him nervously skitters sideways, its groom hanging
onto the lead rein and cursing in Xhosa.
Cormack hardly seems to notice. He is still back at the
Academy. “I was one of the last in my year to start
race-riding. When I did, though, it took me only six
mounts to ride a winner, Mark Up for Willie Pieters at
Scottsville when I was 16.”
First Grade One
However it was another year before he rode the second one. Then Herman Brown snr thought he recognised talent and the winners began to flow.Terry
Ryan gave him chances and Joey Joseph (“always
good to the guys who were just finishing their apprenticeship”) gave him a lot more. “I was basically
first choice, I rode some smart horses for him and
I ended up winning the 1971 Strelitzia on Blushing
Star for Guy Rixon. Three months later I won the
Golden Slipper for Guy on Magnificent Miss, my first
Grade One.”
Then came Mauritius and the weight disaster. The
jockeys in the ring are being legged into the saddle
but Cormack gives no sign of seeing them. His face
is grimset as he relives the agony. “I helped a few
jockeys’ agents but that was just to earn a few rand
and somehow keep me in the game. I thought of
other options but where I was going to go with them
I simply didn’t know.
“I then started riding again but I’d been knocked out
of things for a year and I thought I would have a
weight problem for the rest of my life. It took me six
years to get back to a competitive level.”
Salvation came in the tall, bearded and humorous
form of Paul Lafferty. “He gave me a break and took
PARADE MAGAZINE
33
FEATURE
TEXT: MICHAEL CLOWER. PHOTO: nkosi hlophe
“Exactly what you learn is hard
for me to say but I do know that
you gain experience and pick up
little aspects of race-riding that
you didn’t know before.
You also come back with more
confidence. It’s as if you have
more weaponry at your
disposal.”
me on. I managed to work my way up to becoming
his stable rider. My confidence grew as his yard expanded and other opportunities also came my way.”
One of the most significant was in 2007 when Glyn
Schofield moved to Australia and Dennis Drier invited
Cormack to take his place. By this time he was getting 600 rides a season and heading towards the 100
winner-a-year mark.
Indeed his confidence had returned to such an extent
that he felt he could do even better in a bigger pond
and he had lodged his own application for Australian
residence.
Not a problem, he thought as he happily accepted
the Drier offer – “they said it would take forever” –
but less than a year went by before he was having to
go cap in hand to his new boss and tell him he was
giving up the job.
“Mr Drier was obviously disappointed but one thing
about him is that he never gets funny about anything. He understood where I was coming from and
he was very accommodating.”
Not the best scenario
Cormack linked up with the leading Queensland
trainer Bruce McLachlan and got off to a flying start
until a bad fall tore the muscles and ligaments in his
hand. He came back to recuperate only for McLachlan to drop dead of a heart attack. “It wasn’t the
best scenario,” Cormack says drily. It wasn’t great for
McLachlan either!
Cormack asked Drier if he could ride work so he
could see if his hand was strong enough for him to
return to Australia and Drier asked him if he would
be interested in staying.
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PARADE MAGAZINE
But the following year he was off once more,
to Singapore on a year’s contract with Dennis
Evans, part-owner of July winner Legislate. Again the
long-suffering Drier didn’t blow his top. “When you
get opportunities in life like this you have to grab
them with both hands,” he reasons.
Cormack stayed for 18 months, also riding for Basil
Marcus, but for three months he was out of action
after being suspended for failing to ride ‘with sufficient vigour and determination.’ Cormack maintained his innocence, and still does. The horse had a
wind problem and he rode him in the same way as he
had done when he won on him. His appeal was dismissed. “Some things in life you just have to accept.”
When he returned to South Africa once more he
linked up with Glen Kotzen and won the Avontuur
Cape Fillies Guineas on Princess Victoria. The Drier
job then came up again, along with Beach Beauty
and her five Grade 1s and there have been others for
Brett Crawford and patron saint Lafferty.
Cormack has become a magnet for the big name
trainers whenever they want a top jockey. Never
before has he been in such demand and, like Bernard
Fayd’Herbe, he reckons his overseas stints are the
key. “You learn a lot when you ride in other countries. ”He pauses, as if searching for the right words.
“Exactly what you learn is hard for me to say but I
do know that you gain experience and pick up little
aspects of race-riding that you didn’t know before.
You also come back with more confidence. It’s as if
you have more weaponry at your disposal.”
Drier hardly hesitates when asked about him –
“Sean’s a top jockey and a good judge of pace. He’s
also a thinking jockey. All the time he is thinking.”
So, are trainers more inclined to leave tactics to him?
Not all of them apparently. “Some still give me a
handful of instructions but a lot of them have the
confidence to leave things to me. Mr Drier is pretty
good in most respects but every now and again he
will want me to ride one in a certain way – and I do
so even if things don’t work out.”
Diet drove me mad
And what about the weight?“It’s stable and I’m comfortable riding at 55kg.” He pauses again and looks
up as the commentator’s voice rises to a crescendo.
‘You can put the number in the frame’ carries across
the parade ring.
Sean Cormack and
Beach Beauty sign off
on the mare’s stellar
career in Gr1 Garden
Province Stakes.
Most jockeys would have long since wanted to
interrupt the interview to watch the race. Not this
one. He is still intent on his way of life, and particularly on one of the most crucial aspects of it. “I used
to be very strict with my weight – that’s how I got it
down – and I ate salads, chicken, fish.If Idid go out
for a meal I would hardly eat anything the following
day but in the end it drove me mad.
“I then found that the more relaxed I was about my
weight the better it became and now I basically eat
what I like. If I get light rides – I can do 54kg with two
days’ notice but I only take those if they are stable
rides or winning ones – I minimise my intake. But I
don’t starve myself.”
Instead he has a sweat in his bath before racing.
Many jockeys do this, the most extreme example being British jump champion AP McCoy who has the
water so hot it he often has to undergo a mental
battle to make himself enter the bathroom. Cormack
grins. “I’ve tried that and it’s terrible. I always have
mine at a comfortable heat.”
In a Sporting Post interview last year he revealed that
the thing he dislikes most about himself is the way he
reacts when he gets upset. Meaning? “I’ve got a bad
temper and when I get upset I sometimes say things I
don’t mean. I will also talk badly to friends.”
Surprising.On the racecourse Cormack comes across
as determined but relatively quiet and certainly reasonable. So what upsets him? He hardly hesitates.
“Ignorance and negligence, and in racing there are a
lot of things that can cause me to boil over. Master Of
My Fate getting interfered with in last season’s Met
was one of them.” His voice rises at the memory. “It
was offside and uncalled for. Things can go wrong in
a race and it won’t upset me. But if somebody else
has caused it, and there is no reason, then it can.”
Wife Chantal, who as Chantal Moys made a big impression as an apprentice, is a calming influence. She
and son Blaise spend the Christmas school holidays
with him at the Blouberg flat he rents for the Cape
season before they all head back to Durban and
where a prime concern is Save The Rhino. “It’s something we feel deeply about. We donate when we can
and Chantal has been on two rhino captures to tag
them. We believe that if we can make a difference
we should.”
He gets up to weigh out for the next race. The remainder of his card is full, all rides for top trainers
and several with winning chances. He smiles.“I’m
blessed.”
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A touch of
Luck
FEATURE
TEXT: ROBYN LOWE. PHOTO: supplied
Tiger Dance.
Luck. It’s a funny thing. Gary Player famously said “The harder I work,
the luckier I get” and Oprah Winfrey feels that “luck is preparation meeting
opportunity”. One is either in luck or having a bad run of it. In racing, they
say it’s better to be lucky than good, but a little bit of both seems to be the
best recipe, writes ROBYN LOWE.
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A
s a son of Storm Cat and a full brother to Giant’s Causeway, there is no question that locally based sire Tiger Dance is well endowed
in the latter department. Bred by Pacelco SA and
conditioned by Aidan O’Brien for Mrs John Magnier,
Tiger Dance is beautifully bred, earned a win and two
stakes places from 5 starts in the UK and Ireland and
boasts all the credentials of a top stallion prospect.
However, it seems Lady Luck may have ended up in
the ‘lost luggage’ department when he left the UK.
Full brothers to Giant’s Causeway tend to stick in
the memory, so I was fascinated to bump into Tiger
Dance en route to Harold Crawford’s Milnerton training yard in late July and rang up David Allan to find
out more. I comment that Tiger Dance has not had
the best start to his breeding career. “It’s been murder!” laughs David. “This is one of the best bred stallions you could imagine. He could run, he’s a beautiful physical specimen with all the substance and
bone you could want and he has the most marvellous
temperament. He’s just been hampered – through
absolutely no fault of his own - by an unfortunate
ownership situation. And not just once, but twice!”
Rolling stone
“Tiger Dance was purchased by the Timms family
for their Oaklands Stud outside Wellington and commenced stud duties in 2007. As everyone knows,
the Oaklands venture ended unsuccessfully and while
things were being wound up, there was fire on the
place, so Tiger Dance moved to Arc en Ciel for a season. Things started to look up when Tiger Dance was
purchased by UK businessman David Kerrison who
installed him at his new Lion River Stud in Tulbagh,
but that venture didn’t work out either. Unbelievable, isn’t it?”
Fortunately, it has been shown to be third time lucky
for Tiger Dance. He has been for a couple of years
now in new ownership by Georg Kirchner, with a
new stud name in Druk My Niet and finally, it seems,
a new start.
Georg Kirchner
Georg Kirchner is a fairly new name on the local
scene, so I rang him up to find out how he got into
the Thoroughbred business. Kirchner is German by
origin and speaks in the most wonderfully accented
English. “I’m originally from Munich, but I was in
“This is one of the best bred
stallions you could imagine.
He could run, he’s a beautiful
physical specimen with all the
substance and bone you could
want and he has the most
marvellous temperament.”
investment banking and lived all over the place – Asia
and the USA and I spent the last 10 years in London.
I came to South Africa for the first time in the 80’s
and fell in love with the place. We retired here 7
years ago and now we’re doing wine. My wife Dorothee is on the farm and our daughter just moved
down here from London. She lives in Cape Town.”
‘Doing wine’ is something of an understatement as
Druk My Niet in fact produces an award-winning array of estate wines mainly for the export market, with
a few available at selected local restaurants.
But how does an investment banker-turned-winemaker get into horses? “It’s one of these stories – it
was sheer luck. I did ride when I was young, but in
Hong Kong we’d go to the races every week. I’ve
always been a spectator rather than a participant, but
there’s always been an affinity. I knew Timms and
when Oaklands went into liquidation, I helped out
and lent him a bit of money and he couldn’t pay me
back, so I got my first horse! And so it went from
there and eventually we bought the farm and the
horses in Tulbagh. We’ve had a few winners so far,”
he says modestly (his blue and white silks made it to
the winner’s box in the 2011 Ladies Mile courtesy of
Snaith Racing and Ocean Of Time). We’ve got some
partners into the place and made it work and there’s
a whole infrastructure now. There are a few hiccups
involved in being a new face and being a small breeder, but I love the horses.”
Re-Launch
In terms of getting the stallion off the ground again
from scratch, David is philosophical. “It is unfortunate that Tiger Dance had this air of uncertainty
over him for so long but it’s understandable because
stallion movement always has this effect. It’s a wellknown phenomenon anywhere in the world that if
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FEATURE
TEXT: ROBYN LOWE. PHOTO: supplied
you move or even suggest that a stallion might move,
breeders back off. We just obviously wish it hadn’t
happened in the case of this stallion. However, you
can’t change the past, but we are pleased that things
have been so stable since Georg took over.
Georg has provided very strong mare support for
the stallion since the purchase. He purchased all the
mares on Lion River Stud, a lot of which had strong,
imported pedigrees from the Oaklands heydays.
Some of these are getting on a bit now and some
have been moved on and been replaced by purpose
purchases, so Tiger Dance has a real quality book of
mares.
The idea for sending him back to training came
from Jan Mantel who has been Tiger Dance’s stallion manager. When taking over, Georg had him sent
to Drakenstein Veterinary Clinic who went over him
with a fine tooth comb and we can confidently say
that he’s in very good health and in fact has excellent fertility. But a change of scenery always helps
and above all, some weeks of fitness training could
only be beneficial. So Tiger Dance was sent back into
training. It’s probably something of a novel approach
for South Africa, but keeping breeding stallions in
some sort of work is quite common in the UK and
Ireland. The fitness work has helped strengthen him
up and get him ready for the breeding season and by
all accounts it’s been a marvellous success”
Tiger Dance spent six weeks with Harold and slotted in with the string with absolutely no problem at
all. In fact, he got so attached to one of his working
companions, that Georg Kirchner has bought him!
David continued “I know there is something of a stigma attached to the Storm Cat line and some people
consider them temperamental, but Tiger Dance is a
pussycat and an absolute pleasure to handle and I
can’t remember a quirky Tiger Dance in training.”
Breeding record
“He’s had relatively small books to date, but his winners to runners ratio is very good and the trainers
who have Tiger Dance progeny swear by them. He
has sired his share of stakes winners and stakes placed
winners, but we feel that his main achievement is that
most of them run and when they run, most of them
don’t just win once. His winners tend to be multiple winners – tough and sound – at whatever level.
Tribal Dance is obviously his standout performer to
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“I know there is something of
a stigma attached to the Storm
Cat line and some people
consider them temperamental,
but Tiger Dance is a pussycat and
an absolute pleasure to handle
and I can’t remember a quirky
Tiger Dance in training.”
date, but we’re told that there are some good runners on the way. What a lot of people miss of course
is that he doesn’t only sire 3yo’s. He’s had quite a
bit of stakes success with his 2yo’s as well, with his
best filly being Kitti Cat in the Dean Kannemeyer
yard. We know that people have long memories of
earlier difficulties but the horse is the horse and he’s
standing for R12k for the 2014 season, which is a
very attractive fee for what must be one of the most
effective mid-ranked stallions in South Africa. All he
needs now is a bit of luck.”
Tiger Dance.
FEATURE
JetExplorer
TEXT: MICHAEL CLOWER. PHOTO: liesl king
In one of the most remarkable equine recoveries of all time Jet Explorer,
who stood at death’s door, his face literally smashed into pieces after a fall
in the Rising Sun Gold Challenge, is back in training for another tilt at the
L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and the J&B Met. MICHAEL CLOWER reports.
A
lso injured in that fall was jockey Richard
Fourie and the pair were both back in action
for trainer Justin Snaith at the Phillipi training
centre in Cape Town recently.
After the fall X-rays revealed serious damage to Jet
Explorer’s jaw. The lower jaw was fractured in three
places, down the middle and just behind each canine,
and was very unstable. The top jaw was fractured just
behind the nostrils and was completely loose.
But under the expert care of Dr Ralph Katzwinkel
and the staff at the Summerveld Equine Hospital, Jet
Explorer’s jaw was wired into position and nursed
back to health. Just three months later he is back in
full work with Fourie also having recovered from the
injured shoulder he sustained in the fall.
It was lucky for all concerned that Dr Ralph Katzwinkel was at Clairwood on the day of the Rising Sun
Gold Challenge – he is part-owner of Air Patrol and
Target Five who were first and second in the preceding race – but he was leaving the course when his cell
phone rang with an SOS from Justin Snaith.
The head of the Summerveld Equine Hospital was
unable to examine the horse properly at the stables
– “I couldn’t get near him. He would rear and jump
but I thought he had just a single fracture in his jaw
that I could easily fix.”
Katzwinkel started work at his hospital at 5.30pm,
two and hours after the horse’s horrific fall, and the
operation took him a further two hours. “I decided against a general anaesthetic because it would
have been high risk so soon after he had raced. Also
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horses can get a little violent in recovery and if he
bumped his head as he got up he could fracture
everything again. So I sedated him, put him in a crush
and gave him local anaesthetic.”
X-rays revealed a whole lot more fractures. “The lower jaw was fractured in three places, down the middle
and just behind each canine, and was very unstable.
The top jaw was fractured just behind the nostrils and
was completely loose. “
Far from being appalled at what he had taken on,
Katzwinkel went ahead with all the enthusiasm of
Rory McIlroy tackling a difficult shot. “It just made
it more of a challenge,” he said. “But the horse was
brilliant. I drilled through his bones and between his
teeth, and he never moved.”
With both jaws wired like a chicken coop, Jet Explorer
then had weeks of intensive care. He was fed four
times a day on a mixture of chopped lucerne, hay and
concentrates followed by a sea water mouthwash to
prevent particles becoming trapped in the wires. All
the time the hospital was warning the Snaiths and
owners Pat and Henry Devine of the dangers of colic
and infection. At one frightening stage he developed
a fever and had to go back onto antibiotics.
“The hospital was marvellous. Sister Cursti kept ringing us to say how well he was doing and behaving,”
said Mrs Devine who also bred the gelding. “Then
one day she said he was grumpy and we knew then
that he was getting better. Until then he had been
sweet which is not like him at all.”
But she was taken aback when the vet told her the
horse was to go back into training. “I thought that he
would at least be given a rest but no, Dr Katzwinkel
said he is a tough bugger. He has got to start training
again.
“The horse has tremendous courage – he’s a real
Jet Master – but he is only alive because of Dr
Katzwinkel. He is a miracle man.”
The Snaiths take much the same view. “He did an
incredible job because in normal circumstances the
horse would never have survived,” said Jonathan.
Elder brother Justin is already looking to the big races
“The horse has tremendous
courage – he’s a real
Jet Master – but he is only alive
because of Dr Katzwinkel.
He is a miracle man.”
that lie ahead. “It’s amazing. The horse now looks
fantastic and he will race as usual through the summer season.”
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FEATURE
TEXT: andrew harrison. PHOTO: supplied
Dr Ralph
Katzwinkel
“Jet Explorer was high profile. The race, the trainer, the owners, but in the
end we do the best we can no matter the value of the horse”. Dr Ralph
Katzwinkel has been one of the country’s pre-eminent equine veterinarians
for over 30 years and ANDREW HARRISON finds out why.
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H
e’s late for the interview after running the rule
over the new love in his life, Gr1-winning filly
Same Jurisdiction, in whom he has a share. He
apologises profusely and sits intently on the edge of
an easy chair in Duncan Howell’s office.
It is soon apparent that Katzwinkel is a perfectionist
as he often refers to I-Pad and hand-written notes
that he has prepared.
Although obviously proud of his team’s efforts in the
recovery of crack racehorse Jet Explorer, he comes
across as slightly embarrassed at all the publicity.
“Vets perform ‘miracles’ all the time. The more
dramatic cases have to be the abdominal colic
surgeries. Fire The Rocket is a horse currently
racing that was saved after having a small bowl
torsion of 360 degrees. There are so many cases both
in sport horses and racehorses. Unfortunately due
to economic reasons not
all horses are given every
opportunity to be saved.”
The hefty vet’s bills are
often a deterrent to racehorse ownership but Ralph
believes there is a solution.
“The biggest issue with veterinary services is the cost.
But owners are not present
at the time of treatment or
when surgery is performed.
The contribution made by
vets in racehorse practice is enormous but often unappreciated.
“With the issue of costs in mind all the time often
it is only the horses that are insured that receive the
best treatment.
“I believe that an opportunity exists for all race horses
to belong to a customised medical aid where we as
part of the racing industry can all be proud to say we
give every horse the best possible chance and care.”
“I believe that with any profession where one is considered to be an expert in a niche field the layman
will perceive our work to be a miracle. Winning races
with horses that have had lifesaving or career saving
surgery is always a challenge and a great feeling.”
Jet Explorer’s recovery from injuries sustained in a
horrific fall at Clairwood was something of a miracle.
“The serious fracture of both the top and bottom jaw
is just one of many amazing cases I have dealt with
over the years.
“The horse made the headlines thanks to his wonderful owners Pat and Henry Devine who were willing
to give the horse a chance. Also to Justin Snaith who
wanted the best for the horse and to the fact that the
horse was a Jet Master with ability.”
The operation to fix the jaw was an outstanding
success and the gelding was back on the track in just
over four months.
“It’s good for racing. What made this a special case
is that the surgical wiring procedure was performed
standing while sedated.”
The emergency surgery was performed just a few
hours after the race at the Summerveld Equine
Hospital thanks to a competent team and modern
sedatives. The wiring techniques have been used in
previous cases and in themselves were not unique.
The decision to operate
standing was taken for two
main reasons. The horse
had recently raced and was
therefore a greater anaesthetic risk and most importantly with both the top
and bottom jaw smashed
any repair carried out
would be destroyed during
recovery from anaesthetic.
Always looking for new
and improved surgical
options he introduced the standing wind-op surgery
after attending an advanced surgery course in Paris
last year.
“My first local case was the horse Jay Power who has
won a race and run places. Others since have also
been successful.
“Performing standing arthroscopy on the fetlock and
radio carpal joints has also been developed in our
practice and performed for specific conditions. This
saves money and recovery time and is safer.
“Having an overland exercise scope in my practice
makes the diagnosis of upper airway problems more
accurate. It was as recent as 1981 when W R Cook
published his data on endoscopy of the airway and
proving that epistaxis was as a result of bleeding from
the lungs and not the nose.
“We can now watch upper airway videos of horses
galloping at 65 km/h.”
“Winning races with
horses that have had
lifesaving or career saving
surgery is always a
challenge and a great
feeling.”
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FEATURE
TEXT: andrew harrison.
“As the thoroughbred breeding
industry only selects on
performance, this condition and
the incidence will continue to
become more prevalent in
racehorses.”
Quizzed on the total ban of Phenyl Bute Katzwinkel feels that it has been to the detriment of the
racehorse.
“With 'bute' being registered as a schedule 7 drug
it has resulted in a country wide ban for use in
animals. This ban was implemented without consultation with the Veterinary Association and Veterinary
Council. The Council is taking legal steps to have the
use of ‘bute’ for horses registered. “Hopefully they
will succeed sooner than later. Horses are now suffering more than they should without the availability
of bute and the alternatives are not as effective and
much more expensive.”
The race-day use of Lasix is also a controversial
subject but Katzwinkel feels it too has a place.
“Research into the use of Lasix has been carried out
in South Africa and has shown to be of benefit in
reducing the incidence of EIPH (exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage).
“The regulations under which South African racing
races are the same as the UK, Europe, Australia,
Hong Kong and Singapore. None of these racing jurisdictions allow the use of Lasix.
“EIPH is caused primarily as a result of breeding from
stallions and mares that were bleeders while racing.
Environmental and disease factors aggravate this and
are also known causes of EIPH.”
Research conducted in South Africa by Pfaff 1950
found that the incidence of epistaxis was 1.2 % after racing. Subsequent research in South Africa by
H Weideman and co-authors published in the South
African Journal of Science in 2003 shows that the
incidence of epistaxis after racing is now 2.1 % recorded for the period 1986 to 2002. With a sharp
increase during the last five years being noted.
According to Katzwinkel, taking into account the significant increase in the frequency of epistaxis, steps
to reduce the incidence in racing needs to be taken
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urgently.
“As the thoroughbred breeding industry only selects
on performance, this condition and the incidence will
continue to become more prevalent in racehorses. It
costs the racing industry millions in horses having to
be rested or retired and treated. There is also a growing anti-racing lobby worldwide that will use epistaxis
in their battle to stop racing.
“The end result is that it only leaves the trainers
and vets with the option to use medication to treat
‘bleeders’. In the absence of having Lasix available as
a preventative medication prior to racing, the industry spends millions on bleeder salts and herbal and
homeopathic preparations.
“Horse racing in South Africa should urgently introduce all steps to minimise this growing condition.
This includes not breeding from known bleeders and
using all scientifically proven medication options to
reduce the incidence of EIPH. This includes allowing
the use of Lasix for racing.
Katzwinkel boasts a formidable CV. “My parents
immigrated to South Africa from Germany after the
second world war. I was born in Johannesburg and at
the age of nine we moved to Hillcrest in KZN.
“We moved into one of the first town house complexes in the area built by Tiger Wright. Herman
Brown Snr and his family lived in No 7 and we lived
in No 5.
“It was then in 1964 that I started horse riding and
visiting the Summerveld training centre with Herman
Snr. This was also when I met David Payne and other
jockeys who were apprentices at the time.
After school, where he was head prefect and athletics
Victor Lau durum every year in high school at St Henry’s college Marist Brothers in Durban, conscription
beckoned. At the School of Armour in Bloemfontein
he trained as a tank commander finishing second on
course as Lieutenant.
“From an early age I had a desire to become a vet.
It was my love for horses that developed during the
time we lived in Hillcrest that it became my goal to
one day be an equine vet. It is now 34 years ago since
I qualified and I am fortunate that my enthusiasm
and passion to work with equine athletes remains as
strong as ever.”
Ralph spent over four years at vet school at Onderstepoort. Always the leader, he was the international
vet student representative and attended student con-
The allure of racing started when he was exposed to
horse racing with Herman Brown Snr. “During my
university days I often had the opportunity to go racing. Bull Brand day at Scottsville where Lester Piggott
rode The Maltster, coming from 16 lengths back to
win after being left in the pens, is still vivid in my
mind and the bug bit.”
His first venture into ownership was a share in a
horse called Sharp Shoot in 1995 with David Payne
that went on to win two races. Checking his list,
“Since then I have had 44 winners, 37 seconds and
53 thirds. I have had shares in 52 horses that have
had 433 starts.
“Between 1995 and 2008 I had shares in one or two
horses each year. Since 2009 I increased my number
of shares. At one stage in 2013 I had shares in 19
horses with different trainers.
“My racing highlight was the 2014 KZN season
where I won 7 races with 5 horses between April and
the end of July. A one-two with Air Patrol and Target
Five on the same day that Jet Explorer fell smashing
his jaw.
He had two runners on July day with the filly Same
Jurisdiction winning convincingly in the million Rand
KZN breeders race making it 2 from 3 starts and Air
Patrol that finished unplaced. To round off his season
Same Jurisdiction won the Gr1 Thekweni Stakes by
a hair’s breadth in what was one of the races of the
year.
“It was an unforgettable season ending with 11 wins,
9 seconds and 11 thirds.”
magazine
gresses overseas in Berlin, Brussels and Helsinki.
“In 1995 when I turned 40 I started my Henley MBA
correspondence course. Studying while running a
busy vet practice for five years was a challenge. This
was only possible with the understanding and support of my wife June (a vet nurse working in the practice) and my two young sons Marc and Andrew.”
He is currently the owner of two veterinary hospitals,
Summerveld Equine Hospital and Gillitts Veterinary
Hospital with a staff compliment of 39 including
six full time vets, three part time vets and three vet
nurses.
“Dealing effectively with the everyday challenges
can be difficult at times but at the same time challenging and a never ending learning experience.”
More than just a vet, clay pigeon shooting has been
a sport he has enjoyed since starting in 1993. He
competes on the national provisional circuit shooting
1000 rounds a month.
“The highlight of my shooting career was qualifying
for my Protea colours in 2012 and competing at the
world skeet championships in San Antonio, USA in
October 2012. I finished 96th out of 250.”
The slim Katzwinkel admits that slalom water skiing
has also been a hobby sport for many years. “In 2010
I competed in my first slalom competition winning
my age category. There was no other competitor at
55 years,” he chuckles.
Quizzed about his racing interests, he perches even
closer to the edge of his chair, his enthusiasm to the
fore, and digs out a list of horses that he’s owned.
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FEATURE
Rocking
TEXT: robbyn ramsay. PHOTO: supplied
The
Horse Coup
22 April 1911, Straffan Station Stud, County Kildare, Ireland. Vahren, a
14-year-old mare, was dark chestnut in colour, like a conker and so was the
colt foal by the grey Roi Herode that she’d just dropped - though the keeneyed might’ve spied the grey hairs behind his ears betraying changes to the
peculiar spots and splotches that were to come, writes Robbyn Ramsay.
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The Tetrarch's tombstone at Ballylinch
F
ast forward a year. Bang! The gavel crashed down
onto the lip of the auctioneer’s rostrum. ‘Sold to
Mr Persse, 1,300 guineas.’ The colt fetched the
best price of the Straffan consignment and he soon
acquired a new owner, trainer Atty Persse’s kinsman
Captain Dermot McCalmont, returned from India
where he’d been serving with the 7th Hussars. The
Captain was just 25 years of age, a small slight figure
with a neatly trimmed moustache. And it’s fair to say
his mouth was not unacquainted with a silver spoon!
Finally, courtesy of the young Captain, the gangly colt
got a name- The Tetrarch – the Greek or Latin title
accorded any son of Herod who inherited part of his
kingdom.
We all know there’s no such thing as a certainty in
a horse race. Even in a twohorse race. That doesn’t stop
every punter searching for
one. But when The Tetrarch
made his racecourse debut on
17 April 1913 in a Two-YearOld Maiden Plate at Newmarket he was the biggest certainty known to the English
Turf in the two hundred years
of its existence. The overwhelming majority of the betting public was unaware of
this. Some people, however,
were ‘in-the-know’.
How did they know? Let’s go back to late 1912 and
the Chattis Hill yard in Hampshire where The Tetrarch
was trained by HS ‘Atty’ Persse.
‘If your two-year-old does not know his job well
enough first time out, you do not know your job,’
Persse would say. He was christened Henry Seymour,
but he was known throughout racing as ‘Atty’. This
odd nickname derived from infancy when ‘Henry’ became ‘Harry’ and ‘Harry’ turned into ‘Atty’ thanks to
the childish corruption of a playmate. His disdain for
casual familiarities would cause his brow to harden
were you to address him as anything other than ‘Mr
Persse’.
‘Furthermore,’ insisted Persse, ‘the one and only time
to have a bet is first time out. They say you should
never back a two-year-old first time out. But why give
it an easy introduction, a confidence booster, only to
get 6/4 to your money when it runs and wins second
time up? To my mind, if a two-year-old is educated,
there is no necessity for these easy preparatory races.’
Persse was heard to express those sentiments on several occasions. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
were ‘work’ days. This is when he allowed his horses
to run like the racehorses they were bred to be. On
Tuesdays they ran at a good ‘three-parts speed’ for
three or four furlongs; on Thursdays they’d go a bit
steadier – on Saturdays they galloped for real.
Winter routine
Atty’s winter routine was to return to his native Ireland for three weeks before Christmas to indulge in
a spot of hunting. Just before he left, however, he’d
be unable to resist the temptation to let some of his
yearlings participate in a
short gallop to see whether there was a gem hidden
among them. The December of 1912 proved no exception: and The Tetrarch
participated, ridden by the
lad who looked after him,
Dick McCormick.
Dick’s consummate horsemanship over ditch and
bank had marked him
out as a rider to be trusted, and he was suitably
rewarded with custody of
Chattis Hill’s most promising recruit of 1912. In races The Tetrarch was only ever ridden by Steve Donoghue.
After The Tetrarch’s first proper gallop Atty Persse
walk away with a broad smile on his face. One could
almost scent the aroma of a plot whirling around his
brain.
Someone once asked him what he thought was the
primary asset of a racehorse. He answered: ‘Speed.’
Pressed for further attributes, he said: ‘More speed.’
He believed a horse either was or was not born with
the quality of speed; it could not be acquired. The art
of the trainer was to develop what speed there was
in each individual.
He believed a horse
either was or was not
born with the quality of
speed; it could not be
acquired. The art of the
trainer was to develop
what speed there was in
each individual.
Gamble
In a trial, Persse’s horses ran as near to racetrack conditions as possible in order to provide the man with
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FEATURE
TEXT: robbyn ramsay. PHOTO: supplied
the information he wanted. In other words: if a trial
threw up a ‘good thing’ he’d make damn sure nobody heard about it until a gamble had been landed. He’d executed this philosophy to lucrative effect
five years earlier with a two-year-old colt called Sir
Archibald. He was in the same ownership as another
juvenile called Apostle’s Spoon.
Atty knew Sir Archibald was far superior to Apostle’s
Spoon. He also knew that he had a reliable workhorse on the gallops in the three-year-old filly Benicia, and he reckoned that if any two-year-old could
keep up with the older horse at weight-for-age over
four furlongs it would be a betting proposition. At
that early stage of the season Benicia ought to have
been conceding 32lb on the weight-for-age scale
used throughout racing to equalise the effect of maturity – and thus, in theory, affect a dead heat. Atty
sought the advice of Mr McCreery, one of his owners.
He suggested reducing the difference to 21lb to ascertain how good Sir Archibald might be. Atty being
Atty said: ‘We’ll try him at levels.’
Don’t put your shirt on him
Sir Archibald won the trial with ease. Consequently,
an almighty coup was organised when Sir Archibald
made his debut. History does not relate whether Atty
put his ‘shirt’ on Sir Archibald in the race chosen for
the coup of 1907, but if he did there was no chance
of him catching a chill. Sir Archibald trotted up.
But The Tetrarch’s first trial took everyone by surprise,
Atty included. Because The Tetrarch seemed such an
overgrown specimen he reckoned he’d be a slow
developer and not as forward as other more precocious juveniles in the yard. Big, powerful animals like
him usually take time to mature. So he wasn’t even
meant to be part of the trail. Persse didn’t believe he
was ready. But, he was a natural and didn’t require
teaching.
The trial involved a quartet of speedy two-year-olds
Atty was preparing to race in the near future and an
old horse who was giving them 21lb. This was the
first occasion The Tetrarch had been asked to run
from virtually a standing start. He accomplished this
‘However good your horse, don’t
put your shirt on him, or you
may shiver all next winter!’
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novelty like an old hand. They’d gone no more than
a couple of furlongs before The Tetrarch lost sight
of the others. He hadn’t over-exerted himself and
was travelling at nothing more than a decent canter.
The Tetrarch was ten lengths clear and cruising with
Dick sitting as motionless as a sloth; the boys on the
horses chasing him were scrubbing along.
This was an eye-opener for Atty and he was anxious
to find out the veracity of the trial. Two days later, on
the Saturday, 5 April, he arranged a formal trial for
The Tetrarch, and put stable jockey Steve Donoghue
aboard him for the first time. He needed the opinion
of a top jockey used to riding top horses. And for the
trial horses he needed reliable yardsticks.
Chattis Hill’s ‘Mister Reliable’ to be used as a yardstick
was the seven-year-old Captain Symons, who’d won
a couple of races but really paid his keep on the trial
ground. In April the weight-for-age scale stated he
should be giving a two-year-old like The Tetrarch every ounce of 3st 5lb. Atty’s customary test for his decent two-year-olds was a 21lb allowance instead of
the 47lb. If they got near the Captain’s tail that was
invariably sufficient to tell Atty he’d something with
which to wage war against the bookmakers. But Atty
remembered the excellent Sir Archibald and hoped
he might’ve discovered another: so he allowed Captain Symons to give The Tetrarch precisely nothing.
Both horses carried 8st 7lb. There were two others
in the trial: a three-year-old called Lilly Baker carried
7st 7lb, as did a two-year-old called South Parade.
By that combination of ages and weights, Atty had
covered bases.
The five furlong trial started from the kind of twostrand tapes used on the racecourse. The Tetrarch
was ahead in a matter of strides and never saw the
others again. Steve barely seemed to move a muscle. It was like being given the key to the Bank of
England! In his private book of trials Atty wrote:
‘Won pulling up in a canter.’
On the basis that if something looks too good to be
true it invariably isn’t, Atty had to be sure his eyes
had not deceived him. Seven days later he asked The
Tetrarch to take on Captain Symons once again just to
make doubly certain. And this time The Tetrarch had
to give him a stone, carrying nine to his eight. This
kind of weight concession was completely unheard
of. It would’ve been utter madness in the opinion of
most trainers. But not Atty. Two other juveniles kept
The Tetrarch Newmarket.
them company. The outcome was the same as the
week before. The Tetrarch slaughtered poor Captain
Symons. According to the formula he’d given him a
humiliating 61lb beating.
‘He runs next week. How much do you want on?’
Atty asked Steve Donohue. ‘The rest of my season’s
retainer!’ replied Steve in a flash. Being retained for
£1,500 a season that was a lot of money to wager.
Steve however knew he’d gone too far. ‘All right,’
he said, ‘I’ll cut it to £1,000.’ Atty agreed – though
he probably guessed that Steve would find someone
else to place further bets for him.
Secrecy was now paramount. The Tetrarch’s box was
in a prime site in the main yard but, now whenever
visitors were expected, he was moved to another box
at the back of the yard.
With a jab of his walking stick Atty left every lad in
no doubt of the dire consequences should any whiff
of these trials get out and reduce the price he’d get.
Battle of wits
Greed fired a continual battle of wits between trainers and bookies. Bookmakers were as much their enemy as the touts. But unlike the latter, bookmakers
put bread on Atty’s table; they were his unofficial
bankers. Thus, Chattis Hill was to be a fortress until
The Tetrarch made his debut. The race Atty chose was
a Maiden Plate over five furlongs at Newmarket on
Thursday, 17 April.
If a track was within fifty miles of home, Atty would
dispatch his runners by road on the morning of the
race. However, distant Newmarket ensured a walk
to Stockbridge railway station and a lengthy journey
cross country concluded by a night in the racecourse
stables. Peals of laughter from numerous stable lads
greeted The Tetrarch’s arrival at Newmarket. ‘Looks
like a bloomin’ rocking horse,’ they chuckled.
On raceday The Tetrarch’s hooves gleamed and his
quarters shone like polished pewter. But when he entered the paddock the remarks made by spectators
hunched over the rails included: ‘It’s not the jumping season yet! This is Newmarket, not Aintree!’ and
‘Here comes the rocking horse!’
Steve Donohue waddled into the paddock in the
silks of Captain Dermot McCalmont, ‘light blue and
scarlet quarters and white cap’. Atty gave him a leg
up and they made their way out onto the course
through the gauntlet of the usual goggle-eyed gazes
and mutterings of ‘Rocking Horse!’
Steve was unable to contain himself; he edged The
Tetrarch across to where ‘Snowy’ Whalley was circling
on Mount William. ‘This is the colt I was telling you
about. Do you see his quarters, and the markings on
them? Have a good look at them,’ Steve said ‘because that’s all you will see of him in the race!’ With
a large field of twenty-one, and eighteen of them
having their first race, the starter took a good eight
minutes sorting them into a passable line for a start a mass of jig-jogging horseflesh.
The Tetrarch shot under the gate and lobbed along,
barely out of a canter. His hooves hitting the ground
like a hammer striking an anvil. He took the lead a
quarter of a mile from home with Mount William labouring four lengths behind. The Chattis Hill secret
was a secret no more. The Tetrarch won the race in
the manner everyone expected. As each jockey trotted past they said: ‘What a horse’ or ‘He’s a wonder
horse!’ Steve smiled at them. ‘Yes, he is!’ he kept repeating. ‘The Spotted Wonder. Bar accidents, he will
never be beaten!’
Atty’s pilfering of the bookmakers’ pockets wasn’t as
extravagant as it was with Sir Archibald. But no 5/1
shot was more of a certainty than The Tetrarch was
in that Newmarket maiden. And yet the funny thing
was; a five furlong race should never have brought
out the best in him. Based on his parentage there was
a greater chance of him turning out to be a stayer
instead of a sprinter. Neither his sire nor his dam displayed juvenile precocity; or the pace to win over five
furlongs at any age. How The Tetrarch came to pass
is every bit a riddle wrapped in an enigma!
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Val De Ra’s first foal
Dream De Ra by leading
international sire Oasis
Dream.
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FEATURE
TEXT & PHOTO: liesl king
AJourney
of a lifetime
VAL DE RA
On the 1st of August 2006 , a chestnut filly, the very first offspring of
resident stallion Var, was born at Avontuur Stud in Somerset West. She
was one of roughly 3500 foals born that year and stud manager Pippa
Mickleburgh recalls that apart from being the first Var, her birth was
unremarkable, just another foaling on a busy studfarm. LIESL KING reports.
L
ittle did anybody know that the chestnut filly was
destined for greatness in more ways than one
and greatness never comes without incredible
trials and incredible triumphs.
Barely a year old, Val De Ra suffered a bout of colic,
with surgery the only option. Most horses never recover fully from such an operation and yet Val De Ra
not only recovered, but went on to become a talented racehorse. Mickleburgh may not have thought so
at the time, but when Val De Ra returned home, after
not reaching her reserve at auction, it was the start of
a journey of a lifetime.
Val de Ra was sent to KwaZulu-Natal trainer Dennis
Drier and from the day he first laid eyes on her, Drier
had only one comment about the strapping chestnut filly, “this is something special”. And special she
was. By the end of her three-year-old career, Val De
Ra had six victories behind her name, including the
Listed KZN Sprint, with only a third in the Grade 1
WFA Fillies Sprint, marring her perfect record.
Yet with the highs come the lows and without warning, Val De Ra contracted hepatitis and peritonitis.
Peritonitis is usually fatal and the vets cautioned that
even if they could save her, she would never race
again. But this was no ordinary horse, this was Val
De Ra. Under the watchful eye of Drier, Val De Ra
recovered and not only did she race again, but she
returned even better than before.
Less than a year after her ordeal, on a memorable day
at Turffontein, Val De Ra stormed home in the Gr.1
Computaform Sprint by 1.25 lengths, in a scorching
time of 56.65 seconds. Established stars such as
What A Winter and Shea Shea were left in her wake.
And to prove for once and for all that she was the
best sprinter in the country, Val De Ra led the Gr.1
Cape Flying Championship from start to finish, in the
most glorious victory of her career. Sadly, it was to be
her last and after a bleeding attack, Val De Ra retired
to the paddocks of Avontuur.
Mickleburgh now faced a dilemma. With the fastest
horse in the country, she needed the best sprint sire
as a mate, but that was Var, Val De Ra’s sire. There
was only one option left, Val De Ra had to travel
overseas to be covered. Sounds simple in this day
and age, when one can fly anywhere in the world in
a matter of hours, but with African Horse Sickness
prevalent in South Africa, travelling a horse overseas
is a logistical and physical nightmare.
Val De Ra would have to undergo a six-month, three
continent journey to reach the UK and her chosen
mate, Champion sire Oasis Dream.
Fortunately,
the journey went smoothly and Val De Ra settled in
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51
FEATURE
TEXT & PHOTOs: liesl king
comfortably at Walter and Fran Cowe’s Arran House
Stud, on the outskirts of Newmarket. A date with
Oasis Dream was arranged and soon Val De Ra was
safely in foal.
Yet this was only the beginning, as the plan all along
had been to leave Val Re Ra in the UK until she had
foaled down her first foal and was safely in foal with
her second. While Val De Ra was making her way
to the UK, the highest rated horse in the world,
the phenomenal Frankel, was retired to stud by his
owner Prince Khalid Abdullah. Mickleburgh started
dreaming of the possibility of a baby by the unbeaten
Frankel, but at this stage, it was just a dream. Few UK
stallion owners are prepared to cover mares to Southern Hemisphere time and most of the top stallions are
not even home, having shuttled to stud duties in the
Southern Hemisphere. Frankel did not shuttle, but
Prince Abdullah had indicated that no decision would
be made as to whether he would cover any mares to
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Southern Hemisphere time until he had completed
his first season. Mickleburgh would have to dream
and wait.
On the 24th of September 2013, Val De Ra, in her
inimitable style, foaled down a beautiful bay Oasis
Dream filly, seamlessly making the transition from
Champion racehorse to superstar mom. Having
foaled, Mickleburgh now had a month in which to
choose a stallion, before Val De Ra needed to be
cover. Frankel was still the obvious choice, there
were just two problems. Firstly, the stud fee was
£125,000, roughly R2 million, vastly more expensive
than any South African stallion and Banstead Manor
Stud had announced that Frankel would cover only
twenty mares to Southern Hemisphere time. Would
Val De Ra make the cut?
Fortunately, Prince Abdullah and his team recognized that Val De Ra was just what they were looking
for and she was allotted one of the coveted twenty
Mother and daughter.
spots. Drier’s “something special” was just as special
when it came to being a broodmare and without any
fuss, Val De Ra was pronounced in foal to Frankel.
Meanwhile the Oasis Dream filly, named Dream De
Ra was growing with leaps and bounds and even at
a young age, she showed an incredible athleticism. It
was time for Val De Ra to embark on her final journey, back home.
Sadly, due to quarantine restrictions, she had to foal
down at the quarantine facility on Drakenstein Stud,
before being allowed to return to the place of her
birth, Avontuur. It was an anxious wait, especially for
Mickleburgh, who had been through so much with
the mare already and when the call finally came that
Val De Ra had safely delivered a filly foal, the relief
and joy was immense.
Today, Miss Frankel, as the valuable filly is called, is
a character of note. Bold, inquisitive and beautiful,
she graciously meets and greets the endless stream of
Drier’s “something special”
was just as special when it came
to being a broodmare and
without any fuss, Val De Ra was
pronounced in foal to Frankel.
visitors that come from far and wide to see her. As
Mickleburgh quips, “she has more visitors than I do!”
All is well that ends well, as the saying goes. It was a
huge gamble to send such a valuable mare on such a
long journey and the risks were enormous, yet in the
end, everybody involved with Val de Ra will tell you
that it was absolutely worth it. And Val De Ra? With
Miss Frankel cantering circles around her, Val De Ra,
recently confirmed in foal to Oratorio, is just getting
on with the task of motherhood and munching grass.
Miss Frankel.
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FEATURE
Respiration
TEXT: MICHele wing. PHOTO: supplied
Breath
Take a Deep
There is nothing quite like standing trackside, to hear horses thundering past
to the finish line . The air is filled with tangible energy as whips crack, jockeys
shout and horses strain in their pursuit of victory. Its raw power and you are
left feeling that you have witnessed something surreal as man and horse
come together at speeds of over 60 kilometres per hour writes MICHELE
WING.
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Dr Johnny Cave of Baker
and McVeigh Equine
Hospital in Summerveld,
operating in theatre.
T
here is no other animal that can carry the weight
of a person, that often represents an additional
10 to 15% of its own body weight, and travel
at speeds a racehorse does.
According to equine respiratory and exercise specialist, David Marlin PhD, for a racehorse to propel it’s
weight of over half a ton in a 1 000 meter race it will
need to move around 1 800 litres of air, in and out
of the lungs. If you find 1 800 litres hard to visualise,
then think of six bathtubs full of air. This equates to
moving two five gallon buckets of air into and out of
the lung every second.
The amount of air moved in and out of the lungs
increases in direct proportion to how fast the horse
runs. The harder a horse works, the more air it must
move into and out of the lungs. In fact Marlin states
that these are so tightly coupled that if a horse doubles its speed it will need to double the amount of air
into and out of the lungs.
At canter and gallop, a normal horse takes one breath
perfectly in time with one stride. This is referred to
as respiratory – locomotor coupling and is the reason
you hear horses breathing so rapidly, particularly over
the last few hundred meters of a race, as their pace
quickens to the line.
Airflow
When galloping, the respiratory system of the horse
is working at its limit and can be under considerable stress. Anything that therefore interferes with
the much needed airflow both into and out of the
lungs interferes with the amount of oxygen a horse
needs to feed the muscles to perform at optimum.
Reduced airflow invariably means reduced oxygen,
reduced speed, resulting in a compromised racing
performance.
A horse doesn’t breathe through its mouth and nose
like we do. A horse only breathes through its nostrils. The nasal passages in the horse, through which
it breathes, is separated from its oral cavity through
which it eats and drinks. The structure that keeps this
separation complete is the soft palate. This is a thin
layer of mucous membrane extending back from the
roof of the mouth, completely dividing the mouth
from the nose.
Veterinarian Dr Johnny Cave of Baker and McVeigh
Equine Hospital, in Summerveld, explains that a
horse’s throat cavity or larynx, has been described as
A horse doesn’t breathe through
its mouth and nose like we do. A
horse only breathes through its
nostrils.
a button fitting through a button hole. The button
being the larynx and the button hole the soft palate. It is normal for the button to pop out from the
buttonhole when the horse swallows food or water.
However, when this happens during exercise, it causes an abnormal respiratory noise, typically a gurgling
sound. This condition is referred to as dorsal displacement of the soft palate, abbreviated to DDSP and is
commonly known as ‘choking up’.
‘Choking up’
The effects of ‘choking up’, are what all trainers wish
to avoid and that is poor performance. Horses are
fitted with tongue ties and cornell collars, to try and
control this condition but when conservative treatments fail the only other option is surgery. Veterinarians perform various surgical procedures to treat this
condition, the most popular at the moment being the
‘tie-forward’. Newmarket Equine Hospital’s Rob Pilsworth has been quoted as saying, “whenever there
are a myriad of surgical treatment options for one
condition, one can be fairly safe in assuming that
none of them is particularly effective”.
Whilst ‘choking up’ causes horses to gurgle, a horse
which has ‘gone in the wind’, whistles or roars.
Johnny goes on to say that when a horse swallows
food, the larynx closes to prevent food going down
the windpipe. Conversely, when a horse gallops, the
muscles of the larynx open the airway to allow a maximum amount of air into the wind pipe. Should the
nerve supply to the muscle that opens the larynx be
damaged it can cause a paralysis and the larynx to
collapse.
The amount of air entering the wind pipe is therefore
compromised, adversely effecting the volume of oxygen reaching the muscles which results in a markedly reduced performance. This condition is known as
laryngeal hemiplegia and is treated surgically to stop
the larynx from collapsing by performing a ‘tie-back’
or hobday procedure. There is general consensus
amongst veterinarians that a ‘tie-back’ and a hobday
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FEATURE
TEXT: MICHele wing. PHOTO: supplied
“There is nothing worse than
a horse going in the wind”, he
says. “As you wonder just how
good they could have been”, he
adds soberly.
performed together, whilst not perfect, is the best
treatment option for laryngeal hemiplegia and this
has not changed much in the last thirty years.
Correcting wind abnormalities in horses is not an exact science with operations generally regarded to be
successful in 60 to 70% of cases worldwide. The
popularity of surgical procedures have wavered over
the years, often being influenced by the successful
treatment of a single high-profile horse.
Jet Master
One such horse and well know case was South Africa’s homegrown hero and racing sensation, Jet Master (Rakeen X Jet Lightening) that was plagued with
wind afflictions, particularly laryngeal hemiplegia. Dr
Brian Baker, who was at the forefront of veterinary
medicine in the country, learned of the ‘tie-back’
technique from American veterinarian Matthew
MacKay-Smith, who was later inducted into the International Equine Veterinarian Hall of Fame. Brian
and Matthew became great friends and it was Brian
who in the late 1990’s first performed the procedure
on Jet Master. Baker laughs when he tells the story
that Henry Devine, who owned Jet Master with his
wife Pat, was unaware that a wind procedure was
being performed on his horse. However, he told Brian, “if Jet Master ever won again he could have a
free service to the horse”. History shows that Jet
Master won 17 times, 8 of those Group 1 races and
was placed a further 5 times in 24 starts. His career
culminated with a win in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint
at Clairwood Park and in the words of Divine, “he
won more than I thought” and so Brian got his service.
Although considered a success by his trainer Geoff
Woodruff, Jet Master did need a second wind operation, as “the first one didn’t tie back and open
the larynx enough”. Equus Champion Trainer for last
season, Justin Snaith, says “wind ops are complicated
and hard to get right”. Because wind abnormalities
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are both irreversible and often progressive, in Snaith’s
opinion, a wind procedure is, at best, “a salvage operation”. “We resort to a wind operation, only when
we have no other alternative, besides retiring a horse
from racing”, admits Justin.
Ebony Flyer (Jet Master X Sunshine Lover) was trained
by the Snaith Racing Team to record 8 wins and 3
places from 13 starts. Like Jet Master, she had two
procedures performed on her, but Justin feels that
“she was never as good as before” and that she
continued to win races he believes was based on her
sheer ability. “There is nothing worse than a horse
going in the wind”, he says. “As you wonder just
Dr Patrick Page.
“A Vet’s Perspective”
Dr Patrick Page BVSc (Hons) MMedVet (Med)
The Dynamic Scope - Overground Endoscopy
how good they could have been”, he adds soberly.
The cause of wind abnormalities, is uncertain. However, there is speculation that some horses may have
a hereditary predisposition to developing the condition. It may also be a result of injury to the neck
region or an infection of the throat cavity. In some
cases it may also be caused by accidental injection
of medications outside the vein when giving drugs
intravenously into the jugular vein.
Whilst it is believed that 3 to 5 % of thoroughbreds
worldwide, suffer from laryngeal hemiplegia, Snaith
goes even further, to say “as many as one out of ten
horses that come into my yard these days, have wind
issues of one sort or another. ” Such is the concern
that it’s been suggested all yearlings at auctions be
pre-sale scoped and the results deposited in the repository, along with x-rays for interested buyers to
access. Justin believes that this would not only give
buyers more confidence when purchasing horses
but, “then there is also no reason to return a horse,”
adds Woodruff.
Wind abnormalities continue to challenge both veterinarians and trainers alike. However, strides are
being made. The development in recent years of
the overground dynamic scope, has excited equine
surgeons across the globe, providing them with the
opportunity to now image the upper airway of a galloping horse. This not only offers an accurate view
of the exact nature of the obstruction, leading to a
better diagnosis, but it also provides surgeons with
the opportunity to monitor the effects of post surgery
treatments.
With the development of technology, such as the
overground scope, and ongoing research worldwide,
advances continue to be made in our knowledge and
understanding of wind abnormalities in horses.
Such is the concern that it’s
been suggested all yearlings at
auctions be pre-sale scoped and
the results deposited in the
repository, along with x-rays for
interested buyers to access.
Upper respiratory tract disorders are a common cause of
poor performance in horses. Many dynamic obstructions
of the upper airway at exercise, including “roaring” (laryngeal hemiplegia) and dorsal (upward) displacement
of the soft palate (DDSP) cannot be diagnosed accurately during routine examination of the horse at rest.
Therefore, endoscopy during exercise may be required
to reach a definite diagnosis and recommendation of
treatment. Exercising endoscopy may be performed
on a high speed treadmill or, most recently, on the
track while the horse is ridden , using an overground
endoscopy system. Overground (dynamic) endoscopy is
preferred as it incorporates specific conditions such
as the rider’s weight, tack, track surface, speed and
distance.
The procedure involves placement of a short endoscopic
camera via the horses’ nostril to visualize the throat region. The endoscope is secured to a customized bridle
and connected to a laptop computer in a saddle blanket,
which records a video of upper airway function while
the horse is exercised. Veterinarians tracking the horse
during exercise are able to view the video images in real-time, adjust the endoscope position, and flush the
system to obtain optimal images. Whilst Thoroughbred
racehorses are usually examined over 1000-1600m,
ideally reaching galloping speeds over 60 km/h, the examination procedure is customized for horses used for
show-jumping, dressage, eventing and endurance. Because the equipment is portable, most horses can be
examined at a racetrack or in their home arena.
With over 150 horses examined with the Onderstepoort
Veterinary Academic Hospital unit since 2012, mainly on
referral from Baker McVeigh Equine Hospital, it is clear
that experience is important with interpretation of the
video recordings. The most common dynamic upper airway disorders diagnosed during overground endoscopy are laryngeal hemiplegia, dorsal displacement of the
soft palate, vocal cord collapse and abnormal deviation
of the folds at the laryngeal entrance. Of interest is that
almost half of the horses examined had multiple abnormalities, many of which were not detectable at rest.
The availability of overground endoscopy in South
Africa has allowed more accurate field diagnosis of
dynamic disorders of the equine upper airway and the
detection of multiple abnormalities. This has improved
evidence-based decisions regarding treatment and management of these disorders in performance horses.
PARADE MAGAZINE
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FEATURE
TEXT: lisa barett
The
Sacrifice
WE SHALL NEVER FORGET THEM
of horses
during the Boer War
Tuesday November 11th marked the 100th anniversary of the end of one
of World War One, or the Great War as it is more popularly known, writes
LISA BARETT.
I
t is estimated that over 10 million servicemen and
woman, as well as nearly million horses made the
ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of peace. What a lot
of people might not realize is that right here in KZN,
outside the sleepy town of Mooi River, hundreds of
thousands of horses were sacrificed in the Boer War
nearly two decades earlier.
War and the weapons used have changed substantially over the years, the technology has become so
sophisticated and advanced, that in the near future
we will likely have cyborgs doing the work of
soldier in fighting battles or using machines.
However at the turn of
the last century, both the
Boers and British forces
relied upon heavy, bulky
machinery to fight each
other. Not only were
horses were required
to cart these pieces of
equipment around as
the battles unfolded,
they were also used for “ambulances” for wounded soldiers, as well being used in battles for cavalry
charges.
The British military authorities needed a constant and
endless supply of horses to replenish those killed or
injured during the course of the war, and in 1899,
they decided that remount depots should be set up in
both the provinces of the Cape and Natal.
Two local men were to play a big role in the supply
of the horses for the remount depot outside of Mooi
River R & J or “Bob” Hall as he was better known,
owned one of the farms (Mount Victoria) that bordered the area of the remount depot.
A survivor of Isandlwana, Bob was a contracted to
the British army, although he dealt mostly in cattle
and transportation, he branched out into the horses,
and became a vital link for the British in acquiring
and transporting horses for the depot; and James
Piccione, yes an Irishman
with an Italian sounding
name! Sadly it is not recorded whether Piccione
was born in Italy, but we
do know that he was
brought up in Ireland and
apprenticed to a horse
dealer at any early age.
Emigrating to South
Africa, he settled in the
Mooi River district and
bought Greenfields from
William Hodgson, he
quickly became a successful horse breeder, thanks to
the imported bloodlines he brought in from Argentina to mix with local breeds.
James had that rare natural instinct, and this helped
him to breed the 1906 Durban July winner Bonnie
Dundee, who made history on that for another reason as well, as it was the first time the race was run
on the first Saturday in July. To cope with his increas-
To cope with his increasing
band of horses, James put up
lavish stables to accommodate his horses, which stand
to this day, and have become
a feature landmark of the
Mooi River area.
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ing band of horses, James put up lavish stables to accommodate his horses, which stand to this day, and
have become a feature landmark of the Mooi River area. Thanks to his efforts on the breeding front,
James became another valuable source for the British
in the supply of horses for the depot.
Due to the logistical demands of the war, the No.7
Remount Deport was set up outside the township
of Weston, because of its proximity to the various
fronts and a reliable record of housing horses there
in the past. The area on which it was established
today houses Weston Agricultural College and was
originally spread across 5000
acres, though the acreage was
later increased to 8000 to accommodate increased housing
for the officers and shelters and
feeding troughs for the horses
stationed there.
The reason for the establishment of the remount depot
here was to escape the insidious African horse sickness, and
Mooi River was ideal thanks to
its height above sea level, ample pastures, plentiful water and
cooler climate. In December 1899 the depot was officially opened for business and by the end of January
1900, the stables, feed sheds and the rest of the stables had been erected and 2 100 horses were being
stabled there.
The horses that were purchased for the Boer war
came from many far flung countries such as the
United States, Italy, Spain, Argentina and Australia.
As many as 13 000 or (almost 4.1%) of the horses
imported did not survive the trip aboard the transportation ships bringing them to South Africa, due to
appallingly primitive conditions aboard.
Those that did survive then had the added challenges
of adapting to a new climate, and that coupled with
the limited knowledge of quarantine issues surrounding the importation of horses from other countries,
it is likely that many of the diseases present among
horses today, slipped quietly in among the tens of
thousands of horses that came over on these transport ships.
It was of paramount importance that horses returning in poor condition from battles were given the best
possible treatment, so that they could be returned to
battle as quickly as possible in the best possible condition, as they were needed for either actual battles
or logistical support for the troops fighting.
Although the sick bays at the remount depots were in
principal a good idea, they had some serious health
concerns, as sick horses were often mixed with
healthy horses, leading to several outbreaks of various diseases such as glanders and mange, and it took
quite a bit of trial and error by the authorities to learn
how to deal with these challenges.
One of their most serious challenges was the bubonic plague which came with
the rats that accompanied the
transport ships. Due to stringent
measures at the remount depot
only two cases were reported
and successfully treated, thankfully the disease never reached
the human population. The officers and soldiers stationed at
the remount depot also broke
in and trained horses as to how
to cope with the challenges and
conditions of battles, and the
depot served as a resting and
rehabilitation base for war-weary horses. Many of
the horses recovering at the depot came from some
of the greatest battles of the Boer War: Spioenkop,
Colenso and the relief of Ladysmith.
Despite of the best efforts of the staff at the remount
depot, about 30 000 horses landed up being destroyed or dying at the depot. Most of these horses
were ones that had been captured by the British from
the Boers, and to cope with the increasing number
of horse deaths, a special horse crematorium was
set up on the property. The ones that survived the
war, were assimilated by the military into their horse
populations following the cessation of hostilities, or
where sold to private individuals in either the Cape
or Natal.
In this year of the 100th anniversary of World War
One, its fitting that we should pay tribute to these
forgotten equines heroes who have been largely forgotten, bought from far-off places to fight in a war
that had no real winners.
Despite of the best
efforts of the staff at
the remount depot,
about 30 000
horses landed up
being destroyed or
dying at the depot.
PARADE MAGAZINE
59
BREEDING
TEXT: sarah whitelaw. PHOTOS: supplied
Necessarily
Do milers make the best sires?
Not
Racing abounds with clichés, most of which serve as mere advertising hype
from sayings such as “sire producing families” to “breed the best to the
best”. Another often quoted is that the “best milers make the best sires.”
SARAH WHITELAW did some research.
L
ooking at the recent spate of outstanding stallions that have excelled over the true classic test
of a mile-and-a-half (2400m), one’s first thought
is to question this assumption.
The current British/Irish general sires list makes for
interesting reading. Of the top ten stallions, only
Dubawi (Dubai Millennium) and Dansili (Danehill) can
be classified as pure milers while the world’s current
greatest stallion, Galileo (Sadler’s Wells), was an out
and out mile-and-a-half horse. Another of the great
sires of recent years, Montjeu, was, if anything, even
stouter than Galileo, while High Chaparral, a sire sensation in both hemispheres, clearly relished a 2400m
trip during a racing career which saw him notch up
six G1 wins.
What is also interesting is looking at the list of recent 2000 Guineas winners (one of the world’s
premier 1600m contests). Since 1990, not a single
2000 Guineas winner went on to head the GB sires
list. However, recent 2000 Guineas winners who
have progressed to enjoy successful stud careers include King’s Best (Champion Sire in France), Rock Of
Gibraltar, Zafonic and current sensation, Sea The
Stars. With superstar Frankel, who won the Guineas
in 2011, still to be represented on the track, this list
could yet become longer. Leading UK sires Invincible
Spirit (Green Desert) and Dutch Art (Medicean) won
their Group 1 races over six furlongs (1200m), while
Shamardal (Giant’s Causeway) won the French Derby
over 2100m. The latter’s son, Lope De Vega, now one
of Europe’s most promising young stallions, emulated
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his sire when successful in the Prix du Jockey Club of
2010.
In France, the general sires list, as usual, is headed by
the sire of the Arc de Triomphe winner - in this case
former Epsom Derby, and top mile-and-a-half horse Motivator (by Montjeu).
In recent years, one major French race that has uncovered a number of subsequently successful stallions is the French Derby (Prix Du Jockey Club).
Despite suffering a controversial cut back in trip to
2100 from the classic distance of 2400m, the French
Derby has produced a glut of top sires in recent years
with recent winners of the race in its new format including Shamardal and his red hot sire-son Lope De
Vega, Lawman, as well as French sire sensation Le
Havre.
In North America, the current leading sire, and most
successful commercial stallion, is Tapit, who scored
his biggest win over 1800m. Second on that log is
Kitten’s Joy, who won up to a mile-and-a-half, while
third is Giant’s Causeway, winner of the Juddmonte
International over 2000 metres.
From 2000-2009, the North American general sires
log was headed by Storm Cat (2000), Thunder Gulch
(2001), El Prado (2002), A P Indy (2003, 2006),
Elusive Quality (2004), Saint Ballado (2005), Smart
Strike (2007, 2008,) and Giant’s Causeway (2009).
Two of those champion sires (Thunder Gulch and
A P Indy) won the Gr1 Belmont Stakes over 2400m.
In contrast, El Prado (sire of 2013 Champion Sire
Kitten’s Joy), never won beyond 1600m, while
Galileo
Rock Of Gibraltar
Elusive Quality and Smart Strike both won major races over 1600 metres. Elusive Quality, Champion Sire
in 2004, has consistently proved a top class sire with
his offspring winning major races throughout the
world and he is also proving a successful sire of sires.
Currently one of North America’s hottest sires is
Candy Ride who was Argentina’s Champion Miler in
2002, before embarking on an undefeated campaign
in North America.
War Front, joint most expensive stallion in North
America, is best known as a high-class sprinter who
scored the biggest win of his career in the Gr2 A G
Vanderbilt Handicap over 1200m. This speed is clearly transmitted to his offspring, War Front, who won a
minor stakes race over 1650m, having a AWD of just
over 1400 metres.
What is interesting is that the three top stallions currently at stud in North America by Average Earnings
Index (AEI) are all speedy individuals. War Front (AEI
2.54) tops the log ahead of Smart Strike (AEI 2.28)
and Ghostzapper (AEI 2.27), with one a sprinter and
the other two top milers.
Despite North America being famed for preferring
speedy stallions, two of its leading stallions in recent
years, A P Indy and Dynaformer, were best at 2400m
plus. Kitten’s Joy, Champion Sire in North America
in 2013, won up to 2400m, while Giant’s Causeway, three times champion sire in the US, won up to
2100m, but was never tested over further.
With Australia’s market geared towards the production of speedy, precocious stock, it is hardly surprising
that their top sires are mostly sprinter / milers. With
the exceptions of High Chaparral and Lonhro, the
top commercial stallions “Down Under” are all either
sprinters, or sprinter milers. Danehill, the greatest influence in Australia over the past 20 years, was a high
class sprinter who had the class to run third in the
2000 Guineas behind Nashwan.
But what is the state of play in South Africa, where
speedier stallions are, by and large, the more fashionable.
Jet Master, who dominated the sires log this past
decade, was a supreme miler while triple champion
Western Winter was also a top-class Grade 1 miler.
South Africa’s dominant juvenile sire, Captain Al, was
another who scored his major victory in a Grade 1
race over 1600m (Cape Guineas).
On the other hand stallions ranging from top sprinter
Var to the more stamina imbued Silvano, Dynasty and
Fort Wood all rank amongst the country’s elite.
Clearly, the merit of an individual would appear to be
of greater influence on his subsequent stud success
than his dosage and preferred trip and the most obvious lesson would appear to be that the best racehorses usually make the best stallions – regardless of
their optimal trip.
PARADE MAGAZINE
61
BREEDING
TEXT: ada van der bent. PHOTO: liesl king
Var tooFast
Viva La Var
No stallion has dominated the sprint division in recent years as has Avontuur
Stud’s Var, writes ADA VAN DER BENT.
T
o say that the grandson of Storm Cat sires
sprinters of exceptional ability would be an
understatement and while his outstanding son
Variety Club proved nigh invincible over a mile, he
also has the distinction of having sired two champion
sprinters in Val De Ra and Via Africa. In addition, his
progeny have won every Gr1 sprint race on the South
African racing calendar.
We have asked the trainers of his more prominent
runners on their characteristics. The names of the Var
horses with which they were most closely associated,
appear in brackets.
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Joey Ramsden (Variety Club)
Variety Club was an exceptionally straightforward
horse to train and there is really very little negative I
can say about him. He was as a tough as nails, never
had a day’s illness and had an amazing temperament.
You knew he was a colt though, if you let him, he
would take a nibble out of you, but he was never
nasty.
I really rate Var as a stallion and Variety Club has
proven that he can get you more than just a sprinter.
Dennis Drier (Val De Ra/Schiffer/Viva La Var)
Charles Laird (Normanz/Contador)
Val De Ra was a honey to train, even though she had
a couple of health issues.
The Vars do tend to have soundness issues, but I
think you will get those in any sprinter. I can recall the
Drum Beats were very similar, they were simply too
fast for their own good!
Whereas Val De Ra was sound as a bell, Schiffer was a
nightmare to train, she had problems with her hocks,
knees, stifle, everything. Viva La Var, another good
one, had knee chips. There are no hard and fast rules
with the Vars, but touch wood, Generalissimo has
been fine so far.
Who wouldn’t like to train a well-bred and conformed Var? Physically it’s not difficult to buy them
as long as you’ve got the money in your back pocket!
The Vars are workmanlike horses that show tremendous speed. The good ones excel and give you 150%.
I’ve been lucky with them insofar as I have trained
the last two winners of the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint,
Normanz and Contador, who by the way has gone to
Dubai with Mike de Kock.
Viva La Var, who came from Dennis is still unbeaten.
So far, he’s been a very sound horse with me.
I also have some very nice young Vars coming
through. Temperaments? Generally, being sprinters,
they are fired up, but you just harness that energy
into their work.
Duncan Howells (Via Africa)
I find the Vars easy to train. Via Africa was really
special and was blessed with a wonderful temperament. People never knew how good she really was!
I had her own sister, which was small but better-legged than Via Africa. Although she won only
once, she was genuine and always tried her best. I
also trained a Var colt which we thought would be
a flyer, being out of an Argosy mare, but he proved
best over a mile!
As for soundness, you have to be careful with the
speedy ones, they are prone to knee problems.
Michael Azzie (Vacherin, La Volta)
I’m a great fan of Var, he throws you a lovely, honest
horse. Although I’ve had one or two which were a
bit feisty, the majority are sensible and easy to work
with, a child can feed them!. He can give you the
odd bleeder, but then, how many horses don’t bleed
in this game?
The ones I’ve had have been tough and sound. That
said, I pay a lot of attention to conformation when
I buy them and anything with suspect legs, I won’t
touch.
We’ve bought some cracking Var youngsters and I am
really looking forward to training them this season.
Neil Bruss (August Rush)
August Rush came to me after he had won his maiden. He was a light-framed individual who didn’t take
much work. He tended to pull a bit but an equipment
change quickly sorted that out.
His full sister Miss October won her first two
starts when she was with me. A five-furlong horse,
physically she was very like her brother, also a slight
individual.
In my opinion, Var is a good sire to start off a new
owner, as they are speedy and come to hand quickly.
Vaughan Marshall (Villandry, Valdivia, Twitter)
I’m a great fan of Var, as his progeny tend to come to
hand quite quickly.
Villandry was a very laid-back horse and he was as
sound as can be when I had him.
I was very sad to lose Twitter after his owner passed
away. He was a really smart horse, as was Valdivia.
She was unlucky to bump All Is Secret on a number
of occasions. As far as temperaments go, I have had
one or two fillies that were a bit hot, but generally I
find them to be quite laid-back.
I have another very nice Var, Manievic, which I rate
highly. He has been side-lined with an injury for over
a year now, but is on the comeback trail. I also have
two juveniles which were amongs the top priced
yearlings at the Cape Premier Sale this year. Both are
very nice and I’m quite excited about them.
PARADE MAGAZINE
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SALES
TEXT & photo: liesl king.
Lot 32 Var - River Jetez.
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Cape Premier Yearling Sale
Oozing
Quality
Now a familiar landmark on the Sales calendar, the Cape Premier Yearling
Sale once again promises a bumper catalogue oozing quality. Thirty-one
local stallions and four international stallions are represented by the 200
lots on offer, with the sale once again taking place at the Cape Town
International Convention Centre on the 22nd and 23rd of January 2015.
LIESL KING reports.
I
ncluded in the catalogue are the first foals from
four outstanding race mares, including the much
awaited Var (USA) colt out of the globetrotting
River Jetez. For much of her career, River Jetez
was simply known as the full sister to Champion
Pocket Power, despite numerous victories. Victory in
the Gr.1 J&B Met however, catapulted her firmly out
of her illustrious brother’s shadow and into the limelight. River Jetez retired with 12 victories, including
six Graded victories. Her international travels included a victory in Gr.2 Balanchine Stakes at Meydan, a
heart-stopping second in the Gr.1 Singapore Airlines
International Cup and third in the Gr.1 Beverly D
Stakes at Arlington, in the USA. On offer by Avontuur
Thoroughbred Farm as Lot 32 is her Var colt named
Riverine.
Imperious Star followed in the footstep of her super
star mother, Gr.1 J&B Met winner Imperious Sue,
when she added her own Grade One victory, the
Woolavington Stakes over 2000m at Greyville to the
her already impressive resume. Imperious Star retired
with five victories from 1200m to 2000m, showcasing her incredible versatility. Nutfield Stud consigns
her first foal, a bay colt by Trippi (USA), named Dou-
ble Appeal, as Lot 157. By Galileo (IRE) out of the
Danehill mare Freya (AUS), the impeccable bred Sidera (AUS), winner of the Gr.3 Fillies Mile and the Listed
Starling Stakes, is another with a first foal on offer.
Her bay filly by Captain Al is consigned by Klawervlei Stud as Lot 49. While Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud
offers the first foal of the Listed Laisserfaire winner,
Comet Chaser as Lot 112. By first season sire Gimmethegreenlight (AUS), the unnamed bay filly from
the family of Fairyinthewoods and Yoshie is certain to
catch the buyers’ attention.
Apart from first foals, there are also a number of
yearlings with illustrious siblings in the catalogue
and none more so than Lot 3, a half sister by Western Winter (USA) to Champion Three-Year Old Colt,
Vercingetorix. Vercingetorix won the Gr.1 Daily News
2000, before embarking on an international career
that included victory in the Gr.1 Jebel Hatta, a second in the Gr.1 Dubai Duty Free on World Cup Day
at Meydan and a third in the Gr.1 Audemars Piquet
Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong. With Western
Winter sadly deceased, buyers have been snapping
up the last of his offspring and Lot 3 is sure to garner
her fair share of attention.
PARADE MAGAZINE
65
SALES
TEXT & photo: liesl king.
Trip To Heaven in the ring at CPYS 2013.
Joey Ramsden’s star three-year-old colt, Act Of War
is currently considered the best three-year old colt
in the country after his effortless victory under Piere
Strydom in the Gr. 2 Selangor Cup at Kenilworth. On
offer by Drakenstein Stud as Lot 54, is his half sister by Seventh Rock (AUS). The bay filly named Red
Granite is also a half sister to Subastador and Luna De
Victoria. Her paddock value alone is enormous and
Ramsden may have some serious competition, should
he wish to add her to his stable.
The title of top three-year-old filly in the Cape firmly
belongs to Cold As Ice, after her scintillating victory in
the Gr.2 Choice Carriers Championship. Cold As Ice
will shortly be meeting the Johannesburg champion,
Majmu (AUS), in the Gr.1 Avontuur Fillies Guineas at
Kenilworth and it is guaranteed to be a thrilling contest. Cold As Ice will certainly be out to win the race
sponsored by her breeders Avontuur Thoroughbred
Farm, who consigns her half sister by Trippi, named
Live Life, as Lot 79.
Five-year-old King Of Pain seems to get better and
better the older he gets, with his first Gr.1 victory coming in the Rising Sun Gold Challenge at
Clairwood earlier this year. With seven victories to
date ranging from 1100 to 1600m, including the Gr.2
Selangor Cup and the Gr.3 Langerman, King Of Pain
is far from finished. Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm
consigns his half sister by speed sire Var, as Lot 80.
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With his half brother by Dynasty consigned by Highlands
Farm Stud as Lot 152, Trip To
Heaven’s victory in the Gr.2
Merchants on Sansui Summer
Cp Day could not have come
at a better time. The bay colt
named Lainesburg Blue, who
is also a half brother to the
Premier’s Champion Stakes
winner The Hangman, is sure
to have catalogues waving.
Last but certainly not the
least, is an interesting quartet
of yearlings by international sires. Klawervlei Stud have
two such yearlings on offer as
Lot 102 and Lot 159. Lot 102
is an unnamed bay filly by top
sire High Chaparral (IRE) out
of the Belong To Me mare Attessa (AUS). While Attessa raced in the USA, her half
sister Delta Form (AUS) is no stranger to these shores,
having won the Gr.1 Summer Handicap (now called
the Sansui Summer Cup) in 2000. Lot 159 is also a
bay filly, this time by Champion Miler Canford Cliffs
(IRE) out of Intelligent (USA) an unraced half sister to
Drakenstein Stud’s sire Philanthropist.
Ascot Stud is the consignor of Lot 132, a chestnut
filly by Bahamian Bounty (GB) out of the Grand Lodge
mare Excellent (GB), named Bahamian Express. With
Excellent a half sister to Champion Miler Echelon
(GB), dam of Sir Michael Stoute’s star four-year-old
and Gr. 1 Sun Chariot winner, Integral (GB), the filly is sure to catch the attention of the international
buyers. New Approach has been a revelation at stud
and his offspring are snapped up at sales across the
globe. Highlands Farm Stud offers a bay colt by New
Approach out of the unraced Redoute’s Choice mare
Come Sunday (AUS) as Lot 111. The colt is from the
well-known female family of Lady Broadhurst, Announce and Daphne Donnelly.
The sale will commence at 6pm on the 22nd of January, with opening ceremony at 5.30pm. Yearlings can
be viewed at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from Tuesday the 20th of January.
SALES
TEXT: ada van der bent.
CTS Ready To Run Sale
Nothing ventured
nothing
Gained
Cape Thoroughbred Sales ventured into the Johannesburg market for the
first time when it conducted the inaugural Johannesburg Ready To Run Sale
at the Inanda Club in Sandton. ADA VAN DER BENT reports.
T
he bulk of the 146-strong catalogue was made
up of just over a hundred lots from Summerhill, following the stud’s decision to withdraw
its entire draft from the sale it had previously held in
conjunction with Bloodstock SA.
Three juveniles consigned by the nine-time champion
breeders fetched a million or more and were headed by the R1.6-million top lot which was knocked
down to champion owner Markus Jooste. In fact, he
dominated the evening sale, his Mayfair Speculators
purchasing 17 lots for R7,315-million, a total which
accounted for virtually a third of the final turnover.
Sales-topper
The sales-topper Tar Heel a son of boom sprint sire
Var, returned a handsome profit on an outlay of
R425,000 at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale in January. A half-brother to Gr2 Gauteng Guineas victress
Go Indigo, the bay was reared by the Kabool mare
Egyptian Reign, a winning half-sister to Falcon Sprint
hero Stirling Bridge.
While a colt dominated at the top, two members of
the fairer sex also breached the seven-figure mark.
Big-money
Johannesburg owner Adriaan van Vuuren’s appetite
for racing stock knows no bounds and he lassoed
Summerhill’s Australian-bred Khetiwe for R1.2-mil-
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PARADE MAGAZINE
lion, which made her the sale’s most expensive
filly. An daughter of boom sire Redoute’s Choice, the
latest big-money addition to Van Vuuren’s stable is
out of an unraced Dehere grandaughter of English
Oaks winner Moonshell, a Sadler’s Wells own sister to
European and English champion Doyen.
Million rand youngster
Mayfair accounted for the third million rand youngster when outlaying R1,1-million for Perfumed Lady,
a regally-bred daughter of Captain Al. She doubled
her initial purchase price of R550,000 at the Cape
Premier Yearling Sale and boasted an enviable pedigree as a half-sister to three stakes winners headed
by the exceptional sprint fillies, Sweet Sanette and
Franny.
Turnover
As far as statistics go, turnover achieved R24,680,000,
the average made R178,841 and the median R90,000.
Reflecting on the sale, Summerhill master Mick Goss
remarked: “Considering it was a no reserve sale, we
were broadly satisfied. The top end was very strong,
which was well borne out by the results. That said,
we could have done with more buyers at the bottom
end of the market.”
International Horse Imports
Hobday Equestrian Enterprises CC
With numerous
Thoroughbred Sales
coming up in Australia
during 2015, please
find below the
possible shipment
dates for horse imports
to South Africa:
19 February 2015
Export preparation begins in Australia
1 March 2015
Arrival in South Africa
9 March 2015
Export preparation begins in Australia
19 April 2015
Arrival in South Africa
27 April 2015
Export preparation begins in Australia
7 June 2015
Arrival in South Africa
15 June 2015
Export preparation begins in Australia
26 July 2015
Arrival in South Africa
3 August 2015
Export preparation begins in Australia
13 September 2015 Arrival in South Africa
21 September 2015 Export preparation begins in Australia
1 November 2015
Arrival in South Africa
VOLUME DISCOUNTS WILL BE APPLIED:
2 horses - 15% discount on agency fee
3 horses 30% discount on agency fee
4 or more horses - 50% discount on agency fee
MOST CARING AND COST EFFECTIVE
SHIPPING FOR YOUR FUTURE CHAMPIONS
For the most caring contact:
Candice 084 392 2119 [email protected]
Kerry 083 302 5100 [email protected]
SALES
TEXT: ada van der bent. PHOTOS: bloodstock sa
BSA Ready To Run Sale
Market for a
Million
A vibrant middle market and a trio of million Rand youngsters added impetus
to this year’s renewal of the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale. ADA VAN
DER BENT reports.
H
aving ventured into uncharted territory due to
the shock withdrawal of the entire Summerhill draft, Bloodstock SA’s fears that a reduced
catalogue would impact on the final results proved
unfounded. There was all-out competition for horses
from start to finish and when the curtain fell on the
one-day sale, the overall gross had zoomed to a total
of R22,340,000, with 92 lots having sold at an average price of R242,826, More importantly, the median, the critical indicator of a healthy market, ended
on R155,000.
These Impressive figures gave Bloodstock SA good
reason to smile and CEO Kevin Woolward was understandably thrilled with the sale results. “I’m more
than pleased. Good horses found their price and
there was a wide spread of buyers, which resulted in
a very strong middle market.”
Three colts from a fine draft prepared by Marc and
Nicola Coppez’s Balmoral Stud sold for a million or
more and included two for the sale-topping price of
R1.2-million each.
The first through the ring, an unnamed Australian-bred son of champion American three-year-old
and successful stallion Bernardini, was touted as a
likely sales topper in the days preceding the sale and
he certainly lived up to that billing. KwaZulu-Natal
owner Alesh Naidoo snared the handsome bay, who
boasted an all-American pedigree. The colt is out of
stakes-placed five-time winner Coffee Shop, while
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The wizard of
Turffontein Ormond Ferraris.
the signature name on the page is that of champion
racer and successful young Coolmore sire, Henrythenavigator.
A little later, fellow KwaZulu-Natal owner Brian Burnard matched that price for the Captain Al colt Redcarpet Captain, which he had originally purchased
for R700,000 at the Cape Premier Sale in January.
Asked why he was prepared to pay almost double ten
A sprinkling of international
buyers added stature to the sale..
From left: Peter White, Jessica Slack, Alec Laird, Alesh Naidoo and Phil Georgiou.
Ambleway’s Jane Trotter and TBA Sales Manager Caroline Simpson.
Lynton Ryan and Paul Lafferty
months later, Burnard quipped: “That’s how much I
believe in him!” A prime example of his sire’s stock,
the robust, quality colt is out of a five-time winning
Kabool half-sister to five stakes performers headed
by Gr1 SA Classic hero Divine Jury.
A strapping Australian-bred colt from the first crop of
Gr1 winning sprinter Star Witness rounded out the
seven figure lots when knocked down to bloodstock
agent John Freeman for R1.1-million. Likewise consigned by Balmoral, the powerful bay is out of South
African champion Battle Maiden, who capped her
racing career with a fine victory in the Gr1 Garden
Province Stakes. Sent to Australia, the daughter of
Goldkeeper hails from a female line which has served
the Armitage family with distinction and also includes
Goldkeeper’s fine son, the tough-as-teak Hong Kong
sprinter Cerise Cherry.
While colts hogged the top of the price list, a stylish daughter of ill-fated Western Winter became the
sale’s most expensive filly when she was knocked
down to trainer Michael Azzie for R700,000. Busy
stockpiling future talent on behalf of patron Adriaan
van Vuuren, Azzie was suitably impressed by the
splendid mover, which he described as a “lovely filly.”
Offered by Jane Trotter’s Ambleway as agent, the
chestnut was touring the sales ring for the second
time, having been led out unsold at the Cape Premier
Yearling Sale in January. Boasting a catalogue page
richly embellished with black type, her dam Honeytrap, a French-bred daughter of Primo Dominie, finished second in the Listed Prix de Thiberville and is a
three-parts-sister to multiple Group winner and Gr1
Prix d’Ispahan runner-up Gunboat Diplomacy.
A sprinkling of international buyers added stature to
the sale and included David Allan of Allan Bloodlines,
who purchased colts by Miesque’s Approval and
Admire Main, while the very first lot in the catalogue,
a Go Deputy colt started the sale on a solid note
when knocked down to Chinese buyer Mr H Guo for
R340,000.
With a draft of 74 providing the backbone of the
sale, Balmoral Stud not surprisingly emerged as the
leading vendor, selling 56 lots for R15,525,000.
Brian Burnard was the sale’s leading buyer, his four
purchases totalling R2,295,000.
PARADE MAGAZINE
71
INDUSTRY
TEXT: robyn louw. PHOTOS: jc photographics
R.I.P
Jimmy Lithgow
The hallmark of a good journalist is the ability to keep a safe distance
between yourself and your subject. You’re supposed to remain objective and
comment unemotionally and impartially, writes ROBYN LOUW.
long was Jimmy Lithgow, no longer is.
Sorry, that’s the best I can do. I simply can’t put it any
other way. I won’t. Jimmy was the most wonderfully
kind and fun human being and I am going to miss
him so very much. So I intend to be unapologetically
unobjective.
I started writing this at my desk, but it wasn’t working. So I’ve kicked off my shoes and plonked myself
down on my bed and somehow that feels more appropriate. Jimmy was never formal, or if he was, it
was never for long.
Tales of the horses
I
can’t say I always get it right and today I’m unashamedly throwing the rule book out of the window. Hard. Because – and I don’t even want to
write this because seeing it in black and white somehow makes it real and I so want it not to be true –
the tall, wonderful, warm and funny force that for so
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Jimmy was born on 16 November 1946, the eldest
of three children. His father, Dr Donald Lithgow, was
a gynaecologist and his mother Lesley, the daughter
of a compound manager at the Robinson Deep Mine
near Turffontein. His grandmother ‘Babs’ was an avid
racegoer and along with her sisters, would don hat
and gloves and go to Turffontein for a flutter on the
horses. Babs would come back and regale young Jimmy with tales of the horses and the race course characters and it wasn’t long before he was thoroughly
enthralled.
Mother Lesley was a keen rider and his father owned
racehorses and it was at a racecourse lunch that they
met Les and Tilly Rathbone. When they visited the
stables a short while later, Jimmy went along and met
Les’s young assistant and daughter, Elaine. He could
recount exactly what she was wearing that day and
says she was the most unusual girl he’d ever met.
They married in 1974 and had two sons, Jonathan
and Aidan.
Attention to detail
I first encountered Jimmy in 2010. I’d just started
writing for the Sporting Post and was still nervous
and self-conscious and he criticised an article I wrote
about Secretariat. At least, that’s how it felt at the
time. In actual fact, Jimmy had simply spotted an inaccuracy and in his usual helpful way had written in
to set me straight. I admit that my first reaction was
not one of gratitude. It had been a small detail and
I felt a bit aggrieved that he’d had to make a fuss
and couldn’t just have let it go. But of course that
wouldn’t have been Jimmy. He paid attention to detail and it was important that things were right. In
short, he cared.
And after due consideration (and a glass of wine or
two), I realised that and rang him up. We had a long
chat and I found him intelligent and funny and by the
end of the conversation I was thoroughly charmed.
I met him in person a short while later in the parade
ring at Kenilworth. One paints a picture of someone
in your mind’s eye and Jimmy really didn’t fit my mental description of him at all. He was unexpectedly tall
and elegantly outfitted in a neat suit and hat. Jimmy
knew how to do dapper to a T! However, the elegance and poise was short-lived and when I introduced myself, he flung his arms out to wrap me in
a hug.
‘Flung’ is a good word to use to describe Jimmy. He
spoke in the most wonderful plummy private school
English, which may have sounded pompous to those
who didn’t know him better, but Jimmy never took
himself the least bit seriously. He was intelligent, wellread and well-travelled.
He had a tremendous sense of humour and regarded life with wide-eyed curiosity and a great deal of
amusement (usually at his own expense). He told me
once that having discovered a love of theatre in high
school, he tackled Shakespeare for the first time in
Std 9 when he got to play Richard II. Excitement and
nerves rather got the better of him and he swept off
stage before the main act. “Ruined the play!” he
chuckled.
With a degree in English and the History of Art, Jimmy had a formidable command of the English language and used it generously and flamboyantly. His
flair for the dramatic and a natural eye for mischief,
made him the most wonderful story-teller and he
loved telling jokes and amusing anecdotes, frequent-
ly dissolving into giggles long before he got to the
punch line. He loved reading, writing and travelling.
He had a terribly sweet tooth, and was aggrieved to
be diagnosed with diabetes a few years ago, an affliction which he suffered with fairly good grace and
the odd dietary transgression.
Loved life
Jimmy loved life and most of all, Jimmy loved people.
He loved his wife Elaine, with whom he’d just celebrated his 40th wedding anniversary. He loved his son
Jonathan, who works at one of the most exclusive
hotels in the Western Cape, and he was utterly devoted to his two grandchildren. He was tremendously
proud of his son Aidan, who he was helping with his
project, Legends of the Turf. Aidan won the award
for tv media in 2011 and Jimmy spent all evening
telling everyone “I’ve sired a winner!” When Jimmy
received the award in 2013, he announced that he
was proud to be following in his son’s footsteps.
They say people may forget the things you say, but
they will never forget how you made them feel. Jimmy had a warmth and sincerity that made him a natural confidante and an immediate, life-long friend.
His kind, easy-going disposition and wicked sense of
humour inspired confidences and off-colour jokes. In
short, Jimmy made everyone feel like an old and treasured friend.
It is a human foible to assume that the people we
love will be around for ever and sometimes we are
guilty of not appreciating them as much as we could
while they are still here. I like to think Jimmy knew
how terribly fond I was of him and while I know
that life should feel emptier without him, somehow
it doesn’t. Jimmy saw so much colour and humour
in everything, that life will always be a little brighter
and cheerier for having had him in it. And therefore
so will I.
There once was a guy called Jimmy Lithgow. But only
once.
RIP James Alexander Charles Lithgow.
16 November 1946 – 17 October 2014
PARADE MAGAZINE
73
INDUSTRY
TEXT: andrew harrison. PHOTOS: nkosi hlophe
Gold Circle News
Go Racing
at Greyville
Various public facilities at Greyville
Racecourse have undergone major
facelifts. The bar and service area of
the Durban View Restaurant has been
refurbished as well as the entrance
to the facility. ANDREW HARRISON
reports.
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T
he Lightning Shot Bar, for many years only
open on Vodacom Durban July Day, has been
fully revamped and is now an upmarket venue
that provides live entertainment every Friday night. In
close proximity is the Braai Zone where patrons can
purchase braai packs. This facility is becoming more
and more popular as word spreads. A Kiddies Zone
has also recently been introduced where fully qualified child minders will be in attendance so that parents can enjoy the races in the knowledge that their
children are safe and being fully entertained.
Lightning Shot bar
The new bookmakers facilities that back onto the
Lightning Shot bar is also a huge improvement and
has met with very favourable comment.
Pristine track
The Braai Zone.
After two years of only basic maintenance because
of the eminent closure of Clairwood and the construction of the polytrack at Greyville, the Scottsville
turf was given a long overdue two-month break and
was pressed back into service at the end of November. The turf is now in pristine condition. Further to
that, a new rubberised walkway in the paddock has
removed the need to water and lay the dust before
each race.
Smooth move
Lightning Shot Bar.
All the trainers that moved from Clairwood to Summerveld have adapted to their new surroundings
quickly and the winners have been flowing. Ashburton sees three new faces. Weiho Marwing has relocated from the Highveld to make Ashburton his permanent base with a satellite yard at Turffontein while
both Benette Bulana and Gary Rich have renewed
their licenses.
Save The Children Christmas Party
Save The Children Christmas Party at Greyville.
The Save The Children Christmas Party held at
Greyville on Sunday, November 9, was a great success. Gold Circle entertained approximately 100 under privileged children of varying ages and they all
had a wonderful time.
Gold Circle’s Racing and Marketing Executive Graeme
Hawkins thanked all who donated gifts as well as to
the Gold Circle marketing and eventing team who
worked so hard to make it a very special day in the
lives of those less fortunate than ourselves.
Gold Circle honours Piere Strydom
xxxxxxxx
Michael Roberts, Claudia and Piere Strydom.
PARADE MAGAZINE
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INDUSTRY
TEXT: andrew harrison. PHOTOS: nkosi hlophe
Warren Lenferna, David Thiselton, Piere Strydom and Andrew Harrison
at the special Gold Circle function held to celebrate Strydom’s 5000th
winner.
Piere Strydom taking his chances on the mechanical bull.
The newly launched Night Market at Greyville night meetings where
patrons can browse stalls that offer a variety of wares ranging from
jewellery, clothing and trinkets to food and craft beer.
SA Racing App’s Glenn Marcus and podcast host of The Way We
Argue, Warren Lenferna.
Gold Circle’s PR manager Gill Simpkins and Marius Mostert with the mighty Frankel and his groom at Juddmonte Stud in Newmarket, England in
November.
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INDUSTRY
Louis TheKing
TEXT: MICHAEL
MERLE PARKER.
CLOWER.
PHOTOS:
PHOTOS:
JCEQUINE
PHOTOGRAPHICS
EDGE
Congratulations to 2014 Triple Crown
winner, 2014 RA Feature Season Award
Winner and 2014 Sansui Summer Cup Louis The King
LEGEND OF THE SADDLE
Piere Strydom was inducted into
the Horseracing Hall of Fame by Larry
Wainstein, Chief Executive Officer of the
Racing Association on Summer Cup Day,
Saturday 29 November 2014 at Turffontein Racecourse.
Strydom was handed specialised attire including a jacket to celebrate his
5000th career win. He is only the third
South African to have achieved such recognition. The other South Africans are
Mike de Kock and Muis Roberts.
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SOUTH AFRICAN TEAM WINS RACING. IT’S A RUSH
INTERNATIONAL JOCKEYS CHALLENGE
Back: Yasin Pilavcilar (TUR), Adam Kirby (ENG), Andreas Helfenbein (GER), Martin Harley (IRE), Gregory Benoist (FRA), James Doyle (ENG)
Front: Muzi Yeni, Piere Strydom, Richard Fourie, Bernard Fayd’Herbe, Anthony Delpech & S’Manga Khumalo
The competition kicked off with the international
team stating their intent that they were here to retain
their title from the previous three years by claiming
three of the first four horses past the post. This start
jolted the South African team into action and they
hardly wavered after the rather shaky start winning
the first leg at Turffontein convincingly. The South
African team carried their dominance into the second
leg at Kenilworth and gave South African champion jockey S’Manga Khumalo the perfect start to his
reign as captain.
Anthony Delpech scored the highest points at Turffontein and was the runaway Victor Ludorum over
the two days of the Challenge while Piere Strydom
secured the individual award at Kenilworth.
Dedicated South African sports lovers attended the
Challenge to support the local team and the Racing
Association are proud of their involvement in this
event which showcases the sport of horseracing.
The benefits from Racing. It’s a Rush, the recently
appointed national marketing campaigner for the
industry, are starting to take effect and support and
enthusiasm for horseracing is growing rapidly.
Our international visitors were full of praise for our
remarkable country and the hospitality afforded
them during their stay and will be looking out for an
invitation to next year’s return Challenge.
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INDUSTRY
TEXT: andrew harrison. PHOTOS: waterford farm
Waterford Farm
heaven for horses
The African continent’s only stud herd of Standardbred horses graze peacefully and undisturbed on the lush pastures of Waterford Farm in the foothills
of the beautiful Southern Drakensberg, writes ANDREW HARRISON.
I
visited Waterford with Trotting South Africa chairman Dean Latimer and was amazed at the beauty,
high yielding trout waters, streams, springs and
wetlands – a natural paradise to be sure!
Proprietor Dr Peter Dommett, a vet, and chief equine
aide Monde, an accomplished horse “gentler”,
showed us round. Aces Karamell, Quickness Brew,
Golden Office, Linda Light, Operett Swing, Olivia
Daro, Fearless Ayla, Dana Gema and Alexis Sunshine
– all imported mares and names that race-goers will
remember contesting the KZN Premier’s First Harness
Challenge, looked matronly and sleek in the watery
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late afternoon sunshine. Their paddock was at least
as big as Greyville.
A tragedy had befallen the farm only three weeks prior, when resident stallion Golden Tilly (SWE) met with
a freak accident fracturing a humerus bone and having
to subsequently be humanely destroyed. Hence the
reserved and still somber emotions of our hosts.
Two crops of (registered Standardbred) foals are now
on the ground, all showing the stamp and bearing of
their late sire and father - almost black, lengthy and
kind to work with.
Pro Swedish drivers Johan Nilsson and Niklas Wester-
holme are due to arrive in Durban next week to assist with the starting and harnessing of the yearling
stock. Anything showing potential may be invited
back to race in Sweden and France, with serious interest having already been shown by the powerful
Stefan Hultman stable at Ekero.
A replacement stallion is currently being sourced in
Europe to continue with the program.
We drove on to view some of the prolific and still
vivid bushman paintings, so plentiful on Waterford,
before dark set in, passing herds of Reedbuck and
some Eland on the way.
Once back at Penwarn Lodge, the gracious and rustic
home-farm watering hole we sat in front of a blazing
log fire and downed a few nice ones. The enthusiasm
for the harness racing project still burns strong within
Latimer, and convert Dommett provides assuredly a
sound anchor and home-base for the Standardbred
breed.
The characteristics and attributes of the Standardbred were compelling for me. Brave, honest, kind
and strong – why else would the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police use only this breed of horse for their
peace-keeping duties?
Ability to race
Latimer regaled further their ability to race twice
on the same night, twice in a week, and the
veterinarian
confirmed
greater
longevity,
fewer breakdowns, leg-injuries and bleeding than
its Thoroughbred cousin.
A complement to the current status quo – and here
for the long haul - they both agreed.
Waterford Farm nestles in the shadow of the
magnificent Southern Drakensberg, past the town of
Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
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INDUSTRY
TEXT: andrew harrison. PHOTOS: waterford farm
Living and working so close to, and with a great respect for nature that surrounds one, is key to the
operations. In such natural splendour, blessed with
abundant pristine waters, is it then not surprising
that the farm thrives. Not only does it deliver crops
and stock of high quality, but also protectively hosts
the natural and endangered inhabitants of the area.
Waterford Farm is a haven for both the endangered
Bearded Vulture, often called the Lammergeier, as
well as the Wattled Crane. Many other creatures,
from the large Eland to the small otters frequent our
pastures and waters.
Says Dommett “our whole farming business at
Waterford is based on growing pastures all year
round. Thus all year round green grass may be found
in abundance. This is possible by utilizing irrigated
pastures where the water is sourced from stored
water from numerous dams. We believe this to be
the most sustainable form of farming available. We
believe very strongly that irrigation should be from
stored water only and that no farmer should be
allowed to pump a river system dry in the drier times
of the year.
“We do no conventional monoculture cropping. By
planting pastures only we are able to create a productive system that uses no agricultural pesticides at all
and whereas we used to be able to say no herbicides,
we do now use a very small amount of “safe” herbicides to assist in weed control.
“This has resulted in a farm, which is a nutrient rich
safe zone year round. I think some farming systems
are nutrient rich at times and nutrient poor at other times. I also think that some farming systems are
nutrient rich toxic zones at times. The result of our
simple approach has been an explosion in indigenous
animals and birds that lives along side our productive
farm without conflict and are a treasure to observe
and live with.
Wildlife
“We have enormous flocks of Waterfowl, 1000's
of migrant birds use us as a Summer base, we cater
for some really special rare birds (such as all 3 Crane
species, Bearded Vultures, Stanley Bustards, Bald Ibis
and many more) and our indigenous animal populations add a fascinating contribution to our existence
here. Some of the specials here are a large troop of
baboons, Eland, Oribi, Grey Rhebuck , Antbear,
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Honey Badger and of course all the regulars like
Reedbuck, Duiker, Jackals, Various Mongooses and
out beloved Otters (both Cape Clawless and Spotted
Necked).
Visitors are welcomed and stay over at Penwarn,
and development of a training facility in situ is under
discussion.
The symbiosis of man, horse, nature and land at
Waterford is palpable, and the Standardbred stud
herd can only thrive in these conditions.
“Stand by for professional trotting in South Africa by
2020”.
www.waterfordfarm.co.za
2
CHAMPIONS
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83
STATISTICS
TEXT: ada van der bent. PHOTO: jc photographics
Tommy Gun wins the
Gr2 Emerald Cup.
FINAL FLING STAKES (GRADE 3)
R250,000 - 1800m - Kenilworth
1st R156,250, 2nd R50,000, 3rd R25,000 - August 3
1. JET SUPREME
5yo b.m. by Jet Master - Solea (Zabeel)
2nd dam: Whenever Wherever (Secretariat)
3rd dam: Miralla (Allangrange)
Owner: Mrs P J and Mr H C Devine
Breeder: Mrs P J Devine
Trainer: S J Snaith
Jockey: S Cormack
2. Acrostar (AUS)
4yo b.f. by Danehill Dancer - Nova Star (Iglesia)
Owner: Mrs S Plattner
Breeder: S J Dillon
3. Dynasty’s Pride
4yo b.f. by Dynasty - Your’s Eternally (Western Winter)
Owner: Mrs I B Applegreen
Breeder: Normandy Stud
Then came: Internal Jet, Pan Amm, Wanda, Petty Officer, Irish
May, Nonki Poo, Black Kitten, Butterfly Girl, Schism, She’s A
Pippa
Won by: shorthead - 1.50 - 1.25
Time: 1-57.26
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Already twice postponed, the rain stayed away long enough to
allow for the running of the Gr.3 Final Fling Stakes which was
won by Jet Supreme, one of three runners from the stable of
newly-crowned champion trainer Justin Snaith.
Having tracked the pacesetter Dynasty’s Pride into the straight,
the five-year-old subdued that rival inside the final furlong but
was hard-pressed in the closing stages to score by the slimmest
of margins from her blinkered stable companion Acrostar, who
took off late.
eDIAMOND CHAMPAGNE STAKES (GRADE 3)
R250,000 - 1200m - Kenilworth
1st R156,250, 2nd R50,000, 3rd R25,000 - August 9
1. PRICELESS JEWEL
5yo b.m. by Ashaawes - So Royal (Kahir Almaydan)
2nd dam: Diamond Blade (Lear Fan)
3rd dam: Sharp Heiress (Blade)
Owner: Mr J W and Mrs J K Armitage and Mr B Marcus
Breeder: G J Armitage
Trainer: A N Marcus
Jockey: K Shea
2. The Which Doctor
5yo b.m. by Lake Coniston - Like A Prayer (Star Cutter)
Owner: Mrs L de Jager, Mr G Kotzen and Mr and Mrs M Greenwood
Breeder: T D Andrews
3. Captainofmysoul
5yo b.m. by Captain Al - Ondina (Caesour)
Owner: H Adams, M J Jooste and Mrs I Jooste
Breeder: Varsfontein Stud
Then came: Knock ‘Em Out, Butterfly Girl, Cosmic Flower, Als
Bonanza
Won by: 3.50 - 3.50 - 1
Time: 1-16.87
On bare form, the Champagne Stakes appeared to be at the
mercy of Priceless Jewel, and so it proved, as the Armitage-bred
outclassed her opponents over the rain-softened turf.
Patiently ridden by Kevin Shea, the mare came from off the
pace to surge past long-time leader Knock ‘Em Out inside the
final furlong went on to stamp her authority in no uncertain
terms, coming home well clear of a strung-out field.
Remarked trainer Adam Marcus: “Her prep going into this was
good. She has really made me proud. She is quite quirky. I will
have to speak to the owners about her staying in training, but
I would hope so.”
AUGUST STAKES (GRADE 3) - R250,000 - 1200m - Vaal (Sand)
1st R156,250, 2nd R50,000, 3rd R25,000 - August 30
1. ANGER (BRZ)
4yo b.c. by Elusive Quality - Garota Do Leblon (Thunder Gulch)
2nd dam: Smart Angle (Quadrangle)
3rd dam: Smartaire (Quibu)
Owner: F N Englezakis and Favour Stud
Breeder: Stud TNT
Trainer: C Spies
Jockey: F Naude
2. Isobar
5yo b.g. by Tiger Ridge - Forecast (Western Winter)
Owner: O D T Visser and T J Smith
Breeder: Dr M Thomson, Ambiance Stud
3. Across The Ice
8yo b.g. by Western Winter - Akinfeet (Fort Wood)
Owner: C J H van Niekerk and M J Jooste
Breeder: Lammerskraal Stud
Then came: Midnight Run, Killua Castle (AUS), Foyle, Nice
Stride, Sabadell, Velddrifter, Chief Sioux, Stavinsky, Global Express
Non-runners: Storm Incoming, Commissionerstreet (AUS)
Won by: 0.50 - 6 - 0.50
Time: 1-12.76
Progressive Brazilian-bred Anger extended his win-streak to five
on the sand with a gutsy first stakes win in this precursor to the
Gr.2 Emerald Cup at the end of the month.
After turning for home well clear of his nearest rivals, Corné
Spies’s charge was strongly challenged and headed by Isobar
300m from home, who looked set to give the Waiho Marwing
stable a second consecutive victory in this race. However Anger
showed true grit and rallied strongly to regain the lead inside
the final 100m. The colt edged ahead to subdue his rival by a
half-length at the line, the pair having pulled six lengths clear
of third-placed veteran Across The Ice.
EMERALD CUP (GRADE 2) - R1,000,000 - 1450m - Vaal (Sand)
1st R625,000, 2nd R200,000, 3rd R100,000 - September 27
1. TOMMY GUN
4yo b.g. by Sail From Seattle - Kathakali (Joshua Dancer)
2nd dam: Kali Ridge (Cox’s Ridge)
3rd dam: Rub Al Khali (Mr Prospector)
Owner: F N Englesakis, R P Macnab and T Spies
Breeder: Milkwood Stud
Trainer: C Spies
Jockey: S Chambers
2. Uncle Tommy
7yo ch.g. by Kahal - Cousin Linda (Badger Land)
Owner: H Adams
Breeder: Summerhill Stud (Pty) Ltd
3. Killua Castle (AUS)
5yo b.g. by Churchill Downs - Prayers’N’Promises (Encosta De
Lago)
Owner: Mrs A Devachander
Breeder: K Heffernan, Vic
Then came: Across The Ice, Jet Jamboree, Taptap Makhatini,
Brooks-Club, Storm Surf, Isobar, Shadow Line, Rio Carnival
(AUS), In A Rush, Anger (BRZ), Whiteline Fever (p/u)
Won by: 3 - 1.25 - 1.75
Time: 1-29.94
Tommy Gun, unheralded at 16-1, brought his earlier sand form
into full play to claim the Emerald Cup, which for the first time,
carried an increased stake of a million Rand.
The Corné Spies-trained four-year-old tracked stable companion and pacesetter Anger into the straight, took command at
the 600m mark and once clear, continued to pour it on to score
by a scintillating three lengths. Blinkered veteran Uncle Tommy,
third in last year’s race, did his best work late to take second,
with Killua Castle next best. Favourite Jet Jamboree, fresh off a
hat-trick of wins over the course, was first to challenge in the
straight but ran out of steam and eventually finished fifth.
JOBURG SPRING CHALLENGE (GRADE 2)
R400,000 - 1450m - Turffontein
1st R250,000, 2nd R80,000, 3rd R40,000 - October 4
1. NO WORRIES
5yo ch.g. by Kahal - Coastal Waltz (Rambo Dancer)
2nd dam: Coastal Relative (Coastal)
3rd dam: Royal Relation (Lord Gayle)
Owner: B D Burnard
Breeder: Summerhill Stud (Pty) Ltd
Trainer: G H van Zyl
Jockey: K de Melo
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STATISTICS
TEXT: ada van der bent.
2. Midnight Run
5yo b.g. by Captain Al - Night Beauty (Shaamit)
Owner: Mrs and Mrs C J Davis
Breeder: J W Davis, W J Davis and C J Davis
3. Snowdon
b.g. by Western Winter - Antonia’s Law (National Assembly)
Owner: P T & P Dimakogiannis
Breeder: Highlands Farms Stud (Pty) Ltd
Then came: Heart Of A Lion, Mercado, Rake’s Chestnut, Mountain Master
Non-runner: Zanzibar Man
Won by: neck - 2.50 - neck
Time: 1-27,25
Despite mixing it with the best over the past two seasons, full
black type had eluded No Worries, however the KZN visitor finally put the record straight with a gutsy victory in this extended sprint, which carried Gr.2 status for the first time.
Sprinter Midnight Run, making his debut for the Mike Bass stable, reluctantly carved out the early fractions with No Worries
in close attendance.
At the quarter mark, jockey Keagan de Melo set No Worries
alight and the pair surged into the lead to go a length or so
clear. Midnight Run was not done for though and fought back
gallantly for one late lunge at the line, but the Gavin van Zyl
runner kept finding more to claim victory by a neck. The first
two finished well clear of veteran Snowdon, who found his
best stride late to shade Heart Of Lion on the line.
JOBURG SPRING FILLIES & MARES CHALLENGE
(GRADE 2) - R400,000 - 1450m - Turffontein
1st R250,000, 2nd R80,000, 3rd R40,000 - October 4
1. SUPREME SUNSET
4yo ch.f. by Western Winter - Supreme Duel (Royal Chalice)
2nd dam: Olympic Duel (Dancing Champ)
3rd dam: Mashka (New South Wales)
O/Breeder: T L Bailes
Trainer: M W Bass
Jockey: S Cormack
2. Athina
4yo b.f. by Fort Wood - The Heiress (Rich Man’s Gold)
O/Breeder: Wilgerbosdrift
3. Virgo’s Babe
4yo ch.f. by Malhub - Linzertorte (Special Preview)
Owner: M E Leaf
Breeder: Midlands Thoroughbreds
Then came: Majmu (AUS), Arcetri Pink (AUS), Winter Star,
Classic Illusion, Negev, Mohave Princess (AUS), Touch The Sky,
Maayaat (AUS), Moggytwoshoes, Pure Power
Won by: head - 1 - 0.50
Time: 1-28,24
The decision by Western Cape trainer Mike Bass to send a
string to the Highveld paid quick dividends when he won the
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first graded race of the mini-season with outsider Supreme
Sunset. In fact, the stable almost pulled off the Gr.2 double on
the day when Midnight Run failed by a neck in the subsequent
Joburg Spring Challenge.
Virgo’s Babe took them along early and maintained a narrow advantage over Athina, who was first to challenge in the
straight. Last season’s champion juvenile filly Majmu, sent off a
warm favourite here, likewise began her forward move, only to
ran out of running room.
Supreme Sunset, meanwhile, was hooked to the outside by
jockey Sean Cormack and the blinkered chestnut quickened
best to score by a head from Athina, who again had to settle
for second, after finishing a similar margin behind stable companion Ilha Bela in last year’s race. Virgo’s Babe stayed on for
third, followed by the luckless Majmu, who had to switch at a
crucial stage.
This was the first stakes victory for the winner, to go along
with a third in last season’s Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes at
Kenilworth.
KUDU INSURANCE MATCHEM STAKES (GRADE 3) R250,000 - 1400m - Durbanville
1st R156,250, 2nd R50,000, 3rd R25,000 - October 4
1. REIM
4yo b.g. by Ashaawes - Place Morny (Doneraile Court)
2nd dam: Maranera (Mocito Guapo)
3rd dam: All Season (Settlement Day)
Owner: F M Carruthers, K Martin and I Robinson
Breeder: G J Armitage
Trainer: G R Puller
Jockey: C Puller
2. Afrikaburn
3yo b.c. by Trippi - Aquatint (Peintre Celebre)
Owner: A L A Crabbia
Breeder: Drakenstein Stud
3. Top Jet
4yo gr.g. by Jet Master - Whatsinakiss (Elliodor)
Owner: Mr and Mrs R Muir
Breeder: Varsfontein Stud
Then came: Chestnut’s Rocket, Door Of Deception, It Is Written,
Dynastic Power, Ferdnand The Bull
Won by: 2 - 1 - 0.50
Time: 1-24,13
Blinkers have transformed four-year-old Reim into a formidable front-runner. Since the equipment change, the gelding
has stretched his unbeaten run to three with an impressive
front-running performance in the Gr.3 Matchem Stakes.
Glen Puller’s charge took command from the moment the
gates opened and having opened up a useful lead, continued
to dictate matters up front. Favourite Afrikaburn, making his
seasonal debut, unleashed a late rally from the rear, but Reim
showed no signs of stopping and the three-year-old colt fell
short by two lengths at the line, with Top Jet staying on for the
minor money.
The owners turned down R400,000 for the gelding before his
penultimate start and as the horse entered the winner’s box
after the Matchem, they were offered a million on the phone!
Purchased for R140,000 at the 2012 CTS Ready To Run Sale,
Reim’s success has increased his bankroll to a useful R336,400.
LANZERAC DIANA STAKES (GRADE 3)
R250,000 - 1400m - Durbanville
1st R156,250, 2nd R50,000, 3rd R25,000 - October 4
1. DOUBLE WHAMMY
3yo b.f. by Judpot - Frida (Kabool)
2nd dam: Ashirwaad (Caliban)
3rd dam: Sister Angelica (Song)
Owner: W J Laird and Mrs J A Wintle
Breeder: Shirluck Stud
Trainer: G S Kotzen
Jockey: G Cheyne
2. Lanner Falcon
4yo ch.f. by Trippi - Hosta (French Deputy)
Owner/Breeder: Drakenstein Stud
3. Princess Ofthe Sky
4yo b.f. by Jet Master - Spirit Ofthe Dance (Goldmark)
Owner: Mrs G J Beck
Breeder: Patricia Devine Investments (Pty) Ltd
Then came: Zacharias, Perpetua, Highly Decorated, In Limine
Non-runner: Grey Light
Won by: 0.50 - 1 - 0.50
Time: 1-25,67
Run under weight-for-age conditions, three-year-olds receive a
handsome allowance at this stage of the season, and favourite
Double Whammy made full use of a 6.5kg pull in the weights
here to open her stakes account in her first run around the turn.
After hopping out of the gates smartly, Glen Kotzen’s charge
was never headed and kept rolling in the straight to hold of the
attentions of a fast-finishing Lanner Falcon by a diminishing
half-length.
CAPE CLASSIC (GRADE 3) - R250,000 - 1400m - Kenilworth
1st R156,250, 2nd R50,000, 3rd R25,000 - October 25
1. ACT OF WAR
3yo b.c. by Dynasty - Si Senorita (Cordoba)
2nd dam: Vadostar (Calvados)
3rd dam: Transtar II (GB) (Sahib)
Owner: Mrs I Jooste and Mr M J Jooste
Breeder: Arc-En-Ciel Stud
Trainer: J Ramsden
Jockey: A Marcus
2. Mljet
3yo b.c. by Jet Master - Subyan Dreams (Spectrum)
Owner: M E Leaf
Breeder: Varsfontein Stud
3. Heartland
3yo b.c. by Dynasty - Moonlit Prairie (Cozzene)
Owner: Miss N Mitchell and Mr W J C Mitchell
Breeder: Highlands Farms Stud (Pty) Ltd
Then came: Sheer Trouble, Prince Of Eden, Saint Donan, Moonlight Runner, Zingaro
Non-runner: Al Capitano.
Won by: neck - 3.50 - head
Time: 1:27.18
Successful with Red Ray twelve months ago, the Jooste/Ramsden team made it back-to-back victories in this classic prep,
courtesy of the equally talented sophomore, Act Of War.
Having to concede weight all around and making his seasonal
debut off a three-month rest, the colt had it all to do, but he
passed this important test with flying colours and is firmly on
track for the Selangor Cup and the ultimate prize, the Cape
Guineas.
BETTING WORLD ALGOA CUP (GRADE 3)
R350,000 - 2000m - Fairview
1st R218,750, 2nd R70,000, 3rd R35,000 - October 26
1. DISCO AL
5yo b.g. by Captain Al - Studio Fifty Four (Badger Land)
2nd dam: Dance Of Love (Elliodor)
3rd dam: Fairy Fortune (Complete Warrior)
Owner: Mrs V and Mr A Singh and Mrs I and Mr M J Jooste
Breeder: Drakenstein Stud
Trainer: J Ramsden
Jockey: A Marcus
2. Forest Digger
6yo b.g. by Classic Flag - Gold Forest (Forest King)
O/Breeder: B H and A J Botha and Mrs M E Botha
3. Silent Partner
7yo b.g. by Silvano - Secret To Success (Our Casey’s Boy)
Owner: B K Parker
Breeder: Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd
Then came: Bonnard, Arion, Titus, Political Playboy (AUS),
Masai Warrior, Russian Mig, Indian Hawk, Lord Badger, Tribal
Dance, In A Rush, Blaze Of Fire, Gone Baby Gone
Non-runners: Astro News
Won by: 1.25 - 0.50 - 0.50
Time: 2:05.59
Cape Town visitor Disco Al successfully retained his crown here,
having won last year’s edition on the polytrack.
Whereas the winning margin then was but a head, this time
around the five-year-old scored by a clear-cut margin. Restrained by Anton Marcus early on, the gelding came with a
perfectly-timed late run inside the final furlong to surge past
Forest Digger, who looked to score an upset victory for the locals. It was not to be, as Disco Al finished full of run to win by
a widening length or so. Next came Silent Partner, who made it
a two-three for the local stable of Mitch Wiese.
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YELLOWWOOD HANDICAP (GRADE 3) - R250,000
1800m - Turffontein
1st R156,250, 2nd R50,000, 3rd R25,000 - October 28
1. PINE PRINCESS
3yo b.f. by Captain Al - Scent Of Pine (Badger Land)
2nd dam: Northern Pine (Far North)
3rd dam: Mountain Sunshine (Vaguely Noble)
Owner: Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd, Mrs John Magnier &
Mrs Paul Shanahan
Breeder: Highlands Farms Stud (Pty) Ltd
Trainer: M F de Kock
2. Erin
5yo ch.m. by Fort Wood - Beltel (Bush Telegraph)
O/Breeder: Mauritzfontein Stud
3. Mohave Princess (AUS)
4yo b.f. by Mount Nelson - Our Mohave (Fusaichi Pegasus)
Owner: H Adams, N Jairajh, Bold Moves 860 (Pty) Ltd and Miss
V S Govender
Breeder: Newsells Park Stud Limited
Then came: Amber Orchid (AUS), Vino Veritas, Zephira, Touch
The Sky, Sisters Of Mercy, She’s A Looker, Enchanted Silk, Classic Illusion, Euphoria, Rodeo Sioux, Supreme Sunset, Lucky
Gambler, Square Dance (GB)
Won by: head - shorthead - 1.75
Pine Princess kicked off her sophomore campaign in the best
possible way, with a first stakes win in the Yellowwood.
Settled just off the early pace by Anthony Delpech, Mike de
Kock’s charge took aim at Mohave Princess, who had taken
the lead at the quarter mark, while Erin was produced with a
storming run from behind. In a driving finish, the trio crossed
the line virtually as one but the photo showed the three-yearold, the proverbial meat in the sandwich, had won it by a whisker from Erin, who in turn had but a shorthead to spare over
Mohave Princess.
PEERMONT EMPERORS PALACE CHARITY MILE
(GRADE 2) - R600,000 - 1600m - Turffontein
1st R375,000, 2nd R120,000, 3rd R60,000 - November 1
1. BEZANOVA
4yo ch.g. by Bezrin - Ananova (London News)
2nd dam: Lone Sailor (Hard Up)
3rd dam: Sail The Wind (Boot
Camp)
Owner: M C Gerber
Breeder: Clifton Stud
Trainer: A G Laird
Jockey: W Marwing
2. No Worries
5yo ch.g. by Kahal - Coastal Waltz (Rambo Dancer)
Owner: B D Burnard
Breeder: Summerhill Stud (Pty) Ltd
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3. Louis The King
4yo b.c. by Black Minnaloushe - Pamushana (Rich Man’s Gold)
Owner: L J van der Vyfer
Breeder: The Alchemy
Then came: Lockheed Jetstar, Bouclette Top (ARG), Sovereign
Mint, Glorious Jet, Midnight Run, Killua Castle (AUS), As You
Like, Jet Jamboree, Brooks-Club, Tiger’s Retreat, Tellina, Tommy
Gun, Rake’s Chestnut (lost rider)
Won by: neck - 0.50 - 0.50
Time: 1-35.54
Outsider Bezanova enjoyed his biggest payday yet by shocking
a classy field in the Gr.2 Charity Mile.
Friendless in the market, the 18-1 shot settled on the rail and
turned for home about five lengths off the pacesetter Tommy
Gun. No Worries was first to challenge and gained the lead at
the quarter mark. However, Weichong Marwing set Bezanova
alight up the inside and he collared the leader a furlong from
home. The pair engaged in a fierce tussle and although pressed
all he way to the line, Bezanova dug down deep to score by a
neck. Last season’s Triple Crown winner Louis The King, making
his seasonal debut, finished with a flourish on the outside to
run a close up third, ahead of a luckless Lockheed Jetstar, who
had to content with the riderless Rake’s Chestnut up his inside.
GRAHAM BECK STAKES (GRADE 3) - R250,000
1400m - Turffontein
1st R156,250, 2nd R50,000, 3rd R25,000 - November 1
1. HARRY’S SON (AUS)
3yo b.c. by Haradasun - Dash On Ruby (Anabaa)
2nd dam: Lady Brackley (Rubiton)
3rd dam: Miss Clipper (Alert)
Owner: R Moodley, P Georgiou, D A Maisenbacher, Mr and
Mrs D J Steyn, Mrs M M Bilro and Miss A Bilro
Breeder: Cranton Bloodstock Vic
Trainer: P V Lafferty
Jockey: P Strydom
2. Jayyed
3yo b.c. Jet Master - Atyab (Mr Prospector)
Owner/Breeder: Al Adiyaat South Africa (Pty) Ltd
3. Trip To Heaven
3yo b.c. by Trippi - Helleborus Blue (Cee’s Tizzy)
Owner: C J H van Niekerk and M J Jooste
Breeder: Highlands Farms Stud (Pty) Ltd
Then came: Belong To Me, Raise The Red, Prince Of Orange,
Amazing Strike, Super Glue, Astro, Kiss Me Hardy, Lock Him
Up, Bengal Boy, Lonely Arethebrave
Non-runners: Fire Horse, Brave Vision
Won by: 2 - shorthead - 1.25
Time: 1-23.79
Last season’s champion juvenile Harry’s Son opened his sophomore season on a winning note and he did it in style. The
Australian-bred colt tracked Trip To Heaven into the straight,
took aim at his opponent a furlong from home and within a
matter of strides, had surged into the lead. That proved to be
a winning move, as he streaked home to win by a facile two
lengths. Mike de Kock’s maiden Jayyed, whom he had defeated
by a longhead in the Gr.1 Premiers Champion Stakes in July,
came with a strong late rally from well back to shade Trip To
Heaven for second.
The winner was originally scheduled to leave for Cape Town,
but when a horse tested positive to an African Horse Sickness
vaccine at Summerveld, the colt was rerouted to Johannesburg
instead.
HSH PRINCESS CHARLENE OF MONACO STARLING STAKES
(GRADE 3) - R250,000 - 1400m - Turffontein
1st R156,250, 2nd R50,000, 3rd R25,000 - November 1
1. MAJMU (AUS)
3yo gr.f. by Redoute’s Choice - Spontaneous (Hussonet)
2nd dam: Galoise (Smooth Performance)
3rd dam: War Wind (Worldwatch)
Owner: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Breeder: Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd, NSW
Trainer: M F de Kock
Jockey: A Marcus
2. Siren’s Call
3yo b.f. by Elusive Fort - Siren’s Cove (West Man)
O/Breeder: P G de Beyer
3. Smart Call
3yo b.f. by Ideal World - Good Judgement (Horse Chestnut)
Owner/Breeder: Mauritzfontein Stud
Then came: One Fine Day, Flame Cat (AUS), Fire Dancing, Peep
Show, Pennington Sands, Kileigh, Spellbound, Drifting Dusk,
Sarve, Sputnik Sweetheart
Won by: 1.75 - 0.50 - 1.75
Time: 1-22.9
Having lost her unbeaten record last time out, Sheikh Hamdan’s
brilliant filly Majmu bounced back to winning form with yet
another super-impressive effort.
After racing a good six to seven lengths off the pace early on,
the imposing Australian-bred was delivered up the centre by
jockey Anthony Delpech and unleashed a furious rally to catch
Smart Call inside the final furlong. Her relentless turn of foot
saw her widening the winning margin to the best part of two
lengths at the line, as Siren’s Call, nudged Smart Call out of
second. To put Majmu’s effort into perspective, her winning
time was almost a second faster than that of Harry’s Son in the
Graham Beck!
CHOICE CARRIERS CHAMPIONSHIP (GRADE 2)
R400,000 - 1400m - Kenilworth
1st R250,000, 2nd R80,000, 3rd R40,000 - November 8
1. COLD AS ICE
3yo b.f. by Western Winter - Viva (National Assembly)
2nd dam: Hot Grass (Harry Hotspur)
3rd dam: Green Pastures (New South Wales)
Owner: Mesdames K Finch and B Kieswetter
Breeder: Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm
Trainer: J Ramsden
Jockey: B Fayd’Herbe
2. Double Whammy
3yo b.f. by Judpot - Frida (Kabool)
Owner: W J Laird and Mrs J A Wintle
Breeder: Shirluck Stud
3. Jet Set Go
3yo b.f. by Jet Master - Azabu Park (Bletchley Park)
Owner: Tmen Stables
Breeder: Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm
Then came: Inara, Lucky Tuesday (Aus), Grey Light, Seven
Grand, Thaler Point, Harvard Crimson
Non-runners: Dancing Natasha, Princess Chloe
Won by: 1.25 - 1.25 - 2
A funereal early pace turned this Gr.2 event on its head, with
victory going to the fleet-footed and highly-regarded Cold As
Ice.
In her first attempt beyond 1200m, the Joey Ramsden runner
tracked Diana Stakes winner Double Whammy who slowed it
right down. She quickened in the straight to collar her adversary approaching the final furlong and with the race in the bag,
strode home to win by just over a length. Hitherto unbeaten Jet
Set Go, clearly unsuited by the slow pace, failed to quicken in
the straight and finished a similar margin back in third.
VICTORY MOON STAKES (GRADE 2) - R400,000
1800m - Turffontein
1st R250,000, 2nd R80,000, 3rd R40,000 - November 15
1. JUDICIAL
4yo b.g. by Miesque’s Approval - Lady Advocate (Dolpour)
2nd dam: Arraign (Judger)
3rd dam: Renounce (Buckpasser)
Owner: Mr K P and Mrs N M Backos and Mr S F G Habib
Breeder: Scott Brothers
Trainer: T Zackey
Jockey: K Zechner
2. Earl Of Derby
4yo b.g. by National Assembly - Forest Fawn (Miswaki)
Owner: M C Gerber
Breeder: Highlands Farms Stud (Pty) Ltd
3. Everest
4yo gr.c. by Sarge - Summit Seeker (Kilconnel)
Owner: S J D Gray
Breeder: Graystone Stud
Then came: Glorious Jet, Rushmore River, Killua Castle (AUS),
Santa Carolina, Tiger’s Retreat, Mountain Master, Heart Of A
Lion, Knock On Wood, Yer-Maan, The Hangman, Jet Jamboree
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Won by: 0.75 - 5.75 - 0.75
Time: 1-55.15
With favourites falling by the wayside, the returning Judicial
proved impervious to the soft underfoot conditions and was
rewarded with a first stakes victory in the Victory Moon.
As the majority of the field elected to tack over to the stand
side, Everest was first to challenge in the straight and he set sail
from home under visiting jockey James Doyle. Judicial, easy to
back at 14-1 and racing midfield early on, was by now gathering his stride and he powered his way through the pack to
collar the leader at the furlong mark. He soon had to contend
with 20-1 shot Earl Of Derby on his inside and over the final
150m, the pair had the race to themselves. Although Earl Of
Derby tried his utmost, Judicial always had his measure and
showed great determination to run out a brave winner. It was
almost six lengths back to Everest, who finished just in front of
stable companion Glorious Jet.
CAPE MERCHANTS (GRADE 2) - R400,000
1200m - Kenilworth
1st R250,000, 2nd R80,000, 3rd R40,000 - November 16
1. TEVEZ
5yo b.g. by Caesour - Minelli (Elliodor)
2nd dam: Lupin (Tilden)
3rd dam: Northern Cross (Northleach)
Owner: N M Shirtliff, M J Jooste, B Ressell and Mrs I Jooste
Breeder: Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm
Trainer: M W Bass
2. Daring Dave
4yo b.g. by Dynasty - Glory Sister (Grand Slam)
Owner: H Adams, D Chinsammy and Mrs T Chinsammy
Breeder: Highlands Farms Stud (Pty) Ltd
3. Hammie’s Hooker 5yo b.m. by Trippi - Gem Queen (Damascus Gate)
Owner: M J Jooste, B Ressell and N M Shirtliff
Breeder: Zandvliet Stud
Then came: Lanner Falcon, Villa Del Largo, Copper Parade,
Happy Forever, Capetown Noir, Cap Alright, Blarney Bay, Silver
Bluff, Asstar, Shishangeni, De Kock, The West Is Wide, Hot Ticket, Tiger Tiger, The Which Doctor
Won by: 0.75 - head - 0.50
Time: 1-12.24
The result of the Merchants proved to be a repeat of last year’s
race with Tevez successfully defending his title. Only O Caesour
and Eli’s Game have managed this feat in recent years, while
the remarkable champion Flobayou remains the sole three-time
winner, completing the treble in 1996.
Tevez settled off the pace as Blarney Bay and Happy Forever
disputed the lead up front. Daring Dave delivered his challenge
300m out and looked a winner going through the furlong mark.
Tevez meanwhile, found himself caught for running room, but
a timely gap opened and once in the clear, he unleashed his
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powerful run up the centre. He wore down the Snaith runner
close home and drew off to win rather cosily. Daring Dave spoilt
what would have been a Bass trifecta, as the winner’s stable
companions Hammie’s Hooker and Lanner Falcon filled the next
two places.
Remarkably, Tevez broke a seven-race losing streak here, having
gone winless since last year’s victory.
LANZERAC LE GENERAL GREEN POINT STAKES (GRADE 2) R400,000 - 1600m - Kenilworth
1st R250,000, 2nd R80,000, 3rd R40,000 - November 22
1. LEGISLATE
4yo b.c. by Dynasty - Champers (Restructure)
2nd dam: Classy Play (Jungle Cove)
3rd dam: Classic Art (Jan Ekels)
Owner: W J Mitchell, Drakenstein Stud and Newbury Racing
(Pty) Ltd
Breeder: Cheveley Stud
Trainer: S J Snaith
Jockey: R Fourie
2. Ashton Park
5yo b.g. by Battersea Park - Hunters Prayer (Jet Master)
Owner/Breeder: Y Khan
3. Futura
4yo b.c. by Dynasty - Scribblin The Cat (Badger’s Drift)
Owner: J T Freeman, I W Longmore and W J C Mitchell
Breeder: G Murdoch
Then came: Captain America, Jet Aglow, Readytogorightnow
(AUS), Afrikaburn, Light The Lights, Jet Explorer, Castlethorpe
(AUS), Punta Arenas
Won by: 3.50 - 0.75 - 0.75
Time: 1-35:84
Reigning Horse of the Year Legislate’s made his much anticipated return to racing in this traditional precursor to the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and wasted no time in asserting his class, in
the process shattering the almost 20-year-old track record by
more than a third of a second.
In his first start since July, the champion raced within striking
distance of the pacesetter Captain America, picked it up at the
quarter mark and put the race to bed in a matter of strides,
drawing clear to win with the minimum of fuss. Outsider Ashton Park put up a career best to chase home the winner, while
Gr.1 winner Futura flashed home from the rear for third.
Winning rider Richard Fourie was in awe of the colt’s performance: “He is by far the best horse I’ve ever ridden. He showed
today how good he really is and we’re on target for the Queen’s
Plate and the Met.
Chris Snaith, deputising for trainer son Justin, said: “He’s a better horse than he was last year, he won’t run again before the
Queen’s Plate. It will be the Queen’s Plate and the Met and
that’s it, he will then go overseas.”
SELANGOR CUP (grade 2) - R400,000 - 1600m - Kenilworth
1st R250,000, 2nd R80,000, 3rd R40,000 - November 22
1. ACT OF WAR
3yo b.c. by Dynasty - Si Senorita (Cordoba)
2nd dam: Vadostar (Calvados)
3rd dam: Transtar II (GB) (Sahib)
Owner: Mrs I Jooste and Mr M J Jooste
Breeder: Arc-En-Ciel Stud
Trainer: J Ramsden
Jockey: P Strydom
2. Kingvoldt
3yo b.c. by Western Winter - Red Parade (Parade Leader)
Owner: La Grange Racing Syndicate
Breeder: Lammerskraal Stud
3. Mljet
3yo b.c. by Jet Master - Subyan Dreams (Spectrum)
Owner: M E Leaf
Breeder: Varsfontein Stud
Then came: Balance Sheet, Cotton Hill, Generalissimo, Catkin.
Won by: 2.25 - 2.25 - 1
Time: 1-37:05
Act Of War had his eyes firmly on the Gr.1 Cape Guineas,
following an impressive victory in the Selangor. In a sense, it
was an historical occasion, as he provided leading rider Piere
Strydom with his 5000th victory in a long and illustrious riding
career.
Travelling well within himself as Cotton Hill and Generalissimo
disputed the lead, the bay cornered a couple of lengths off
the pace, and when Strydom pushed the button, he quickened
into the lead approaching the final furlong. Never threatened,
the colt strolled to a 2.25-length victory over stable companion
Kingvold, with MlJet a similar margin back in third.
Winning trainer Joey Ramsden, who previously claimed Selangor honours with Variety Club in 2011 and King Of Pain in
2012, remarked: “He’s a very special horse and if he pulls up
fine, it will be straight on to the Guineas.
SANSUI SUMMER CUP (GRADE 1) - R2,000,000
2000m - Turffontein
1st R1,200,000, 2nd R400,000, 3rd R200,000 - November 29
1. LOUIS THE KING
3yo b.c. by Black Minnaloushe - Pamushana (Rich Man’s Gold)
2nd dam Milden Magic (National Emblem)
3rd dam Easy Dancer (Piaffer)
Owner: L J van der Vyver
Breeder: The Alchemy
Trainer: G V Woodruff
Jockey: R Fradd
2. Killua Castle (AUS)
5yo b. g. by Churchill Downs - Prayers’N’Promises (Encosta De
Lago)
Owner: Mrs A Devachander
Breeder: K Heffernan, Vic
3. Judicial
4yo b.g by Miesque’s Approval - Lady Advocate (Dolpour)
Owner: K P & Mrs N M Backos and Mr S F G Habib
Breeder: Scott Bros
Then came: Wavin’ Flag, Earl Of Derby, No Worries, As You
Like, Bouclette Top (ARG), Jet Belle, Athina, Bezanova, Lockheed Jetstar, Rake’s Chestnut, Everest, Glorious Jet, Sovereign
Mint, Bold Inspiration, Enchanted Silk, Disco Al
Non-runner: Master Sabina
Won by: neck - 2.75 - 1.50
Time: 2-6.33
Triple Crown winner Louis The King proved himself the undisputed “King” of Turffontein when he led home stable companion Killua Castle in a thrilling one-two finish for the Geoff
Woodruff stable.
One of a quintet of Woodruff runners, Killua Castle enjoyed
first run on his stable companion and took the lead at the furlong mark. Having raced wide throughout under Piere Strydom,
Louis The King mounted his challenge on the standside and
took aim at his stable companion when he appeared to hit a
flat spot. Fortunately, the four-year-old answered Strydom’s
call, found another gear and in a whirlwind finish, subdued
Killua Castle inside the closing stages to win going away, much
to the delight of the cheering Turffontein crowd.
His victory continues the dominance of Geoff Woodruff in this
Gr.1 event, who has has now won the event four times.
INVESTEC DINGAANS (GRADE 2) - R500,000
1600m - Turffontein
1st R312,500, 2nd R100,000, 3rd R50,000 - November 29
1. UNPARALLELED
3yo b.g. by Lateral - Sublime Surge (Elliodor)
2nd dam: Surge Ahead (On Your Mark)
3rd dam: Reddish (Red God)
Owner: B J D Pepper, A Fouche, M Gullan and V C Veeramootoo
Breeder: The Alchemy
Trainer: J A Janse van Vuuren
Jockey: G Lerena
2. Harry’s Son (AUS)
3yo b.c. by Haradasun - Dash On Ruby (Anabaa)
Owner: R Moodley, P Georgiou, D A Maisenbacher, Mr and
Mrs D J Steyn, Mrs M M Bilro and Miss A Bilro
Breeder: Cranton Bloodstock Vic
3. French Navy
3 b.g. by Count Dubois - Redoubtable (Elliodor)
Owner: C J H van Niekerk
Breeder: G J Armitage
Then came: Siren’s Call, Illuminati, The Royal Rumba, Raise The
Red, Iwo Jima, The Elmo Effect, Pioneer Spirit, Amazing Strike,
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Jayyed, Kiss Me Hardy, Leven Point, Sun On Africa, Front Rank
Non-runners:
Won by: 4.25 - 1.25 - 1.75
Time: 1-38.74
One-time winner Unparalleled handled the step up to Graded
stakes company with the minimum of fuss and under a confident ride from jockey Gavin Lerena, showed his rivals a clean
pair of heels to record his first stakes success.
Early on, the three-year-old found himself racing four lengths
adrift of pacesetter Sun On Africa, who set brisk fractions
up front. When Lerena pressed the button at the top of the
straight, the bay quickly made up the deficit and surged into
the lead, skipping a couple of lengths clear of his field. Favourite and Graham Beck winner Harry’s Son vainly gave chase, but
Unparalleled showed no signs of stopping and powered home
to score by just over four lengths.
“I bought him down in Durban last year and he really stood out
then, he was a big, strong colt,” remarked winning trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren. “He kept going shin sore last season, so
we just left him alone and he has been improving all the time.”
MERCHANTS (GRADE 2) - R450,000 - 1160m - Turffontein
1st R281,250, 2nd R90,000, 3rd R45,000 - November 29
1. TRIP TO HEAVEN
3yo b.c. by Trippi - Helleborus Blue (Cee’s Tizzy)
2nd dam: Hepatica (Slewpy)
3rd dam: Summer Dress (Summer Time Guy)
Owner: C H J van Niekerk and M J Jooste
Breeder: Highlands Farms Stud (Pty) Ltd
Trainer: S G Tarry
Jockey: S Khumalo
2. One Man’s Dream
4yo b.g. by Greys Inn - Ember Dream (Flaming Rock)
Owner: M J A Ferreira
Breeder: Rosedene Stud
3. Blazing Al
5yo b.g. by Captain Al - Syrian Flame (All Fired Up)
Owner: C J H van Niekerk
Breeder: Milkwood Stud
Then came: Chekilli, Precursor, Normanz, Flyfirstclass, Showmetheway, Deliver The Power, Snowdon, Approval Rating, Isphan, Kingston Boy, Vulcan, Tommy Gun, The Hangman
Won by: 1.50 - 0.75 - 0.50
Time: 66.12
Trip To Heaven showed a smart bunch of speedsters just who’s
boss in this Gr.2 dash and in the process announced himself as
a serious contender for this season’s top sprints.
The stable elect amongst a trio of runners for Sean Tarry, the
three-year-old produced a storming run from just off the pace
to corner long-time leader Normanz at the furlong mark and
drew off under birthday boy S’mango Khumalo to claim the
first graded success of his brief career.
This was only the fourth racetrack appearance for the winner,
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who first caught the eye with a scintillating eight-length romp
second time out over the Turffontein 1200m. The colt stepped
up to 1400m for the Gr.3 Graham Beck last time out, but after
hitting the front at the quarter mark, ran out of steam to finish
third, just over two lengths behind champion Harry’s Son.
IPI TOMBE CHALLENGE (GRADE 2) - R300,000
1600m - Turffontein
1st R187,500, 2nd R60,000, 3rd R30,000 - November 29
1. ARCETRI PINK (AUS) 4yo b.f. by Rock Of Gibraltar - Arcetri (Galileo)
2nd dam: Soda Watch (Star Watch)
3rd dam: Soda Springs (Zephyr Bay)
Owner: R Bisnath and A Pillay
Breeder: Hill Holme Lodge, Vic
Trainer: G V Woodruff
Jockey: G Lerena
2. Pine Princess
3yo b.f. by Captain Al - Scent Of Pine (Badger Land)
Owner: Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd, Mrs John Magnier and
Mrs Paul Shanahan
Breeder: Highlands Farms Stud (Pty) Ltd
3. Carry On Alice
3yo b.f. by Captain Al - Carry On Katie (Western Winter)
Owner: C J H van Niekerk, Dr J A Warner and Klawervlei Stud
(Pty) Ltd
Breeder: Klawervlei Stud
Then came: Erin, Euphoria, Classic Illusion, Silver Class, Supreme Sunset, Mohave Princess (AUS), Lertasha (AUS)
Won by: 4 - neck - 1
Time: 1-38.61
Arcetri Pink continued a red-letter day for the Woodruff stable
when she stormed to a convincing victory at the track where
she had garnered the Gr.2 Gauteng Guineas eight months ago.
When pacesetter Euphoria cried enough at the top of the
straight, favourite Carry On Alice was quick to strike, but Arcetri
Pink, having made her way through the field from virtually last,
found a timely split at the 300m mark and eased into the lead
a furlong and a half from home to put the race to bed. Never
letting up, she went on to win unchallenged by four lengths
from Pine Princess, who appeared to run in snatches but rallied
strongly to deprive Carry On Alice of second on the line.
FILLIES MILE (GRADE 3) - R275,000 - 1600m - Turffontein
1st R171,875, 2nd R55,000, 3rd R27,500 - November 29
1. BANBURY
3yo b.f. by Horse Chestnut - Lady Helen (Stage Colony)
2nd dam: Lady Shirley Bird (Shirley Heights)
3rd dam: Geopelia (Raffingora)
Owner: Mauritzfontein Stud (Pty) Ltd
Breeder: Mauritzfontein Stud
Trainer: G H van Zyl
Jockey: P Strydom
2. Smart Call
3yo b.f. by Ideal World - Good Judgement (Horse Chestnut)
Owner: Mauritzfontein Stud (Pty) Ltd
Breeder: Mauritzfontein Stud
3. Ataab (AUS)
3yo br.f. by Flying Spur - Azwa (Haafhd)
Owner: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum
Breeder: Shadwell Stud
Then came: Tamaanee (AUS), Zrinski, Bilateral, Brown Sugar,
Maria Theresa, London, Kileigh, Cassie O’Malley, Withbatedbreath, Moonlit Venice, Green Crest, Olma
Won by: 1.25 - 2 - 1.25
Time: 1-40.45
The outcome of the Fillies Mile proved a triumph for Mauritzfontein Stud, as Banbury led home fellow homebred Smart Call
to snare the bulk of the prize money on offer.
Piere Strydom, who recently rode his 5000th career winner, was
seen at his tactical best on Gavin van Zyl’s charge. Fourth with
a furlong to go, he switched Banbury in for a clear run and she
quickened best, surging past Smart Call before flying home a
clear-cut winner. Favourite Ataab, who took the lead at the top
of the straight, weakened late and had to settle for third.
It was a sense of déjà vu for Mauritzfontein’s Jessica Slack, as
last year Close The Gap carried the Oppenheimer colours to
victory over Athina, owned and bred by her mother Mary.
While Smart Call is by Mauritzfontein resident stallion Ideal
World, Banbury is a daughter of Horse Chestnut, arguably the
best horse bred at the historical Kimberley farm.
MAGNOLIA HANDICAP (GRADE 3) - R250,000
1160m - Turffontein
1st R156,250, 2nd R50,000, 3rd R25,000 - November 29
1. LAZER STAR (SAf)
3yo b.f. by Toreador - Empress Of Oz (Sri Pekan)
2nd dam: Beats Crying (Clay Hero)
3rd dam: Honest And Legal (Sharpen Up)
Owner: Mrs A Marwing
Breeder: Tawny Syndicate
Trainer: O A Ferraris
Jockey: W Marwing
R350,000 2013 Bloodstock SA National Yearling Sale by Scott
Kenny
2. Winter Star
4yo b.f. by Solskjaer - Winter Dimension (Exclusive Patriot)
Owner: V C Veeramootoo
Breeder: Summerhill Stud (Pty) Ltd
3. Pej
4yo b.f. by Kahal - Miss Crystal (Model Man)
Owner: Mr and Mrs P C Diedericks
Breeder: Summerhill Stud (Pty) Ltd
Then came: Berlinetta, Goldie Coast (Aus), Choir Maiden (Aus),
Tzigane, For The Lads, Rainy Day, African Dream, Weekend
Special, Virgo’s Babe, Sarasota, Crown Of Roses, Victoria Young
Non-runner: Shepard One
Won by: 3.25 - 2.25 - 1.50
Unbeaten Lazer Star opened her stakes account in just her third
outing with a virtual pillar to post victory in the Magnolia.
After disputing the lead early on, the three-year-old was always
on top of her rivals and showed smart acceleration to seal victory in a couple of strides entering the final 200 metres. Unharassed and untouchable, she streaked clear to defeat a strungout field with contemptuous ease. It was over three lengths
back to Winter Star, who in turn finished well clear of Pej.
GAUTENG RACING ASSOCIATION HANDICAP (GRADE 3) R250,000 - 3200m - Turffontein
1st R156,250, 2nd R50,000, 3rd R25,000 - November 29
1. SHIMMERING GEM
5yo b.g. by Dynasty - Brilliant Beryl (Rakeen)
2nd dam: Beryl Marquard (Elliodor)
3rd dam: Aerialist (Northern Guest)
Owner: Mr K and Mrs L R A Zackey and Messrs J Nassif, Z L
Nassif, G J Nassif and M M Nassif
Breeder: Highlands Farms Stud (Pty) Ltd
Trainer: D Zaki
Jockey: S Khumalo
2. Rodeo Sioux
5yo b.m. by Casey Tibbs - Dancing Sioux (Qui Danzig)
Owner: V K Moodley, S W Phillips and J A Soma
Breeder: Digteby Stud
3. Kingston Mines (GB)
4yo ch.g. by Archipenko - Alexandrine (Nashwan)
Owner: R M A Parker, G Thomson, M F de Kock, L M Nestadt,
Danika Stud, Milkwood Stud and Wicklow Partnership
Breeder: Miss K Rausing and Mrs S Rogers
Then came: Sky Rise, S’Il Vous Plait, Lions Emblem, J’s Outsider,
Henry Higgins, Flight Warning, Jeppe’s Reef, Taarish (AUS), Savage Wind, Storm Warning, Baracah, Zephira, Sisters Of Mercy
Won by: 2.50 - shorthead - 1
Time: 3-30.71
Shimmering Gem gained the biggest success of his career with
a bold front-running performance and never saw a rival to land
this Gr.3 marathon event.
Allowed to dictate matters from the jump, Dominic Zaki’s
charge was allowed to bowl along in front and enjoyed a twolength advantage over the mare Rodeo Sioux with Lions Emblem next in a strung out field. The order remained unchanged
as they turned for home, and when Rodeo Sioux attempted to
draw alongside in midstretch, Shimmering Gem simply found
another gear, dug down deep and went on to score with authority. Rodeo Sioux, as gallant as ever, just held on for second
over Kingston Mines, with last year’s winner Sky Rise next best.
PARADE MAGAZINE
93
STATISTICS
RACING CALENDAR
Fixtures January 2015
1 Turffontein (I)
Fixtures February 2015
Fixtures March 2015
1 Scottsville
1 Greyville (T/P) (D)
2 Greyville (T/P) (N)
Fairview (T)
2 Flamingo Park
2 Flamingo Park
3 Kenilworth (S)
Turffontein (S)
3 Vaal (TI)
3 Vaal (TO)
4 Scottsville
4 Kenilworth (S)
4 Durbanville
5 Flamingo Park
5 Vaal (S)
6 Vaal (TO)
6 Greyville (P) (N)
Fairview (T)
6 Greyville (P) (N)
Fairview (T)
7 Kenilworth (S)
7 Kenilworth (S)
Turffontein (I)
7 Durbanville
Turffontein (S)
8 Vaal (S)
8 Scottsville
9 Greyville (P) (N)
Fairview (P)
5 Vaal (TO)
8 Greyville (T/P) (D)
9 Fairview (P)
9 Fairview (P)
10 Kenilworth (S)
10 Greyville (T/P) (D)
11 Turffontein (I)
11 Kenilworth (s)
11 Greyville (T/P) (D)
12 Fairview (T)
12 Vaal (S)
12 Vaal (S)
13 Vaal (TO)
13 Greyville (P) (N)
Fairview (T)
13 Greyville (P) (N)
Fairview (T)
14 Kenilworth (S)
14 Kenilworth (S)
Turffontein (I)
14 Kenilworth (S)
Turffontein (I)
15 Vaal (S)
Turffontein (S) (N)
10 Turffontein (I)
15 Scottsville
15 Greyville (T/P) (D)
16 Greyville (P) (N)
Fairview (P)
16 Flamingo Park
16 Flamingo Park
17 Kenilworth (S)
Turffontein (S)
17 Vaal (TI)
17 Vaal (TI)
18 Scottsville
18 Scottsville
18 Fairview (P)
19 Flamingo Park
19 Vaal (TO)
20 Turffontein (I)
20 Greyville (P) (N)
Fairview (P)
20 Greyville (P) (N)
21 Kenilworth (S)
21 Kenilworth (S)
Turffontein (I)
21 Turffontein (I)
22 Vaal (S)
22 Greyville (T/P)
22 Kenilworth (S)
19 Turffontein (I)
23 Greyville (P) (N)
Fairview (T)
23 Flamingo Park
23 Flamingo Park
24 Kenilworth (S)
Turffontein (S)
24 Vaal (T/O)
24 Vaal (S)
25 Scottsville
25 Kenilworth (S)
25 Kenilworth (S)
26 Flamingo Park
26 Vaal (S)
26 Vaal (TI)
27 Scottsville
Turffontein (S) (N)
28 Fairview (P)
29 Vaal (TI)
27 Greyville (P) (N)
Fairview (T)
27 Greyville (P) (N)
28 Durbanville
Turffontein (S)
28 Turffontein (S) (D&N)
Fairview (T)
30 Flamingo Park
31 Kenilworth (S)
Turffontein (I)
31 Greyville (T/P) (D)
PARADE MAGAZINE
Fairview (P)
29 Scottsville
30 Greyville (P) (N)
94
Fairview (T)
Turffontein (S) (N)
off a fast-finishing Spicewood by three quarters of a
length, her blue and gold blinkers inching nearer with
every stride. Lennie won the race and proved a point,
much to the dismay of “Tiger” and the embarrassment of my late father.
“You see, that’s the sort of thing that happens when
you’re not faithful and true,” I was told when the tale
of Spicewood and Lennie was shared with me more
than fifty years ago when I was a young boy.
Post Script : Lennie Roscoe is alive and well. Approaching eighty, he lives in the Flame Lily Home for
the Elderly in Durban. His daughter-in-law is Nicolette
Roscoe, long-time assistant to Summerveld trainer,
Alastair Gordon.
to overflowing, with satellite stables in other centres
(and even other countries) while lesser trainers battle
to fill their twenty-odd boxes to stay solvent.
When it comes to the size of a string, few trainers
would subscribe to the “less is more” aphorism
popularised by the late German-American architect
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and embraced by minimalists. To remain buoyant and perennially successful, most trainers need an oversupply of stock as very
few horses make it into the lucrative upper levels of
competition. It’s the stratosphere of Group One winners which really matters to both the prestige and the
pocket of the world’s leading trainers.
The Big Rooster Paradox …
According to legend, the devil in the guise of a cloven-hoofed creature, visited a blacksmith called
Dunstan and begged to be shod like the horses and
mules that he’d seen clip-clopping through the village. The kindly Dunstan, later to be declared a saint
in 1029, agreed. So began an agonising experience
for the devil. Red–hot shoes were pressed onto his
hooves and nails were hammered through the thin
walls, mistakenly into the quick. So painful was the
procedure that the devil pleaded for the shoes to be
removed, promising never to return to the Blacksmith’s forge, or for that matter, to go anywhere near
a place where he might catch a glimpse of a horseshoe, the cause of his excruciating ordeal. … And
that, dear reader, is why we look upon a horse-shoe
as a symbol of good fortune.
magazine
On the face of it, a great many paradoxes just don’t
make sense. Take the Giffen Paradox named after
the nineteenth century Scottish economist, Sir Robert
Giffen. It would have us believe that the poor buy
more bread when the price goes up and fewer loaves
when the price drops. Then there’s the French Paradox. The saturated fats in dairy products are alleged
to contribute towards the onset of coronary heart
disease. The French eat loads of butter and cheese
and yet have a relatively low rate of heart disease.
Another paradox, easy to spot in South African
horseracing, is one which I chose to name “The Big
Rooster Paradox” (Champion Trainer Mike De Kock
equals “The Big Rooster” … Get it?)
Quite simply it is when the yards of top trainers fill
Good Luck to you …
PARADE MAGAZINE
95
FEATURE
ACautionary
tale
horsing with hennessey
George Salter
I
t’s the early nineteen fifties. Spicewood, a bay filly, had had her chances and word went out that
she was on the market as a hack. Walter Robinson, a farmer and polo-player, was one of very few to
show an interest in buying her and after putting her
through her paces, made an offer of ninety pounds.
”Walter, it’s one hundred pounds. Take it or leave it!”
snapped Edith. … And Spicewood remained unsold.
During the period that followed an eager young apprentice, Lennie Roscoe, on loan from the late Tom
Sanan, was tasked with getting the seemingly hopeless filly super-fit on the Scottsville training track so
that as a last try she’d be able to fluke a maiden win
at one of the many meetings which were traditionally
held in January at the Pietermaritzburg track.
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PARADE MAGAZINE
For her debut run with Lennie aboard, a neat little
bandage was wrapped around Spicewood’s near
fetlock joint, almost as a talisman of sorts, as it was
generally agreed that she was not fast enough to be
knocking herself. That bit of crepe, together with the
chance discovery by the apprentice that she galloped
better on the outside of the track, saw a miracle unfold.
The blinkered Spicewood being led into the winner’s
enclosure by the late George Salter, after one of her
many wins at the Scottsville Track.
Not only did Spicewood break her Maiden, but she
went on to notch up a string of wins at her home
course, leading the Salter family to believe that
she was good enough to be entered for a race at
Greyville, where only the better horses in the province ran at that time.
No sooner had the nominations for the race been
published when my late father answered a call from
champion rider of the day, Harold “Tiger” Wright,
who was eager to have the ride on Spicewood at the
Durban venue. Elated at having been approached by
one of the country’s best, and seeing it as a vote of
confidence in the filly’s ability to shine at a higher level, my dad promised the ride to “Tiger”. It was a decision which he came to regret for the rest of his life.
His father-in-law, and to a much greater extent his
wife, were furious with him for what he had done
and told him rather sternly that he’d made a huge
blunder and that he’d be sorry for his lack of loyalty
to the young apprentice.
Come the big day at Greyville and a chance ride
aboard Solar Disc in Spicewood’s race came the way
of an excited young Leonard who was more than
determined to defeat the top jockey who’d stolen his
mount.
From a tape start, Lennie shot his mount clear of
the field and by the time they turned for home
he’d poached a lead of three to four lengths. Riding
down the straight for all he was worth, Lennie held