The Pocket Power Tribute Issue - PARADE MAGAZINE

PARADE Showcasing South African Horseracing & Breeding March 2009 

March 2009. R40.00 

Showcasing South African Horseracing & Breeding 

The Pocket Power Tribute Issue

JM Lederman’s winning submission in the ‘L ‘ORMARINS MOMENT’ Photography competition 

See page 42

2 CONTENTS IN THIS ISSUE 

FEATURES 

06 • POCKET POWER 

J&B Met and L’Ormarins Queen’s 

Plate 

14 • J&B MET 

Cocktails for Charity 

22 • VODACOM DURBAN 

JULY 

Games People Play 

26 • SIZZLING SUMMER 

SEASON 

What a summer 

34 • GAUTENG SEASON 

Snaith sets it alight 

46 • JIMMY LITHGOW 

Life is a stage 

58 • GOLD CIRCLE CHAIRMEN 

Meet the men 

68 • WEDDING BELLS 

Bonski and Brandon 

80 • TOP HORSEMAN 

Competition heats up 

108 • CSI 

Art Exhibition 

LEISURE 

42 • L’ORMARINS MOMENT 

In the picture 

54 • WINE 

History 

BREEDING 

64 • GRANDWEST SALE 

Pleasing results 

72 • NATIONAL SALE 

Storm warning 

84 • NEW PLAYER 

Intercontinental Bloodstock 

INTERNATIONAL 

66 • WEATHER HITS UK 

Lingfield under snow 

76 • NEWS 

McCoy milestone

REGULARS 

60 • DE KOCK CROWS 

Ignorance- not bliss 

70 • KIMBERLEY NEWS 

On track 

78 • PHUMELELA NEWS 

Security spotlight 

86 • VETERINARY NEWS 

Bills and more bills 

92 • TAB 

Soccer 4 

94 • KZN NEWS 

Good and Sad 


Western Cape Hospital opens 


Pelvic problems 

102 • HARNESS RACING 

Home James 

106 • RA NEWS 

Style returns 

114 • GRADED RACES 

Statistics 

116 • FIXTURES 

April to May 

Cover picture: Champion Pocket Power (Bernard 

Fayd’Herbe) completes an historic hat-trick in the Gr 1 

J&B Met by beating Dancer’s Daughter (Kevin Shea). 

Equine Edge 

3

A Horse in a Million 

he rewrote the history books 

and changed our lives 

www.mikebassracing.com 

OCKET POWER 

Pocket Power 

we salute you!

EDITOR’S LETTER 

am ignoring the recession, economic doom and gloom, politics, petrol prices and 

I everything else that makes us miserable on a daily basis, to focus on a horse that 

has changed lives and made us all genuinely proud to be South African horseracing 

fans. This issue of Parade is dedicated to the brilliance of Pocket Power. It is now 

well documented that he recorded an astounding hat-trick of L’Ormarins Queen’s 

Plate and J&B Met doubles when storming away from his field on 31 January 2009 

and I cannot but wonder at the manner in which human nature somehow conjures 

up an almost nonchalant acceptance of historic milestones and greatness. No talk of 

honouring him, no talk of statues and still no hall of fame. Sad, I say, because we are 

really unlikely to witness a similar achievement on a racetrack in our lifetime. 

One only needs to digress for a moment and consider the past fifty years or so and 

all the things we take for granted today. For example, it is hard to believe that the 

41st anniversary of Professor Chris Barnard’s first heart transplant operation on Louis 

Washkansky was celebrated on 3 December last year. Since then Groote Schuur 

hospital has seen over 550 heart transplants and these days we probably all know 

somebody who has had one. Old hat really. The world’s first ATM machine went 

on line the same year that Barnard performed his god-like surgical procedure and 

it was two years later that Apollo 11 landed on the moon and Neil Armstrong took 

‘one giant step for mankind’. Once again moon visits these days don’t even make the 

news and 1969 is almost something that never happened. Fax machines changed 

our lives in the 1980’s and in the 21st century they have been annihilated by the 

wonders of the internet and cellular technology. Let’s face it, only our grandmothers, 

with all due respect to them, lick postage stamps and still use writing pads to write 

letters. 

Back to the magnificence of Pocket Power. Mike Bass has admitted that he has never 

trained, and is unlikely to ever train, anything quite like him again. Owners Marsh 

Shirtliff and Arthur and Rina Webber have said that he has changed all of their lives 

inexorably forever. Marsh, a man huge in stature and huge in success in business, 

has shed tears of emotion and joy. Arthur Webber has admitted that a pig-farmer’s 

life will never be the same again. Then there is his breeder Dan de Wet, his groom 

Boyboyi Jevu, Candice, Connell and Nicholas and Mark, Marie and Trevor and 

Danny and the rest of the gang. A family of winners in every sense. 

I am proud to say that I was there on that beautiful Kenilworth Saturday in January 

when he had the crowd in raptures as he destroyed the unique talent of the grey 

Snaith flyer Dancer’s Daughter. Time stood still as I hugged Carol Bass and watched 

as brothers Bernard and Robert Fayd’Herbe embraced. It was a moment that I will 

never forget . 

Let’s not take this moment for granted. 

Lance Benson 

Durban, South Africa 

March 2009 

Showcasing South African 

Horseracing & Betting 

Parade is published on behalf of the South 

African thoroughbred horseracing industry 

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 organisation 

they represent. 

Editorial enquiries: 

Lance Benson . Editor 

Tel: 031 314 1599 

Email: lanceb@goldcircle.co.za 

Robert Garner 

robertg@phumelela.com 

Tel: 011 681 1500 

Editorial Assistant: 

Nosi Dlamini 

Tel: 031 314 1786 

Email: nosid@goldcircle.co.za 

Advertising: 

Janet McElligott 

Mobile: 082 654 1426 

Fax: 086 543 0074 

Email: janet@raletrading.co.za 

Gold Circle Photographer 

Nkosi Hlophe 

Tel: 031 314 1922 

Email: nkosih@goldcircle.co.za 

Design & Layout 

Denzil Govender 

Tel: 031 314 1920 

Email: denzilg@goldcircle.co.za

6 J&B MET THE POWER PAGES

HAIL THE... 

KING OF 

KENILWORTH 

In a feat unprecedented in the annals of 

the South African turf, he not only won 

his third Met, but he had also won the 

L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate (Gr 1) on three 

successive occasions, a feat unlikely to 

be repeated in the near future. He just 

seems to keep lifting his game as he matures 

and one now hopes that the cynics 

that have hung on his tail for so long will 

join his massive end growing fan club. 

He is a true champion. 

Besides Pocket Power’s record breaking 

antics, another first was achieved with 

his full sister River Jetez running a gal- 

POWER PEOPLE: Marsh Shirtliff and Mike Bass 

The stuff that dreams are made of! 

Pocket Power galloped into racing history at 

Kenilworth on 31 January 2009 when landing 

his third successive R2,5 million J & B Met. 

lant third in the bright yellow Amm silks, 

thus ensuring that champion trainer 

Mike Bass’ fine record with Jet Master’s 

progeny continued unabated. 

Pocket Power was recording his, dare 

we say, lucky thirteenth win from 28 

✍ LANCE BENSON Supplied 

starts, which includes 7 Grade 1 races. 

His earnings catapulted to close to R8 

million. Plagued by soundness problems 

as a younger horse, his record is a living 

tribute to the skill of one of South Africa’s 

finest horseman in Mike Bass, who 

7

8 J&B MET THE POWER PAGES 

was quick to acknowledge breeder Dan 

de Wet of Zandvliet Stud, , farrier Greg 

Dabbs and his patient, albeit extremely 

lucky, co- owner Marsh Shirtliff, who has 

never feared writing a cheque when the 

wily Bass raises his hand at the Sales. 

Shirtliff’s partners, Arthur and Rina Webber 

have also become mini celebrities 

with their regular appearances on the 

Grade 1 winner’s podiums and Mr Webber 

has never been short of words of 

praise for everyone involved. 

Pocket Power and Dancer’s Daughter, 

with their thrilling Vodacom Durban July 

dead-heat still fresh in the memory, once 

again fought out a tremendous finish with 

the gelding proving the stronger on the 

POWER 

PAGES 

POWER PAUSE: Dr Karen Norman, Marsh Shirtliff & Boyboyi Jevu 

PE POWER: Arthur and Rina Webber

Cheveley Stud 

Sire of 2009 Gr2 Winner 

Ivory Trail 

His 1800m Course Record will never be beaten 

Champion Freshman Sire 2007 

Gr2 Peninsula Handicap stakes winner IVORY TRAIL from his 

first crop of juveniles to race 

Free of Northern Dancer blood 

Record Setting Racehorse: Won 7 races incl 3 Gr1 races and 2 

legs of the Triple Crown (2nd in the third leg) 

Champion sire BADGER LAND – Twice Equus Stallion of the 

Year with only 6 crops to race 

Champion Mare – ON THE ROOF, Equus Broodmare of the Year, 

dam of 6 stakes horses, out of a 3-parts sister to BLUSHING 

GROOM 

Standing at Cheveley Stud 

All enquiries to: John Freeman - Stallion Manager 

Tel.: (021) 439 2781 Fax: (021) 439 8799 Cell: 082 777 8117 

Email: pegasus@mweb.co.za www.freemanstallions.co.za

10 J&B MET THE POWER PAGES 

day as he rallied to a half-length win. River 

Jetez filled third for a memorable day 

for trainer Mike Bass. Kapil was a further 

three lengths back in fourth place. 

The drama was played out in 

front of 35 000 spectators 

who enjoyed a sunny 

afternoon of top class 

racing, cooled by a stiff 

southerly breeze.Tote 

takings on the J&B Met 

itself was 4% up on 

last year but total 

takings for 

the day were 

down by 3% 

to just under 

R21 million. 

The race was also televised live in France 

where one million Euros were wagered. 

Graeme Hawkins, Gold Circle Racing 

Director, said that this was a platform to 

launch a world wide initiative. 

At the end of the day, Pocket Power lived 

up to his legendary reputation by achieving 

what many said was impossible two 

years ago. Heaven help the opposition in 

the KwaZulu-Natal Champions Season! 

POWER 

PAGES 

POWER PILOT: Jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe

POWER PLAY: Pocket Power (Bernard Fayd’Herbe) storms home to win the J&B Met 

POWER POSE: Assistant trainer Robert Fayd’Herbe leads the champion back to the winner’s circle 


11

12 J&B MET FASHION 

Fashion at the J&B Met

SA’s Leading Sire of 3yo’s 

LEADING SIRES OF 3YO’S BY STAKES (Excl. Restricted Race Stakes) 

2008/9 RACING SEASON TO 1 ST FEBRUARY 2009 

STAKES SIRE RNRS AEPR RUNS WINNERS WINS WNR/ RNR% 

1,727,575 Captain Al 37 46,691 159 21 30 57% 

1,651,300 Western Winter 39 42,341 133 18 23 46% 

1,585,450 Windrush 33 48,044 127 12 15 36% 

1,508,675 Joshua Dancer 37 40,775 150 16 20 43% 

1,502,287 Fort Wood 45 33,384 154 20 25 44% 

1,456,975 Casey Tibbs 42 34,690 151 16 20 38% 

1,397,675 Silvano 54 25,883 181 18 22 33% 

1,317,225 Jallad 48 27,442 174 17 18 35% 

RECORD BREAKING SIRE - most juvenile winners in any season in South Africa 

Group performer at 2 and Gr1 Classic winner at 3 

The first ever SA-bred stallion to get a Graded Stakes winner in Europe 

By a CHAMPION SIRE - out of the BROODMARE OF THE YEAR 

Sire of EQUUS CHAMPION 3yo filly CAPTAIN’S LOVER 

2008 NYS average: R370,192. Top price: R1.8m (3x yearlings of R1m+ in 2008) 

Standing at Klawervlei Stud 


Tel.: (021) 439 2781 Fax: (021) 439 8799 Cell: 082 777 8117 


14 COCKTAILS & RACING J&B MET BUILD UP 

AN ENCHANTED 

EVENING 

The Cocktails and Racing function was held at Kenilworth on 

Wednesday 28 January and was by all accounts a tremendous 

success. Judging by the smiling faces of some of our leading racing 

personalities, a wonderful time was had by all and charity was the 

big winner at the end of the evening. 

Andrew and Sarah Bon 

Andrew Fortune 

Paul Lafferty 

Charles Koster 

Dean Kannemeyer 

Panel of experts 

Robert Bloomberg 

Tom Yates 

Lita Futeran 

Peter Gibson & Liesl King 

Rodney Dunn 

Joey Ramsden 

Mike Bass 

Marsh Shirtliff 

Aubrey Jacobs & Liesl King

We wish to take this opportunity of 

thanking the undermentioned persons 

and companies for their kind contribution 

to our fund raising efforts for the 

Alpha and Vera Schools for Autistic Children, 

the Western Cape Equine Trust, 

The WP Groom’s School Trust and our 

own WPOTA Benevolent Trust Fund. 

WPOTA/J&B MET RAFFLE 

Sun International 

Brian B Roux – BBR Bloodstock Shipping 

Palace of the Lost City at Sun City 

Eddie Powell 

Grand West 

Brandhouse / J&B 

The Boardwalk 

Rebecca Bouwer 

“COCKTAILS & RACING” 

CHARITY EVENING 

FOR DONATING THE GREATEST 

STALLION SERVICES IN SOUTH 

AFRICA 

Henry and Pat Devine, Mike & Norma 

Rattray, Sally Jordaan, Gaynor Rupert, 

Graham Beck, Mike Sharkey, Bridget 

Oppenheimer, Gavin Schafer, Lionel 

Cohen, Summerhill Stud – Mick Goss, 

John Koster, Grant Knowles, Fieldspring 

Racing, John Freeman, Dan de Wet, 

Mary Slack, John Slade, Dr W Andreas 

Jacobs, Craig and Amanda Carey, 

Avontuur Estate – Pippa Mickleburgh, 

Toreador Syndicate – Johan Loftus, Victory 

Moon Syndicate, Klawervlei Stud, 

Captain Al Syndicate. 

THANKS ALSO TO 

Fancourt Resorts - Mrs Sabine Plattner 

V&A Waterfront Hotel – Liz Bester 

Table Bay Hotel – Gary Bouwer 

The Cape Sun – James Murdoch 

The Ambassador Hotel – Lina Nel 

Chapmans Peak Hotel – Linda Nobrega 

The Cullinan Hotel – Hennie Senekal 

Protea Hotels 

DONATIONS 

Alec Foster and the Hon Mrs Gillian Foster 

AUCTIONS 

Sketches by Andrew Barlow 

Magnum of Wine 

Avontuur - Brandy with International 

Jockeys’ Signatures 

Schalk Burger’s Springbok Cap 

Limited Edition “Pocket Power” Queens 

Plate Memorabilia 

Photographic Prints – Frankie Dettori/Var 

– Signed Print 

July Dead Heat “Pocket Power/Dancer’s 

Daughter”, Kevin Shea and Bernard 

Fayd’Herbe – Signed Print 

A visit for four to L’Ormarins Wine Estate, 

tour of the vineyards and cellar, lunch 

with winning Anthonij Rupert Wines, after 

lunch Wayne Hayley of the Franschhoek 

Museum will take you for a tour of the 

Museum and a drive in some exotic and 

rare vehicles - plus a visit to Drakenstein 

Stud 


15 

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SUPPORT 

Hassan Adams 

Sedley Barr - Bookmaker 

Pippa Mickleburgh – Avontuur Wine and Brandy 

Compass Biscuits - Rodney Cottrell 

Maurice Grant – Gifts 

Carducci – Aldo Agnello 

Makro Ottery – Jeff Cooper 

Michael Hayman - Bookmaker 

National Brands – J Taljaard 

Robin Hamilton - La Bri Wine 

Betting World – Michael Weare 

Hildebrand - Aldo and Linda Girolo 

Jack Howsley - Gifts 

Race Course Caterers 

Rosmead Kwik Spar – Arthur 

Green Dolphin – Jack Goldblatt 

Henry Williams Florist – Mike Wonfor 

Pick ‘n Pay Hypermarket - Ottery 

Pick ‘n Pay – Kenilworth Centre 

Grant Knowles - Wine 

L ’Ormarins – Brian Cluver 

Dan de Wet – Magnum of Wine 

Waltons Stationery – John Farrell 

Lita Futeran – Springbok Cap 

Aubrey Jacobs, Jeanette and Therese 

Equine Edge – Ricky de Nobrega 

Spur Steak Ranches – Phillip Joffee 

Form Organisation – Jehan Malherbe 

Gold Circle - Graeme Hawkins 

Brandhouse / J&B – Roland Jonathan 

Sporting Post – Karel & Kiki Miedema 

Gold Circle WP – Mike Greeff 

Gold Circle Staff - Faeeza, Denise, 

Sandy and Russell Southey 

Heather Hildick, Michael Krieger and Staff 

Bruno Mercorio – Royal Salute 

Ashraf Mohamed – Polar Ice Cream 

Vidrik Thurling – SA Reptile 

Bantry Bay Pharmacy (Garth Miller) - Cosmetics 

RODNEY DUNN - CONVENOR 

Dr Karen Norman Jehan Malherbe John Freeman and Rodney Dunn John Koster

Outstanding Stallion 

2008/9 Racing Season as at 01/02/2009: 

41 runners 

- 9 with only one start 

32 runners of more than 1 start 

12 winners of 16 races = 38% 

14 placed = 44% 

26 win and placed = 81% 

7 winners in the 6 weeks from 01/12/2008 

In 2009... 

1 st serious crop on 

sale and it’s going to 

get a whole lot 

better! 

CHAMPION SIRE of 2yo’s & 2006 EQUUS OUTSTANDING STALLION 

Gr1 winner in Europe at 2 - Gran Criterium (the race that revealed Nearco, Ribot 

Donatello, etc.) 

Sire of Champions and multiple Group winners in each crop to race 

Leading Sire of Stakes winners + a course record holder in 2007 

Son of Gr1 Champion ZAFONIC out of multiple Gr2 winner 

Half brother to a Gr1 winner and to the dam of multiple Classic horses 

Standing at Litchfield Stud 


Tel.: (021) 439 2781 Fax: (021) 439 8799 Cell: 082 777 8117 


1st full crop 

of yearlings on 

sale in 2009! 

Dual Guineas Winner 

The only DUAL EUROPEAN GUINEAS WINNER at Stud in SA. 

TOP WEIGHTED 3YO and GR1 placed St James Palace Stakes 

Own brother to Guineas winner PACINO and GR2 winner in 

Japan ZACHARIA 

Son of GR1 champion ZAFONIC - European Horse of the 

Year at 3, full brother to ZAMINDAR - sire of 4 GR1 horses in 

2007 and 2008 European Horse of the Year - ZARKAVA 

Dam got 8 winners from 9 foals incl 4 stakes horses 

Family of ROCK CITY, DANTE and SAYAJIRAO 

Standing at Normandy Stud 


Tel.: (021) 439 2781 Fax: (021) 439 8799 Cell: 082 777 8117 


18 COCKTAILS & RACING J&B MET BUILD UP 

WPOTA 2009 J&B MET RAFFLE RESULTS 

Lucky winners of the raffle this year were: 

1st Prize: 3 night mid-week stay for two (including breakfast) 

at the PALACE OF THE LOST CITY (kindly sponsored by SUN 

INTERNATIONAL) 

Return air tickets for two plus R3 500.00 spending money (kindly 

sponsored by Brian B Roux – BBR Bloodstock Shipping) 

Ticket No: 3992 – Darin Jansen 

2nd Prize: 3 night mid-week stay for two (including breakfast) 

at GRANDWEST (kindly sponsored by SUN INTERNATIONAL) 



Ticket No: 37794 – Kate Thompson 

3rd Prize: 2 night week-end stay for two (including breakfast) 

at the 

BOARDWALK (kindly sponsored by SUN INTERNATIONAL) 



Ticket No: 12240 – Aidan O’Meara 

4th Prize: R3 000.00 Cash – kindly donated by the Estate of 

King Louis & Rose 

Bale Miller 

Ticket No 2774 – Ayanda Noludwe 

5th Prize: Case of J&B Whisky 

Ticket No: 30217 – B van Blerk 

6th Prize: Case of J&B Whisky 

Ticket No: 16883 – S Darke 

STALLION SERVICES DONATED RECIPIENT AMOUNT 

GO DEPUTY J Ramsden 6,000.00 

VICTORY MOON E Braun 26,000.00 

STRIKE SMARTLY M Govender 32,000.00 

WINDRUSH E Braun 16,000.00 

SPECTRUM N Smith 72,000.00 

SILVANO J Freeman 65,000.00 

JET MASTER M Sharkey 230,000.00 

NATIONAL EMBLEM E Cullen 75,000.00 

TRIPPI Form Bloodstock 90,000.00 

RIGHT APPROACH Sue Whitmore 30,000.00 

FORT WOOD J Freeman 190,000.00 

VAR G Kotzen 30,000.00 

SURGING RIVER D de Wet 7,000.00 

TOREADOR A Procter 14,000.00 

DOOWALEY A Weber 16,000.00 

EYEOFTHETIGER P de Beyer 8,000.00 

TARA’S HALLS H Maisel 1,000.00 

BLACK MINNALOUSHE I Longmore 80,000.00 

PARADE LEADER C Cohen 10,000.00 

WESTERN WINTER M Sharkey 250,000.00 

MULLINS BAY K Truter 10,000.00 

LION TAMER, REQUIEM, 

MARTINELLI, ALBERT HALL, 

CASEY TIBBS J Grey 25,000.00 

CAPTAIN AL J Freeman 80,000.00 

1,363,000.00 

SKETCHES 

Sketch 1 (A Barlow) Finishing Line L Futeran 5,000.00 

Sketch 2 (A Barlow) Under Starters Orders C Snaith 8,000.00 

Sketch 3 (A Barlow) Jet Master P Garlicki 4,000.00 

Sketch 4 (A Barlow) Klawervlei Silks L Futeran 10,000.00 

Sketch 5 (A Barlow) Pocket Power C Bass 12,000.00 

Sketch 6 (A Barlow) Trippi T Warren 8,000.00 

Sketch 7 (A Barlow) Captain Al J Freeman 8,000.00 

Sketch 8 (A Barlow) Four Stallions P Mickleburgh 15,000.00 

Sketch 10 (Equine Edge) July Dead Heat M de Nobrega 2,500.00 

Sketch 11 (Equine Edge) Franki Dettori and Var P Mickleburgh 6,000.00 

78,500.00 

OTHER AUCTIONS 

Magnum of Wine M Slack 7,000.00 

Bottle of Brandy K Truter 4,000.00 

Schalk Burger Springbok Cap M Govender 5,000.00 

Visit to L’Ormarins J Ramsden 5,000.00 

21,000.00 

2009 J & B MET RUNNERS 

HORSES PURCHASER DRAWEE AMOUNT AMOUNT POOL CHARITY 

40% BID 50% 10% 

CATMANDU V THURLING T GOVENDER 1,080 2,700 1,350 270 

GREAT RHYTHM M CLAASEN FULLARD & DREW 480 1,200 600 120 

PRINCE ASAD H DEVINE V THURLING 1,040 2,600 1,300 260 

VISION OF GRANDEUR P DEACON TYRNELL 1,480 3,700 1,850 370 

AFRICAN APPEAL M MASON S BARR 800 2,000 1,000 200 

KAPIL I LONGMORE JA GOVENDER 4,000 10,000 5,000 1,000 

FLOATYOURBOAT E BRAUN A JACOBS 800 2,000 1,000 200 

BUY AND SELL J FREEMAN J FREEMAN 5,200 13,000 6,500 1,300 

SURFIN’ USA F LOUW BETTING WORLD 4,400 11,000 5,500 1,100 

QUICK MILLIONS L BENSON T BENSON 200 500 250 50 

RIVER JETEZ I LONGMORE M RATTRAY 8,000 20,000 10,000 2,000 

GOLDEN DICE A AMLER R BLOOMBERG 600 1,500 750 150 

CASEY’S SON K NIEWOUDT G BECK 800 2,000 1,000 200 

DANCER’S DAUGHTER A MOHAMED BETTING WORLD 16,000 40,000 20,000 4,000 

IVORY TRAIL R DEACON M DE NOBREGA 3,200 8,000 4,000 800 

POCKET POWER BETTING WORLD R10 000.00

the Alchemy 

Equus Champion 

HIGHEST WEIGHTED 3yo ever to win the Gr1 Durban July 

2 ND FASTEST TIME in the Durban July since 1970 

Equus CHAMPION 3yo 2006 

Son of ROYAL ACADEMY champion 2yo, champion sire of over 

145 stakes winners worldwide - sire of sires. Broodmare sire of 

58 stakes winners 

CHAMPION DAM quadruple Gr1 winner of 7 races in Brazil 

and USA and half sister to 2 x Gr1 winners. Her sire was a 8x 

Champion Broodmare Sire and 2x Champion Sire 

The champion sire producing PRETTY POLLY family 

Standing at The Alchemy 


Tel.: (021) 439 2781 Fax: (021) 439 8799 Cell: 082 777 8117 


20 CHAMPIONS SEASON GREAT RACING AHEAD 

CHAMPIONS ALL 

The forthcoming new look KwaZulu-Natal feature race season, which 

incorporates Champions Season, kicks off on Wednesday 1 April 2009 and 

promises a four month treat of outstanding horseracing action. 

The revised programme is designed to 

ensure a better flow of feature races, 

increased opportunities for trainers and 

added earlier incentives to get the juvenile 

programme under way. In terms of 

Gold Circle’s commitment to the Graded 

Races Standing Committee’s minimum 

stakes criteria guidelines, certain of the 

Grade 1, Grade 2 and Listed races have 

enjoyed stakes increases. For the duration 

of the season, a feature race has also 

been scheduled every weekend to maintain 

the momentum and public interest. 

All Stars Day has lost two feature races 

as the Gold Circle Derby and the Gold 

Circle Oaks will now be run at Clairwood 

on Saturday 27 June and no longer at the 

end of July, while the KZN Guineas (now 

the KRA Guineas) moves back into a May 

slot. A new race, the R120 000 In Full 

Flight Handicap, will be run over 1000m 

at the Greyville night meeting on Friday 

8 May, as a supporting feature to the Drill 

Hall Stakes. This new race is designed to 

give sprinters an alternate lead-up opportunity 

to the Golden Horse Casino 

Sprint run three weeks later, bearing in 

mind that the WFA Computaform Sprint is 

run at Turffontein on Saturday 25 April. 

The 1900m Darley Arabian will now be run 

as a race restricted to four year olds at 

Greyville on Gold Cup day, which is three 

weeks after the KZN Breeders 1600m, 

which has been moved to July from its 

original slot in May. 

For the record the feature race stakes adjustments are as follows: 

Race Venue Date {2009} Distance Old Stake New Stake 

GRADE 1 

Golden Horse Sprint Scottsville 30 May 1200m R500 000 R600 000 

Allan Robertson Scottsville 30 May 1200m R350 000 R500 000 

SA Fillies Sprint Scottsville 30 May 1200m R350 000 R500 000 

Gold Challenge Clairwood 13 June 1600m R600 000 R750 000 

Golden Slipper Greyville 4 July 1400m R350 000 R500 000 

Garden Province Greyville 4 July 1600m R350 000 R500 000 

Mercury Sprint Clairwood 19 July 1200m R500 000 R600 000 

Champions Cup Clairwood 25 July 1800m R500 000 R750 000 

Thekweni Fillies Stakes Clairwood 25 July 1600m R350 000 R500 000 

GRADE 2 

Drill Hall Stakes Greyville 8 May 1400m R300 000 R350 000 

KRA Guineas Greyville 10 May 1600m R300 000 R500 000 

Greyville 1900 Greyville 22 May 1900m R300 000 R350 000 

Post Merchants Greyville 19 June 1200m R300 000 R350 000 

Gold Circle Derby Clairwood 27 June 2400m R300 000 R350 000 

Gold Vase Greyville 4 July 3000m R300 000 R400 000 

Gold Bracelet Greyville 1 August 2000m R200 000 R250 000 

LISTED 

KZN Stakes Scottsville 5 April 1000m R100 000 R125 000 

The Scarlet Lady Scottsville 6 May 1800m R100 000 R125 000 

East Coast Handicap Clairwood 24 May 2000m R100 000 R125 000 

Queen Palm Handicap Scottsville 8 July 2400m R100 000 R125 000 

Darley Arabian Greyville 1 August 1900m R125 000 R150 000 

Umgeni Handicap Greyville 1 August 1000m R125 000 R150 000

CHAMPIONS SEASON 2009 - KWAZULU-NATAL FEATURE RACE PROGRAMME 

DATE DAY VEN RACE GR DIST STAKE AGE RACE CONDITIONS 

1-Apr Wed Clwd GODOLPHIN BARB STAKES G3 1000 150,000 2 yr Set weights 

STRELITZIA STAKES G3 1000 150,000 2 yr Fillies Set weights 

5-Apr Sun Scot KWAZULU-NATAL STAKES L 1000 125,000 F & M Set weights 

12-Apr Sun Clwd RISING SUN EASTER HANDICAP L 2000 125,000 Open Merit Rated handicap 

19-Apr Sun Scot SUNDAY TRIB BYERLEY TURK G3 1400 200,000 3 yr Set weights 

SUNDAY TRIBUNE UMZIMKHULU G3 1400 150,000 3 yr Fillies Set weights 

26-Apr Sun Clwd POINSETTIA STAKES G3 1200 150,000 F & M Weight for Age 

3-May Sun Scot UMKHOMAZI STAKES G2 1200 200,000 2 yr Set weights 

THE DEBUTANTE G2 1200 200,000 2 yr Fillies Set weights 

THE SLEDGEHAMMER L 1800 125,000 Open Merit Rated handicap 

6-May Wed Scot THE SCARLET LADY L 1800 125,000 F & M Merit Rated handicap 

8-May Fri GreyN DRILL HALL STAKES G2 1400 350,000 Open Weight for Age 

IN FULL FLIGHT HANDICAP U 1000 120,000 Open Merit Rated handicap 

10-May Sun GreyD KRA GUINEAS G2 1600 500,000 3 yr Level weights 

KRA FILLIES GUINEAS G2 1600 250,000 3 yr Fillies Level weights 

17-May Sun Clwd HIGHLAND NIGHT CUP U 2500 120,000 Open Merit Rated race 

22-May Fri GreyN GREYVILLE 1900 G2 1900 350,000 Open Merit Rated handicap 

24-May Sun Clwd EAST COAST HANDICAP L 2000 125,000 F & M Merit Rated handicap 

30-May Sat Scot GOLDEN HORSE CASINO SPRINT G1 1200 600,000 Open Merit Rated handicap 

SA FILLIES SPRINT G1 1200 500,000 F & M Weight for Age 

GOLD REEF RESORTS MEDALLION G1 1200 500,000 2 yr Level weights 

ALLAN ROBERTSON FILLIES CHAMPS G1 1200 500,000 2 yr Fillies Level weights 

6-Jun Sat GreyD DAILY NEWS 2000 G1 2000 1,000,000 3 yr Level weights 

WOOLAVINGTON 2000 G1 2000 500,000 3 yr Fillies Level weights 

LONSDALE STIRRUP CUP G3 2400 200,000 Open Merit Rated race 

13-Jun Sat Clwd GOLD CHALLENGE G1 1600 750,000 Open Weight for Age 

TIBOUCHINA STAKES G2 1450 200,000 F & M Weight for Age 

CUP TRIAL G3 1800 200,000 Open Merit Rated handicap 

KZN CHAPTER U 1200 150,000 Open Handicap subject to terms of series 

WINTER CHALLENGE U 1600 150,000 Open Handicap subject to terms of series 

FINALS U 2000 150,000 Open Handicap subject to terms of series 

GATECRASHER STAKES U 1450 120,000 2 yr Set weights 

DEVON AIR STAKES U 1450 120,000 2 yr Fillies Set weights 

19-Jun Fri GreyN POST MERCHANTS G2 1200 350,000 Open Merit Rated handicap 

27-Jun Sat Clwd GOLD CIRCLE DERBY G2 2400 350,000 3 yr Level weights 

GOLD CIRCLE OAKS G2 2400 250,000 3 yr Fillies Level weights 

THUKELA HANDICAP L 1600 125,000 Open Merit Rated handicap 

4-Jul Sat GreyD/N VODACOM DURBAN JULY G1 2200 3,000,000 Open Merit Rated race (with conditions) 

GARDEN PROVINCE STAKES G1 1600 500,000 F & M Weight for Age 

GOLDEN HORSESHOE G1 1400 500,000 2 yr Level weights 

GOLDEN SLIPPER G1 1400 500,000 2 yr Fillies Level weights 

GOLD VASE G2 3000 400,000 Open Merit Rated race 

CAMPANAJO 2200 G3 2200 200,000 Open Merit Rated handicap 

8-Jul Wed Scot QUEEN PALM HANDICAP L 2400 125,000 F & M Merit Rated race 

12-Jul Sun Clwd KZN BREEDERS 1600 L 1600 250,000 3 yr Set Weights for KZN breds 

19-Jul Sun Clwd MERCURY SPRINT G1 1200 600,000 Open Weight for Age 

25-Jul Sat Clwd CHAMPIONS CUP G1 1800 750,000 Open Conditions race 

PREMIER’S CHAMPION STAKES G1 1600 500,000 2 yr Level weights 

THEKWINI FILLIES STAKES G1 1600 500,000 2 yr Fillies Level weights 

1-Aug Sat GreyD/N GOLD CUP G1 3200 1,200,000 Open Merit Rated race 

GOLD BRACELET G2 2000 250,000 F & M Weight for Age 

UMNGENI HANDICAP L 1000 150,000 Open Merit Rated race 

THE DARLEY ARABIAN L 1900 150,000 4 yr Conditions race 

Contact National Racing Bureau for any queries: 031 314 1777 • 0822850999. Subject to change 24/02/2009 

TRAINERS PLEASE NOTE! 

2009 VODACOM DURBAN JULY 

Entries close at 11:00 on Wednesday 15 April. 

Entries announced Thursday 16 April. 

First Supp. Entries: Close 11:00 Monday 4 May. 

Second Supp. Entries: Close 11:00 Monday 8 June. 

Weights Published: Tuesday 9 June. 


First Declaration: 11:00 Thursday 11 June. 

Final Declarations close 11:00 Wednesday 

17 June – R13 680. 

Announcement of Final Field and Barrier Draws for the Field of 

20 horses will take place on Thursday, 18 June. 

Public gallops Thursday 25 Jun. 

21

22 CHAMPIONS SEASON VODACOM DURBAN JULY 

FABULOUS FASHION AND EQUINE EXCELLENCE IS THE NAME OF THE GAME 

FUN AND GAMES AT GREYVILLE 

The Grade 1, R3million Vodacom Durban July will be run on 4 July 2009 over 

2200m at Greyville and the tradition of brilliant horses and scintillating fashion 

is set to continue this year. The fashion theme is ‘Games People Play’ and 

imaginations look set to run wild as we look forward to a joker in the pack! 

The Vodacom Durban July Young Designer 

Award is a national event with 

closed regional finals in Cape Town, Port 

Elizabeth, Bloemfontein and Johannesburg 

where two winners in each region 

will be chosen by a panel of judges. Each 

event is filmed for TV and photographed 

for press. 

The Durban regional final of the Young 

Designer Award will take place as a full 

function open to the public on 15 June 

in Champions at Greyville. This show 

will also yield two winners. They will join 

the eight winners from the other regional 

competitions and go forward to a showing 

of their garments, alongside eight Invited 

Designers, at two exclusive public 

showings at Greyville Racecourse on 17 

and 19 June. 

The Vodacom Durban July Fashion Challenge 

is open to national entrants who will 

submit story boards with those selected 

being invited to make up their garments 

for the 17 and 19 shows. 

The ten Young Designers, the eight Invited 

Designers and the Fashion Challenge finalists 

will also appear on raceday where 

the winners will be announced. 

The raceday fashion categories, which 

are open to all, will be Ladies Classic 

Racewear, Mens Classic Racewear, Most 

Striking Couple and Avant Garde. 

The prize packages will be announced 

shortly. 

The theme will be incorporated into all 

fashion designs.

HIGHLANDS 

His first two 

runners are 

winners! Horse 

of the Year 

HORSE OF THE YEAR and EQUUS CHAMPION 3YO Classic 

Male 2003 + 4 other awards 

2nd highest priced yearling of his year 

HIGHEST RATED 3YO ever to win the GR1 Durban July – won 

from draw 20. 

Son of multiple champion sire FORT WOOD – the only sire in 

SA ever to get 3 HORSES OF THE YEAR 

From the female line of IRISH RIVER, MY BABU, JOY II, TURN 

TO etc. 

Standing at Highlands Farm Stud 


Tel.: (021) 439 2781 Fax: (021) 439 8799 Cell: 082 777 8117 


HIGHLANDS 

Champion Sire 

CHAMPION SIRE 2002 – Twice runner up and 3rd Leading 

sire three times. 

Leading sire of GR1 winners in SA – GR1 winners from 

1000 to 3200m, both colts and fillies. 

Sire of Horse of the Year and multiple Champion 

- FREE MY HEART. 

Sire of SA auction record price filly – R2.2m on 2007 NYS 

Sire of the 1st R1m yearling ever on auction in South Africa 

Champion sire BLUSHING GROOM 

CHAMPION DAM won 10 races incl 3 x GR1 

Standing at Highlands Farm Stud 


Tel.: (021) 439 2781 Fax: (021) 439 8799 Cell: 082 777 8117 


26 SIZZLING SUMMER THROUGH THE LENS 

✍ LANCE BENSON Equine Edge 

PICTURE THIS! 

WHAT A SUMMER... 

Pocket Power, the glorious Cape summer sunshine and top-class performances 

by some of South Africa’s top horses are the lingering memories of a wonderful 

season of horseracing at Kenilworth Racecourse in the most beautiful 

Cape in the world. Then there were the dazzling performances of a diminutive 

filly called Mother Russia who stole the hearts of the punting public. The 

daughter of Windrush is all heart and courage personified 

and looks set for a rewarding trip to KwaZulu-Natal for the 

forthcoming Champions Season. 

10 January 2009 – Grade 1 R1000 000 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate 1600m 

Pocket Power trained by Mike Bass strolls home under Bernard Fayd’Herbe for a historic treble in this prestigious mile event

Son of Nureyev 

Eye catching sprinter from 1000 to 1400m in UK and SA. 

Northern Dancer x Mr Prospector cross 

Closely related to UK record breaking Champion Sire 

MUJADIL - European record 2yo winners …“leading Group 

winning 2yo and prolific source of 2yo winners” 

Dam is an own sister to FRUITS OF LOVE TFR 127 – sire of 

Goodwood course record holder ROAD TO LOVE etc. 

Son of world leading sire of sires NUREYEV 

Standing at Normandy Stud 


Tel.: (021) 439 2781 Fax: (021) 439 8799 Cell: 082 777 8117 



10 January 2009 – Grade 1 R1000 000 TBA Paddock Stakes 1800m 

Emblem Of Liberty trained by Geoff Woodruff at the Vaal is steered home by Greg Cheyne for his wife Claire and breeder Lionel Cohen. 

3 January 2009 – Grade 2 R200 000 Sceptre Stakes 1200m 

Lady Windermere trained by Glen Kotzen and ridden by Greg Cheyne is an 

emphatic winner of this filles WFA sprint 

6 January 2009 – Grade 2 R300 000 Peninsula Handicap 1800m 

Ivory Trail trained by Joey Ramsden and ridden by Andrew Fortune seals his J&B 

Met ticket and is an easy winner beating Mighty Atom and Air Combat 


3 January 2009 – Listed R125 000 Southeaster Sprint 1100m 

Wethreekings trained by Vaughan Marshall and ridden by Glen Hatt beats Thunder 

Key by 1,75 lengths 

31 January 2009 – Listed R125 000 Summer Juvenile Stakes 1000m 

Villandry trained by Vaughan Marshall and ridden by Felix Coetzee slams his field 

to record a first Listed winner for Avontuur stallion, Var

Horse of the Year 

Horse of the Year TWICE! 11 wins – 5 x Gr1, 3 x Gr2 and a 

record R3.8m 

First ever SA CHAMPION to win abroad – broke the track record 

in Hong Kong 

Smashed the Southern Hemisphere 2000m TURF RECORD 

Sire of 5 GR1 HORSES in SA and Hong Kong and 8 stakes winners 

Sire of a Turffontein 1400m COURSE RECORD HOLDER 

Sire BUSH TELEGRAPH - Equus Stallion of the Year and sire of 3 

champions from only 5 crops 

Dam – BROODMARE OF THE YEAR 

Standing at Starston Stud 


Tel.: (021) 439 2781 Fax: (021) 439 8799 Cell: 082 777 8117 



31 January 2009 – Grade 1 R600 000 Investec Cape Derby 2000m 

Big City Life trained by Glen Kotzen and ridden by Bernard Fayd’Herbe springs a mild surprise by clinching top honours 

24 January 2009 – Grade 1 R500 000 Cape Flying Championship 1000m 

Rebel King trained by Charles Laird at Randjesfontein and ridden by Anton Marcus beats Blue Tiger in a tight finish


31 January 2009 – Grade 1 R500 000 Fancourt Majorca Stakes 1600m 

Mother Russia trained by Joey Ramsden and ridden by Glen Hatt overcomes her towering arch rival Sparkling 

Gem(Richard Fourie) to win a brilliant race 

31 January 2009 – Grade 2 R300 000 J&B Reserve Stayers 2800m 

Mokara trained by Stephen Page and ridden by Kevin Shea is a runaway winner in the popular 

Oppenheimer silks 

21 February 2009 – Grade 3 R150 000 Riverworld Stud Prix Du Cap 1400m 

Mother Russia trained by Joey Ramsden and well handled by Glen Hatt, blows her opposition away to confirm 

her position as the top Cape three year old filly 

Sire of an 

International 

Horse of the 

Year 

The product of 2 great champions: 

Champion Sire MR PROSPECTOR & 

dual Champion INDIAN SKIMMER 

The sire of World Champion Filly 

IPI TOMBE Dubai Horse of the Year 

and SA Champion 3yo (TFR 126) 

Sire of course record holder, Gr2 

Debutante and Gr3 Steinhoff Fillies 

Mile winner - SUPPER CLUB 

CHAMPION SIRE 

in Zimbabwe 2002 

& CHAMPION 

SIRE of 2yo’s in 

2001 

Sire of 8 Stakes 

Winners and 

18 Stakes 

horses. 

Standing at Gary Player Stud Farm 

John Freeman - Stallion Manager 

Tel.: (021) 439 2781 Fax: (021) 439 8799 

Cell: 082 777 8117 

Email: pegasus@mweb.co.za 

www.freemanstallions.co.za

32 SIZZLING SUMMER THROUGH THE LENS ✍ LANCE BENSON Equine Edge 

20 December 2008 – Gr 1 R1 000 000 BSA Cape Guineas 1600m 

Le Drakkar trained by Dean Kannemeyer and ridden by stable jockey MJ Byleveld strides away to easily beat Bush Pirate 

14 December 2008 – Gr 2 R300 000 Midmar Premier Trophy 1800m 

Surfin ‘USA trained in KZN by Mark Dixon and ridden by Piere Strydom pips Vision 

Of Grandeur(Andrew Fortune) in a thrilling finish 

20 December 2008 – Gr 2 R300 000 WPOTA Diadem Stakes 1200m 

Blue Tiger trained by Mike Bass and expertly handled by log leading jockey 

Andrew Fortune accounts for stable-mate Pocket Power in a thrilling finish 

16 December 2008- Listed R125 000 Victress Stakes 1600m 

Dancer’s Daughter trained by Justin Snaith and ridden by regular pilot Bernard 

Fayd’Herbe beats River Jetez by two lengths 

27 December 2008- Gr 3 R200 000 WCBA Cape Summer Stayers Handicap 2500m 

Just Like Al trained by Brett Crawford and ridden by Karl Neisius flies up late to 

catch Mokara and win going away

Cheveley Stud 

Classy Miler 

6th joint TOP RATED 2YO in Europe 

TFR 119 at 3 - 2nd Gr1 2000 Guineas 

Son of CHAMPION SIRE and record setting stallion - ROYAL 

ACADEMY - A proven Sire of Sires 

Family of NORTH LIGHT, ISLINGTON, GOLAN, REFORM, etc 

R600k yearling in 2007 and R550k yearling in 2008 

“He’ll go to Royal Ascot. He is a classy miler” 

- R Hannon 

Standing at Cheveley Stud 


Tel.: (021) 439 2781 Fax: (021) 439 8799 Cell: 082 777 8117 

Email: pegasus@mweb.co.za www.freemanstallions.co.za 

OFF TO A 

CRACKING 

START!

34 GAUTENG NEWS HIGHVELD REVIEW 

Oracy(Anton Marcus) sneaks in to grab a narrow win in the Gauteng Guineas 

SNAITH SETS GAUTENG 

SEASON ALIGHT 

THE successful Highveld debut of Western Cape-based star mare Dancer’s 

Daughter and a game performance by unbeaten Oracy were two of many 

highlights on Phumelela Gaming and Leisure’s star-studded Guineas Day, 

28 February.

RACING EXPRESS editor Jack Milner 

wrote in his review of the event: 

“It has been some time since a crowd at 

Turffontein cheered as a favourite went 

down to the start. In fact, it’s been a long 

time since there has been a crowd at 

Turffontein. But despite the overcast conditions 

and threats of (further) rain, they 

came in droves to cheer home Cape visitor 

Dancer’s Daughter (9-20). 

None of those people left Turffontein disappointed. 

They whistled and clapped as 

the big grey mare left the parade ring to 

make her way to the start and they roared 

even louder as she came home, beating 

Milk And Honey and Gypsy’s Warning to 

capture the Grade 1 L Jaffee Empress 

Club Stakes over 1600m.’’ 

There was a lot at stake for owner Graham 

Beck and Cape trainer Justin Snaith, 

who braved the traditional factors to bring 

their mare to the Highveld, but she ran 

her expected cracking race after settling 

some 10 lengths off the pacesetter in the 

early part. 

Perhaps with visions of Dancer’s Daughter’s 

defeat in the Paddock Stakes in 

his mind, Khan wasted no time in getting 

the mare to the front, knowing that 

she wouldn’t give in when her head was 

in front. She did that with consummate 

ease, in the jockeys words “slicing like a 

knife through warm butter’’. 

But when Milk and Honey appeared on 

the scene with a determined challenge, 

race watchers for a few anxious moments 

thought that Khan had moved too soon. 

Their duel, however, was short-lived and 

Dancer’s Daughter asserted her superiority 

by running on strongly to pocket 

the R625 000 first prize by a length from 

her four-year-old adversary with Gypsy’s 

Warning running perfectly to form in 

third. 

“It’s an honour to have ridden this great 

mare,’’ said Khan after the race. She 

has a wonderful turn of foot. She’s a pro. 

When I squeezed her at the 400m mark it 

was all over.’’ 

Snaith praised Phumelela, Emperors Palace 

and the Racing Association for making 

their visit comfortable and trainer Geoff 

Woodruff for facilitating and helping with 

her preparation. He added: “One can’t 

claim a filly like this is the best around and 

then not have the guts to bring her to Johannesburg.’’ 

Dancer’s Daughter’s next likely run will be 

in the Horse Chestnut Stakes on Saturday 

4 April where she is sure to take on Ha- 

✍ CHARL PRETORIUS JC Photographics 

35 

waii Stakes winner and defending champion 

Our Giant. If all goes according to 

plan she will also contest the R2 million 

Champions Challenge over 2000m at 

Turffontein on Saturday 25 April. 

Our Giant, to once again quote scribe Milner, 

“is also getting something of a cult 

following because he too was cheered on 

his way to the start and applauded for his 

victory in the Hawaii Stakes over 1400m. 

‘He’s always been a special horse to me 

and when I heard the cheers as he went 

to the start, that was also special for me,’ 

said (trainer Charles) Laird.’’ 

Our Giant’s career has always been 

mapped out with extreme care and he 

once again delivered his best after a 

rest. 

In the absence of solid support for any 

of his rivals and reports of his well-being, 

Our Giant firmed from an opening call 

of 1-1 to start at 6-10 and for once there 

wasn’t a reason for nailbiting. 

He broke very well, “we were there for 

nothing’’, said jockey Anton Marcus, but 

Our Giant settled third, allowing the hardgalloping 

Forest Path to show the way into 

the straight from Succesful Bidder. 

Once again the field fanned out with 

several runners appearing on the 

scene and looking dangerous, including 

Earl Of Surrey, Succesful Bidder and 

Therealslimshady. The disappointing Forest 

Path again turned it up quickly. 

Soon, however, all eyes were on Our Giant, 

who in his customary fashion put a 

few lengths between himself and his rivals 

within seconds. 

He strode clear and kept going strongly 

to win by a length from outsiders The Big 

Ask and Earl Of Surrey, with Succesful 

Bidder in fourth. 

“One can’t claim a filly like 

this is the best around and 

then not have the guts to 

bring her to Johannesburg.’’


Four runners ran virtually as 

one to the line... 

“You always get the feeling he’s going 

to stop but he always finds a bit extra. I 

feel he’s a better horse the older he gets,’’ 

added Marcus. 

Zabeel’s son Oracy (5-2) retained his 

unbeaten record with a last-gasp win in 

the Grade 2 R1 million Gauteng Guineas, 

completing a feature race double for 

trainer Laird and Marcus. 

With clouds ominous in the sky and rain 

literally minutes away, the power-packed 

field hustled and bustled for early position 

and it was Bouquet-Garni, the 1800m 

specialist, who found himself at the head 

of affairs after 200m with Captain’s Table, 

Seattle Ice and Oracy in pursuit and the 

widely-drawn horses settling at the back. 

But the draw became of no significance 

whatsoever as the runners once again 

headed for the standside rail just after they 

turned for home. This allowed plenty of 

room for all to make their challenges and 

the poorly drawn Paul Matchett runners, 

Cerise Cherry and Mount Hood, suddenly 

on the inside and in full cry, looked to fight 

it out. Oracy, in pursuit, ducked across to 

the rail and Royal Rez loomed up next to 

him with Seattle Ice folding like a deckchair 

between runners. 

Four runners ran virtually as one to the 

line with a hard-as-nails Oracy pipping 

the deadheating pair of Royal Rez and 

Cerise Cherry and Mount Hood a further 

short-head back in fourth. 

Jockey S’Manga Khumalo, who lost 

his rein on Royal Rez in the drive to the 

post, objected against the winner on 

the grounds of Oracy taking up his running. 

The objection, deemed frivolous, 

was overruled and Khumalo was fined 

R3,000. 

Oracy is likely to be aimed at the Classic, 

the second leg of the Triple Crown. 

Mike de Kock’s Zirconeum was most im- 

pressive in the Grade 2 Gauteng Fillies 

Guineas, run after a bout of heavy rain. 

The race followed the same pattern as 

the other features on the day with the field 

coming to the outside rail. 

Zirconeum travelled smoothly just on the 

heels of frontrunners Golden Scold and 

Loupe and had “winner’’ written all over 

her as early as the 300m-mark. Jockey 

Johnny Geroudis gave her a shake-up to 

bring her into contention and she sped 

away from a competitive field of well-performed 

fillies to win by 3,5 lengths from 

Sharp Mistress, easing up. 

“She put up a super sprint to Merlene 

de Lago last week and some more good 

work in the week so we knew she’d go 

very well,’ said Geroudis. 

“She’s consistently placed in every 

Graded race for fillies and deserved this 

Grade 2 win today. She is getting better 

as she matures,’ commented De Kock, 

who watched the race in Dubai. 

Leading stayer Santa has a knack of producing 

the goods when it matters and he 

racked up his third marathon feature in 

the last year with a game and powerful 

win in the Aquanaut Handicap (Listed) 

over 3200m on Guineas Day at Turffontein. 

What made the win more meritorious is 

Mount Hood(Piere Strydom) wins the Tony Ruffel 

that Santa (5-1) came from the back of 

the field on a soft track, ended up wide 

on the standside rail and still carried too 

many guns for lightweight Sunny Jim, who 

quickened clear at the business end and 

looked home and dry for a long way. 

Chico Azul led Sunny Jim and Bayete into 

the home run with Winter Serenade and 

Cameron’skingmaker tracking the leader 

and Santa further back with another fancied 

runner Albert Einstein bringing up 

the rear. 

The 15-horse field fanned across the 

track and halfway down the straight Sunny 

Jim took command and travelled like 

a winner under Mark Khan. He extended 

his lead to two lengths but Piere Strydom 

was working hard on Santa and the son 

of National Emblem reeled in Sunny Jim 

and caught him just a few strides short 

of the post. 

Owner Peter Dimakogiannis paid tribute 

to trainer Ormond Ferraris, noting Ferraris’ 

ability to prepare horses for big 

races. They’ve been a team for over three 

decades. 

GAUTENG SUMMER SEASON, 

DECEMBER 2008 TO FEBRU- 

ARY 2009 

Trainer Geoff Woodruff and stable jockey

Maggie Kay (Brian Nyawo) upsets the odds to win the Magnolia 

Mark Khan were the dominant forces dur- 

ing the Highveld Summer season. The 

period in review covers the dozen-odd 

features held after the Summer Cup and 

Steinhoff’s International Jockeys Day. 

The Listed Secretariat Stakes, 

R135 000, 1400m 

Owner Chris Saunders’s big-striding 

Meet At MalaMala (28-10, Anthony 

Delpech) produced the best finish in a 12horse 

field to account for Fenerbahce and 

Red Pine. “He needs much further so this 

was a meritorious win,’’ said John Buckler, 

assistant trainer to Mike de Kock. 

The Grade 3 Magnolia Handicap 

(Grade 3), 1160m 

In the biggest upset of the season, sprinter 

Maggie Kay (40-1) was never headed 

in the Magnolia Handicap. She landed 

running, set a blistering pace and simply 

kept running under Brian Nyawo to register 

a head win over the favourite Kiss For 

Kate and Lady Perez. 

Maggie Kay was well beaten in a handicap 

over the same trip just a week prior 

to the Magnolia, but trainer Grant Maroun 

explained: “The UK international Darryl 

Holland rode her that day and he advised 

me not to restrain Maggie Kay, to let her 

stride and do her own thing. I thank him 

because it has paid off handsomely.’’ 

The R300 000 Ipi Tombe Challenge 

(Grade 2) 1600m 

Emblem Of Liberty, surprisingly easy to 

back at 10-1, scored an impressive win 

over Milk and Honey and Gypsy’s Warning, 

in the hands of Mark Khan. This 

would prove to be a useful formline and 

a pointer to features during the remainder 

of the Cape and Highveld Summer Season. 

“Full marks to Lionel Cohen,’’ said 

trainer Woodruff. “He decided to keep her 

after she never made her reserve at the 

sale.’’ 

The R200 000 Lebelo Sprint 

(Grade 3), 1000m 

There was a lot of pre-race talk for Dylan 

Cunha’s Gold Game, an impressive winner 

of the Vaal Sophomore Sprint, but 

he was never in the hunt and pulled up 

unsound as Woodruff’s Private Jet (Khan) 

stanped his authortity on the race with a 

sparkling 55.51s. Picadilly Miss finished 

second ahead of Royal Exit. “The Cape 

Flying Championship may come too soon. 

We’ll probably go for the 2009 Computaform 

Sprint,’’ said trainer Geoff Woodruff. 


37 

The R200 000 London News 

Stakes (Grade 2) 1800m 

Khan and Woodruff returned to the winner’s 

enclosure when another Argentinian-bred 

runner, Aluminium (2-1), kept 

on gamely to hold off Likeithot by 0.50 

lengths. Once again punters were inspired 

and he started favourite at 2-1. 

Angel Flight took the field along from Winter 

Weather and Aluminium with She’s 

On Fire and Likeithot further back. Khan 

took Aluminium to the front at the top of 

the straight and from that point on the rest 

were chasing. “I think he was a bit out of 

his depth in the Summer Cup but back to 

1800m he is competitive,’’ said Khan. 

The R135 000 Sea Cottage 

Stakes (Listed), 1800m 

“Gary and Dean have a good horse on 

their hands here,’’ said jockey Andrew 

Fortune after he had won the Listed Sea 

Cottage Stakes over 1800m Turffontein 

with the Alexander-trained Fenerbahce. 

Fortune drove Fenerbahce to a narrow 

victory over Dominic Zaki’s smart gelding 

Captain’s Table (Piere Strydom) after 

a short-lived duel on the inside track. 

Broadsword hung on for third ahead of 

fast-finishing Choisir. “Fenerbahce is a 

Derby horse and we’ll have one or two 

prep runs in between now and Derby 

day,’’ said Gary Alexander after the race. 

The R135 000 Swallow Stakes 

(Listed), 1160m 

Mike de Kock-trained Loupe completed a 

hat-trick winning the Swallow Stakes over 

1160m at Turffontein. She went off the 12- 

10 favourite but made heavy weather of 

beating Sandy Beach, who was backed 

from 20-1 to 8-1, by 0.50 lengths. 

Loupe played up in the pens, but got 

away on fair terms with the field and 

jockey Anthony Delpech allowed her to 

settle in midfield, around six lengths off 

previously unbeaten Beautiful Jo .


With 500m to go, Delpech gave his mount 

a bit of rein and Loupe started to make up 

ground. She soon put her head in front of 

a tiring Beautiful Jo, ran on under pressure 

and beat a game Sandy Beach, to 

whom she was conceding 5.5kg. Sweet 

Sanette stayed on for third, 1.25 lengths 

further back with Beautiful Jo another 

1.25 lengths behind in fourth. 

The R200 000 Tony Ruffel 

Stakes (Grade 3), 1450m 

The Paul Matchett-trained Mount Hood 

(6-1) eventually got back on the winning 

trail, nearly 12 months after winning a 

Maiden Plate, when he trounced a smart 

field of three-year-olds to win the R200 

000 Tony Ruffel Stakes over 1450m at 

Turffontein. 

Jockey Piere Strydom had the Manshood 

gelding well placed on the rail as the runners 

cornered with stablemate Cerise 

Cherry finding space between the two 

leaders . Mount Hood joined issue with 

his stablemate 400m from the wire and 

drew clear 100m later winning smartly 

by three lengths. He went on to win as he 

liked by three lengths. Captain Scott got 

the nod for third by a neck from Gangsta 

Fury. Said Matchett afterwards: “Mount 

Hood has been unlucky quite a few times 

(with interference and bad draws playing 

Therealslimshady(Johnny Geroudis) wins the Wolf Power Handicap 

a part) but he’s never far behind. Take 

nothing away from Cerise Cherry, who 

is not suited by the inside track and who 

would have preferred a faster pace.’’ 

The R165 000 Three Troikas 

Stakes (Grade 3), 1450m 

Khan and Woodruff won the equivalent 

race for fillies when Sharp Mistress 

got to the front 100m from the wire to 

beat favourite Sweet Theresa, ridden by 

Strydom, by 0.75 lengths. On Her Toes, 

who ran a gallant race under top weight of 

58kg got third, with Captain’s Gal another 

neck back in fourth. Khan said: “She won 

a very good race. I followed Piere through 

and thought it was a huge run by Sweet 

Theresa at the weights. Our filly is smart, 

though. She wants further and will be better 

on a galloping track.’’ 

The R135 000 Wolf Power 

Handicap (Listed) 1600m 

Trainer Alec Laird and jockey Johnny 

Geroudis won this listed event with game 

campaigner Therealslimshady, who 

quickened to challenge the favourite Alluminium 

and Winter Serenade, won the 

battle and drew away to win by 1,75 

lengths. Geroudis said he had been confident 

before the race because “the way 


he worked in the week was superb’’. Laird 

added: “I had to respect the favourite, but 

gave him a big chance on his work. He’s 

always been threatening to win a little feature 

and now it’s come off.’’ 

The R165 000 Acacia Handicap 

(Grade 3), 1600m 

Smart Grade 1 winner Gypsy’s Warning 

(Ormond Ferraris, Piere Strydom) disputed 

second place with Run Angel Run 

as Kiss For Kate set a steady pace in the 

1600m race and they had little trouble 

getting to the front 300m from the wire, 

going on to win well by 1.25 lengths. Kiss 

For Kate stayed on well for second, just a 

short head in front of a fast-finishing Glenrossal 

with outsider Lisa Anne, who cornered 

second last, only 0.45 lengths back 

in fourth. Said Strydom: “Gypsy’s Warning 

is getting better. She’s settling down 

at the races now. She used to sweat and 

jump around. The pace was very slow 

and we were lucky to get a good position. 

If we’d gone faster, she would have won 

better. At this stage I’d say she’s better 

than Sweet Theresa.’’ 

The R200 000 Tommy Hotspur 

Handicap (Grade 3), 1000m 

Matchett, enjoying a super season, took 

the Tommy Hotspur laurels with outsider 

Royal Exit (10-1). Speedy South Country 

was soon at the head of affairs with Renegade 

on his inside. The favourite Cyber 

Case and Hurricane Force were split by 

Royal Exit just behind the leaders with the 

others in a bunch and completely outpaced. 

Royal Exit, with Randall Simons 

aboard, moved up well as South Country 

tired and Picadilly Miss started plodding 

inside the final 200m. Beat Patrol, who 

had been totally outpaced throughout, 

started quickening, but his effort came 

a length too late. He secured second by 

a neck from South Country with Picadilly 

Miss a short head further back in fourth.

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42 MEDIA PROMOTION L’ORMARINS QUEEN’S PLATE 

L’ORMARINS MOMENT PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION 

A MOMENT IN TIME 

Breathtaking images and creative flair were the order of the day as 

the winners of the inaugural L’Ormarins Moment photography competition 

were announced at a function held at the trendy Wembley 

Square lifestyle centre in Cape Town on 5 February. 

RUVAN BOSHOFF

The L’Ormarins Moment photography 

competition marked the start of a 

new tradition as part of the celebrated 

L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, one of the 

most glamorous and prestigious events 

on the local racing calendar. 

Some of South Africa’s foremost photographers 

– and a host of aspiring amateurs 

- were invited to capture the highlights 

of this year’s L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate 

event held on 10 January and enter their 

photos in the L’Ormarins Moment competition. 

Each photographer could hand 

in up to five images of the event. 

SAM NORVAL 

ERIC MILLER 

HENK KRUGER 


43

44 MEDIA PROMOTION L’ORMARINS QUEEN’S PLATE ✍ LANCE BENSON Supplied 

the prize for the overall winner: 

an R80 000 Leica M8 

digital camera and 35mm 

lens 

Tudor, the sole distributors of Leica in 

South Africa, sponsored the prize for 

the overall winner: an R80 000 Leica M8 

digital camera and 35mm lens, built for 

sophisticated and creative digital photography. 

Runners up each received a 

gift hamper. 

The competition was judged by a panel of 

highly regarded experts including: Mark 

Read, Mike Shalit, John Pace, Gavin Furlonger, 

Elizabeth Rees Jones and Stefania 

Johnson. The judges searched for 

a photo that encapsulated the ultimate 

‘L’Ormarins Moment’. Chance and skill 

had to be combined in capturing the 

winning moment, resulting in a photo 

which summarised a day at the races for 

the entrants. Following a thorough judging 

process of the seventeen finalists, 

JM Ledderman was awarded first prize 

with his winning photo of a father and 

daughter at the races. 

Leading Western Cape based photographer 

and horseracing fundi Charles Faull 

described the competition as a step in 

the right direction in revitalising mass 

ANTHONY STRACK 

media attention on horseracing: “ I take 

my hat off to Gaynor and Hanneli Rupert 

for the passion and interest they show in 

the sport we all love so much. This competition 

is an excellent start in boosting 

our reach into the mass media and the 

results were shown by coverage in our 

newspapers that outstripped anything 

MIKE ROSE 

RUVAN BOSCHOFF 

we have seen in years. Well done to all 

concerned and I am right behind sustaining 

the momentum into next year’s 

event,” he said. 

The winning entry by JM Lederman is 

displayed on our inside back cover.

46 PERSONALITY JIMMY LITHGOW 

Young enough to still enjoy his passion, yet old enough to 

remember the days when SAA was a lean business machine… 

Act 1 of 2 

JIMMY ON THE 

THEATRE OF LIFE


Tellytrack Presenter Jimmy Lithgow is one of the truly nice guys in the 

game.The man with an educated appreciation of the arts and with 

the absolutely proper English accent and velvet voice has a vocabulary 

and command of the language that would embarrass most of 

us. This talented son of a Gynaecologist will play opposite Morgan 

Freeman in the latest Clint Eastwood movie and he is also known to 

have a distinct predilection for Green Island Rum. 

PARADE: How and when did you first be- 

come involved with horse racing? 

JIMMY :There were a couple of early influences 

which steered me in that direction, 

if I think back... 

During my childhood, we spent about 18 

months in a rented house, wedged between 

two racing yards, near the Scottsville 

racecourse, in Pietermaritzburg. 

The one neighbour was a wonderful old 

trainer called Harry McDonnell, and my 

younger brother, John, and I used to 

hang about in the stable yard, getting to 

know the horses by name; Coca Cola, 

Shemozzle and Shal Romano are a few 

I can still remember, mainly because 

they cost us many a promised visit to 

the circus or the drive-in, when my father 

backed them. 

My father was a gynaecologist, but used 

to enjoy helping Harry to treat unsound 

horses with then quite radical devices 

like ultrasound machines. Occasionally 

they’d set these horses up for a coup, 

though the success rate was unspectacular. 

Many years later, both my parents took 

out colours and raced horses with Harry, 

in KZN, and with Harald Hoving, in Johannesburg. 

In the meantime, when I was about seven, 

my grandmother, who lived in Johannesburg, 

inspired my further interest by 

telling me about a wonder horse called 

Nagaina Hall, who, she firmly believed, 

only put his best hoof forward in anticipation 

of being rewarded with sugar 

lumps by his owner. Despite the fact that 

he was as ugly as sin, Nagaina Hall became 

my hero, and I would be glued to 

the radio every time he ran. He won the 

Summer Handicap, in 1954, and then, to 

my dismay, was beaten out of sight by a 

little upstart grey pony, called Casbah, 

in the Summer Handicap of the following 

year. 

Ironically, I was to marry the daughter 

of Casbah’s trainer, Les Rathbone, 20 

years later. 

PARADE : Did you start your working career 

in racing? 

JIMMY : Not at all. After school, at Maritzburg 

College, and nine months of foot 

slogging in the army, at Bloemfontein 

and Walvis Bay, my family moved back to 

Johannesburg, where I was born. I was 

quite a shy kid, at school, but I’d become 

besotted with acting, for which I seemed 

to have a gift, and wanted to make it my 

career. My father, a gynaecologist, was 

on the teaching staff, at the Wits Medical 

School, which implied a 75 percent discount 

on my tuition fees, so I settled for 

what the Yanks would call a “liberal arts” 

degree, focusing on English and History 

Of Art, as Wits didn’t have a drama faculty, 

in those days. 

When I finished up my misspent education 

at Wits, where I strutted and fretted 

47 

my hour upon the stage, in anything from 

Shakespeare to Arthur Miller, I headed 

off to the UK, armed with a small inheritance 

from a godmother. I blew it in three 

months, soaking up 22 plays and over 

60 movies, whilst living a “Withnail and 

I” type of existence, in Earl’s Court, in 

the company of an old school chum of 

mine. To make the most of my time over 

there, I eventually took a job as a tour 

courier, with an el cheapo camping tour 

outfit and was lucky enough to get to 

see many places off the beaten tourist 

tracks. 

My first “real” job, back home, was with 

the PR Division of South African Airways. 

Our offices, in the old Rotunda building, 

in downtown Johannesburg, were almost 

Dickensian, but the work proved surprisingly 

interesting and I stayed 12 years.

48 PERSONALITY JIMMY LITHGOW 

SAA was a lean, mean and very efficient 

machine, in those days, and I was proud 

to say I worked for the airline. I don’t think 

I could say the same today. 

One of my most enjoyable assignments 

was compiling a book entitled “50 Years 

Of Flight”, issued to mark the 50th anniversary 

of the pioneering first flight 

between Britain and South Africa, by 

Piere van Ryneveld and Quinton Brand, 

in 1920. This established me as the resident 

expert on the history of civil aviation 

in South Africa, and following my 

resignation from the airline, in 1981, I 

was asked to devise and script the vast 

historical pageant which was staged to 

mark SAA’s 50th anniversary, three years 

later. At a total cost of over R600 000, 

it was considered quite profligate, but 

it was colourful and spectacular, was 

deemed a huge success and gave me 

some valuable experience in the field of 

corporate entertainment. 

PARADE : You’re now closely involved with 

film and video production. How did that 

come about? 

JIMMY : My other responsibilities with 

SAA included organising all film and advertising 

shoots for the airline, which was 

how I came to grasp the basics of film 

making and scriptwriting. 

SAA afforded me the opportunity to indulge 

my passion for movies when it 

appointed me in charge of in flight entertainment, 

with the advent of Boeing 

747’s, way back in 1971. I was sent to 

New York, in the company of a senior 

technical representative of SAA called 

Dougie Kirkwood, and we met with an 

elderly gentleman, by the name of Max 

Fellerman, in the offices of Inflight Entertainment, 

our appointed film suppliers. 

Too eager, at 25, to show off my knowledge 

of cinema, I was quickly cut down 

to size by this pioneer of the talking pictures 

era. Turning to Kirkwood, he asked, 

“So where’d ya get this smart-ass kid?” 

And then, rounding on me, he went on, 

“Listen kid, let me tell ya, I started Tom 

Mix in the business”. I was silenced in 

an instant! 

The pay, at SAA, was very ordinary, but 

the perks were tremendous. I used to 

fly First Class to either Los Angeles or 

London, at three month intervals, to view 

a couple of dozen movies for potential 

airline use. At the MGM studios, on one 

occasion, I was taken to lunch in the 

commissary and had the beautiful Natalie 

Wood, and her co-star in the movie 

she was filming, Christopher Walken, 

lined up in the queue, just behind me. 

Three days later, on my return to South 

Africa, I heard that she’d been drowned, 

in suspicious circumstances, in a boating 

incident, off Catalina Island. 

PARADE : And your move from the airline 

industry to racing? 

JIMMY : That came about in 1981, when 

the late Sandy Christie advertised for a 

PRO at Turffontein. The money was bet-

ter than at SAA and I had a young family 

to support, so I decided to make the 

move. 

Christie never blew his own trumpet. 

He hired a full brass band to do it, and 

was near impossible to work with. But he 

taught me a great deal, and was a total 

perfectionist when it came to running a 

racecourse. After bearing the brunt of his 

ego-charged tirades just once too often, 

I accepted an offer from the Owners’ and 

Trainers’ Association to join Newmarket 

Racecourse, as the country’s first Marketing 

Manager in racing, in 1983, and 

spent five very rewarding years there. 

The first year or so was marred by a palace 

revolt, in which the old guard, headed 

by the late Dougie Harris, the then 

Chairman, was ousted by a fairly radical 

group, headed by Gerald Rosenberg, 

who believed that the Association’s quite 

considerable assets were not being utilised 

for the betterment of racing. 

The senior staff were forced to choose 

sides, and fortunately, I backed the right 

horse. Rosenberg proved an inspirational 

Chairman, always perfectly prepared 

for Board meetings and brimful of ideas. 

Under his guidance, and that of CEO, 

Tony Bates, I greatly enjoyed the experience 

of transforming Newmarket into 

one of the country’s best racecourses, 

with its panoramic restaurants and a 

track which was arguably the fairest racing 

surface in the country. Its eventual 

closure, I believe, and the loss of night 

racing, constituted a tragedy for the industry. 

PARADE : You spent some time in Kwa- 

Zulu Natal? 

JIMMY : Yes. Eight years, in total. It was 

on the strength of the experience I had 

gained at Newmarket that I was appointed 

Marketing Manager at Greyville, which 

was about to embark 

on a major upgrading 

process, including the 

building of the Durban 

View Room. I took a 

salary cut to make the 

move, in the interests of 

a better education for 

my two sons, and that 

decision has proved 

sound. Though the job 

was hugely challenging, 

as the concept 

of marketing was not 

widely recognised in 

racing, in those days, 

I enjoyed the five years 

I spent as Marketing 

Manager there, making 

the most of restrictive 

budgets and a very 

small support team. 

Apart from spearheading 

the ‘eventing’, at 

major race meetings, 


49 

“Listen kid, let me tell ya, I 

started Tom Mix in the 

business”. 

such as the Durban July and the Gold 

Cup, I was given the leeway by Dave 

Furness and the Stewards, particularly 

the likes of Tony Stiebel and Nick 

Labuschagne, to undertake some entertaining 

promotions, like a series of 

jockey internationals, a very successful 

Careers In Racing Expo. and numerous 

sideshow attractions to liven up the raceday 

entertainment. 

Fortunately, I was able to utilise the services 

of some really talented people, like 

Debbie Davidson, who put the Rothmans 

July fashion extravaganzas on the map, 

and who was top rate when it came to 

chronicling the history of the race. 

It was the destructive “Upstairs and 

Downstairs” mentality of one individual, 

who shall remain nameless, which 

persuaded me to throw in the towel, at 

Greyville. So I hit the road, to form my 

own PR and entertainment consultancy, 

armed with some useful contacts in the 

entertainment field, which I had made 

whilst moonlighting as an actor, in Durban. 

During my years at the DTC, I would 

generally devote my annual leave to rehearsing 

a show for the Playhouse Company, 

and then perform in the evenings, 

when I returned to work. Matinees were 

always a problem, and I can remember 

having to time things to perfection when I 

was playing the First Gravedigger, in Act 

4 of “Hamlet”. I would finish work at 4:30 

p.m. and dash to the Playhouse, just in 

time to slip into a fairly simple costume 

and crawl into my pit, below the stage. 

The late Frantz Dobrowsky was playing 

Hamlet and there was always a brief look 

of relief on his face when he found me 

grinning up at him, with Yorick’s skull in 

hand. 

...to be continued.

50 PERSONALITY NICOLA WELCH 

POTENTIALLY SOUTH AFRICA’S FOREMOST FEMALE JOCKEY 

DANCING QUEEN 

NICOLA HAS WHAT 

IT TAKES 

NICOLA WELCH is determined not to be a victim of the fate that seems to befall 

most female jockeys and admits to being realistic as to what hurdles lie in 

wait for female riders. 

The typecast female South African female 

jockey? They train at the various 

Jockey Academies. They ride winners 

as claimers, some of them holding 

on for dear life on fast front-frontrunners 

but getting to the winning post in some 

way or the other. When their claims fall 

away, their rides dry up, despite their 

hard work. Many are talented riders in 

their own right, but are seen as lesser 

jockeys than their male counterparts, 

in a male-dominated world. They lose 

interest. They get married, start families 

and disappear from the scene. Nuclear 

agrees with this assessment. 

DREAMS 

‘’I’ve always fully realised what female 

jockeys are up against,’’ says the diminutive 

21-year-old going on 17. She’s 

having toast and tea at her second 

home, the Gauteng Jockeys Academy 

at Randjesfontein. It’s 8.30am and she’s 

already ridden a dozen or so horses in 

work at the track, with racing at the Vaal 

due for later that afternoon. 

Nicola doesn’t live in a dream world in 

which she expects to be treated differently 

to her colleagues. Her head is

screwed on the right way and she wants 

to make it to the top despite the odds 

that are arguably stacked against her. 

‘’I am dedicated and I work hard,’’ says 

the lady who idolises SA-born former 

British champion apprentice Lisa Jones 

and has plenty of respect for the current 

British sensation, Hayley Turner. 

“If they can do it, I can do it,’’ she adds. 

“I am fully focused, I am aware of the pitfalls 

but this is my life and my dream. It is 

up to me to make it work.’’ 

Nicola has recovered twice from serious 

injury, testimony to her dedication. A dislocated 

shoulder put her out of action for 

several months just as she was starting 

to ride winners and a while later, again 

on the up, she tore ligaments in her 

knee which sidelined her for a further 12 

months. 

“The knee injury was a huge setback but 

I decided to carry on without worrying 

about the interruption to my career, giving 

it plenty of time to heal. I did and I 

still am doing biokinetics which helped 

with my recovery and I’ve had no pain 

whatsoever since returning to race riding 

three months ago.” 

Nicola weighs 45kg but would like to 

push that to around 48kg. “I work out in 

the gym, I do muscle exercises to build 

my strength,’’ she tells. 

FORCEFUL 

But come on, female jocks are always a 

bit weak in the finish aren’t they? Can she 

pull the whip and ride a forceful finish? 

She responds, “Of course, but I don’t 

see the need to be heavy on the stick as 

a rule, It throws you off balance. Horses 

like to run in your hands. And I believe 

my biggest strength is my balance. My 

stirrups are set for comfort and balance, 

I don’t think one should force yourself to 

ride ‘too short’ or ‘too long’ just to copy 

someone else. Balance comes with 

comfort.’’ 

Nicola is always keen to learn. She 

speaks with affection of her first riding 

master Vince Curtis and of her current 

tutor Robert Moore, the Gauteng Academy 

Master. “We sit down to watch the 

replays of our rides after every meeting 

and Mr Moore helps us to identify mistakes. 

Perhaps we moved too soon or 

too late, or got stuck behind horses due 

to errors of judgment. 

‘’Only good things come out of these 

meetings because all the apprentices 

based here can constantly learn from 

their mistakes and adapt where necessary. 

We try to improve , not to repeat our 

errors in a race.’’ 

NO LEEWAY 

She says that her male colleagues in the 

jockey room all treat her with respect and 

they try to help when they can. “There 

is no animosity between us whatsoever. 

We shout at each other in a race, that 

always happens, but we’re all friends.’’ 

Nicola says she wouldn’t endanger any 

of her colleagues for the sake of aggressive 

race riding, like trapping someone 

on the fence. At the same time, however, 

she’s not going to make way for anoth- 

✍ CHARL PRETORIUS Supplied 51 

“Race riding is exhilarating, 

it’s hard to describe 

how wonderful it is to win 

a race.” 

er when she’s travelling well and has a 

chance of winning. 

“Race riding is exhilarating, it’s hard 

to describe how wonderful it is to win 

a race. I’ve won many easy races, it’s 

over so quickly. And there’s a feeling 

that comes to you about 150m from the 

line when you know you’re going to go 

pretty close. Then it’s a question of staying 

calm, judging where the others are, 

not going overboard. I want to ride like 

a thorough professional, that is what I 

strive for.” 

Asked for comments about Nicola, trainers 

are positive, one and all. 

“I am confident she will make it,’’ says 

Vaal-based Corne Spies. “Long before 

she was injured I said she was the best 

female jockey I’ve worked with. She’s 

ridden several winners for my stable and 

we will support her.” 

Scott Kenny, assistant to Sean Tarry, 

echoed that, saying: “Nicola has a nice 

seat, she is balanced with good hands 

and she has a knack of getting on with 

difficult horses. I think she can crack it. It 

will be a travesty if a good rider like her 

is lost to racing.’’ As Nicola points out, 

balance is what it’s all about, and by the 

sound of it her career won’t ever hang in 

the balance. There’s nothing shaky about 

this young lady jockey with her goals and 

dreams and quiet determination. 

Her physical flexibility comes from dancing 

as a youngster when she attended 

the Johannesburg School of Arts and 

excelled at ballet. Due to her size, she 

had to choose between race riding and 

dancing after she’d completed Standard 

8 (Grade 10). 

By all accounts she’s made the right 

choice.

54 WINE WINE AND HISTORY 

Wine and 

history Tim 

James 

celebrates 350 

years of making 

wine at the Cape, 

and finds that 

greedy birds are still 

a problem in the 

vineyards 

South African winemaking beat South 

African horseracing by about 150 

years – but they started off their fine histories 

remarkably close to each other geographically. 

The turn of the horses had 

to wait for the British to occupy the Cape 

in 1795. Then the red-coated soldiers of 

the garrison would gallop competitively 

about Greenpoint Common – though the 

aim of cutting a dashing figure for the ladies 

was no doubt at least as prominent 

as triumphing over their comrades and 

winning a guinea or two off them. 

Greenpoint had been tried long before 

then as a vineyard, in fact. Jan van Riebeek 

had already established a garden 

(in what is now central Cape Town) to 

grow provisions for the ships of the Dutch

East India Company linping into Table 

Bay, hungry and thirsty on the wearisome 

journey between Holland and the spicerich 

possessions in the East. Expansion 

was in order, but Greenpoint proved inhospitably 

blustery and, to say the least, 

damp. Like Cape horse-racing was to 

do when it set up a home in Kenilworth, 

farming moved further down the peninsula 

into the future southern suburbs. 

This year sees the South African wine industry 

celebrating the 350th anniversary 

of its first vintage in 1659. On 2 February 

of that year, Commander Jan van Riebeek 

noted in his journal: “Today, God 

be praised, wine was pressed for the 

first time from Cape grapes....” It’s a nice 

coincidence for me to note that the J&B 

Met of the anniversary year was remarkable 

for horseracing too - won by that 

phenomenal horse from Zandvliet, which 

winelovers think of as a wine estate, 

whatever horse-fanciers might imagine. 

Over the decades following the maiden 

vintage, wine was to become an increasingly 

important part of the economy of 

the growing settlement. Stellenbosch 

was founded before the end of the sev- 

enteenth century, and the Paarl and Franschhoek 

valleys were already becoming 

rich sources of grapes. And of course, 

the jewel in the crown of Cape winemaking 

was Constantia, the vast farm granted 

to one of van Riebeek’s successors, 

Simon van der Stel. The estate – also 

farming wheat and cattle – was split into 

three after van der Stel’s death, with the 

portion including the fine manor house 

being known as Groot Constantia, as it 

is today. 

In the eighteenth and early nineteenth 

centuries particularly, Constantia’s sweet 

wines were renowned throughout the 

world, favoured by the rich and powerful 

of Europe – and by Napoleon in his lonely 

exile on St Helena. It’s lucky, frankly, for 

the heritage of South African wine that 

we can claim the glory of Constantia. 

For by all accounts (and there are many 

contemporary ones by travellers, London 

dealers and drinkers at the Cape) 

the rest of the colony’s vinous output was 

pretty shocking stuff. It might have been 

useful in helping to prevent mariners getting 

scuvy, it might have been better than 

stagnant water on a long trip – but some 

suggested that it was a close call. 

✍ TIM JAMES Gerda Louw 

55 

This year sees the South 

African wine industry celebrating 

the 350th anniversary 

of its first vintage in 

1659 

Three and a half centuries on, fortunately, 

the industry is in a better state. What’s 

more they’re still, by some miracle, making 

wine in Constantia. Much of van der 

Stel’s farmland has, it is true, disappeared 

under some of of Cape Town’s 

plushest suburbia, but a good deal remains, 

and in fact there are even some 

new vineyards on higher slopes. These 

are the beneficiaries of the big fires of 

2000, which swept away a good deal of 

pine forest. Vineyards hardly count as 

being fynbos any more than pines do, 

but unless you’re an indigenous purist 

vines are an undoubted improvement 

over pines. At least, Eagles’ Nest and 

Constantia Glen are making some very 

good wines from these new sites, joining 

the likes of Buitenverwachting, Klein 

Constantia, Uitsig and Steenberg. 

More extraordinary than the survival of 

wine-growing in Cape Town’s suburbs,

56 WINE WINE AND HISTORY 

though, is that there is a tiny inner-city 

vineyard, just a few hundred metres from 

where Jan van Riebeek’s gardener, the 

appropriately named Hendrik Boom, 

tenderly nurtured those first Cape wines. 

It’s called Clos d’Oranje - well, it’s in 

Oranjezicht, you see, and is owned by 

an imaginative and energetic Frenchman 

named Jean-Vincent Ridon, who’s 

been making wines here for many years 

now and has probably done more inspiring 

stuff for the Cape wine industry than 

all the French Huguenots of 300 years 

ago put together. 

Incidentally Jean-VIncent was the victim 

of some early vineyard history being 

repeated. In 1662, a mere three years 

after van Riebeek’s maiden vintage and 

shortly before he left the Cape, a plague 

of birds descended on the Company 

Garden vines and destroyed the ripening 

crop. Nearly 350 years later, in 2004, 

Jean-Vincent lost what should have been 

the first harvest: the birds swooped, and 

soon the grapes were gone. “Since then 

we use unsightly orange plastic nets”, 

says the sadder and wiser winemaker. 

There were no plastic nets in van Riebeek’s 

time, and, once he’d learnt his 

lesson, he presumably had to rely on 

lower-tech interventions, like scarecrows 

or vigilant slaves. 

Ridon’s vineyard is all shiraz grapes 

(we are not quite certain of the varieties 

in the old Company Gardens), and 

he can make only about 600 very pricey 

and hard-to-find bottles of Clos d’Oranje 

each year. But his Cape Town winery, 

✍ TIM JAMES Gerda Louw 

Signal Hill, does make a range of other 

wines, from more orthodoxly-sited vineyards 

around the Cape – all of them 

worth sipping, and eminently suitable for 

raising a glass to the foresight of Jan van 

Riebeek..

Decisions, Decisions ... 

Craving The Classics? 

Sire of 

Derby winner Kings Gambit, 

Oaks winner Happy Spirit, 

Guineas winner Mi Emma 

Silvano 

Kings Gambit 

#379 – colt; dam (4w) half sister to CRYSTAL’S 

GARTER (7w, 2xGr3, 4xGr1 placed) 

#525 – colt; half brother to 3 winners incl 

AMERICAN EMBLEM (4w, SW), out of 

Pax Americana (5w, SP); family of Champions 

KISS OF PEACE, HARRY HOTSPUR, 

ROTTERDAM 

#175 – filly; dam (won) half sister to 9 winners 

incl TRAVIS McGEE (4w, Gr1), 

COUNTESS MICHELE (9w, SW; SP) 

Sire of Guineas winner 

Captain’s Lover 

Captain Al 

contact Rob Rickering 

Cell: 082 573 0418 

email: robpick@mweb.co.za 

Captain’s Lover 

#258 – colt, first foal; dam daughter of 

ETERNAL DANCER (12w, Gr3, multiple SW; 

Gr2/Gr3 placed) 

Eye On Dubai? 

Sire of 

Biarritz, Zeeno 

Count Dubois 

#404 – colt, first foal; dam (won) half sister to 

8 winners incl BRIDAL PATHS (3w, Gr2; 

Gr1/Gr2 placed) & dam of PICK SIX (6w, 

Gr1/Gr2; Gr1 placed) 

Sire of 

Art Of War, Desert Links 

Kahal 

#506 – colt; half brother to 3 winners incl Sans 

Frontieres (6w, SP), out of Nouvelle (4w, SP) 

Art of War - won in Dubai 

Yearlings 

2009 NATIONAL SALE 

3 - 6 APRIL 2009 

TBA SALES COMPLEX, GERMISTON 

Sire of Gr1 fillies 

Outcome, Veiled Essence 

Muhtafal 

#236 – filly; half sister to 3 winners incl Dukes 

Doll (4w, SP); dam (4 wins) is out of half sister 

to GAELIC FIND (8w, 2xGr3, 4xGr1 placed) 

Fancy The Latest Fashion? 

First SA crop for sire of 

NZ Horse of the Year 

King Of Kings 

#181 – colt; half brother to 4 winners incl 

Champion racemare JAMAICA (11w, 3xGr1, 

Gr2; multiple Gr1/Gr2/Gr3 placed) & 

Little Hampton (12w) 

#38 – filly; half sister to 5 winners incl SLEEK 

BRAASHEE (6w, Gr3; Gr1 placed), out of 

SLEEK WINE (5w, Gr1) 

#91 – filly; dam half sister to 12 winners incl 

Champion TRAVEL NORTH (10w, Gr1/Gr2/ 

Gr3), Northern Singer (5w, SP; dam of Gr3 

RHAPSODY IN RED), World Traveller (2w, 

Gr2 placed) 

Villandry - first SW by freshman sire Var) 

First crop stakes winner in 

2009 

Var 

#317 – colt; dam (2 wins) half sister to 5 winners 

incl APPELATE COURT (9w, 2xGr3), 

Regal Appeal (5w, SP); PARTY TIME family 

PO Box 393, Mooi River 3300 

Tel: 033 263 2407 

Fax: 033 263 1465

58 PERSONALITY NEW CHAIRMEN 

MEET GOLD CIRCLE’S NEW CHAIRMEN 

UNITY IS STRENGTH 

ON THE BALL: John Bescoby (left) and Vidrik Thurling 

The historic election of co-chairmen at the main board meeting of Gold Circle 

in Cape Town last month heralds a new era for the company. Both John 

Bescoby and Vidrik Thurling bring years of commercial and horseracing 

experience to the table at a time when the sport, like most businesses 

internationally, is crying out for prudent leadership, strength of character 

and foresight. While agreeing that they support two different rugby teams, 

both men have resolved to kick parochialism into touch and have called for 

co-operation and unity in the best interest of the sport.

A MAN UNITED 

John Bescoby was born in Manchester, 

England in 1949 and emigrated to 

South Africa in 1970. He pursued a career 

in Merchant Banking before embarking 

on his own into the tourism industry 

where he has successfully owned and 

managed a number of companies for the 

past 30 years with operations throughout 

the Southern African sub-continent as 

well as Australia and New Zealand. 

His involvement in horseracing began 

in 1981 as an owner and today both his 

wife Janette and daughter Danielle are 

colour holders. John’s involvement in 

the industry has been extensive. He first 

served as a Steward at Turffontein Racing 

Club and then as a member of the 

Central Provinces Racing Board (NHA). 

He also spent time as a Council Member 

of the TBA and was involved with the 

founding of the African Horse Sickness 

Trust and serves as a Director of Racing 

South Africa 

He joined the KZN board of Gold Circle 

in 2005 and was elected to the main 

board in 2007. 

John feels that with the current global 

downturn the industry is facing one of its 

most challenging periods as it confronts 

ongoing pressure to increase stakes and 

improve training facilities, all of which is 

on the back of costs that are rising at 

double digit levels whilst turnovers are 

currently only showing a growth of 3%. 

He says that whilst we continue to look for 

additional revenue streams and are optimistic 

about the future of our joint venture 

initiative with Phumelela we urgently 

need to look at our local structures with a 

view to eliminating non-productive areas 

of the business and instil in everyone the 

need to work smarter, harder and more 

effectively. 

MONEY MARKETS 

Forty-six year old entrepreneur, Vidrik 

Thurling, runs and owns a number of 

companies involved in the tanning of 

exotic leather, manufacturing leather 

goods and exporting these products 

globally. He has been married to 

Lerisse(nee Maisel) for 19 years. They 

met at Milnerton Racecourse 26 years 

ago and she hails from a racing family, 

her father being Hyman Maisel, former 

chairman of Western Province Racing, 

and of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association. 

As well as having served as 

Jockey Club executive steward. Maisel 

is still a prominent breeder and owns 

Hyjo Stud. Vidrik and Lerisse have a 

daughter, Derry-Ann, who loves horses 

and seldom misses a yearling sale and 

is a familiar face at Cape racemeetings. 

Vidrik has been racing for more than 

30 years and bought his first racehorse 

whilst still a student, with his father providing 

the loan and the suretyship to the 

Jockey Club for his colours. Vidrik presently 

has shares in 12 horses in training. 

✍ LANCE BENSON Denzil Govender 

59 

Amongst his better horses were Money 

Market (dual feature winner in Malaysia), 

Alpha Centauri, T’is the Season, Witchunt 

and Corn Dodger. Vidrik’s business 

takes him abroad regularly and one of 

his biggest markets is Korea. It was 

during his ongoing visits to Korea that 

he decided to knock down the door of 

the KRA, which culminated in the historic 

signing of a twinning agreement. 

Thurling joined the Western Cape Chapter 

of Gold Circle as a steward in 2003 

and was elected as vice Chairman of 

the chapter in April 2004. He joined the 

main board of Gold Circle in 2004 and 

was elected as vice Chairman of the 

main board in 2005. He has served on 

all of the sub-committees on the main 

board of Gold Circle and was chairman 

of the Remuneration Committee. 

Thurling warned that South African 

horseracing now found itself back where 

it was eight years ago. “Only this time 

the world economy adds fuel to the fire. 

Now is the time to consolidate our resources 

as tightening our belts will not 

be enough. We are going to have to find 

ingenious ways of cutting our costs and 

new ideas to expand our markets. The 

internationalisation of our racing and our 

products holds many opportunities. Ultimately 

racing in South Africa needs to 

become one unit. We need to market the 

horse and the sport and the bet will follow,” 

he suggested. 

2009 Equimark Vintage Yearling Sale 

Equimark’s premier yearling sale will take place at the Equimark Sales center on 15 March 2009. 

Full catalogue and entries are now available online - http://www.equimark.co.za/ 

For more information contact Amanda Carey on: 082 657 0665 

amanda@equimark.co.za

60 DE KOCK CROWS THE MIKE DE KOCK COLUMN 

Nothing worse than ignorance 

What happened is this: The Dubai 

Racing Carnival has become the 

Olympics of Horseracing. The Maktoums, 

a family known for their competitive spirit, 

years ago opened the arena to international 

participation in Dubai. We upped 

our game, took them on and lifted some 

of their biggest prizes, season after season. 

Not surprisingly the Arabs took to the 

challenge and they set out to acquire the 

best horseflesh money can buy to regain 

their pride and take back some of the 

loot. After a few below-par terms in Dubai, 

they have emerged again as the leaders 

of the thoroughbred world with a host of 

impeccably-bred stars, some reportedly 

costing $US10 million and more! 

When we walk into the parade ring among 

some of the Godolphin and other Arabowned 

horses we shiver not with fear but 

with sheer admiration. It is virtually impossible 

to defeat these equine machines. I 

look at horses like Gladatorius and Desert 

Party and think to myself, “How can we 

beat them?’’ So while it is clear that South 

Africa’s party in the UAE desert has been 

interrupted, a horse like Imbongi actually 

acquitted himself well in top company. 

Hunting Tower, a former Durban July winner 

who gave his all in the same race, 

was beaten six lengths into second by 

Gladiatorus, who set a track record. 

It’s not that we can’t compete, we can. But 

our horses are now just a few lengths off 

the best in some divisions and we have to 

A contributor on the freeracer.co.za talk forum started a thread called 

‘Goodbye Dubai’ or something similar following our charge Imbongi’s disappointing 

fourth in the Al Fahidi Fort in February, suggesting that this signalled 

‘the end’ of a good spell for South African horses in Dubai. Well, let 

me tell you, it’s not the end, it is just the beginning of what could be a new 

era of competitive racing for South African horses or horses with SA connections. 

improve to a higher level too! 

This is why I say we stand on the verge of 

new beginnings. I believe that our breeders 

who have imported the well-bred and 

expensive stallions and mares will pluck 

the fruits in the not too distant future. Our 

horses are good, now we have to raise 

our game to become top class if we wish 

to hold our own on the competitive world 

stage. Our breeders will have to breed 

better horses and those of us with international 

buying power will have to focus 

and buy the best we can. On both counts 

I believe we will succeed. 

The philosopher Goethe once said: 

“Nothing is more terrible than ignorance 

in action!’’ One writer on the abc internet 

forum had a go at me for not winning 

with JJ The Jet Plane first time out on 

his sand debut in Dubai. He suggested 

that JJ The Jet Plane’s owners should be 

“extremely upset’’ because of the premature 

“excuse’’ given that he didn’t like the 

sand, even more so if “they backed it and 

spent thousands of rands to go see it run 

in Dubai.’’ This is so typical of a clueless 

person with a dire need for recognition 

and a mouth that needs to be stuffed with 

a large sock. I wonder if there is a product 

on the market for the treatment of verbal 

diaorrhea? 

There is a small element among South 

African sports and racing lovers that appear 

to give up when their favourites lose 

or perform below best. Or they use those 

opportunities to stir up mass negativ- 

ity. Is this a South African phenomenon? 

Should the fans not be getting fully behind 

their representatives with encouragement 

and good wishes instead of slating and 

criticizing? Why do they even go as far to 

watch the events in the first place? 

To get back to JJ The Jet Plane. I always 

said that while JJ appeared to be doing 

very good work on sand, there was never 

a guarantee that he would repeat the work 

in a race. Does a lawyer taking on a case 

guarantee his client a winning outcome? 

Any trainer will tell you that what we see 

on sand at home and in a race are often 

two different things altogether. When JJ 

The Jet Plane’s race came, his first night 

under lights at Nad Al Sheba, he didn’t 

reproduce his best work. Simple as that. 

I remember running Wolf Whistle on sand 

in his Dubai debut, he worked like a bomb 

on sand at home. In the race he finished 

a well-beaten last. The very next week, on 

turf, he won in course record time! 

As I write this on Friday, 27 February, I 

feel vindicated as JJ The Jet Plane last 

night won a Group 3 race on turf, just two 

weeks after his disappointing debut. The 

sport of horseracing is a great leveller 

that turns and grinds and works in cycles, 

sometimes quickly, sometimes painfully 

slow. But only people who understand 

racing will know that. Others will mount 

their self-made pedestals and evacuate 

the debris from their creepy little minds 

on forums that shouldn’t be giving them 

the time of day.

RIGHT APPROACH 

TIGER RIDGE 

FORT WOOD 

JET MASTER 

COUNT DUBOIS 

SPECTRUM 

17 

17lots lots 

at Nationals 

Robin Scott • PO Box 89, Nottingham Road 3280 

Cell: 082 469 6197 • email: scottbros@worldonline.co.za 

Tel: 033 266 6918 • Fax: 033 266 6920 

A Peach Of A Crop 

RIGHT APPROACH (GB) 

#393 COLT Approach The Judge ex Lady Advocate 

dam half sister to COZZENE'S PRINCE 

Champion Older Horse in Canada 

#167 FILLY Beat The Odds ex Beat The Hammer 

half sister to Stakes performers 

Mr Auctioneer and Lovemore 

TIGER RIDGE (USA) 

#221 FILLY Dance With Tigers ex Dance For Joy 

half sister to MASTER OF NOTE 

Dam half sister to GRAND JETE 

FORT WOOD (USA) 

#499 FILLY Nautical ex Naughty But Noble 

Own sister to ANGUS. 8 wins. Gr1 J&B Met 

JET MASTER 

#494 COLT National Carrier ex National Favourite 

Family of FLOBAYOU Champion Sprinter 

ARCSA Champion 

COUNT DUBOIS (GB) 

#409 COLT Champions League ex League Award 

own sister to LEAGUE TITLE 

Joint ARCSA Champion 

SPECTRUM (IRE) 

#237 FILLY Dolphin Dancer ex Dolphin Coast 

half sister to TIGER SHARK and BALLITO BOY 

#55 FILLY Prism Dance ex Starwatch 

dam 5x SW Flamboyant Stakes 

KING OF KINGS (IRE) 

#86 FILLY 

Harmony Time 

ex Timeless Tune 

dam 6x winning own 

sister to TIMEGOESBY 

12 wins Gr3 Kings Cup 

#71 FILLY 

Berry Queen 

ex Taineberry 

KING OF KINGS 

dam 6x winning Gr2 Oaks 

dam of JALBERRY Gr3 Pretty Polly S 

MOGOK MOGOK 

SON OF 

STORM STORM CAT 

GYPSY’S WARNING 

WON Gr1 Thekwini Fillies Stakes 

7 MOGOK (USA) 

by 

MOGOK 

MOGOK 

MOGOK 

#591 COLT Prophet King 

ex Royal Prophesy 

Dam Gr2 SA Oaks; 

Full sister to dam of Gr1 winner 

GYPSY’S WARNING 

#536 FILLY Morganna ex Pinturina 

Own sister to Gr1 winner 

RONDO and RICORDANZA 

#524 FILLY Essential Oil 

ex Patchouli Moon 

Dam 5x SW, Gr3 Three Troikas 

#457 COLT Mark Of Approval 

ex Markanawa (NZ) 

Own sister to TOCCATA Equus 

Champion Sprinter 

#208 FILLY Quanta Costa 

ex Costa Marfil 

3 wins incl Renounce S & 

Gr2 Ipi Tombe 

#187 COLT Candem ex Candelada 

Dam own sister to CANDIDATA 

ROY Equus Champion 2yo 

#28 COLT Shoe Horn ex Shoe Queen 

Dam 5x winning half sister to 

HAWAIIAN WAHOO Gr2 SA 

Fillies Nursery

64 BREEDING NEWS RECORD SALE 

✍ CHARL PRETORIUS Supplied 

GrandWest Sale reaches 

a pleasing R12 million 

aggregate 

THE aggregate of R12 million recorded 

at the recent GrandWest Yearling 

Sale in Cape Town was down 9% on last 

year’s R13,217 million, but Bloodstock 

SA’s Chief Executive Jan Naudé was 

pleased considering the prevailing economic 

climate. 

Naudé analysed the sales figures and 

commented: “We’ve seen the turnovers 

of bloodstock sales elsewhere in the 

world decline by up to 50% recently 

which means that we can be proud of 

what was achieved at GrandWest. 

“It is important also to keep in mind that 

this was a smaller auction, 27,8% smaller 

than last year yet the lots sold was only 

down by 16,8% on last year. 

“It was encouraging too that breeders 

were willing to let their yearlings go 

more readily. Our pass-out rate of 84% 

was 4% up on last year and the average 

price per foal of R78 341 was 9,2% up on 

last year’s R71 834.’’ 

Victor Silvester, a smashing colt by Silvano 

from Blue Acres (x Badger Land) 

fetched the highest sale price of R450 

000, sold to Robert Bloomberg and partners 

who own his Cape Derby-placed 

half-brother, Bluemambo. 

“He’s a very nice specimen,’’ said 

Bloomberg, who will be entrusting the 

colt to trainer Patrick Kruyer, who also 

stables Bluemambo. Victor Silvester will 

be returning temporarily to Carole and 

Martyn Doggrell’s Netherfield Stud near 

Greyton. The Doggrells, formerly from 

Zimbabwe, also consigned Lot 141, Alfie 

Moon, a R300 000 purchase for owner 

Chris van Niekerk. This took Netherfield 

Stud to the top of the list of vendors by 

average. 

“There was good competition among 

buyers for the better-bred horses,’’ told 

auctioneer Andrew Miller, whose hammer 

fell on Victor Silvester. 

Trainer Dominic Zaki won the tussle for 

the second-highest lot, Avontuur-bred 

Eversoeasy, a filly by VAR from the potent, 

so-called “E” family. “I have two 

nice VARs at home and we came to buy 

this beautiful filly. VAR will be a top stallion,’’ 

Zaki said. 

VAR topped the list of sires by aggregate 

with seven yearlings sold for R1,235 million 

at an average of R176 429 per lot. 

Trainer Joey Ramsden’s Good Hope 

SUBSCRIBE TODAY AND KEEP UP WITH THE 

PACE OF SOUTH AFRICA RACING! 

PARADE is published four times per annum and provides news and 

insight on all aspects of South African horseracing and breeding. 

Subscription enquiries email lanceb@goldcircle.co.za 

Advertising opportunities available –the most effective way to reach 

the entire industry. Email: janet@raletrading.co.za 

Racing, always active at the GrandWest 

Sale, bought seven lots for R955 000 and 

headed the list of buyers by aggregate. 

Dean Kannemeyer, who secured five 

yearlings at R125 000 per purchase, 

commented: “I bought a few on spec in 

the R100 – 200 000 bracket because this 

was a sale of decent quality and I considered 

them bargain buys considering 

the economic conditions.’’ 

Markus Jooste’s Klawervlei Stud was the 

top vendor by aggregate, selling 13 lots 

for R1,58 million at an average of R121 

000 per consigned foal. 

BSA Sales Manager Caroline Simpson 

concluded: “I am ecstatic not only for the 

results achieved but for the good spirit 

among vendor and buyers at the sale. 

We look forward now to the Emperors 

National Yearling Sale.’’ 

Full sales results are available on www. 

tba.co.za 

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jan Naudé, BSA’s Chief Executive, 

083 627 7917 

Caroline Simpson, Sales Manager, 

083 552 6525 

October 2008. R40.00 


MARK KHAN 

SA Champion Jockey 

DE KOCK EXCLUSIVE 

Our champion trainer writes 

SALUTING THE CHAMPIONS 

All the top perfomers

Ever Wondered 

Who’s Involved 

In The Finish 

Of Our Best Races? 

Our Graduates . . . Don’t Miss A Beat 

Russian Sage 

J J The Jet Plane 

Emperor’s Palace 

National Yearling Sales 

3-6 April 2009 

TBA Sales Complex, Germiston 

South Africa’s Gr1 races - past two seasons 

horse racename date soldkey stakes MR 

Argonaut Gr1 Golden Horseshoe 07/07/2007 400k Ns (SI 1.3) 765625 107 

Argonaut Gr1 Premier’s Champion S. 28/07/2007 400k Ns (SI 1.3) 765625 107 

Buy And Sell Gr1 Daily News 2200 02/06/2007 300k Ns (SI 1.19) 1973750 113 

Buy And Sell Gr1 Champions Cup 26/07/2008 300k Ns (SI 1.19) 1973750 113 

Captain’s Lover Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas 01/12/2007 160k Ns (SI 0.61) 646863 104 

Consensual Gr1 Golden Slipper 05/07/2008 250k Ns (SI 0.85) 489681 102 

Dane Julia Gr1 SA Fillies Classic 03/03/2007 110k Ty (SI 2.02) 710000 107 

Divine Jury Gr1 SA Classic 03/03/2007 525k Ns (SI 2.09) 1246803 109 

Elusive Fort Gr1 Horse Chestnut S. 31/03/2007 750k Ns (SI 3.48) 2028125 113 

Geepee S Gr1 Allan Robertson Fillies Chship 31/05/2008 85k Gw (SI 1.04) 293375 99 

Gilded Minaret Gr1 Golden Slipper 07/07/2007 260k Ns (SI 1) 755000 105 

Gypsy’s Warning Gr1 Thekwini Fillies S. 26/07/2008 170k Ns (SI 0.57) 389375 101 

J J The Jet Plane Gr1 Computaform Sprint 03/05/2008 70k Ty (SI 0.83) 1768250 120 

J J The Jet Plane Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint 31/05/2008 70k Ty (SI 0.83) 1768250 120 

J J The Jet Plane Gr1 Mercury Sprint 20/07/2008 70k Ty (SI 0.83) 1768250 120 

Kildonan Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint 27/05/2007 360k Ns (SI 1.43) 878994 115 

Kings Gambit Gr1 SA Classic 05/04/2008 600k Ns (SI 1.94) 1496325 112 

Kings Gambit Gr1 SA Derby 03/05/2008 600k Ns (SI 1.94) 1496325 112 

Little Miss Magic Gr1 Empress Club S. 03/03/2007 350k Ns (SI 2.02) 357225 103 

Malteme Gr1 Summer Cup 25/11/2006 200k Ns (SI 0.93) 1311650 105 

Nania Gr1 Thekwini S. 28/07/2007 340k Gw (SI 4.32) 582350 104 

O Caesour Gr1 Cape Flying Ch’ship 19/01/2008 25k Gw (SI 0.62) 957947 112 

On Her Toes Gr1 Allan Robertson Fillies Chship 31/05/2008 800k Ns (SI 2.71) 308750 99 

Pick Six Gr1 Gommagomma Challenge 05/05/2007 320k Ns (SI 1.27) 2590850 111 

Pocket Power Gr1 Queen’s Plate 30/12/2006 190k Gw (SI 4.88) 7769775 120 

Pocket Power Gr1 J&B Met 27/01/2007 190k Gw (SI 4.88) 7769775 120 



Pocket Power Gr1 Durban July 05/07/2008 190k Gw (SI 4.88) 7769775 120 



Ravishing Gr1 SA Derby 31/03/2007 1100k Ns (SI 4.37) 829500 108 

Rebel King Gr1 Cape Flying Ch’ship 24/01/2009 210k Ns (SI 0.84) 1609125 109 

Rudra Gr1 Summer Cup 29/11/2008 375k Ns (SI 1.22) 1683550 101 

Russian Sage Gr1 Cape Derby 26/01/2008 450k Ns (SI 1.46) 1537275 107 

Russian Sage Gr1 Daily News 2000 07/06/2008 450k Ns (SI 1.46) 1537275 107 

Sparkling Gem Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas 06/12/2008 85k Gw (SI 1.04) 513150 102 

Succesful Bidder Gr1 Gold Challenge 09/06/2007 225k Ns (SI 1.33) 1343975 115 

Thundering Star Gr1 Gold Cup 04/08/2007 120k Ns (SI 0.48) 976750 102 

Urabamba Gr1 SA Fillies Classic 05/04/2008 475k Ns (SI 1.82) 814925 102 

Warm White Night Gr1 Gold Medallion 31/05/2008 1800k Ns (SI 4.81) 918125 104 

Wendywood Gr1 Woolavington 2000 07/06/2008 800k Ns (SI 3.07) 380000 100 

SI = sales index: price of horse vs. average price at the same sale for the same sex, meaning the average is 1.0 

BloodStock South Africa, PO Box 827, Germiston 1400, South Africa • www.tba.co.za 

Contact Caroline Simpson • Tel: 011 323 5700 • Fax: 011 323 5788 • caroline@tba.co.za

66 INTERNATIONAL WEATHER 

WEATHER HITS 

UK RACING 

Lovely Lingfield, Leafy Lingfield call it what you may, there is no denying 

Lingfield Park has set the trend for the synthetic surface era and 

it’s 2008/09 All Weather season is now in full swing.

You either love it or you hate it, I once 

heard, and no they weren’t discussing 

the pros and cons of Marmite but 

All-Weather racing in fact. Since the 

introduction of the poly track in 2001, it 

has become Lingfield Park’s bread and 

butter and its popularity is now growing. 

Having battled with the ‘Turf snobs’ and 

criticism from every part of the industry 

from one time to another, All-Weather 

racing has finally brought horseracing 

in England into the 21st century and 

proved an essential commodity during 

this past month. 

We have raced 13 times during January 

and managed to keep the show on 

the road whilst other racecourses succumbed 

to the extreme weather we’ve 

been experiencing. We made headline 

news on Jan 3rd being the only course 

racing throughout the UK, as the bookies 

breath a sigh of relieve! 

Another momentous moment occurred 

on the All-Weather track recently as our 

most successful female jockey, Hayley 

Turner, accomplished her 100th winner 

in a calendar year. Hayley is a regular at 

Lingfield Park and is a fantastic ambassador 

of the sport. Her modest charm 

and professionalism will help continue 

her journey straight to the top, paving the 

way for more lady jockeys in the future. 

We took great pride in presenting Hayley 

with a bouquet of flowers in the winning 

enclosure to mark the occasion. 

Male-dominated 

Hayley’s fought hard to gain this respect 

in such a male dominated industry. The 

old joke in Michael Bell’s yard is that he 

would get her to ride out on the same 

horse so that he could ask her, “What 

are you riding today, Hayley?” and get 

the answer: “Turn Me On, Guv’nor.” Bell 

said: “In this male-dominated world, she 

gets a fair amount of stick. And she can 

certainly cope.” We wish Hayley all the 

very best for the future. 

It was touch and go today (Wednesday 

14th January) as the fog rolled in, over 

✍ NICKY ADAMS Supplied 

67 

We made headline news 

on Jan 3rd being the only 

course racing throughout 

the UK 

Lingfield Park delaying racing by an 

hour. We took jockey, Fergus Sweeney 

(Southern safety officer for the PJA) 

around the track along with a small army 

of stewards, vets and doctors. A decision 

was finally made and we eventually 

managed to kick off with the first race at 

1:10 and we still successfully ran 8 races 

with 25-minute intervals! 

All-Weather Champion 

All the Flat jockeys seem to have migrated 

to the Alps this week for their annual 

week of frivolity in the snow. Let’s 

hope they make it back in one piece, 

as they’ll all want a crack at being the 

Arena All-Weather Champion Jockey. 

With £10,000 up for grabs to the winner, 

it’s a prize worth fighting for. 

Chris Catlin opened odds-on 

favourite for this market. Bookies 

clearly think Catlin will repeat 

his win from last year, but 

rumours of Jamie Spencer’s 

decision to stay in the UK this 

winter, may well scarper Catlin’s 

plans…. 

As if the weather is not enough 

to contend with at Lingfield Park 

this month we are also in the 

middle of a multi million pound 

hotel development which is 

creating fun and games for us 

all. 

Power cuts seem to be a regular 

occurrence but racing carries 

on regardless with swinging 

cranes and pneumatic 

drills; Lingfield Park is soon to 

be the ‘Leisure destination of 

Choice in the South East’.

68 PERSONALITY WEDDING BELLS 

BRANDON WINS ANOTHER 

Jockey Brandon Lerena and his fiance 

Carla Sturlese were married on 24 

January at Summerveld Training Centre. 

Carla is the daughter of Cheryl Sturlese 

and well known KZN owner and Gold 

Circle Chapter Director Steve Sturlese. 

Brandon and Carla met at the South African 

Jockey Academy and it was, according 

to Brandon, ‘love at first sight.’ 

Brandon was Champion South African 

Apprentice last season and came out of 

his time on 14 January 2009. The newlyweds 

flew straight out after the ceremony 

to enjoy a short honeymoon in Phuket 

and Singapore. We wish them many long 

years of marital bliss! 

BON VOYAGE 

Yet another high profile racing personality 

tied the knot on Valentine’s 

Day last month, when Horseracing Tele- 

vision Producer Andrew Gerrit Bon married 

his sweetheart Sarah Louise Turner 

at Providence in KZN – appropriately 

the stable of the legendary Jet Masters’ 

birth. The forty-eight year old ‘Bonski’, 

as he is known to his legion of associates, 

termed his marriage a ‘match 

made in heaven’ and said that both he 

and Sarah – who hit the magical forty 

marker on 4 March - enjoyed a memorable 

day amongst family and friends. 

He admitted to me in the build-up weeks 

to his big day that he had agonized over 

who to leave off the guest list as, everybody 

knows, Andrew knows everybody! 

Let’s hope an after party will be arranged 

soon for those of us who didn’t crack the 

nod! We wish Andrew and Sarah a long 

and happy life together. 

✍ LANCE BENSON Supplied

CAPE SIRES 

ALADO 

ALBERT HALL 

ALMUSHTARAK 

ASAAL 

ASHAAWES 

BADGER’S DRIFT 

BATTERSEA PARK 

BLACK MINALOUSHE 

CAESOUR 

CAPTAIN AL 

CASEY TIBBS 

COUNT DUBOIS 

COUNTER ACTION 

DAYLAMI 

DEEP SLEEP 

DOOWALEY 

DUPONT 

DYNASTY 

EXPRESS WAY 

EYEOFTHETIGER 

FANATIC DANE 

GO DEPUTY 

GOLDKEEPER 

GOLDMARK 

GREY EMINENCE 

HABAAYIB 

IMPERIAL STRIDE 

INDIGO MAGIC 

JALLAD 

JET MASTER 

KABOOL 

LAKE CONISTON 

LATINO MAGIC 

LITHUANIAN 

LIZARD ISLAND 

LONDON NEWS 

LUNDY’S LIABILITY 

MARTINELLI 

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 

NATIONAL EMBLEM 

NOBLE AMERICAN 

NYSAEAN 

PARADE LEADER 

QUI DANZIG 

RIGHT APPROACH 

SAUMAREZ 

SECOND EMPIRE 

SILVANO 

SLEW THE RED 

SPECTRUM 

STAGE CALL 

STAGELIGHT 

STRIKE SMARTLY 

SURGING RIVER 

TAMBURLAINE 

TARA’S HALLS 

TIGER DANCE 

TIGER RIDGE 

TOBE ORNOTOBE 

TOREADOR 

TRIPPI 

VAR 

VICTORY MOON 

WEST ORDER 

WESTERN WINTER 

WHITECHAPEL 

WINDRUSH 

When Reality Sets In 

There’s No Place Like 

Home 

2008 EQUUS AWARD WINNERS 

Horse of the Year POCKET POWER Zandvliet Stud 

Champion 2YO Filly CONSENSUAL The late Mr & Mrs L Jaffee 

Champion Sprinter JJ THE JET PLANE PJ Devine 

Champion 3YO Miler Female CAPTAINS LOVER W J Engelbrecht Jnr 

Champion 3YO Middle Distance Male KINGS GAMBIT Danika Stud 

Champion Older Miler Male POCKET POWER Zandvliet Stud 

Champion Older Middle Distance POCKET POWER Zandvliet Stud 

Champion Stallion JET MASTER Klipdrif Stud 

Champion Broodmare STORMSVLEI Zandvliet Stud 

Outstanding Stallion Achievement Award CAMDEN PARK High Season Stud 

Outstanding International Achievement JAY PEG High Season Stud 

Breeder - Exceptional Achievement HIGH SEASON STUD 

Home of Champions 

CAPE BREEDERS 

POCKET POWER 

Horse of the Year 

2007 & 2008 

The mission of the Cape Breeders Club 

is to represent interests of the members to the full, and to organise beneficial events & courses. 

If you have one or more mares at stud in the Cape, join the Club 

Tel: 028 482 1855 • Fax: 086 670 5114 • Cell: 084 842 4565 • info@capebreeders.co.za • PO Box 1097, Bredasdorp 7280

70 KIMBERLEY NEWS ON TRACK 

While the disputes about the track at 

the Vaal are likely to carry on indefinitely, 

Flamingo Park due to its proven 

durability and reliability is starting to attract 

a better quality thoroughbred which 

makes for better quality racing. 

The Flamingo Park track is kind to horses’ 

legs and leading trainer Peter Miller 

says: “We’re seeing unsound and tired 

horses come down to Kimberley to start 

new careers. They take a new lease on 

life.’’ 

Trainer Corne Spies, a regular raider 

over the last year and the first Gauteng 

trainer to take on the “Miller Machine’’ 

in full force, agrees, saying: “I can race 

my horses every week because they return 

from Flamingo Park in good shape, 

they take their races well. Regular racing 

means more stake cheques in the bank. 

Thoroughbreds are made to race. Flamingo 

Park is ideal because in this day 

and age owners want results and regular 

returns.’’ 

Interestingly when the laying of a new 

track in Kimberley was planned, 15 sand 

samples were collected from different locations 

and sent to the US for analysis. 

The sample judged best for racing came 

from a dune site on the outskirts of ‘Diamond 

Town’, which made the laying of 

the track easily manageable and quick 

to complete. 

“This is pure sand with fines,’’ says Miller, 

“and there are huge stockpiles of it nearby 

when we need to replace parts of the 

track, but so far replacing of sand has 

been minimal. We only have problems 

after really heavy rain because the track 

is raised and some of the sand washes 

away.’’ 

The base of the track at Flamingo Park 

is rock hard and firm on top, initially prepared 

by a roadmaking company. The 

✍ CHARL PRETORIUS Supplied 

KIMBERLEY ON TRACK 

SOME five years since the opening of the sand track at Flamingo Park, Kimberley, the track 

is showing no signs of wear and tear. A debate has started, meanwhile, about the quality 

of the sand track at the Vaal, with clear sides being formed. A group of trainers are asking 

for fines to be re-introduced as horses are slipping, others insist that the track is fine. 

pure sand cover above the base is approximately 

350m thick. 

Miller adds: “We are lucky in that we 

have sand, water and gravel in close 

proximity to the track, a cost-saver. The 

gravel, for example, allowed for roads to 

be constructed near the track so we can 

drive along. Without the gravel we’d be 

in trouble after rain.’’ 

Miller has welcomed the recent raids on 

Flaming Park by upcountry trainers and 

comments: “In these tough times I believe 

there are small and battling trainers 

in other parts of the country who should 

take another look at relocating to Kimberley. 

Their horses will be more competitive 

here and racing will flourish. I believe the 

traditional objections to racing in this 

part of the world are fading. The stakes 

are good and there are stables available 

for new trainers.’’

And the 

winner is? 

Another Australian thoroughbred. 

Australian thoroughbreds are gaining a global reputation when it comes to winning, 

with more and more South African owners realising that Australian-bred horses such as 

Bloodstock SA Cape Guineas winner Le Drakkar are real winners. 

The best judges in South Africa including Lionel Cohen and Charles Laird are more 

focussed than ever before on buying Australian-bred horses. As Cohen says “Australia has 

made huge strides genetically - it’s as good as anywhere in the world now and there’s great 

depth, with a lot more horses to choose from.” 

We encourage you to experience the spirit of winning and invest at the upcoming Australian 

thoroughbred yearling sales. For more information please contact Aushorse. 

Aushorse Marketing. AJC, Administration Office, Alison Road, Randwick NSW 2031 

info@aushorse.net.au P: +61 2 9663 8477 F: +61 2 9663 8471 www.aushorse.net.au

72 BREEDING NEWS NATIONAL YEARLING SALE 

Storm Warning 

NO WORRIES: A jovial Caroline Simpson, Rodney Dunn & Mike Sharkey 

The countdown to the 2009 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale has begun and 

Bloodstock SA will be more than hopeful that the local market remains strong enough 

to weather a global economic crisis as deep and dire as the Great Depression. 

In stark contrast to earlier yearling sales 

held in the Southern Hemisphere, where 

double-digit declines have been the order 

of the day, results at the GrandWest 

yearling sale proved more than encouraging 

with the aggregate showing a 

single-figure decline of just 9% on last 

year’s total, while the average actually 

increased by a similar margin, albeit that 

the catalogue was almost 28% smaller 

than in 2008. 

That said, Bloodstock SA has catalogued 

the cream of the 2007 foal crop, a total of 

596 yearlings which will go through the 

TBA sales ring at Germiston from April 

3 to 6. 

The decision to do away with the conten- 

tious ‘green pages’, the so-called Select 

session, has been welcomed by consignors 

and trainers alike. Many felt that 

the green pages set up a false market at 

the start of the sale, with major buyers 

not returning or ignoring the non-select 

yearlings, and the general feeling has 

been that buyers will now stay for the duration 

of the sale. The concept of a select 

sale has also outlived its purpose, as 

witnessed in the US, where Keeneland’s 

July sale was abolished when many of 

the major vendors opted to send their 

better yearlings to the marathon September 

Sale. Likewise, major English auction 

house Tattersalls has done away with its 

select Highflyer Sale. 

International buying support contributed 

heavily to 2008’s record-breaking sale. 

Barry Irwin of international racing outfit 

Team Valor described it as “the best value 

thoroughbred sale in the world. You 

would pay roughly twice the price for any 

foal at sales elsewhere in the world.” 

Once again, a high percentage of the 

yearlings on offer boast international 

bloodlines, added to which there is a 

fine cross-section of international proven 

stallions represented at this year’s sale, 

all of which should appeal to the most 

discerning international buyer. 

Over the past twelve months, the sale 

has received a fillip thanks to the exploits 

of a slew of graduates, ten of which won

at Gr.1 level and were purchased as 

yearlings from as little as R25,000 for 

Gold Cup hero Desert Links (in 2005), 

Gypsy’s Warning (170k in 2007), Russian 

Sage (450K in 2006), Urabamba (475k in 

2006), Buy And Sell (300k in 2005), Rudra 

(375K in 2006), Kings Gambit (600k in 

2006), Wendywood (800K in 2006), On 

Her Toes (800k in 2007) to R1,8-million 

for Warm White Night (2007). 

No less than 131 stakes winning mares 

are represented, 24 of which are Gr.1 

winners. The catalogue features siblings 

to 32 Gr.1 winners including Russian 

Sage (by Dynasty), On Her Toes 

(by Spectrum), Disappear (by Kahal), O 

Caesour (by Rakeen), Diamond Quest 

(by Saumarez), Consensual (by Spectrum) 

and Mother Russia (by Dupont). 

On the stallion front, the top echelon are 

amply represented, and heading the list 

numerically is champion Jet Master, who 

last year was responsible for the highest 

priced colt at R2,9-million. Sire of 

the legendary Pocket Power, he has 54 

head catalogued, choice among which 

are siblings to Gr.1 winners Little Miss 

Magic (Lot 142), Talahatchie (Lot 219), 

Stratos (Lot 309) and J J The Jet Plane 

(Lot 450), as well as yearlings out of Gr.1 

winners Sports’ Chestnut (Lot 51) and 

Pacific Blue (Lot 517). 

Phenomenal return 

Dual champion stallion Western Winter, 

who led all sires by average at last 

year’s sale with a phenomenal return of 

R843,810, also had the honour of siring 

the R3-million joint top lot, a filly out of 

outstanding broodmare Mystic Spring. 

Buyers have 30 youngsters to choose 

from, among which are a three-parts sister 

to triple Gr.1 winner Set Afire (Lot 95) 

and a half-sister to champion sprinter 

Hinterland (Lot 226), both from Lammerskraal 

Stud. The son of Gone West 

counted some notable Gr.1 winners 

amongst his 2006 book of mares and 

those represented include Fading Light 

(Lot 261), J&B Met winner Imperious Sue 

(Lot 347) and Lyrical Linda (Lot 441). 

Highlands Farms as agent offer a colt 

with international appeal in Colorado Ski 

(Lot 364), whose dam is English Oaks 

winner Jet Ski Lady. 

Choice amongst the 17 youngsters by 

evergreen National Assembly has to be 

Lot 435, a colt out of Equus Broodmare 

of the Year Loyal Linda, the dam of three 

Gr.1 winners in champion two-year-old 

Gold Flier, champion sprinter Buy And 

Sell and Trust Antonia (also by National 

Assembly). The veteran son of Danzig 

also boasts the well-named Act Of Parliament 

(Lot 426), a colt closely related to 

successful globetrotter Linngari who was 

a graded stakes winner in Dubai, Germany 

and Italy for Herman Brown jnr. 

Topped this sale 

Progeny by Fort Wood have topped this 

sale on numerous occasions and the son 

of Sadler’s Wells is a likely candidate to 

repeat that honour, with 43 head on offer. 

Sire of last season’s Gr.1 winners Forest 

Path and Wendywood, he has yearlings 

out of Gr.1 winning mares Duchess 

Daba (Lot 239), Emerald Beauty (253), 

Fair Model (Lot 265) and Legality (Lot 

412). First foals by the former champion 

sire include fillies out of champion Overarching 

(Lot 516) and Gr.3 winner Easyjadeasy 

(Lot 243), from the celebrated 

Argentinian ‘E’ family, as well as a colt 

out of dual Gr.3 winner Bushra (Lot 184), 

herself a Badger Land daughter of dual 

Gr.1 winner Mill Hill. 

Also well represented with 45 lots is classic 

winner Captain Al, with a standout 

being Lot 587, the first foal, a filly, out of 

Western Winter’s Gr.1 winning daughter 

Roxanne. 

National Assembly’s highly successful 

son, National Emblem, sire of this season’s 

Gr.1 winners Emblem Of Liberty 

and Rebel King, has 40 representatives, 

✍ ADA VAN DER BENT Supplied 

73 

with pride of place going to Lot 405, the 

half-sister to champion and dual international 

Gr.1 winner Jay Peg. He is also sire 

of Punta Del Este (Lot 521), a half-brother 

to 2001 champion juvenile filly Paraca, a 

subsequent Gr.3 winner in Australia. 

Leading freshman sire 

Lot 363, an own brother to champion Al 

Nitak and classic winner The Sheik heads 

the 31 youngsters by veteran champion 

Al Mufti, sire also of a half-brother to Gr.1 

filly Gypsy’s Warning (Lot 326); a colt out 

of Captain Al’s Gr.1 winning own sister 

Shadow Dancing (Lot 23) and from Ascot 

Stud, an Oaks prospect (Lot 381), 

out of an imported Kris S half-sister to 

Turgeon, a dual Gr.1 winner of the Irish St 

Leger and Prix Royal Oak. Ascot also offers 

Arabian Treaty (Lot 526), a grandson 

of Prix Vermeille winner Paulista, from the 

family of French Gr.1 winner American 

Post, a leading freshman sire of 2008. 

Nureyev’s son Caesour is a renowned 

sire of high-class fillies such as Irridescence, 

Perfect Promise, Dane Julia and 

Alexandra Rose, and a daughter sure to 

draw plenty of interest will be Varsfontein’s 

impeccably-bred filly Aussitot (Lot 

469). She is the second foal out of an unraced 

half-sister to French Gr.1 winner Air 

De Rien, from the family which produced 

the great Blushing Groom and closer 

to home, Equus Broodmare of the Year 

On The Roof, who counted triple classic 

winner Badger’s Drift amongst her six 

stakes performers. Caesour yearlings 

boasting Gr.1 winning dams include a 

filly out of Allan Robertson winner Silver 

Arc (Lot 33) and a colt out of Final Claim 

(Lot 280), who triumphed in the Garden 

Province Stakes. 

Silvano is off to a cracking start in the 

sales ring, with the half-brother to 2009 

Cape Derby runner-up topping the 2009 

GrandWest sale at R450,000. Sire of last 

season’s SA Derby and Oaks winners, 

both from his first local crop, he has 31

74 BREEDING NEWS NATIONAL YEARLING SALE 

At GrandWest he topped 

the list of sires by aggregate 

and his progeny should 

spark keen interest 

lots on offer, headed by a filly out of Gr.1 

winning mare Fov’s Fancy. 

Champion sprinter 

Among emerging stallions, champion 

sprinter Var, who sired his first stakes 

winner on J&B Met day, continues to 

find favour with buyers. At GrandWest 

he topped the list of sires by aggregate 

and his progeny should spark keen interest. 

His 16 yearlings on offer include 

siblings to Gr.1 winners Royal Deed (Lot 

268) and Dane Julia (Lot 545), as well 

as a colt (Lot 63) out of Gr.1 Natal Oaks 

victress Summer Line. 

Victory Moon, whose first crop yearlings 

were well received in 2008, has only 14 

catalogued, which should make them 

must-have commodities, notably the 

half-brother to Gr.1 winner Lyrical Linda, 

a daughter of prolific broodmare Luciennes, 

who is ancestress also of abovementioned 

Gr.1 winner Rebel King. 

First-crop sires entering the yearling 

market include Gr.1 winners Right Approach 

and Cataloochee. Machiavellian’s 

Gr.1 winning son Right Approach 

is sire of a filly (Lot 10) out of Gr.1 SA 

Fillies Guineas winner Saudies and a colt 

out of Gr.3 winner Best Chris (Lot 169), 

the half-sister to 2006 Durban July winner 

Eyeofthetiger. Al Mufti’s sprinting son 

Cataloochee has on offer a half-sister 

to Gr.3-performed Lostintranslation (Lot 

42), whose dam, Snooty Lady, is an own 

sister to J&B Met winner Angus. 

Prior to arriving at Wilgerbosdrift, Tiger 

Ridge, a Storm Cat half-brother to worldleading 

stallion AP Indy, spent six seasons 

at stud in the US, where he counts 

Gr.2 winning filly Leah’s Secret amongst 

his best progeny. Well-received by lo- 

cal breeders, his 26 yearlings include 

siblings to Gr.1 winning mare Badger’s 

Gift (Lot 100) and to durable Champions 

Cup hero African Appeal (Lot 380). A filly 

with international appeal is Arc-En-Ciel’s 

half-sister (Lot 229) to recent stakes winner 

Atlantic Storm, out of an own sister to 

champion sprinter Sheikh Albadou. 

Globetrotter King Of Kings had racked 

up more voyager miles than the most 

intrepid traveller. After shuttling to Australia 

in 1999, he has stood in the US, 

Japan, New Zealand (where he led the 

juvenile sires list in 2002) and Switzerland, 

before arriving in South Africa in 

2006. This handsome, classic-winning 

son of Sadler’s Wells received solid support 

from KwaZulu-Natal breeders in his 

initial season and he has 11 catalogued. 

A pair of colts worthy of mention are the 

half-brother to sensational Gr.1 winning 

mare Jamaica (Lot 181) and a half-brother 

to Gr.3 winner Sleek Braashee, out of 

Garden Province winner Sleek Wine (Lot 

38), both offered as part of the Middlefield 

draft. The Scott Brothers sent their 

Oaks winner Taineberrry to the English 

Guineas winner, and will offer the resultant 

filly (Lot 71), a half-sister to Gr.3 winner 

Jalberry. The filly’s grandam is Australian 

Gr.1 winner Strawberry Fair. 

Foreign-bred yearlings 

Included in the catalogue are around 30 

foreign-bred yearlings, many by proven 

international sires, with arguably the 

most intriguing being Klawervlei’s Royal 

Academy full brother (Lot 245) to last 

year’s joint top-priced yearling, the filly 

out of the own sister to champion twoyear-old 

Holy Roman Emperor. 

A colt by Pivotal fetched R2,5-million at 

the 2008 sale, and Varsfontein Stud are 

the consignors of a colt (Lot 157) by the 

leading English sire, who is out of Artistic 

Lady, a half-sister to Park Hill victress 

Noble Rose. 

Also catalogued are two fillies related to 

✍ ADA VAN DER BENT 

successful Gr.1 winning stallion Count 

Dubois - a Mutakddim out of his Rainbow 

Quest half-sister Nuance (Lot 507) 

and a daughter by Gr.1 sire Medicean 

(Lot 206). 

Champion Johannesburg has made 

a great start to his stud career and a 

filly with impeccable credentials is Lot 

512, whose Sadler’s Wells dam is a 

grandaughter of outstanding broodmare 

Stick To Beauty, ancestress also of 

champions Dayjur and Sky Beauty. 

English champion 

The Galileo x Danehill cross produced 

English champion two-year-old of 2006 

Teofilo, and a colt bred on similar lines is 

Klawervlei’s Lot 214, who hails from the 

family of outstanding American Gr.1 winners 

Timely Writer and Timely Assertion. 

Invincible Spirit, a Gr.1 winning son of 

Green Desert sired French Derby winner 

Lawman in his first crop and he has a 

colt (Lot 231) out of a half-sister to Caulfield 

Cup hero Diatribe, who hails from 

the immediate family of successful sire 

Announce and graded stakes winner 

Daphne Donelly. 

Highlands as agent offer a half-brother 

to Summerhill freshman stallion Way 

West, a grandson of triple Gr.1 winning 

mare Annoconnor. The colt (Lot 550) is 

by successful Roberto stallion Red Ransom, 

who to date has sired in excess of 

80 stakes winners. 

The best advertisement for any sale is 

the quality of its stock, and if the above 

sample is anything to go by, the 2009 

National Yearling Sale is sure to build 

on a legacy of success, which in recent 

years has seen its graduates succeed at 

the highest level, both locally and on the 

international stage.

CAPE NEWS ✍ LANCE BENSON & CLINTON CALDER Supplied 75 

KOREAN RIDERS HERE TO 

LEARN 

KRA DELEGATION: Seen at Kenilworth: Back row; from L to R: Vidrik Thurling(Chairman Gold Circle), Rodney Dunn 

(Chairman WPOTA), Vincent Curtis(Apprentice Manager SAJA Cape Town) and Jinkap Kim (Team Leader KRA Riding 

Academy) Front: Apprentice Jockeys Sangwoo Park, Geewoong Lee and Hyesun Kim. 

The growing relationship between the 

Korea Racing Association and Gold 

apprentices at their Milnerton base under 

the guidance of vastly experienced 

Circle gained further impetus with the local riding master Vincent Curtis. 

arrival in Cape Town last month of three The historic twinning agreement signed 

Korean apprentice jockeys and their rid- in July 2008 between Gold Circle and the 

ing master. The three young riders will KRA was an important step in strength- 

be training alongside the South Africa ening Gold Circle’s bridge of friendship 

and co-operation into the global village 

and the current visit was described as 

exciting by Chairman Thurling: “ South 

Africa is an acknowledged world leader 

in training outstanding jockeys and the 

KRA’s step of sending three apprentices 

to learn from us should be viewed as an 

endorsement and a show of faith in our 

standing internationally,” he said. Thurling 

went on to add that there were other 

projects in the pipeline including possible 

work opportunities for South African 

work riders in Korea and said that 

he was looking forward to the inaugural 

running of the Grade 2 KRA Guineas 

at Greyville during the KwaZulu-Natal 

Champions Season. He said that this 

would be followed by a reciprocal race, 

the Gold Circle Cup, which would be run 

at Busan Racecourse in Korea, during 

September of this year. 

GENEROSITY BENEFITS ALL 

The bi-annual Western Cape Equine 

Trust race day was held at Kenilworth 

on 16 December 2008. The aims 

and objectives of the Western Cape 

Equine Trust, formerly known as the National 

Horse Trust, are to raise funds and 

support the Horse Care Unit situated at 

the Cape of Good Hope SPCA. The feature 

race of the day was the highly anticipated 

Listed Victress Stakes and here 

we were privileged to witness the illustrious 

Dancer’s Daughter back in action 

after her lengthily rest after her Durban 

campaign. Predictably she proved that 

she is one of the best of her generation 

when beating River Jetez with consummate 

ease. 

Thanks to the kind generosity of Miss 

Jessica Slack it was announced by Aubrey 

Jacobs, Chairman of the Western 

Cape Equine Trust, that an amount of 

R250, 000.00 had been donated to the 

S.P.C.A’s Horse Care Unit. In addition 

paintings sponsored by well known artist 

Catherine Paynter were auctioned off. 

In total an amount of R32.000.00 was 

raised on the day. 

These funds will be put to good use by 

the horse care unit whose main function 

is to investigate any reported cases of 

abuse or abandonment of any equine 

and act upon it immediately in order to 

minimize the suffering of the animal. 

L to R: Allan Perrins (CEO SPCA), Bernadette Smit, 

Caroline Cohen, Amanda Carey, Mary – Anne Knight 

(Volunteer fund raiser)

76 LATEST NEWS INTERNATIONAL 

International News 

Kevin Coetzee racks 

up two Malaysian 

Classics 

KUALA LUMPUR - SA-born trainer Kevin 

Coetzee completed an end-of-the-year- 

2008 double in Malaysia. His charge 

Time Speed confirmed his status as one 

of the rising stars on the Malaysian racing 

circuit with a strong win in the Group 

3 Malaysian 2008 Magic Millions Classic 

(1200m) in Penang. Coetzee had earlier 

won the Gold Cup with Professional 

Man. 

Time Speed captured his first black type 

success in the Classic, but sent his outstanding 

career record to six wins from 

just nine starts. A $34,000 purchase at 

the 2006 Magic Millions Perth Yearling 

Sale at Belmont, Time Speed had a 

neck to spare on the line over Jeram Fatt 

Choy. 

Aintree increases 

Grand National 

stakes 

LONDON - Great Britain’s Aintree Racecourse 

has announced that for the second 

consecutive year, the purse for the 

John Smith’s Grand National has increased 

by £100,000 to total £900,000 

when the 4 1/2 mile steeplechase is contested 

April 4, 2009. 

“The generous support of John Smith’s 

has made this possible and since their 

sponsorship started in 2005 the value of 

the John Smith’s Grand National has risen 

from £600,000 to £900,000,” said Julian 

Thick, managing director at Aintree. 

The Grand National was inaugurated in 

1839 with Lottery the first winner of the 

marathon steeplechase. The race was 

abandoned from 1941-45 and a substitute 

race was run at Gatwick from 1915- 

18. The most famous horse in Grand 

National history was the great Red Rum, 

who won the race in 1973, 1974 and 

1977 as well as finishing second on his 

other two starts. 

McCoy rides his 

3000th winner 

LONDON - Tony McCoy finally reached 

his personal landmark of 3,000 career 

jumps winners with success aboard 

Restless D’Artaix in the 3300m beginners’ 

chase at Plumpton on Monday, 1 

February. 

Just half an hour after being cruelly 

robbed of victory when Miss Sarenne fell 

at the last with the race seemingly in the 

bag, McCoy returned to the saddle and 

demonstrated the strength of mind and 

body that has set him apart and seen 

him land the jockeys’ title an unprecedented 

13 times. 

He sat just behind the front-running The 

Package throughout and then moved to 

dispute the lead turning into the home 

straight. Timmy Murphy didn’t give up 

easily on his mount and the pair jumped 

the last two fences together, but McCoy 

was not to be denied again and drove 

the seven-year-old out to the line to create 

history. 

McCoy said afterwards: “It’s not something 

I’m going to play down - I am ecstatic. 

All 3,000 winners have taken a lot 

of hard work. It’s very easy to be driven 

when you are lucky enough to do a job 

you love. 

“I am lucky to have been supported by a 

It’s very easy to be driven 

when you are lucky enough 

to do a job you love. 

number of great people over the years.” 

McCoy was also quick to pay tribute to 

his agent after his landmark success: 

“It’s great, I’ve been very lucky with my 

agent. A lot of thanks must go to Dave 

Roberts. He’s helped me since I started 

and, without him, this wouldn’t be possible.” 

Earlier in the afternoon, winner 2,999 had 

been achieved courtesy of Hello Moscow, 

which had seen the champion at 

his brilliant best, cajoling the horse from 

over a circuit out to a neck victory. 

Nicky Henderson provided McCoy with 

three of his four rides and after sharing 

the agony of Miss Sarenne’s fall, was 

quick to praise the legendary rider. 

He said: “Just as you see it today, it 

couldn’t be wetter, it couldn’t be colder 

and he can ride winners like that and 

finish like that - it’s quite extraordinary. 

I think he is the only person who would 

have won on either of them. You’ll never 

see numbers like that again. I cannot 

ever see him stopping because that’s 

the way he is.” 

Coral is offering 5-1 that McCoy will ride 

another 1,000 winners. - The Racing 

Post. 

AP McCoy

78 TURF TALES LATEST NEWS 

SECURITY IN SPOTLIGHT 

Zero tolerance for 

racecourse thugs 

After an incident at the Vaal Racecourse 

in early February, during which jockey 

Piere Strydom was verbally abused for 

being beaten on a short priced favourite, 

action was taken behind the scenes by 

Phumelela Security. 

According to Phumelela’s Alfie Little, 

the person was properly dealt with after 

the incident. The man has been banned 

from all Phumelela racecourses and facilities. 

His photographs were taken and 

distributed, for enforcement of the banning. 

Whilst the man was not charged, 

all future culprits will be banned and 

also charged and such charges will be 

followed through. 

Little said: ``Let it be known that Phumelela 

has adopted a zero tolerance 

policy with regard to any form of misbehaviour, 

verbal abuse and physical assault 

or suchlike. It is important that the 

public is made aware of this policy.” 

He added, “Our racecourses have metal 

detectors at the entrances. Entrance will 

not be gained by anyone carrying any 

sort of weapon. It is important to mention 

that this zero tolerance policy has come 

about simply because we value all racegoers 

and punters and that we will go to 

great lengths to ensure the safety and 

comfort of all who use our facilities.’’ 

Wolfhound dies 

STALLION Wolfhound, a former resident 

of Gary Player’s Colesberg Stud, died at 

19 without siring a local star, but stallion 

manager John Freeman predicts that 

the son of Nureyev will be a good sire of 

broodmares. 

``Our old chum ‘Wolfie’ has gone to the 

WOLFHOUND 

big racecourse in the sky. And as uncle 

Murphy always had it- if you want to 

make sure a stallion fires, sell him! 

``We did not sell Wolfie, he had a heart 

attack and died doing what he liked to 

do best -- on the job. Then in the month 

following his death he had a spate of 

winners -- even getting three in one day. 

``Wolfhound was not only a champion 

racehorse, but is a son of one of the 

world’s most influential broodmares, 

Lassie Dear. His sire Nureyev is one of 

the world’s great broodmare sires, so 

Wolfie is surely bred to be a broodmare 

sire himself and we are banking on him 

being just that. 

``If you’ve got a Wolfhound filly or mare, 

look after her, and if you haven’t got one 

you have one last rare opportunity to get 

one this year. There are none on the National 

Yearling Sales but we know there 

are some around so keep a sharp look 

at later sales.’’ 

Wolfhound sired European Group 1 winner 

Bright Sky and local Graded winner 

Surabi, and other top performers North- 

ern Wolf, Wolfpack and Woelfin. 

Trainer Alec Laird 

Laird saddles 1000th 

winner 

TRAINER Alec Laird saddled his 1000th 

career winner when Girl Of The Spirit 

won her debut run for owner Ron Boon 

on Saturday, 7 February. “It took twenty 

years to do it,’’ quipped Alec, who feels 

that his winning the 1996 Durban July 

with London News is the highlight of his 

career so far.

LOT NAME SEX SIRE DAM 

8 Chesalon c. Fort Wood (USA) Sarabande 

51 Sports Coach c. Jet Master Sport’s Chestnut 

80 Timeofreckoning c. Var (USA) Thin Air 

87 Coliseum c. Count Dubois (GB) Toga 

130 Virtuoso c. Var (USA) Wise Dame 

154 Armatrading f. Var (USA) Aretha 

160 Icy Flight c. Western Winter (USA) Avian Talk (ARG) 

161 Al Shiba f. Al Mufti (USA) Azabu Park (AUS) 

199 Kersen c. Var (USA) Cherry Pepper (GB) 

203 Guess What c. Jallad (USA) Classical Magic 

228 Valmorne c. Var (USA) Derry Wood 

265 New York c. Fort Wood (USA) Fair Model 

268 Talleyrand c. Var (USA) Faith And Charity 

303 Exultation c. Silvano (GER) Gaiety Girl (USA) 

321 Wilberforce c. Jet Master Golden Treat 

349 Macarthur Park c. Camden Park (USA) Inanda House 

396 Castlemartin c. Captain Al Lady Linney 

416 Laptev c. Var (USA) Lena (USA) 

428 Gossamer f. Western Winter (USA) London Belle 

470 Torch Singer c. Var (USA) Minelli 

487 Wood Sprite f. Fort Wood (USA) Murmuration (USA) 

570 Cossack Girl f. Right Approach (GB) Red Remedy (USA)

80 TOP HORSEMAN WESTERN CAPE COMPETITION 

SEARCH FOR TOP HORSEMAN 

WELL SUPPORTED 

TRUST CHAIRMAN JOHN FREEMAN: Delighted at the response 

The Chairman of the Western Province 

Grooms School Trust, John Freeman, 

ting World, the competition attracted 39 

entries, with some of the larger yards 

has expressed his delight at the quality entering as many as 5 grooms each. 

of the entries received for the Western The competition was not only initiated 

Cape Top Horseman competition and to find suitable candidates for future 

announced that the project had exceed- development as racehorse trainers but 

ed all expectations. The competition was to provide the trust with the information 

open to all stable employees at training it needed to measure the effectiveness 

yards throughout the Western Cape and of past programmes and what future di- 

was designed to test general knowledge rection practical grooms training should 

about their charge, , ranging from the take. 

its track performance to more specific The majority of the grooms that made up 

items about feed and for example what the final group that went through to the 

the normal temperature of a horse should second round had availed themselves of 

be at rest as well as technical questions the training opportunities at the Groom 

about racing and National Horseracing School, with many of them having com- 

Authority Rules and Regulations. pleted all of the courses including liter- 

Co-sponsored by L’Ormarins and Betacy, work riding and practical training. 

Some of the main contenders have also 

participated in the Assistant Trainers 

Course. There are a number of top entrants 

who have yet to enjoy the benefits 

of the formal training offered by the Trust 

and the National Grooms School. The 

final phase includes psychometric and 

other scientific testing. 

Chairman John Freeman said that the 

WP Groom School Trust appreciated 

the interest and support of its sponsors: 

“ Thanks to the very generous assistance 

provided by L’Ormarins and Betting 

World as well as all our trainers, this 

competition will make a measurable difference 

in the life of the winning horseman 

– the R50 000 main prize will be 

paid out half in cash and the other half 

in further specialist training. The process 

of evaluating the candidates in this competition 

has enabled the trust to make 

informed decisions about how it stands 

in meeting it’s original mission statement 

- to uplift the lives of the grooms that care 

for our beloved horses, to enable them 

to enjoy their work more and to be more 

proficient at it so as to make a difference 

in the lives of our horses and to horseracing 

in general,” he said. 

The announcement of the Western 

Cape’s Top Horseman will take place in 

April.

1. Bambiso “William” Nkosilungile, groom and top 

work rider for Basil Mrcus in Milnerton 

Period of Service:- 12 years 

Schooling:- Standard 4 

Groom School:- work riders course - Champion Work 

Rider Series 2007 – won 8 races. 

“one of the Cape most sought after riders” 

2. Boyce Bonginkosi, head man for Joey Ramsden 

in Milnerton 

Period of service:- 25 years 


Groom School:- ABET Level 3 

All time favourite: Prince of War 

Retired from work riding due to injury 

‘reliable and trusted horseman” 

3. Filane Zonisele head man for John McDonald in 

Milnerton 


Schooling:- standard 7 

Grooms School:- practical training, stable employee 

and assistant trainer course 

NHRA:- registered assistant trainer 

“a knowledgeable and responsible horseman who 

takes the care and welfare of all the horses in his yard 

seriously.” 

4. Jevu “Eric” Khayalethu, assistant trainer in Glen 

Puller yard at Milnerton 



Groom School:- completed all courses - Student of the 

Year 2008 & Top Work Rider 

NHRA:- Registered Assistant Trainer 

Successful competitor in Work Rider Series – won 

races 

“ impressed all of the educators at the Grooms School” 

5. Kondile “Eliot” Lungile, registered stable employee/ 

soon to be assistant trainer at the Plattner Racing 

Stables 


Schooling: Standard 4 

Work Rider – won a Work Riders race in Durban on Lizzard’s 

Lust & rode 2 winners in the Cape 

Groom School: Practical training, work riding(work rider 

of thr year) and Stable Employee – will attempt to sit 

the NHRA assistant trainers exam without formal training 

in 2009. 

NHRA: Registered Stable Employee 

Rates Loskopdoll as his pick. 

“dedicated and passionate horseman, highly rated in 

the Plattner Yard” 

6. Mahesi Nkosikhona, runs a yard for Justin Snaith 

at Philippi 



Grooms School:- practical training - stable employee 

course , work riding and first aid - assistant trainer 

course (not completed). 

NHRA:- registered stable employee 

Work Riding:- 

“highly valued and trusted assistant trainer in the Snaith 

operation”. 

7. Mbombi “Never Die” Mziukiwe, head groom for 

Dean Kannemeyer at Milnerton 



Groom School:- Stable Employee of the year 

NHRA:- Registered Stable Employee 

Responsible for overseeing the running of the yard and 

all grooms 

All time favourite - Dynasty 

“responsible and trustworthy 

8. Mkhala “James” Malibongwe, head man in the 

Kotzen yard at Paarl 



Grooms School:- work riding and attended the Cape 

Breeders practical and first aid courses at Varsfontein – 

no other Grooms School practical course in his area. 

Favourite horse:- Lady Windermere 

“passionate about the horses he rides.” Has been left 

solely responsible for care and work program including 

riding work when travelling with horses.” 

9. Ndzilana Alson oversees the day to day running of 

the Ramsden satellite yard in Durban 



Grooms School:- practical training, stable employee 

and ABET Level 1 & 2 

NHRA:- registered stable employee 

“a very capable horseman who supervises the staff, 

rides work and does race day duties” 

10. Ngamlane “Patrick” Mxolisi, groom for Stephen 

Page at Philippi 



Groom School:- Practical training (student of the year) 

and Stable Employee 

NHRA: Registered Stable Employee 

“another star student from the Page yard. Patrick’s 

enthusiasm and passion for racing has made him a 

teacher at the Groom School” 

11. Ngozi “Wellington” Mthuseli head groom for Stan 

Elley at Philippi 



Groom School:- has completed all courses - student of 

the year 

NHRA:- Registered Assistant Trainer 

Successful competitor in Work Rider Series, numerous 

places 

All time favourite - Red Badge 

“takes immense pride and interest in the horses he 

looks after” 

12. Nygoshani “Speedo” Vuyolwethu, junior head 

man for Basil Marcus in Milnerton 



Groom School:- ABET, wok rider & stable employee 

NHRA:- Registered Stable Employee 

Work Rider; has ridden in 6 races – 1 win & 3 places 

“ the youngest competitor – impressed the panel. 

valuable link in Basil Marcus’ stable” 

13. Thulani Cyprian a head man at the Snaith yard 



All time favourite: Dancers Daughter 

“what impressed me very much was his attitude towards, 

and handling of his horse, Dancers Daughter.” 


WESTERN CAPE’S TOP 

81 

HORSEMAN - COMPETITORS 

1 

3 

5 

7 

9 10 

11 12 

13 

2 

4 

6 

8

KING OF KINGS 

“The complete package” 

It is always exciting when a new sire appears at the National Sales and this year 

will be no exception, if early interest from trainers is anything to go by, as the 

first South African crop of Multiple Group 1 winner KING OF KINGS goes under 

the hammer. This champion racehorse was the most precocious son of worldwide 

super sire Sadlers Wells, winning Group 1 races at two and three years 

including the Sagitta 2000 Guineas, this top racehorse, top sire and emerging sire 

of sires and broodmare sire is turning out to be the complete package.

CHAMPION SIRE 

Being by that amazing sire of sires SADLERS WELLS, it was no 

surprise that KING OF KINGS was a Champion Sire of two year 

olds with his New Zealand crop that included multiple Gr 1 Classic 

winner KING’S CHAPEL, and has been responsible for Australian 

Gr 1 winner REIGNING TO WIN, Gr1 placed South Australian 

Oaks, Gr 3, winner QUEEN OF QUEENS, this past season alone. 

He has an impressive list of Graded stakes winners worldwide with 

Black Type winners on four continents. With just the three runners 

in South Africa he has a 100% winners to runners with ZOOMING 

ZELLIE a winner of the Prix du Cap Gr 3. 

The above mentioned KINGS CHAPEL is playing his part in establishing 

his sire as a Sire of Sires, becoming the first Australasian first 

season sire to get a Graded Stakes winner when KINGS RANSOM 

won the Gr 3, Wakefield Challenge Stakes, in January and there is 

much talk of the quality of his stock, so watch this space. 

EMERGING BROODMARE SIRE 

KING OF KINGS is also starting to make his mark as a broodmare 

sire with the success of ALEXANDROS in the Gr 3 Prix de Cabourg 

following his second place in the Prix Morny Gr 1 Running in 

Dubai for the Godolphin team this season he is unbeaten in his two 

starts , easily accounting for South African Gr 1 winner BIARRITZ 

in his latest effort, and is being aimed at Super Saturday. 

NATIONAL SALES YEARLINGS 

Both the Natal Breeders Club and the Gold Circle board will be 

pleased at the quality of pedigree of this first local draft and he is 

represented by eleven very smart youngsters here is a quick look at 

their pedigrees. 

LOT 38 b.f. SLEEK QUEEN 

Is a half sister to five winners including SLEEK BRAASHEE a 

GR 3 winner of six races. And here the Sadlers Wells connection is 

repeated. As if this wasn’t enough her dam was SLEEK WINE who 

featured the Gr 1 Garden Province Stakes among her 6 wins. 

LOT 71 b.f. BERRY QUEEN 

Another wonderfully bred filly out of the Gr 2 Oaks winner 

TAINEBERRY who has already produced five winners including 

JALBERRY, winner of the Pretty Polly S. Gr 3. This is a super 

stakes producing Australian family with all the three first dams on 

the page graded Stakes winner and producers. 

LOT 86 ch.f. HARMONY TIME 

Out of the six time winner TIMELESS TUNE who is a full sister 

to TIME GOES BY, a Gr 3 winner of 12 races, and a half sister to 

STAR FINDER a stakes winner of 6 races. From the imported 

PRINCELY MAID (GB) family that produced the top class Gr 1 

winner FORZANDO, and a host of European stakes winners. 

LOT 91 ch.f. ROYAL WINGS 

From an unraced half sister to no less than twelve winners including 

ARCSA Champion Stayer TRAVEL NORTH, who’s 10 wins 

included the SA Derby Gr 1, and Stakes placed World Traveller 

and her own sister Northern Singer dam of the Gr 3 winner RHAP- 

SODY IN RED. 

LOT 356 ch.f. RA RA RA 

A half sister to the six time winner NOTTGALASHIA who is from 

a smart imported American family that produced TECHNOLOGY, 

a multiple Gr 1 winner, LASS TRUMP a Gr 2 winner of 10 races 

and TIMELY STITCH a multiple stakes winner of 12 races. 

AND HIS COLTS 

LOT 181 b.c. BERMUDA TRIANGLE 

This colt out of the Averof mare Bridge Of Stars is a half brother 

to one of the best racemares of recent years, the Equus Champion 

JAMAICA, a multiple Gr 1 winner of 11 races and 12 time winner 

Little Hampton. A strong South African family that has produced the 

prolific winners WAR HOUSE, PROSPECTORS STRIKE etc. 

LOT 223 ch.c. KING’S FANTASY 

From the Shalford mare DARE TO DREAM, a winner of the Allan 

Robertson Fillies Championship Gr 1. Shalford being by Thatching 

makes this colt inbred to Thong, one of the best producers of top 

quality international sire and broodmares in recent years. 

LOT 410 b.c. REIGN VICTORIOUS 

First foal of LEE DANZIG a winner of the Steinhof Magnolia 

Handicap Gr 3. She is out of LEEWARD ISLE, herself a stakes 

winner of 5. With stakes winners under every dam, she is from the 

imported European family of MANGE TOUT, Champion 2yo filly 

in France. 

LOT 423 b.c. KINGS ENTOURAGE 

From the Sportsworld mare Lite Spark, a multiple Gr 1 placed winner 

of 3 races and a half sister to the dam of GEEPEE S winner of 

last season’s Allan RobertsonFillies Championship Gr 1. 

The first three dams are all stakes performers from the family of that 

top mare LUTICIA Gr 1. 

LOT 459 b.c. KINGS HOME 

From the top race mare MELTING , a winner of the First National 

Bank Sprint Gr 3 beating “Galloping Goldmine” EMPRESS CLUB 

in the process. This colt is a half brother to seven winners including 

the dam of top 2 yo ZEENO, winner of the Gold Medallion Gr 1. 

with a host of stakes winners down the page. 

LOT 490 ch.c. KING’S DECREE 

A half brother to 4 winners including stakes winner BEAMER and 

Gr placed Western Night from what can only be described as one of 

the best imported New Zealand families in the country.The second 

dam SHAGOLVVIN was a Gr 2 winner of 7 races and a half sister 

to the dam of two of the finest racehorse and stallion prospects to 

come out of Australia in the past couple of seasons in champions 

HARADASUN and ELVESTROEM.

84 BLOODSTOCK NEWS Intercontinental Bloodstock ✍ CHAD COOKE Supplied 

NEW PLAYER ENTERS 

BLOODSTOCK MARKET 

Intercontinental Bloodstock, the trading name of bloodstock agent Xavier 

Bozo, has entered the South African Racing Industry and is sure to add value 

to a market that is becoming the desired playground of the world. 

South African-bred and trained horses 

abroad have impacted hugely 

on the South African market and these 

successes and a visit to South Africa, arranged 

by Racing South Africa, last year 

was what was needed to convince Bozo 

that South Africa is his second home. 

Intercontinental Bloodstock has been 

active in the international thoroughbred 

markets for over a decade, with Bozo 

having been in the breeding industry 

since 1974. 

Gold Dance, the dam of Group 1 winner 

Goldamix, Sherkiya, dam of American 

Group 1 EP Taylor Stakes winner Choc 

Ice and Exciting Times, dam of group 1 

winner Gorella and listed winner Porto 

Santo, are some of the mares that Intercontinental 

Bloodstock has purchased 

for clients over the years. 

Bozo, through Intercontinental, conducts 

business in Ireland, the United Kingdom, 

the United States of America and France, 

his home base. 

Elevage de la Source, the Bozo family 

breeding operation in Normandy, France, 

came into being in 1996 and has bred 

...they sold a mare 

in foal for €1,35-million 

(approximately 

R17,55-million). 

the likes of Group 

1 winner Gorella, 

Listed winner Porto 

Santo and Group 1 

hurdles winner Top 

Of The Sky, amidst 

numerous well-performedthoroughbreds 

from a band 

of just 15 mares. 

With Elevage de la 

Source yearlings 

having achieved Xavier and Nathalie Bozo 

prices of €230 000 

and €210 000 last 

year (approximately 

R2,99-million and 

R2,75-million respectively). 

The 

highest sale price 

achieved by the 

farm was last year 

when they sold 

a mare in foal for 

€1,35-million (approximatelyR17,55- 

The bozo residence and stud farm in Normandy, France 

million).ing 

operation similar to what they have in 

Xavier Bozo and his wife Nathalie pur- Normandy. 

chased a Fantastic Light filly at the Na- Intercontinental Bloodstock is now repretional 

Yearling Sales last year and their sented in South Africa and will be in at- 

investment in South Africa looks set to tendance at the National Yearling Sales. 

grow as they are now in negotiations to Anyone interested in contacting them for 

purchase a farm in the Natal Midlands 

with the intention of setting up a breed- 

assistance can call 032 941 6203.

• Multiple G1 winner 

• Champion Racehorse & Horse Of The Year 

• Multiple Champion Sire of North America 

• Sire of multiple Champions 

• Leading International Sire of Sires 

• Single-handedly revived the entire Bold 

Ruler Sire Line 

• 2009 Stud Fee: $250,000 

• One of the greatest fillies (TFR 133) in the 

history of the turf. 

• 16 starts, 12 wins, 10 G1 wins 

• Won the English & French 1000 Guineas G1 

• Twice won the Breeders Cup Mile G1 

• Twice won the Prix Jacques Le Marois G1 

• 9 Championships in France, England & USA 

• Dam of sires KINGMAMBO, MINGUN, 

MIESQUE’S SON, KITALPHA & JUDPOT as 

well as G1 winning filly, EAST OF THE MOON 

• Triple G1 winner 

• One of the world’s best sires 

• World Co-Leading Active Sire by G1 

Winners in 2008 

• In 2008, KINGMAMBO sired 12 Stakes 

Winners and 21 Stakes Horses 

• Sire of a total 82 Stakes Winners, 49 

Graded/Group winners with Champions in 6 

Countries (to November 2008) 

• 2009 Stud Fee: $250,000 

an 

incomparable 

pedigree - 

alan porter

86 VETERINARY NEWS ACCOUNTS 

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY... 

IF YOU are a racehorse 

owner, even if you only 

have a share in one 

leg, you will have had a 

vet’s bill along with your 

monthly training fee at 

some stage of your ownership. 

It’s a cost many 

owners don’t budget for 

– and could well send 

some of them back to 

the racetrack in search 

of a winner to pay for it 

all. 

According to Dr Ralph Katzwinkel, 

head veterinary surgeon at Summerveld 

Equine Hospital in Shongweni, 

outside Durban, veterinary procedures 

in racing fall into two categories – elective 

or (routine) work, and essential or 

(emergency) work. Routine work is broken 

down into vaccinations, dewormings, 

dental care and basic healthcare. 

Essential work is when the trainer has no 

option but to call the vet. 

Says Katzwinkel: “If one goes back a 

number of years to when I started in 

practice, trainers were unable to do an 

intravenous injection. Now we’re dealing 

with a new generation of trainer who can 

do procedures, for example administering 

an IV or even tubing a horse.” 

When a vet is called out to an emergency 

such as an injury, lameness or colic, 

costs quickly mount up. Bills can be an 

owner’s nightmare but, says Katzwinkel, 

they can be a source of frustration for 

vets, too. 

This is because one of the difficulties all 

vets in horse practice face is that they 

build up a relationship with trainers; however, 

the owner is not present at the time 

the work is done, leaving him in the dark 

as to how the costs are arrived at. 

“Sometimes a horse injures itself and because 

the horse is due to race soon that 

injury is downplayed to the owner.” 

Individual fees are not the issue. Vet services, 

when called on frequently, escalate 

the account. It’s a question of consumption, 

just like any service on offer. 

As one owner summed it up: “Most 

months I got vet’s bills coming off my fax 

machine like loo paper.” 

After discussions with trainers and owners, 

Summerveld Equine Hospital decided 

to revaluate certain fees for common 

procedures, for example simple intra articular 

procedures and a basic scope. 

Costs for emergency treatment can vary 

according to the procedure undertaken 

and the severity of the problem. A colic 

✍ LAUREN DE BEER Supplied 

case could be straightforward to treat, 

says Katzwinkel. “With a lameness case, 

for example, the horse may only have 

slight unsoundness. By finding the right 

area and successfully treating it you can 

regain the horse’s soundness and therefore 

its racing performance. That is an 

essential part of the work we do.” 

The prolonged wet weather in most parts 

of the country has also given rise to other 

equine ailments including an increase 

in the number of horses with foot rot, 

greasy heel and fungal infections of the 

skin. Horse sickness, says Katzwinkel, 

has occurred much sooner than normal 

as a result of this, and precautions need 

to be taken with regard to management 

of horses that go out into pastures. The 

recent respiratory virus has also spread 

rapidly among racehorses.

# 547 

POLYANTHUS 

by Fort Wood - 

Princess Polly 

by Royal Chalice 

# 434 

CARIBBEAN QUEEN 

by Western Winter - 

Love On The Run 

by Elliodor

# 164 

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE 

by National Assembly - 

Badgernita 

by Badger Land 

2009 

National Sale Yearlings 

Varsfontein’s 2009 National Yearling Sale’s draft comprises 22 fillies and 13 

colts - all by superior sires and from families that epitomise Varsfontein. 

Please visit us at the TBA Sales Ground or 

view our yearlings online at www.varsfontein.co.za.


13 Shy Tom c. Tiger Ridge - Seattle Hawaii 

16 Silent Partner c. Silvano - Secret To Success 

67 Sweet Escape f. Victory Moon - Sweet Seduction 

70 Talente f. Jet Master - Tachina 

78 Thunder God c. Jet Master - Tetre Rouge 

107 Vengence c. Black Sam Bellamy - Vijanti 

110 Vivace f. Jallad - Vogue Award 

112 Kanga f. Tara’s Halls - Waltzing Wallaby 

118 Wildest Dream c. Fort Wood - West Coast Mama 

138 Antonius c. Count Dubois - A J Bear 

139 Action Replay f. Jet Master - Action Bleue 

147 Ato (USA) c. Royal Academy - Another Legend 

156 Aerofoil c. Count Dubois - Aromatic Anne 

171 Blue Hills f. Count Dubois - Blue Heather 

190 Corrado c. Caesour - Caramanta 

285 Fabiola f. National Emblem - Fleuret 

294 Frequent Flyer f. Silvano - Fov’s Fancy 

336 Heart Rate c. Rakeen - Hear My Heart 

350 Imani f. National Emblem - Inside Blitz 

2009 

National Sale Yearlings 

# 441 LIGETI c by Western Winter - Lyrical Linda by Jallad. # 519 PEPPERED c by Western Winter - Pailita by Monsun. 

# 585 RED JET c by Jet Master - Rosey Rapids by Virginia 

Rapids. 

# 147 ATO c by Royal Academy - Another Legend by 

Lyphard’s Wish. 

2009 NATIONAL SALE YEARLINGS 


351 Impromptu c. Oratorio - Inspired 

366 Jolly Poppins f. Count Dubois - Jolly Brolly 

375 King Bird c. Count Dubois - Katherine 

386 Landini c. Silvano - La Calima 

392 Leda f. Count Dubois - Lady Acton 

436 Lockheed c. Victory Moon - Luciennes 

441 Ligeti c. Western Winter - Lyrical Linda 

446 Merlion (SNL) c. Lion Heart - Magic In The Air 

479 Miss Delish f. Jallad - Missing No More 

519 Peppered c. Western Winter - Pailita 

521 Punta Del Este c. National Emblem - Paraguaya 

533 Pure Silver f. Silvano - Perfick 

539 Platinum Moon c. Silvano - Platinum Princess 

541 Policy Maker c. National Assembly - Policy Issue 

556 Quality Time f. Count Dubois - Quest For Success 

561 Romantic Moon f. Silvano - Racing Heart 

566 Rum And Raisin c. Victory Moon - Raspberry 

585 Red Jet c. Jet Master - Rosey Rapids 

593 Run For It c. Dynasty - Running Rhythm

Maine Chance Farms 

Leading South African Breeders 

# 156 AEROFOIL c by Count Dubois - Aromatic Anne by Model Man. Half-brother to PHILIPPA JOHNSON. Grandam, SCENTED 

ROYAL was ARCSA Champion 2-y-o Filly 1988. 

Maine Chance Farms offers 38 yearlings 

on the 2009 National Yearling sale, 

comprising 23 colts and 15 fillies 

including yearlings by International sires 

Black Sam Bellamy, Royal Academy, 

Oratorio and Lion Heart. 

Visit us at the TBA Sales Grounds 

and view our yearlings online 

at www.mainechance.co.za

92 TURF TALES SOCCER 4 

TAB launches Soccer 4 

TAB has launched an exciting new soccer bet, the Soccer 4. It is from the 

same stable as Soccer 6, which has made the world’s most popular game 

more enjoyable for tens of thousands of people. Soccer 6’s popularity is continuing 

to grow with Saturday pools on the PSL and UK Premiership often 

grossing more than R1.5 million apiece.

But for the thousands 

of sharpshooters 

out there, 

TAB Iaunched a second 

soccer bet to test 

their knowledge of 

soccer to the limit. 

The new bet is Soccer 

4. It’s just like Soccer 

6, but with two big 

differences – only 4 

matches (not 6) and 

6 options to choose 

from per match (not 3). 

Soccer 4 is a real test 

of soccer fans’ football 

knowledge and this is 

how it works. 

To win, the results of 4 

matches must be correctly 

forecast – M1, 

M2, M3, M4 – and 

there are 6 options 

per match: 

1 = Team A win by 1 

goal (1-0; 3-2 etc) 

2 = Team A win by 2 

goals of more (2-0; 

4-1 etc) 

3 = No-score draw 

(0-0 only) 

4 = Score draw (1-1; 

2-2 etc) 

5 = Team B win by 1 

goal 

6 = Team B win by 2 goals or more 

The cost of the bet and all the other rules 

are the same as Soccer 6. A single entry 

(one choice per match) costs R6 and the 

cost of a multiple entry is R6 per combination. 

The result is the score at the end 

of normal play, including extra time if 

played. Penalty shootouts do not count. 

The cost of a multiple or permutation 

entry is calculated in the same way as 

Soccer 6. Simply total the number of selections 

in each of the four matches and 

multiply them out. Then multiply that total 

by six to get the total cost in rands. For 

example, if there are two selections in 

three of the four matches and one in the 

other the cost is R48 (2 x 2 x 2 x 1 = 8 x 

6 = R48). Soccer 4 is another great soccer 

bet from TAB. Keep playing Soccer 

6, but if you fancy an exciting challenge 

give Soccer 4 a chance on the pitch as 

well. More information is available at 

www.soccer6.co.za 

Classic Day and Champions 

Day 

Six feature races will be run on Classic 

Day at Turffontein on Saturday 28 

March. 

The races are: The R2-million SA Classic 

(Grade 1) over 1800m (the second leg 

of the SA Triple Crown), the R1-million 

SA Fillies Classic (G1) over 1800m (the 

second leg of the SA Triple Tiara), the 

R200,000 Caradoc Gold Cup (G3) over 

2850m, the R200,000 Man O’ War Sprint 

(G3) over 1100m, the R200,000 Protea 

Stakes over 1100m and the R165,000 

Pretty Polly Stakes (G3) over 1100m. 

Entries close on Monday 9 March with 

supplementary entries on Monday 16 

March when the weights will be published. 

Declarations fall due on Thursday 

✍ CHARL PRETORIUS Supplied 93 

Soccer 4 is a real test of soccer 

fans’ football knowledge 

and this is how it works 

19 March. 

Eight feature races will be run at Turffontein 

on Champions Day, Saturday 25 

April, including the R2-million Champions 

Challenge over 2000m. Three-yearold 

Eddington, trained by Dominic Zaki, 

won last year’s Champions Challenge. 

The other feature events are: 

R1.5-million SA Derby (G1), Leg 3 of the 

SA Triple Crown; R1-million Computaform 

Sprint (G1); R750,000 SA Oaks (G2), 

Leg 3 of the SA Triple Tiara; R500,000 

The Nursery (G2); R500,000 Gold Bowl 

(G2); R400,000 The Fillies Nursery (G2) 

and the R220,000 Camellia Stakes (G2) 

Important dates for the 

Champions Challenge: 

First entries: Monday 2 March 

Second entries: Monday 30 March 

Third entries, weights and draws: Tuesday 

14 April 

Declarations:16 April 

Important dates for the other 

features: 

Entries: Monday 6 April 

Supplementary entries and weights: 

Tuesday 14 April 

Declarations: Thursday 16 April

94 KZN NEWS 

ACADEMY WELCOMES 

NEW PRINCIPAL 

The new man in the hotseat of the 

South African Jockey Academy is 51 

year old Graham Bailey, former Head- 

master of Pinetown High School. Bailey 

replaced longstanding Headmaster Patrick 

Salvage who emigrated at the end of 

2008. We wish him every strength in this 

challenging post. 

Graham Bailey seen with his top apprentice Karis 

Teetan after the Mauritian born rider had ridden four 

winners at Greyville recently. 

DENYSSCHEN DIES AFTER 

LONG ILLNESS 

Ashburton trainer Paul Denysschen 

died on 16 December last year at 

the Pietermaritzburg Medi-Clinic after a 

long battle with cancer. He would have 

turned 64 on Christmas day. 

Denysschen was a true character of 

the turf and trained some outstanding 

horses over a long career, most notably 

the highly talented son of model Man, 

Amberpondo who won the 1996 Kings 

Cup and 1997 Champion Stakes. Cape 

trainer Izak Cronje said that he and his 

wife Cheryl would miss the jocular Denysschen 

who was a regular summer visitor 

to their Cape Town home: 

“ Paul was a colleague and friend and 

a salt of the earth character with limitless 

energy and great personality. His 

passing has left a void in a lot of lives 


and Cheryl and I are deeply saddened, 

“ he said. Mario Teixeira, who owned 

horses with the Denysschen yard for 

many years described him as a legend: 

“ What a man’s man and a true animal 

lover. Horses, dogs and koi fish were his 

passion. He did things his own way and 

when trouble was brewing he would be 

the first in the queue. He was not a yes 

man and didn’t suffer fools. I will never 

replace him as a trainer of integrity and 

a great friend.” Gold Circle Racing Director 

Graeme Hawkins described the 

loss as a huge blow to KZN racing and 

said the industry was richer for having 

known a man of Denysschen’s stature. 

He is survived by sons Lowan and Garron, 

daughter Karla and Lowan’s wife 

Caroline.

96 VETERINARY NEWS DRAKENSTEIN VETERINARY CENTRE 

WORLD CLASS 

HOSPITAL OPENS 

South Africa now boasts one of the world’s top veterinary care facilities 

with the official opening on Saturday 6 February 2009 of the Drakenstein 

Veterinary Centre which is situated on the R301 near the beautiful Boland 

town of Franschhoek. The hospital, sponsored by industry leaders Mary 

Slack, Gaynor Rupert, Graham Beck, Markus Jooste and Andreas Jakobs 

is the brainchild of leading former KwaZulu-Natal based veterinary surgeon 

Dr Ian Heyns, and for the first time offers owners and breeders of 

horses the opportunity to utilize their own vets who are able to operate on 

the premises using the state of the art technology and equipment. 

Dr Ian Heyns and Mary Slack 

An excited Dr Ian Heyns said that the 

concept would give everybody the 

opportunity to benefit from the facilities: 

“ Thanks to the unbelievable generosity 

and foresight of our donors, we are now 

able to offer young professionals the opportunity 

to train with and utilize worldclass 

technology right on our doorstep. 

It has long been a concern of mine that 

we are just not attracting enough young 

professionals into the industry. We are 

also offering clients the opportunity of 

using their own preferred practitioner to 

perform operations and procedures in a 

hospital that is conveniently located. I 

should also mention that the all important 

aspect of post-operative care is also 

well catered for with excellent facilities. 

I invite all fellow veterinarians as well as 

owners, breeders and trainers to visit 

us and to see it for themselves.” Heyns, 

who visited facilities all over the world 

✍ ANGELA KNIGHT Supplied 

while designing and planning the facility, 

said that the hospital was a leader in the 

Southern Hemisphere and ‘as good as 

anything available in the Northern Hemisphere.’ 

The large crowd attending the opening 

launch applauded as Wilgerbosdrift 

Stud’s Mary Slack cut the ribbon 

to declare the facility open and our top 

trainers and breeders were unanimous 

in their praise of what they generally 

described as a long overdue and much 

needed international quality facility in the 

Cape. 

“I invite all fellow veterinarians 

as well as owners, 

breeders and trainers 

to visit us and to see 

it for themselves.”

NYS Lot 172 AL ZAHRA f by Al Mufti - Blushing Dove. Half-sister to Lion Tamer (6 wins; 

2nd J & B Met G1, Emerald Cup G2, Astrapak 1900 G2; 3rd Summer Cup G1; sire). Dam 

won 6 races incl Southern Cross S G2 and is half-sister to BLACK ROD (7 wins); family 

of LA DEPORTISTA (6 wins, incl G2, G3 and placed G1). 

NYS Lot 308 SKY MARSHAL c by Jet Master - Gia’s Secret (2 wins; 2nd Kwazulu 

Natal S L; own-sister to Arabian Secret, G2 placed and half-sister to First Honour and 

HONOUR AND GLORY). 

EQUIMARK VINTAGE YEARLING SALE 


133 In A Second c. Second Empire - Sweet Wisper 

157 Serena’s Pride f. Caesour - Western Pride 

242 Shot Of Colours f. Spectrum - Gun ‘n Trigger 

View all our yearlings online at: 

www.equimark.co.za & 

www.tba.co.za 

NYS Lot 232 DANDYMAN CAN c by Silvano - Dicey Mistress. Half brother to Golden 

Dice (4 wins; 2nd Matchem S G3, 3rd Betting World Merchants S G2, Winter Classic G3, 

Winter Derby G3; 5th in 2009 J&B Met G1). Dam won 6 races; 4th Abe Bloomberg H G3. 

3rd dam, DANDY SUN won 12 races incl G1, G2, G3. 

NYS Lot 347 POLAR PRINCE c by Western Winter - Imperious Sue (ARCSA Champion 

Older Female; 6 wins incl J & B Met G1, Gosforth Park Fillies Guineas G2, Natalia S G2; 

2nd Paddock S G1; half-sister to CITY STATE and ROYAL AIR FORCE). Family of WILD 

HYACINTH, WILD COCKTAIL, KELLY and VICTORY MOON. 

NATIONAL YEARLING SALE 


37 Prizefighter c. Jallad - Size Em Up 

172 Al Zahra f. Al Mufti - Blushing Dove 

218 Shades Of Silk f. Dynasty - Damask Violet 

232 Dandyman Can c. Silvano - Dicey Mistress 

308 Sky Marshal c. Jet Master - Gia’s Secret 

347 Polar Prince c. Western Winter - Imperious Sue 

445 Magic Of Rome c. Caesour - Magic Filly 

527 Pearl Dawn f. Fort Wood - Pearl Hostess

98 VETERINARY NEWS PELVIC FRACTURES 

Pelvic Fractures in 

Thoroughbred 

Racehorses 

Fractures of the pelvis occur in thoroughbred racehorses both on and off the 

track and are said to be a major cause of wastage in the racing indusrty. 

The pelvis is a skeletal structure which 

provides a large surface area where 

the rump or gluteal muscles originate. 

These gluteal muscles act together to 

produce considerable propulsive forces 

to move the hindlimbs. These forces 

if repeatedly applied to the bone may 

result in fatigue and injury commonly 

called stress related bone injuries. The 

large muscles attached to the pelvis and 

their forces that they apply create predilection 

sites for stress related bone injury. 

Severe traumas such as a bad fall, 

getting cast or rearing over backwards 

can cause fractures of the pelvis in sites 

other than these predilection sites. A 

study in a population of British racehorses 

revealed pelvic and tibial fractures to 

make up 28% of fractures diagnosed in 

Thoroughbreds in training and 57% of 

these were stress fractures. 

Risk factors leading to the occurrence of 

pelvic fractures are influenced by high 

levels of training leading to stress of the 

skeletal system. In the young Thoroughbred 

racehorse the skeletal system is not 

fully mature and less liable to cope with 

the strains of heavy athletic training and 

racing. 

The clinical symptoms the injured horse

might show depends on what area of the 

pelvis is affected as well as the displacement 

of the fractured fragments. The 

horse may show varying signs of pain. 

With stress fractures there is usually a 

mild lameness or signs of poor propulsion 

or hind limb action and with severe 

pelvic fractures the horse is unable to 

bear weight on the affected limb. The 

pelvis should be inspected with the horse 

standing as level as possible. The bony 

extremities such as the coxal tuberosity 

can be palpated and used as landmarks 

to help identify asymmetry of the pelvis. 

Not all asymmetry of the pelvis is indicative 

of a fracture. The muscles overlying 

the pelvis should be palpated and a pain 

response may be elicited on palpation of 

the muscles groups overlying the fracture 

site. Displacement of the fracture 

may cause bleeding and heamatoma 

formation which may be visualized as a 

swollen area on the rump and give a clue 

where the fracture is. Crepitus or movement 

of the fracture fragments relative to 

each other may be felt on palpation of 

the pelvis on the affected side. 

Rectal examination 

On careful rectal examination crepitus 

and pelvic asymmetry may be felt. One 

can also place a stethoscope over the 

pelvic and hip area and listen for crepitation 

while the horse walks. The lame 

horse will develop wastage of the gluteal 

muscles, which will become visibly apparent 

as a decrease in muscle mass on 

the affected side of the rump. To assist in 

making a diagnosis of a pelvic fracture 

modalities such as radiography, ultrasound 

and scintigraohy are all helpful. 

Unfortunately surgical repair of pelvic 

fractures in horses is unrealistic. Conservative 

treatment depends on the 

severity of the fracture with displaced, 

multiple fractures taking longer to heal. 

Involvement of the hip joint worsens the 

prognosis. Minimal movement of frac- 

ture fragments allows the fracture to heal 

and thus box rest is imperative. Cross 

tying the injured horse helps to maintain 

minimal movement in that it prevents the 

animal lying down. It is recommended 

that the horse is cross tied for a month 

followed by two months stable rest and 

than another 2 months pasture rest. 

Complications 

Complications may arise. If fragments 

displace further due to excessive movement 

the fragments my lacerate the ilial 

artery which lies on the inside of the 

pelvis and this can lead to fatal haemorrage 

within just a few hours. Any chronic 

lameness can lead to laminitis in the 

sound limb, which is now bearing more 

weight. Stabling the horse in deep bedding 

allows for ample frog support for 

the hoof decreasing the risk of laminitis. 

The sound limb should be bandaged to 

offer support as well as to prevent swelling 

in the limb. The lack of exercise and 

subsequent upper thigh muscle weakness 

increase the risk of upward fixation 

of the patella. When the fracture heals 

new bone is laid down to join the fracture 

fragments. This new bone formation 

is known as callus and if excessive can 

impinge on the birth canal and may lead 

to difficulty in foaling. The long periods 

spent in a stable increase the risk of respiratory 

disease and thus management 

in insuring a clean stable is important. 

With stress fractures it is advisable to 

rest the horse sufficiently even though 

the horse may appear sound. Returning 

to training to early may result in displacement 

of fracture fragments sometimes 

with fatal results. 

After box rest training should be gradually 

introduced. After long periods of 

box rest the skeletal system of the horse 

decalcifies significantly and makes the 

horse more susceptible to further injury. 

The skeleton takes 1 month at each gait 

to adapt to loads placed on it. 

✍ DR CARYL FURNISS John Lewis 

99 

Figure 1: This is a drawing of the pelvis as seen from 

the rear end of the horse. Ilial wing (no 4) and ilial shaft 

fractures are most common. The sacrum ( no 7) is held in 

place by fibrous ligaments (no8,9,10). 6 The coxal tuberosity 

( no 1 ) can easily be palpated and visualized. 

Figure 2. This photograph shows a specimen of a pelvis 

with bilateral coxal tuberosity fractures. 

Figure 3. This photograph shows a horse with a fracture 

of the pelvis on the right hand side. Although the photo 

is not taken from directly behind the horse what is obviouse 

is the wastage of the gluteal muscles on the right 

hand side when compared to the left. 

Figure 4. This is a photograph of a horse with a left 

coxal tuberosity fracture. The white tape placed on the 

rump marks the positions of the coxal tuberosities. The 

contraction of the gluteal muscles has pulled the fracture 

fragment ventrally. Although there is considerable displacement 

of this fractured fragment this type of fracture 

carries a fair prognosis.

100 VETERINARY NEWS Respiratory Virus ✍ LAUREN DE BEER Supplied 

VIRUS TURNS 

FORM UPSIDE 

DOWN If 

you received a veterinary bill in the last 

month or two, in all probability it may have 

been for treatment for a respiratory virus 

which spread through the training centres in 

KwaZulu-Natal, the Cape and Gauteng recently. 

According to Dr Katzwinkel, 

infected horses had symptoms 

including lethargy, a nasal 

discharge and a cough. The result 

was that horses were performing 

poorly if raced. “It’s spreading rapidly 

in stable yards,” says Katzwinkel. 

“There’s a low immunity in the 

population so it is affecting a high 

percentage of horses. In some 

yards 100% of the horses are affected. 

They show no temperatures 

– it’s more like a respiratory cold as 

opposed to influenza.” 

The latest reports confirm that the 

virus has been successfully grown 

on tissue culture. It will now be 

identified using the electron microscope. 

“From the fact that so many 

of the horse are being infected 

it looks like it’s a new strain or a 

variation of an existing strain,” says 

Katzwinkel. “It could have come in 

with a horse that’s been imported, 

or it could be a mutation of an existing 

virus. 

“Our climatic conditions in KwaZulu-Natal 

– the high rainfall, the heat 

and the humidity – are the ideal 

environment for organisms to flourish.” 

He says the recommendation is to 

stop exercising the horses, stop 

stressing them with work, and letting 

the virus run its course, with 

only those showing more severe 

signs of secondary bacterial infection 

receiving treatment. He says 

horses seem to be getting over the 

virus within about 10 days, after 

which they can be put back into 

slow work, gradually building up to 

full strength. 

”The important thing is to identify 

what the virus is, and if there is a 

current vaccine available to recommend 

to owners or trainers a 

programme of vaccination. If there 

is no vaccine available, what you 

want to do is look at the feasibility 

of producing one – but to manufacture 

a vaccine is a lengthy process 

and is a long-term solution.”

BreederS of 

champions 

DYNASTY - EQUUS HORSE OF THE YEAR 2003 KILDONAN - CHAMPION 2YO COLT 2006 

ASYLUM SEEKER - CHAMPION 2YO FILLY 2006 

Wilgerbosdrift invites you to view their yearling drafts at 

Equimark and the National Yearling sales. 

Introducing the first crops of both our exciting resident 

stallions RIGHT APPROACH & TIGER RIDGE, as well as 

yearlings by International and local Champion Sires. 

For information contact John Everett on 083 658 7804 

www.wilgerbosdrift.co.za 

ELUSIVE FORT - CHAMPION STAYER 2006 

Wilgerbosdrift, PO Box 322, Piketberg, South Africa, 7320

102 HARNESS RACING HARNESS RACING IS HERE 

History in the Making…… 

Harness Racing Hits Home! 

It has taken three and a half years to finally get live harness racing onto the 

track in South Africa. Lance Benson probes developments and reports on 

recent progress in this exciting new industry. 

Johan Nilsson in action 

welcoming ceremony was held 

A shortly before Christmas at the 

South African Jockeys Academy to celebrate 

the arrival in KZN of the first batch 

of Swedish trotters. A group of pioneer 

investors drew lots at the function for 

ownership of the horses. 

Gold Circle director of racing Graeme 

Hawkins representing the Gold Circle 

Transformation Fund drew Operett 

Swing, prominent KZN show-jumper 

Brett Latimer drew Linda Light, and Dale 

Rousseau, a new Gauteng based owner 

drew Carla Kemp. Longtime owner Brian 

Moore, renowned for an amazing association 

with Foveros, champion racehorse 

and sire, purchased Golden Office, Clive 

Murphy drew Aces Karamell, and Dean 

Latimer and Moga Pillay have partnered 

in ownership of the black filly Quickness 

Brew. 

Having endured a prolonged 85 day 

quarantine period, the horses are at last 

happy and settled in their new domicile 

at Summerveld. Coming from the northern 

climes of Sweden in the dead of a 

northern winter, their long coats took a 

while to drop. The horses are all now in 

work in preparation for their African debut 

at the end of March. They are chaperoned 

daily by the stalwart and lone 

Aussie male trotter El Gloriousa (AUS). 

“Glory” will sport the new colours of The 

South African Jockey Academy. 

Raced in the Swedish style, with lengthy 

ribboned manes and tails, some interesting 

and unique bird activity is causing 

eyebrows to be raised by some surprised 

Summerveld staff and racing officials. 

Frequent daily visits on the manes and 

tails of these horses by a highly active 

black bird, is leaving a trail of unwanted 

dreadlocks, knots and plaits which 

is causing distress to grooming staff. 

Renowned ornithologist Clive Johnson 

who has recently visited Summerveld 

believes that the intruding birds are the 

Square-tailed Drongo, who have no malicious 

intent at all, and are merely playing 

and bathing in the lengthy wet manes 

which are hosed after daily work-outs. 

The KZN Premier’s First 

Harness Challenge. 

The inaugural event of this 10 race series, 

and the first professional harness 

races to be held in South Africa will take 

place at a Greyville night meeting on

27th March 2009. A high profile launch 

function is being planned around the 

event which includes the running of the 

annual King’s Cup race. Two harness 

races will be held on the night, both over 

1600m (the standard mile), and included 

as races three and eight of a ten race 

program. HRSA chairman Dean Latimer 

concedes that racing trotters on a turf 

track is far from ideal, but points out that 

this practice occurs frequently at a number 

of tracks in both New Zealand and 

Holland. “We have concrete plans for 

construction of a dedicated hard surface 

trotting track in the near short term, and 

it is only through current financial limitations 

that we are commencing racing on 

turf. We are however deeply grateful to 

Gold Circle for accommodation on their 

turf facilities” said Dean. 

Exhaustive testing of horse and sulky to 

date has revealed no vehicular damage 

whatsoever to local turf surfaces, and 

the kick-back from trotters appears minimal 

when compared with gallopers. 

Preceding the first race by two weeks, 

and to be held on the morning of Thursday 

12th March, nominated trotters will 

make an 08h00 breakfast appearance 

at Greyville where they will be officially 

timed and tried for the first time. Anyone 

interested is welcome to attend this 

doughnut and coffee event. 

An “auto-start” vehicle is presently in 

construction by a Durban engineering 

company, and whose 16m “wings” will 

accommodate a six horse front-line start. 

Only with the bigger tracks in Australia, 

Canada and USA do the auto-start vehicles 

cater to an eight or maximum 10 

horse front-line. The design was supplied 

by AHRC and is the approved 

Australian standard. As is international 

practice, horses drawn in excess of six 

will start from the second row. 

New trainer on the block. 

Willie Mahlaba (47) was licensed last 

week by the Harness Racing Association 

of South Africa and has been granted an 

unrestricted trainer’s license. Known to 

all and well respected by many in the 

racing world, Willie has made a deep 

study of the trotting environment and is 

one of the few reins-men in South Africa 

with speed driving experience. 

Born into a rural household in Tongaat 

in 1961, Willie was sent out to work at 

the early age of 14. With a born love of 

the equine, Willie soon found his way up 

to the horse-rich verdant surrounds of 

Shongweni and Summerveld, where he 

has continued to grow his competency 

in equine mastery to the present. His first 

job as a groom was in the racing yard 

of Johnny Nicholson, and then later with 

Herman Brown 

(Snr). Willie’s 

d e m e a n o u r 

and horseskills 

were soon 

identified as 

somewhat special, 

and shortly 

thereafter he 

was seconded 

to the Summercliffpretrainingfacility 

of Maureen 

Baitz, where he 

prepared and 

breezed all of 

Herman’s two 

year olds. Willie 

managed 

this yard for 

ten years, and 

then started 

show-jumping 

and dressage 

with Di Perry 

and later with 

Janice Silen. 

When SA Jockey 

Academy in- 


103 

structors saw Willie in action in 2006 he 

was soon nabbed for the Summerveld 

institution, where he wrote and qualified 

with SANEF equine modules 1 and 

2. In 2007 he progressed to the Groom 

School as an instructor. All in racing wish 

him well in his challenging new career as 

a harness racing trainer. 

Jimmy jumps on-board 

Another exciting personnel acquisition 

for the start-up of harness racing in 

South Africa has been Jimmy Anderson. 

“Big Race Jimmy”, well remembered by 

punters far and wide as a master in the 

saddle without peer, has teamed up with 

trainer Willie Mahlaba and can be seen 

daily jogging horses on the Summerveld

104 HARNESS RACING HARNESS RACING IS HERE 

tracks. Now 60 and still at his 1985 riding 

weight, Jimmy is proving equally at 

home on a sulky. The silky-smooth hands 

that produced Durban July winners such 

as Big Charles, are now driving trotters 

daily in preparation for harness racing’s 

first race in March. 

“I never thought driving trotting horses 

would be so enjoyable” enthused Jimmy 

after a turn in the Summerveld sugarcane 

fields recently. “These horses 

are fast, well mannered and beautifully 

schooled. This is the business” he said. 

HRSA chairman Dean Latimer reported 

that other past champion jockeys such 

as Muis Roberts and Garth Puller were 

also vying for drives. Harness racing allows 

for amateur owner/driver participation 

and has elicited wide interest from 

show-jumpers and polo players to Freestate 

and Northern Cape farmers. 

Johan Nilsson Arrives in SA 

29 year old professional Swedish trainer 

Johan Nilsson arrived in Duban on 

13th February. Johan will be in SA for 2 

months to assist in the start-up and train 

local personnel in the correct and specialized 

harness racing techniques. 

Regulator training 

Bill Delaney, chairman of the RWWA 

(Perth) stipendiary board will also be in 

Durban for three weeks in March to train 

local officials in the harness code. HRSA 

is grateful to the international jurisdictions 

for all the support that has been so 

readily forthcoming in bringing harness 

racing to the dark continent. 

Swedish Investors en route 

to SA. 

A recently approved DTI inward investment 

mission comprising 11 high powered 

Swedish businessmen and harness 

racing enthusiasts is due to arrive 

in Durban on 25th March for a 7 day 

visit. Prominent Swedish owner Kenneth 

Dolk will lead the mission. A comprehensive 

itinerary has been arranged for the 

group who will be evaluating SA’s current 

racing and breeding infrastructure, as 

well as investment opportunities in harness 

racing and breeding. Dean Latimer 

reports that the group is evaluating a 

R14m investment in a harness track as 

well as 200 horses into the currently limited 

SA start-up pool. 

World Trotting Conference 

The biennial world trotting conference is 

due to be held this year in Oslo, Norway 

from 15th – 20th March 2009. HRSA 

chairman Dean Latimer, a standing 

member of the world body’s breeding 

committee, will attend the conference 

and concurrently held World Drivers 

Championships. HRSA is currently in 

discussions with Tourism KZN to bid for 

the 2015 WTC and WDC for Durban. 

2009 Elitloppet 

Sweden’s biggest and most prestigious 

harness race, Elitloppet, is due to be 

run at Solvalla in Stockholm on 30th May 

2009. Comprising two heats and a final 

on the same day, this race draws worldwide 

interest and competitors from as far 

afield as USA and Australia, and regular 

strong entries from France, Norway and 

Italy. A contingent of local trotting enthusiasts 

is planning to be at this exciting 

event 

South Africa theme day. 

Notwithstanding existing bi-lateral national 

trade agreements between the 

South African and Swedish governments, 

the interest and passion shown by ordinary 

Swedes in assisting the start-up of 

harness racing in South Africa has been 

nothing short of remarkable. 

Wednesday 27th March, immediately prior 

to the running of Elitloppet at Solvalla 

has seen an entire 10 race card offered 

to South Africa as a marketing theme 

day. It is intended to garner exposure 

and interest in horse ownership in South 

Africa’s fledgling harness racing industry. 

All 10 named races will be simulcast 

in 18 international country destinations, 

including USA, Canada, Australia, New 

Zealand, South Africa as well as 14 European 

countries. An HRSA outward 

investment mission is currently being 

planned together with DTI and Tourism 

KZN to co-incide with this event. It is 

increasingly evident that harness racing 

in Sweden is a sport which carries a 

significant profile and national passion, 

and whose high standards and integrity 

are envied world-wide. More broadly the 

harness racing environment in the Nordic 

countries is deemed to provide an excellent 

communication channel for creating 

a generic interest in KZN tourism. 

Second tier racing 

The considerable interest shown in harness 

racing by the SA Boerperd and 

farming communities is being fully embraced 

by HRSA. The latent trotting and 

pacing abilities of the Boerperd, together 

with their hardiness and kind temperaments 

makes the breed a natural extension 

pool to the currently limited pool of 

Standardbreds. HRSA, custodians of the 

Standardbred stud book, have created 

additional non-Standardbred and part- 

Standardbred registers to accommodate 

broader participation. The legal practice 

of AI will facilitate a first generation trotting 

competitiveness, as well as absorbing 

a new and broad amateur ownership 

base. March will see upcountry harness 

races held in Senekal, Ermelo and Vryheid. 

For more info or to contact Dean, see 

www.harnessracingsa.co.za

JJ The Jet Plane 

Hunting Tower 

Nobody 

Does It Better 

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106 RA NEWS STYLE RETURNS 

Style returns to the 

parade ring 

THE Racing Association has appealed 

to all people entering racecourse parade 

rings to dress smartly. 

No strict set of rules will be imposed, but 

owners, trainers and their friends and 

family are expected to at least be “smart 

casual” in their attire. 

In addition, parade ring visitors are being 

actively encouraged to “dress up” 

– to bring back a sense of style and elegance 

to a day at the races. 

A signboard at the entrance to the 

Turffontein parade ring will say: “Get 

dressed for success.” RA members are 

also encouraged to wear their membership 

badges at all times. 

RA board member Trevor Raath, who has 

been active in formulating a code of conduct 

for parade rings, explains that the 

organisation is determined to enhance 

the prestige of racing. The parade ring 

is a showcase of key players in the sport 

and they need to project an image of decorum, 

he adds. 

“We are asking people to help us to help 

racing,” says Raath, adding that dress 

standards in the ring will be similar to 

those in the Elevation Room, the RA’s 

dedicated venue at Turffontein. 

Shorts, takkies and flip-flops are definitely 

not acceptable. 

Denim jeans as part of a smart casual 

outfit are permitted – but are not if they 

are in a tatty, holey condition and conveying 

a generally sloppy appearance. 

T-shirts are acceptable if paired with a 

smart jacket, for example – but not if they 

have the sleeves rolled up to show off 

bulging biceps. 

The RA is not seeking to dictate dress 

taste or fashion in any way, Raath emphasises. 

The rule of thumb will be if a 

person has taken time and care to dress 

well. 

“One can’t demand that youngsters wear 

suits and ties, but we do expect them to 

make an effort to look smart.” 

There will be no heavy-handed policing 

on race days. People deemed to be inappropriately 

dressed will not be ejected 

from the ring, but will be spoken to discreetly 

later and advised of expected 

standards. 

“We aim to have elegantly dressed parade 

rings to bring the prestige back to 

racing. We don’t want people who do 

like to dress well to feel that they’re sticking 

out. Ladies who like to wear hats, for 

example, should feel comfortable and 

that they are contributing to the sense of 

occasion.” 

From February 1 2009 children under 12 

will not be allowed in parade rings. 

Fun days for new owners 

THE Racing Association continues its 

popular and successful programme 

of racecourse orientation for new colour 

holders in 2009. 

All newly registered owners are invited to 

spend a day at the Turffontein races with 

the RA, and are taken on a tour around 

the parade ring, the starting stalls, the 

boardroom and the Elevation Room. 

They are entertained in the RA’s private 

box at the course, with lunch and drinks 

on the house. Peter Naidoo, the RA director 

in charge of member relations, 

acts as host, answering questions and 

ensuring that the newcomers are given 

a thoroughly enjoyable learning 

experience. 

The tour diary for the first half of the year 

is as follows: 

21 February 14 March 

18 April 23 May 

20 June 18 July.

108 KZN NEWS CORPORATE SOCIAL INVESTMENT 

✍ LANCE BENSON Helen Watson 

ART EXHIBITION 

FLOURISHES 

Phumla Mnganga, Gold Circle Director, handing over a cheque to Mrs Pillay, Headmistress of Southlands Secondary School in Chatsworth. 

Now in its fourth consecutive year, the 

Gold Circle School Art Exhibition 

continues to grow in popularity and has 

become an ideal vehicle for the company 

to make a meaningful contribution to 

the communities in which it operates. 

Southlands Secondary School were the 

overall 2008 provincial winners in the FET 

phase. The winning artwork was a fabric 

printing piece by Greshan Naidoo. 

Headmistress of Southlands Secondary, 

Mrs G Pillay, said that the Gold Circle 

School Art Exhibition had become a 

highlight in the school art calendar and 

she was proud to note that their learners 

had faired extremely well. She stressed 

that the monies that they had received 

from Gold Circle had benefited their art 

department. She also added that over 

the past four years they had seen incredible 

growth in the number of learners who 

were taking art as a subject. 

Phumla Mnganga, Gold Circle Director 

said: “The School Art Exhibition has become 

our flagship Corporate Social Investment 

project. We are really pleased 

with the impact we are making in the 

lives of art learners in the province and 

we wish to continue with and grow the 

strong relationship we have built with the 

KZN Department of Education.” 

Learners of Southlands Secondary School demonstrating 

the fine art of fabric printing.

CAPE NEWS J&B MET CONDITIONS ✍ RODNEY DUNN Supplied 109 

J&B MET CONDITIONS 

There has recently been much discussion regarding the conditions 

of the J&B Met. From comments made it is obvious that many people 

are unaware of the background leading up to the changes. 

The new conditions of the J&B Met 

were confirmed by the Racing Committee 

of the Western Cape on 18 September 

2007, as we needed to have our 

full Summer Racing Programme printed 

and advertised before October 2007. 

The proposal to change the conditions 

to fall in line with standards set for most 

International Grade 1 races, in the UK, 

Europe and the USA was encouraged 

by our belief that the three top races in 

South Africa, The Steinhoff Summer Cup, 

The Vodacom Durban July and The J&B 

Met, should not all be handicaps. 

The workshop of racing people who 

helped formulate this change were:- 

Mike Wanklin, Colin Aitken, Jay Harrielall, 

Vidrik Thurling, Lita Futeran, Karel 

Mediema, Joey Ramsden, Dean Kannemeyer, 

Stan Elley, John McDonald, 

Brian Berrill and Gold Circle Staff. These 

are all knowledgeable people in horseracing, 

and the discussion was chaired 

by myself. 

I personally contacted Mike de Kock and 

spoke to him at York Racecourse in the 

UK in August 2007. I then faxed him a 

copy of the conditions on 5 September 

for comment and suggested that if there 

were any changes he wished to recommend, 

he should notify us. 

The recommended change in “Conditions 

of the J&B Met” were placed on 

the Gold Circle Website directly after the 

“Racing Workshop” in May 2007. It was 

also advertised in the Sporting Post in 

June 2007 and in the July Edition of the 

Parade Magazine, a full seven months 

before the event in January 2008 calling 

for comment and suggestions from all interested 

parties before implementation. 

After publishing the conditions and asking 

for comment, we had a total of three 

negative responses from trainers whose 

comments centered around their own 

horses. In fact, one of these trainers 

was in favour of the changes to the conditions 

of the race but wanted implementation 

only in 2009. 

In implementing the new conditions from 

2008 we had to take into consideration 

“that the Handicappers for 

the July would lump weight 

onto his horse after Horse 

Chestnut’s spectacular win 

in the Met”. 

all factors and do what we felt was best 

and fair to the majority. We are firm in 

our belief that Grade 1 races should embrace 

the best horse in the race not the 

best handicapped. All the Cape’s Grade 

1 races 

are WFA, except the J&B Met, but we are 

moving closer to bringing our our major 

race into line. 

A lot can happen to a horse in a twelve 

month period from one Met to another. 

The whole object of the race is to reward 

the best horse. It is internationally accepted 

that the best horse, is a horse 

that wins in Open Company over a Classic 

distance at Weight for Age. 

History tells us that the Champion Horse 

Chestnut never contested the Vodacom 

Durban July after winning the Met as 

Mike de Kock was on record as saying 

“that the Handicappers for the July would 

lump weight onto his horse after Horse 

Chestnut’s spectacular win in the Met”. 

In the recent TV Programme “You be the 

Judge”, Charles Faull was on record as 

saying that “great horses like William 

Penn and Jerez were handicapped so 

badly they were lumped with excessive 

weight to carry in their July races”. The 

ex Senior Handicapper’s reply was “that 

is the only way we could stop them”. It 

is a sad day when this comment is made 

by an ex-Senior Handicapper. One wonders 

how many horses had their chances 

ruined by being subjected to this type 

of approach. 

The J&B Met fully embraces the best 

horse principle. 

Rodney Dunn 

Racing Committee Western Cape 

5 February 2009

110 RA NEWS STRATEGY 

Details of RA strategy meeting 

THE Racing Association will do all in 

its power to combat any form of bet 

that is counter-productive to the growth 

of the stakes pot. 

This was decided at the RA board’s first 

strategy meeting of 2009, at which the 

need to enhance stakes was once again 

made the association’s No 1 priority. 

The survival of racing in South Africa depends 

on growing tote turnovers in order 

to provide the money needed to continually 

increase prize money – and thereby 

keep racehorse owners in the game. 

While bookmakers pay a small levy towards 

stakes, this contribution is minimal 

in comparison with that of the tote. 

The RA resolved to urge racing operator 

Phumelela to redouble efforts to get legislation 

changed in this regard. 

RA CEO Clyde Basel said the organisation 

was in continuous negotiation with 

Phumelela about boosting stakes wherever 

possible. 

The shelved initiative to introduce night 

racing at Turffontein was also discussed 

at the strategy meeting. 

Alternatives to the floodlighting proposal 

that was rejected in 2008 will be studied 

and a decision on whether to keep 

the issue on the agenda will be taken in 

mid-February. These alternatives include 

lighting just one of the two tracks, or just 

a limited section of track, instead of the 

entire racecourse as originally envisaged. 

“We are still keen to have night 

racing – as long as it makes business 

sense,” said Basel. 

The following are among the 

many other issues dealt with 

at the meeting: 

• Larry Wainstein was re-elected chairman. 

• Newly elected Robin Strydom was wel- 

comed as chairman of the Eastern Cape 

Chapter. 

• A professional firm will be appointed to 

handle the RA’s company secretarial duties 

– shifting the responsibility from the 

CEO and auditors. 

• With access control to pre-race parade 

rings being given to the RA, after negotiations 

with the National Horseracing 

Authority and Phumelela, a campaign 

to improve dress standards has been 

launched. The RA wants parade ring visitors 

to enter into the spirit of its “Dress 

For Success” catchphrase. 

Also, RA members will be reminded of 

the dangers of sharing a paddock with 

horses. In the interests of safety, no children 

under 12 will be permitted in any 

part of the parade ring or winner’s enclosure 

– as is the case in most racing 

jurisdictions in the world. 

• Negotiations to form an all-new Trainers 

Association are continuing, and the 

RA aims to work closely with the new 

body to improve communication between 

trainers and owners. The RA believes 

owners have a right to be regularly 

and honestly informed of the progress 

or otherwise of their horses and aims to 

build an environment in which good relationships 

between the two parties can 

be fostered. It wants to remedy a situation 

where many owners leave the game 

because they feel used or sidelined, and 

where they might be led to believe that 

owning a horse is a low-risk high-return 

business investment. 

• The RA has a seat on a new racing 

industry Media Committee, which will 

focus on DStv racing channel Tellytrack 

to try to ensure well-balanced coverage. 

This body will also maintain a watching 

brief on print media. 

• The RA continues to try to sort out 

technical hitches with a communica- 

tions device that will enable viewers to 

watch television coverage of local race 

meetings uninterrupted by international 

meetings. The ADSL-linked device is 

available but cannot be marketed until 

certain broadband issues have been 

ironed out. 

• Further efforts will be made to enhance 

the on-course race day experience – with 

particular emphasis on patron security. 

• Membership of the various RA committees 

was agreed on: 

Strategy – all directors. 

Property – Larry Wainstein 

Import/Export – Wainstein 

Membership Relations – Peter Naidoo 

Graded Races Standing – Chris Gerber 

Marketing – Wainstein, Naidoo, Trevor 

Raath (RA member Steve Blunden is invited 

to attend) 

Finance – Larry Wainstein, Gerber, Derek 

Brugman, Michael Leaf 

TBA Liaison – Gerber, Robin Strydom 

Jockey Remuneration – Wainstein, 

Raath 

Industry Liaison – Brugman, Wainstein, 

Raath, Peter Miller (trainers Geoff Woodruff 

and Corne Spies are invited to attend) 

Trainer Liaison – Wainstein 

Handicapping Steering – Brugman, Miller 

(trainers Joe Soma and St John Gray 

are invited to attend) 

Programming – trainers Gray, Soma and 

Brett Warren represent the RA (Phumelela 

representatives also serve on this 

committee) 

RA CEO Clyde Basel is a member of all 

committees.

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114 GRADED RACES GRADED RACE STATISTICS DECEMBER 2008 - MARCH 2009 

CHRISTMAS HANDICAP (Gr 3) - 

R200,000 - 1600m - Clairwood 

1st R125,000, 2nd R40,000, 3rd R20,000 - December 26 

1. WOOD BE MAGIC 4yo b.g. 

by Woodborough - Extra Magic (Extra Cover) 

2nd dam: Jinnee (Veiled Wonder) 

3rd dam: Mexican Magic (Mexico II) 

Owner: P B Hosking, P Gounden, D C Howells and G N 

MacNab 

Breeder: Connington-Walker 

Trainer: D C Howells 

2. The Law 4yo b.g. 

by Mogok - Queen’s Right (Secret Prospector) 

Owner: F Couturier, T Bowley and R Plersch 

Breeder: Scott Bros 

3. Richmond Park 5yo b.g. 

by Camden Park - Mind Over Matter (Complete Warrior) 

Owner: J G Jones 

Breeder: Normandy Stud 

Also ran: Tropical Empire (AUS), Fastnetrock, Preach 

Connection, Dynamite Mike, Seven Hero’s, 

Seeking The Stone (AUS), Meet My Master, Press 

King, St Raphael, Royal Day, Magical Ballad. 

Non-runner: Extrapolator 

Distances: neck - 0.75 - 1.50 

LEBELO SPRINT (Gr 3) - R200,000 

- 1000m - Turffontein 


1. PRIVATE JET (ARG) 3yo b.g. 

by Orpen - Pacatyba (Itajara) 

2nd dam: Scarginski (Stradavinsky) 

3rd dam: National Strike (Grey Dawn II) 

Owner: M I Fullard, J H Drew, C P Kalil and M A Makaab 

Breeder: Bulliness SA 

Trainer: G V Woodruff 

2. Piccadilly Miss 4yo ch.g. 

by London News - Marlagain (Man Of Property) 

Owner: G J Maroun 

Breeder: High Season Stud 

3. Royal Exit 4yo b.g. 

by Kitalpha - Intriguing (Northern Guest) 

Owner: J W and Mrs J K Armitage 

Breeder: G J Armitage 

Then came: Fuzzy Cuzzy (AUS), Always A Pleasure, Good 

Thing, Brother Bear, Animated, Rosinante, 

Captivating Party, Riot Commander, Gold Game 

(BRZ), Mpumelelo, Fanyana 

Non-runner: Gun Powder ‘N Grit 

Won by: 4.50 - 0.50 - 1.75 

LONDON NEWS STAKES (Gr 3) - 

R200,000 - 1800m - Turffontein 


1. ALUMINIUM (ARG) 4yo b.g. 

by Roy - Allstar Baby (Northern Baby) 

2nd dam: Whydidju (Tom Rolfe) 

3rd dam: Mrs Peterkin (Tom Fool) 

Owner: D L Brugman and Vendel Civils (Pty) Ltd 

Breeder: Haras Vacacion 


2. Likeithot 6yo b.g. 

by Rakeen - Hot Weather (Fair Season) 

Owner: F E J Lewis and M J Jooste 

Breeder: Lammerskraal Stud 

3. Causation (AUS) 4yo b.g. 

by Giant’s Causeway - Wily Trick (Clever Trick) 

Owner: Mrs I Jooste and Messrs M J Jooste and 

B Kantor 

Breeder: Emirates Park (Pty) Ltd NSW 

Then came: She’s On Fire, Garota De Ipanema (BRZ), Winter 

Weather, Angel Flight 

Non-runner: Santa 

Won by: 0.50 - 2.50 - 1.25 

CAPE SUMMER STAYERS HANDI- 

CAP (Gr 3) - R200,000 - 2500m - Kenilworth 


1. JUST LIKE AL 4yo b.g. 

by Al Mufti - Just Like Flo (Elliodor) 

2nd dam: Goldenflo (Jungle Cove) 

3rd dam: Amberflo (Ambiopoise) 

Owner: Mrs S Plattner 

Breeder: La Plaissance Stud 

Trainer: B Crawford 

2. Mokaro 5yo ch.g. 

by Manaloj - Matumi (Fort Wood) 

Owner: Mrs B D Oppenheimer 

Breeder: Mrs B D Oppenheimer 

3. Nevvay 4yo b.g. 

by Western Winter - Enchantress (National Assembly) 

Owner: M J Jooste, A P de Villiers, J Hoffman, 

J V D du Toit and J F Mouton 

Breeder: Lammerskraal Stud 

Then came: Judged Excellent, D’vine Prince, Bill Of Rights, 

Mr Esplendid (ARG), Sudden Storm, Captain 

Cook, Galileo’s Night (GB), King Of Eagles, 

Sensation 

Non-runner: Tuna Cowboy 

Won by: 1.25 - 0.50 - shorthead 

SCEPTRE STAKES (Gr 2) - 

R200,000 - 1200m - Kenilworth 

1st R125,000, 2nd R40,000, 3rd R20,000 - January 3 

1. LADY WINDERMERE 3yo b.f. 

by Western Winter - Ballad Of Reading (Averof) 

2nd dam: So Gay (Sovereign Dice) 

3rd dam: Nosegay (Prized) 

Owner: P G de Beyer and Gary Player Stud (Pty) Ltd 

Breeder: Gary Player Stud (Pty) Ltd 

Trainer: G S Kotzen 

2. Badger’s Cove 3yo b.f. 

by Joshua Dancer - Princess Tobin (Badger Land) 

Owner: Mr J J and Mrs J Dyer, Mr Peter and 

Mrs Libby Mills et al 

Breeder: P E Mills 

3. Favourite Island 6yo b.m. 

by Lizard Island - La Favorisee (Umatilla) 

Owner: M D Wiese 

Breeder: La Plaissance Stud 

Then came: Purple Orchid (GB), Joshua’s Mistress, Seal Of 

Approval, Empress Crown, Dance With Al, Galaxy 

Gal (AUS), Ice Belle, Chiquita, Garden Princess 

(AUS), Urabamba, Dynamite Casey 

Distances: 2.50 - 0.75 - 0.50 

L’ORMARINS QUEEN’S PLATE (Gr 

1) - R1,000,000 - 1600m - Kenilworth 


1. POCKET POWER 6yo b.g. 

by Jet Master - Stormsvlei (Prince Florimund) 

2nd dam: Distant Echoes (Prince Sao) 

3rd dam: Bounceaway (Akbar II) 

Owner: N M Shirtliff and Mr and Mrs A D Webber 

Breeder: Zandvliet Stud 

Trainer: M W Bass 

2. Our Giant (AUS) 5yo ch.g 

by Giant’s Causeway - Macrosa (Mr McGinty) 

Owner: Mrs I Jooste and Mr M J Jooste 

Breeder: D R Fleming (NSW) 

3. Kapil 6yo b.g. 

by Jallad - Outstanding Star (Bletchingly) 

Owner: M I Fullard, J H Drew, D Watson-Smith et al 

Breeder: Arc-En-Ciel Stud 

Then came: Buy And Sell, African Appeal, Vision Of Grandeur 

(IRE), Thundering Jet, Floatyourboat, Majestic 

Sun, Alvaro (AUS), Quick Millions (BRZ) 

Won by: 1,25 - neck - 2.50 

TBA PADDOCK STAKES (Gr 1) - 

R1,000,000 - 1800m - Kenilworth 


1. EMBLEM OF LIBERTY 4yo b.f. 

by National Emblem - Dafka (Kendor) 

2nd dam: Arguing (Pharly) 

3rd dam: Arantelle (Tapioca) 

Owner: L C Cohen and Mrs C L Cheyne 

Breeder: D Cohen and Sons (Pty) Ltd 


2. River Jetez 5yo b.m. 


Owner: Mr and Mrs C A Amm and Mr N M Shirtliff 

Breeder: Out Of Africa Stud 

3. Dancer’s Daughter (GB) 5yo gr.m. 

by Act One - Reason To Dance (Damister) 

Owner: Mr G J and Mrs R D Beck 

Breeder: Mrs D O Joly 

Then came: Consensual, Rei Rei, Quebec Express (USA), 

Nania, Gone Wild 

Won by: head - 0.50 - 2.50 

GRAHAM BECK WINES CAPE 

FLYING CHAMPIONSHIP (Gr 1) - 



1. REBEL KING 5yo ch.h. 

by National Emblem - Cousin Linda (Badger Land) 

2nd dam: Cousin Lucy (Foveros) 

3rd dam: Luciennes (Royal Prerogative) 

Owner: A P de Villiers, M J Jooste, M J Herr, J Hoffman 

and J F Mouton 

Breeder: Summerhill Stud (Pty) Ltd 

Trainer: C S Laird 

2. Blue Tiger 4yo gr.c. 

by Counter Action - Manuka (Rainbow Dream) 

Owner: G Viljoen, E A Braun and N M Shirtliff 


3. Gaultier 4yo b.g. 

by Jallad - Elegantly (Danzig) 

Owner: K P Truter and N M Shirtliff 

Breeder: The Alchemy 

Then came: Hear The Drums, Battlestar Express, Wethreek 

ings, Casey Cool, O Caesour, Lady Windermere, 

Personal Fantacy 

Won by: neck - neck - 2.25

J&B MET (Gr 1) - R2,500,000 - 

2000m - Kenilworth 

1st R1,562,500, 2nd R500,000, 3rd R250,000 - January 31 

1. POCKET POWER 6yo b.g. 


2nd dam: Distant Echoes (Prince Sao) 

3rd dam: Bounceaway (Akbar II) 

Owner: Mr N M Shirtliff and Mr and Mrs A D Webber 

Breeder: Zandvliet Stud 

Trainer: M W Bass 

2. Dancer’s Daughter (GB) 5yo gr.m. 

by Act One - Reason To Dance (Damister) 

Owner: Mr G J and Mrs R D Beck 

Breeder: Mrs D O Joly 

3. River Jetez 5yo b.m. 

by by Jet Master - Stormsvlei (Prince Florimund) 

Owner: Mr and Mrs C A Amm and Mr N M Shirtliff 

Breeder: Out Of Africa Stud 

Then came: Kapil, Golden Dice, Catmandu, Surfin’ USA, 

Vision Of Grandeur (IRE), African Appeal, Quick 

Millions (BRZ), Great Rhythm, Ivory Trail, 

Floatyourboat, Prince Asad, Buy And Sell 

Non-runner: Casey’s Son 

Won by: 0,25 - 0.75 - 2.50 

INVESTEC CAPE DERBY (Gr 1) - 



1. BIG CITY LIFE 3yo b.c. 

by Casey Tibbs - Dollar Crisis (Goldmark) 

2nd dam: Gran Moza (Hard Fighter) 

3rd dam: Alamosa (El Califa) 

Owner: Messrs R W Deacon, G S Kotzen, 

G A Hauptfleisch and G W Mitchell 

Breeder: Mrs J A Wintle 

Trainer: G S Kotzen 

2. Bluemambo 3yo b.c. 

by Kitalpha - Blue Acres (Badger Land) 

Owner: Messrs R J Bloomberg, G J Bergh, G J Wilson 

and Mrs S P Kruyer 

Breeder: Mrs C J Doggrell 

3. Le Drakkar (AUS) 3yo gr.c. 

by Anabaa - My Mo Rally (Mi Preferido) 

Owner: Late Mrs J D Jaffee and Fieldspring Racing 

Breeder: Mrs J Hurst, NSW 

Then came: Robinson Crusoe, Volpista (BRZ), Bush Pirate, 

Predestination (AUS), Pivotal Blue (SNL), 

Grisham, Posh Boy, Jamaican Dream, Torob, 

Zizou, Chief Blackfoot 

Non-runner: Market Cap 

Won by: 1 - 1.75 - 1 

FANCOURT MAJORCA STAKES 

(Gr 1) - R500,000 - 1600m - Kenilworth 


1. MOTHER RUSSIA 3yo b.f. 

by Windrush - Russian Muse (Russian Fox) 

2nd dam: Terpsichore 

3rd dam: Tramore (Abadan II) 

Owner: Klawervlei Stud (Pty) Ltd 


Trainer: J Ramsden 

2. Sparkling Gem 3yo b.f. 

by Joshua Dancer - Crystal Chalice (Royal Chalice) 

Owner: Dr Dave and Mrs Sue Whitelaw, H Adams 

and C Snaith 

Breeder: Mrs P E T Schafer 

3. Emblem Of Liberty 4yo b.f. 

by National Emblem - Dafka (Kendor) 

Owner: L I Cohen and Mrs C L Cheyne 


Also ran: Oracle News, Rei Rei, Consensual, Favourite 

Island, Nordic Moon, Via Della, Rose Lipped 

Maiden, Urabamba, Ice Belle 

Non-runner: Nania 

Distances: neck - 1.50 - neck 

J&B RESERVE STAYERS HANDI- 

CAP (Gr 2) - R300,000 - 2800m - Kenilworth 


1. MOKARO 5yo ch.g. 

by Manaloj - Matumi (Fort Wood) 

2nd dam: North Face (Northfields) 

3rd dam: Blue Singh (Mansingh) 

Owner: Mrs B D Oppenheimer 

Breeder: Mrs B D Oppenheimer 

Trainer: S H Page 

2. Sudden Storm 6yo b.h. 

by Jet Master - Erin’s Chant (Elliodor) 

Owner: Mr J H van Heerden 

Breeder: Mr and Mrs P J Garlicki 

3. Captain Cook 6yo b.h. 

by Captain Al - Bravo Juliet (Comic Blush) 

Owner: J H van Heerden and G Stavrou 


Also ran: Just Like Al, Noblewood, D’vine Prince, 

Thundering Jet, Galileo’s Night (GB), Arctic 

Fleece, Ela-Re, Bill Of Rights, Degas, 

Mr Esplendid (ARG), Bound To Travel, Imperial 

Cossack, Sun Dial 

Distances: 6.75 - 1.25 – head 

TONY RUFFEL STAKES (Gr 3) - 


1st R125,000, 2nd R40,000, 3rd R20,000 - February 7 

1. MOUNT HOOD 3yo ch.g. 

by Manshood - Break North (Northern Guest) 

2nd dam: Fast Break (Foveros) 

3rd dam: Bold Streak (Plum Bold) 

Owner: T D Kung 

Breeder: Bosworth Farm Stud 

Trainer: P F Matchett 

2. Cerise Cherry 3yo ch.c. 

by Goldkeeper - Cherry Girl (Pochard) 

Owner: J Abreu 

Breeder: G J Armitage 

3. Captain Scott 3yo gr.c. 

by Captain Al - Uta Hoo-Ha (Badger Land) 

Owner: G Chamberlain, G L Blank, S Cardillo, 

C Clucas et al 

Breeder: The Alchemy 

Then came: Gangsta Fury, Mpumelelo, Space Captain, Disa 

Leader, Mr Wolf 

Won by: 3 - 1.25 - neck 

THREE TROIKAS STAKES (Gr 3) - 



1. SHARP MISTRESS 3yo b.f. 

by Tamburlaine - Sharp Affair (Sharp Romance) 

2nd dam: Ballad Of Reading (Averof) 

115 

3rd dam: So Gay (Sovereign Dice) 

Owner: G V Woodruff, V Harry, D J Rahilly, J H van Rooyen, 

S Meaker and Vendel Civils (Pty) Ltd 

Breeder: Cheveley Stud 


2. Sweet Theresa 3yo b.f. 

by Strike Smartly - Sweet Antonia (The Prime Minister) 

Owner: Team Valor International 

Breeder: Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd 

3. On Her Toes 3yo ch.f. 

by Western Winter - Savannah Breeze (Badger Land) 

Owner: Team Valor International and Mrs Vanashree and 

Mr Anant Singh 

Breeder: Highlands Farms Stud (Pty) Ltd 

Then came: Captain’s Gal, Bastille Belle, Farah, Peach Tree 

Creek, On The Bluff, Golden Scold (BRZ), Wisteria 

Won by: 0.75 - 1.25 - neck 

ACACIA HANDICAP (Gr 3) - 



1. GYPSY’S WARNING 3yo b.f. 

by Mogok - Gypsy Queen (Royal Chalice) 

2nd dam: Sara’s Warning (Caveat) 

3rd dam: Apsara (Dancer’s Image) 

Owner: Team Valor International and Mr R A Griffiths 

Breeder: Rathmor Stud 

Trainer: O A Ferraris 

2. Kiss For Kate 4yo b.f. 

by Jallad - Kissational (National Assembly) 

Owner: G L Blank, T Moodley and A R Burke 


3. Glenrossal 4yo b.f. 

by Anytime - Sparkling Twist (All Fired Up) 

Owner: P E White 

Breeder: Clifton Stud 

Then came: Lisa Anne, Run Angel Run, Blue Swift (AUS), 

Es Vital (ARG), Graceful Link, Academy Colours 

(AUS), Aces Wild 

Won by: 1.25 - shorthead - 0.50 

FLAMBOYANT STAKES (Gr 3) - 

R150,000 - 1600m - Greyville 


1. OUTCOME 5yo b.m. 

by Muhtafal - Culminate (Elliodor) 

2nd dam: Crowning (Averof) 

3rd dam: Bejewel (Le Cordonnier) 

Owner: G A R Sturlese 

Breeder: P Brown 

Trainer: M D Miller 

2. Sahara 3yo b.f. 

by Mogok - Too Much Sun (Foveros) 

Owner: A W Gooderson, G L Blank, A R Burke and 

R M Scott 


3. Saltwater Girl 4yo b.f. 

by Modern Day - Surfers Eye (Elliodor) 

Owner: F Khan, M I Soomar and F Tarbitt 

Breeder: F Tarbitt 

Then came: El Romantico, Milk And Honey (USA), Silver Cove, 

Bold Wonder (AUS), Alejate, Smangaliso, Miss 

Filly, Cleome, Uptown Girl, Floriana, I Said Hey, 

Call For Caviar 

Non-runners: Mochachino, Imperialist 

Won by: 2.50 - 0.75 - neck

116 RACING FIXTURES APRIL 2009 - MAY 2009 

2009 April 

Date Day National Venue International Venue 

01 Wed CLAIRWOOD VAAL (TO) Catterick Bridge Lingfield Park Exeter Happy Valley (night) 

02 Thu VAAL (TO) Aintree Leicester Taunton Kranji (night) 

03 Fri GREYVILLE (N) ARLN Aintree Musselburgh Great Leighs Wolverhampton (night) 

04 Sat DURBANVILLE TURFFONTEIN (S) Aintree Lingfield Park Newcastle Wolverhampton (night) 

05 Sun SCOTTSVILLE Market Rasen Southwell Hexham 

06 Mon FLAMINGOPARK Windsor Wolverhampton Kelso Sweden 

07 Tue VAAL (S) Pontefract Sedgefield Fontwell Park 

08 Wed CLAIRWOOD Nottingham Great Leighs Hereford Happy Valley (night) 

09 Thu VAAL (TO) Ludlow Wincantn Folkestone 

10 Fri GREYVILLE (N) FAIRVIEW Kranji (night) 

11 Sat KENILWORTH TURFFONTEIN (I) Kempton Park Carlisle Haydock Park Newton Abbot Kranji (day) 

12 Sun CLAIRWOOD BORROWDALE PARK Musselburgh Plumpton Towcester 

13 Mon TURFFONTEIN (I) Redcar Warwick Huntingdon Yarmouth Chepstow 

14 Tue DURBANVILLE Market Rasen Great Leighs Exeter 

15 Wed SCOTTSVILLE Newmarket Beverley Cheltenham Kempton Park (night) 

16 Thu VAAL (TO/S) Newmarket Cheltenham Ripon Great Leighs (night) 

17 Fri GREYVILLE (N) ARLINGTON Newbury Thirsk Ayr Cheltenham (night) 

18 Sat KENILWORTH TURFFONTEIN (I) Newbury Thirsk Ayr Doncaster (night) 

19 Sun SCOTTSVILLE Wincanton Great Leighs Stratford-on-Avon Kranji (day) 

20 Mon FLAMINGOPARK Pontefract Wolverhampton Hexham Sweden 

21 Tue VAAL (TO/S) Kempton Park Folkestone Southwell Great Leighs (night) 

22 Wed DURBANVILLE Epsom Downs Catterick Bridge Perth Happy Valley (night) 

23 Thu VAAL (TI) Beverley Fontwell Park Perth Southwell (night) Uttoxeter 

24 Fri ARLINGTON Sandown Park Wolverhampton Perth Bangor-on-Dee (night) 

25 Sat TURFFONTEIN (S) BORROWDALE PARK CHAM Sandown Park 

26 Sun CLAIRWOOD KENILWORTH Ludlow Wetherby Brighton Sha Tin (day) 

27 Mon GREYVILLE (N) TURFFONTEIN (S) Newcastle Plumpton Towcester Southwell (night) Windsor 

28 Tue VAAL (TI/S) Wincanton Bath Lingfield Park Nottingham (night) 

29 Wed DURBANVILLE Pontefract Ascot Southwell Great Leighs (night) 

30 Thu VAAL (TI) Redcar Folkstone Hereford Huntingdon (night) 

2009 May 

Date Day National Venue International Venue 

01 Fri GREYVILLE (N) FAIRVIEW Musselburgh Lingfield Park Southwell Bangor-on-Dee (night) 

02 Sat KENILWORTH TURFFONTEIN (S) CHAM Newmarket Goodwood Thirsk Uttoxeter 

03 Sun SCOTTSVILLE NGON Newmarket Salisbury Hamilton Park 

04 Mon FLAMINGO PARK Beverley Warwick Kempton Park Newcastle Windsor 

05 Tue DURBANVILLE Southwell Chepstow Fakenham Catterick Bridge (night) 

06 Wed SCOTTSVILLE Chester Bath Kelso Cheltenham (night) 

07 Thu VAAL (TI/S) Chester Goodwood Newton Abbot Wetherby (night) Wincanton 

08 Fri GREYVILLE (N) FAIRVIEW Chester Nottingham Lingfield Park Hamilton Park (night) 

09 Sat KENILWORTH TURFFONTEIN (I) CHAM Nottingham Haydock Park Ascot Lingfield Park 

10 Sun GREYVILLE ARLINGTON NGON Southwell Plumpton Uttoxeter Bendigo 

11 Mon FLAMINGO PARK Redcar Yarmouth Wolverhampton Windsor (night) Towcester 

12 Tue KENILWORTH Warwick Beverley Brighton Great Leighs (night) 

13 Wed CLAIRWOOD York Exeter Fontwell Park Bath (night) Perth (night) 

14 Thu VAAL (TI/S) York Salisbury Perth Newmarket (night) Ludlow 

15 Fri ARLINGTON York Newbury Newmarket Hamilton Park (night) 

16 Sat KENILWORTH TURFFONTEIN (S) Newbury Newmarket Thirsk Bangor-on-Dee Doncaster 

17 Sun CLAIRWOOD BORROWDALE PARK CHAM Market Rasen Ripon Fakenham Kranji (day) 

18 Mon FLAMINGO PARK Bath Southwell Newton Abbot Windsor (night) 

19 Tue DURBANVILLE Musselburgh Nottingham Yarmouth Leicester (night) Towcester 

20 Wed SCOTTSVILLE Goodwood Lingfield Park Kelso Sedgefield (night) Worcester 

21 Thu VAAL (S) Goodwood Haydock Park Wetherby Salisbury (night) 

22 Fri GREYVILLE (N) ARLINGTON Newmarket Newcastle Brighton Haydock Park (night) 

23 Sat KENILWORTH TURFFONTEIN (I) CHAM Haydock Park Newmarket Beverley 

24 Sun CLAIRWOOD NGON Newmarket Fontwell Park 

25 Mon VAAL (S) Redcar Goodwood Carlisle Cartmel Chepstow 

26 Tue KENILWORTH Redcar Leicester Chepstow Huntingdon (night) Hexham 

27 Wed CLAIRWOOD Cartmel Brighton Great Leighs Beverley (night) Southwell 

28 Thu TURFFONTEIN (I) Ayr Yarmouth Great Leighs Sandown Park (night) 

29 Fri FAIRVIEW Goodwood Hamilton Park Yarmouth Musselburgh (night) 

30 Sat SCOTTSVILLE BORROWDALE PARK CHAM Haydock Park York Goodwood Doncaster 

31 Sun KENILWORTH TURFFONTEIN (S) Bath Perth Stratford-on-Avon Kranji (day) Bendigo

JM Lederman’s winning submission in the ‘L ‘ORMARINS MOMENT’ Photography competition 

See page 42

PARADE Showcasing South African Horseracing & Breeding March 2009 

March 2009. R40.00 


The Pocket Power Tribute Issue

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