South Africa's Living Racing Legend: MICHAEL ROBERTS
Friday, August 25, 2006 at 09:47AM 
Michael RobertsThe great thing about working on a farm like Summerhill is that you can walk into the main office on any ordinary Friday and stumble across the 15-time champion jockey of South Africa and twice champion jockey of Britain deep in discussion with the hotel manager about a wine order that his wife has sent him to collect.
I was fortunate to speak with MICHAEL ROBERTS for the better part of an hour and between discussing current prospects and how his yard is traveling, I asked him not just about his riding career but also his thoughts on the Ready to Run concept in South Africa and Summerhill’s stallions.
(See the end of this post for a Michael Roberts Fact File)
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Current job
Trainer
Number of horses currently in work?
“We have 60 horses in his yard with another 12 two year old’s coming in.”
Total staff?
“25 staff and 2 assistants” (His stable jockey Ian Sturgeon is also sipping a cup of tea alongside us)
Race you are best known for?
Senor Santa enjoying retirement at Summerhill - obviously needing the mud pack to ease the stress of being a full time minder for a paddock full of yearling colts!“Probably the last match race in South Africa – ironically perhaps, it was sponsored by Summerhill - on December 30, 1989. It was called The Winning Form Challenge and it was a mile race between a son and daughter of Northern Guest - Senor Santa and Northern Princess. There was a capacity crowd on hand to witness it even with a cricket test and a major surfing competition underway on the same day. Everyone said Senor Santa would win it but I just kept a little bit in reserve. We sat and waited for him [Senor Santa] and in 3 strides my filly went bang and got him on the line. The crowd went bananas.”
You buy quite a few horses from us at the Ready to Run sale. What is it about this particular sale that appeals to you as a buyer/trainer?
“I like a good actioned horse. The Breeze Ups allows you to see this.”
Can I ask which stallion/s at Summerhill you like?
“Cataloochee and Kahal. Kahal as he is doing very well and Cataloochee as he is the type of horse we’re short of – an excellent sprinter - in this country. He also looks versatile – if you breed him speed you’ll get it, but with his pedigree if you breed him a classic mare you’ll get stamina.”
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Michael Roberts fact file
Born: May 17, 1954 in South Africa
Career: In South Africa, Michael was apprenticed to H. W. Brown, having studied at the Summerveld Jockeys’ Academy for five years. He rode his first winner in 1968 at Pietermaritzburg on Smyrn.
Feature titles: Michael won the South African 2,000 Guineas eight times, the South African Derby six times, and was champion jockey of South Africa 11 times. He was also England’s champion jockey in 1992, with 206 winners
History making: In 1992, Michael created history by being the first jockey to ride a 2-year-old juvenile filly to win the group I Nunthorpe Sprint at York, the meeting’s major sprint event. The filly was Lyric Fantasy.
Rising Star: Michael’s riding skills earned international headlines after he piloted the Alec Stewart trained Mtoto to victory in the 1987 Coral Eclipse stakes. Up until that point Henry Cecil’s brilliant Derby winner Reference Point had looked unbeatable. Michael’s partnership with Mtoto went on to add the 1988 Coral Eclipse stakes and the King George and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. Roberts conceded he “was by far the best I sat on. His acceleration was incredible.”
Winning rides: Michael retired after a particularly bad race fall. He was just 32 winners short of 4,000 for his career.
Best horses he ever rode: Sledge Hammer, Lando, Wolf Power, Bold Tropic and Mtoto.
Owners he rode for: The list is long and distinguished and includes the Queen and Sheikh Mohammed.
Major international races won: ENGLAND: Oaks: Intrepidity (1993); 2,000 Guineas: Mystiko (1991); Coronation Cup: Opera House (1993); Eclipse Stakes: Mtoto (1987-88); King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes: Mtoto (1988), Opera House (1993); Champion Stakes: Indian Skimmer (1988); Haydock Sprint: Wolfhound (1993); Juddmonte International: Terimon (1991); IRELAND: 2,000 Guineas: Barathea (1993); Phoenix Champion Stakes: Indian Skimmer (1988); ITALY: Derby Italiano: Prorutori (1989); Premio di Milano: Lando (1995); Coppa d’Oro: Lando (1994); Premio Vittorio di Capua: Just a Flutter (1989); Premio Presidente della Repubblica: Sikeston (1991); JAPAN: Japan Cup: Lando (1995)
Reader Comments (3)
I should like to think that the Michael Roberts that we saw so much of in England and who I last met when he was exhibiting Jersey cows at Underberg agricultural show a few years ago is alive and well. Please clarify this matter.
Best wishes to all at Summerhill. You look after the horses of our friends John and Ann Ford in Northamptonshire.
Donough McGillycuddy.
Many thanks for your interest in our blog site, and for taking the trouble to write. The Michael Roberts for whom Gavin Van Zyl worked, is another person altogether. He was a prominent trainer, who died some seven or eight years ago.
The Michael Roberts you remember is alive and well and still farming in the Karkloof valley. He has sold his Jersey herd, but is a very successful trainer.
John and Anne Ford have just visited, and are due back here in a few days from now. They’ve been great friends of the farm for many years, and we thoroughly enjoy their visits.
Please keep the correspondence rolling! Hope this finds you in good shape.
Warm regards
MICK GOSS
SUMMERHILL STUD
I am happy to read about Michael Roberts, I did not realise he is training. Last I heard was he had a stud farm - jerseys
I don't know if you might be able to help me find out some information on Michael Roberts grand father's name, any information would be wonderful.
I have a idea my father and Mr Michael was cousins. I am trying to write up the family tree for the children, my father have past away when I was very young, and so there is not much information on this side of the family. I was hoping to find out Mr Michael's grand fathers names, and my father Wallace Roberts and his brother Richard's (who past away as well) fathers name (my grandfather's name)
Sorry to have to ask this on your website, I have no other way to find out this information.
Thank you in advance, if there is anyway to ask Mr Michael, it would be highly appreciated.
Kind Regards
Caroline