Congratulations to all VUMA connections for superb performances at Turffontein on Saturday.

The  racecard at Turffontein was filled with big horses, top trainers and jocks, with a few surprises for “picksters” and punters. Michael Azzie got the ball rolling winning the first with Thekkady, bred by Bill and Barbara Marshall at Summerhill. Alec Laird won the second with War of Conquest, and the Charles Laird trained Cashel the fourth.

Sean Tarry took the first feature of the day, winning the Aquanaut Handicap with Bound by Honour. Things got really hot when 50-1 shot, Imbongi (Russian Revival bred at Summerhill) won the Gauteng Guineas (G2) for the Mike de Kock stable, followed by Kilcoy Castle, Horatio - both trained by Sean Tarry, and Rudra for the Mike de Kock team in fourth place.

Jet Master’s big-striding daughter, Stratos claimed the R1 million Empress Club Stakes G1 for Michael Azzie, chased home by Rat Burana and Bold Ellinore for Mike de Kock.

Ending the day on a high note, the Dominic Zaki-trained Mentor, won the G2 Hawaii Stakes, from Jaroslaw for Corne Spies, Emperor Napoleon for Mike de Kock and Rebel King for Charles Laird.

Summerhill’s Mick Goss has mentored many amateur breeders (including yours truly) on the value of families, and Imbongi’s win has added more weight to his dam’s (Garden Verse) pedigree, hot on the heels of half sister, Spring Garland’s win in the Acacia Handicap. The Champion Breeders have wonderful video clips of their National Yearling Sales draft on their website. My mouse blazed a quick trail of clicks to view Lot 446 (Imbongi’s half brother by National Emblem)!

Congratulations to all the winning Vuma-connections

Race 1 – Thekkady – Michael Azzie
Race 2 – War of Conquest – Alec Laird
Race 4 – Cashel – Charles Laird
Race 5 – Bound by Honour – Sean Tarry

Race 7 (Gauteng Guineas G2) – 1^st Imbongi – M de Kock
2^nd Kilcoy Castle – Sean Tarry
3^rd Horatio – Sean Tarry
4^th Rudra – M de Kock

Race 8 (Empress Club Stakes G1)
1^st Stratos – Michael Azzie
2^nd Rat Burana – M de Kock
3^rd Bold Ellinore – M de Kock

Race 9 (Hawaii Stakes G2)
1^st Mentor – Dominic Zaki
2^nd Jaroslaw – Corne Spies
3^rd Emperor Napoleon – M de Kock4^th Rebel King – Charles Laird

Click here to view the Summerhill Stud National Yearling Sales Draft.


Posted by Heather Morkel