Big Race Double : MUHTAFAL remains the General

Muhtafal
(Nicholas Goss)

It’s an old adage at Summerhill that if we were going to war, Muhtafal would be our General. He is, in simple terms, the most reliable producer of quality racehorses in South Africa given his opportunities, and there are only two factors that mitigate against him being right in the mix for the Sires’ Championship.

Not that he’s been too far off, mind you, as he’s made the top five sires for the last two years. The first mitigating factor is that his stock generally don’t run beyond a mile, and with the best endowed races in South Africa being contested over 2000m and beyond, he’s always going to be blown out by the sons and daughters of horses that can get that sort of trip on a regular basis. The other limiting factor is the early perceptions that followed him from the United States when he first arrived here, that he was low on fertility. Of course, that was true, as much as it is also known amongst his best supporters these days, that his fertility at this time is only just short of what we would consider good. Though he is still renowned for being fussy about his mates and taking a good deal of time to serve those he’s not mad about!

Statisticians will tell you though, that the son of Mr. Prospector (yes, he is Mr. Prospector’s most successful son to stand in the southern hemisphere) posts Stakes winners with the regularity of the best stallions in the land, and this last weekend was another illustration of his prowess. There were two Stakes races contested over the Vaal’s sand track at the weekend, the first of which, the Banyana Handicap over 1000m, was taken in great style by Nottgalashia (for Mark Dixon, one of Muhtafal’s greatest fans) while the other was a real triumph for Summerhill, with Alejate finally earning her big Black type in an epic duel up the straight with Kahal’s Summerhill-bred daughter, Cape Tango (for Kahal’s biggest supporter, Mike de Kock). This brings Muhtafal’s Stakes winning tally already, in the first month of the new season, to three following Battlestar Express’ “lightening-bolt” in the closing moments of the Umngeni Handicap (Listed) on Gold Cup day.

So Muhtafal is right in the thick of things in the Sires Premiership again, though he’s a little way short of stablemate, Kahal, who heads the log following Desert Links’ spectacular win in the Canon Gold Cup (Gr.1) on the first weekend of the month.

The Summerhill sires, to put it mildly, are riding high.

Red Letter Result at Turffontein

Saturday’s running of the Acacia Handicap (Gr3) was a real turn up not only for Summerhill in general, but specifically for our Ready To Race programme. In a desperate finish, Spring Garland, bred in partnership with our old Aussie mate, Barry Clements, got up in the shadow of the post to deny the luckless Alejate (bred by our Stallion Manager Greig Muir and his “Summerhill accounts” wife, Michele Muir) in one of the day’s most thrilling finishes. Alejate had been a very narrow second on her previous start in the Flamboyant Stakes (Gr.3), so this was her second hair’s breadth on-the-line defeat and her day must surely come. That wasn’t the end of the story though, as Outcome (also bred at Summerhill by Muhtafal) flew up from the back end of the field in farm-friend Steve Sturlese’s black and white colours for fourth. That means 75% of the place-getters in the race were bred and raised at Summerhill, and that in itself is something of a cause celebre.

Also on the card was the Wolf Power Handicap (Listed) in which Catmandu manfully lugged 60kgs into second place coming from last, while Gymnast (like Spring Garland trained by one of the hottest “teams” in town, Gary Alexander & crew) was another impressive “deliverer” on the day in the Tony Ruffel Handicap (Gr.3) which showcased this season’s rising three year olds. Catmandu’s vanquisher was the very impressive Buscador, though it has to be said the latter was receiving 4.5 kgs from our home-grown man, while Gymnast was beaten in a desperate finish by the Vuma-fed and Sean Tarry trained Horatio.

All told, a great day’s racing, though it would be remiss of us if we didn’t mention the fourth Feature on the card in which Charles Laird’s imported Acoustical (also Vuma- fed) went away with the laurels in the Three Troikas Handicap (Gr.3) on only her third racecourse performance. The victory celebrated Charles’ 50^th birthday, and the Summerhill team were quickly on the phone to welcome him to the “club” to which some of us have belonged for some while now!

Race results 15th - 17th June

Race result details for Summerhill bred/sired horses for the dates 15 - 17 June 2006.  What a result for the connections of 2yo Kahal filly EVENING ATTIRE who blitzed her rivals by 8.25 lengths in winning the Computaform Juvenile Plate over 1160 m at Turffontein on Saturday!

VAAL Thursday 15 June

Race 1: RACING EXPRESS Maiden Juvenile Plt (f)(Sand) R 58,000 1200m

MOCHA-CHOCA a O A Ferraris; G Lerena 
Raced by Summerhill Stud Syndicate (Nom: M J B Goss) (bred by Summerhill Stud)
2 b f Muhtafal - Cafe (Northern Guest) [Result: WON in time 74.31]

Race 5 WINNER’S WORLD Maiden Plate (Sand) R 58,000 1400m 

COSMIC BOUNCE ba P F Matchett; R Danielson 
Team Tyson Racing (Nom: Mr M K Naidoo) (bred by Greenhill Farm)
3 ch g Muhtafal - Little Legend (Complete Warrior) [Result: 4th]

Race 6 COMPUTAFORM MR 80 Hcp (f&m)(Turf) R 75,000 1400m 

ALEJATE - G W Anthony; P Strydom
L W Brown, G W Anthony, G,K & M M Nassif (bred by Summerhill Stud)
3 b f Muhtafal - Tristram’s Frolic (Northern Guest) [Result: 2nd by a nose]
 
Race 8 WINNER’S WORLD MR 64 Hcp (f&m)(Turf) R 45,000 1400m

PALM READER J S Casey; S Mtshali Mr G B Tempest (bred by B L G Stud)
3 b f Fahal - Le Ciel Leopard (Leopard Strike) [Result: 4th}

Race 9 COMPUTAFORM MR 55 Hcp (f&m)(Turf) R 45,000 1400m

PETITE PADDY - S T Pettigrew; R Danielson 
4 b f Muhtafal - Fontana Rosa (Del Sarto)[Result: WON in time 83.29]

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FRIDAY 16 June FAIRVIEW

Race 5 Merit Rated 70 Handicap R 34,000 1200m

RHYTHM NATION G W Uren; L Funeka
Messrs G Abrahams and G W Uren (bred by Summerhill Stud)
5 b g National Emblem - Some-Tune (Northern Drive) [Result: 2nd by a nose]

Race 7 Merit Rated 93 Handicap R 66,000 1200m

HEAR THE DRUMS - D A McLachlan; W Agrella 
Mr P L Fabricius (bred by Summerhill Stud)
3 b c Gold Press - Winning Glory (Gallic League) [Result: 3rd]

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GREYVILLE FRiday 16 June

Race 1 OCCAZION COLLECTION Maiden Juvenile Plate (f) R 53,000 1600m

MARILYN - C Naidoo; I Sturgeon
Mr Tony Moodley (bred by Summerhill Stud)
2 ch f National Emblem - Legendary Lass (Northern Guest) [Result: 3rd]

Race 3 THE STABLES WINE ESTATE Maiden Plate (f&m) R 53,000 1000m

AURORA LEIGH - M Dixon; B Nyawo
Mr B R Lindsay (bred by B.R.Lindsay)
3 ch f Russian Revival - Fairest Queen (Royal Prerogative) [Result: 3rd]

Race 4 THE MERCURY Merit Rated 70 Hcp (f&m) R 54,000, 1200m 

EASTERN MARQUE D C Howells; L Africa
Mr and Mrs A E Carlisle (bred by Connington Stud)
4 b f Muhtafal - Martha (Elliodor) [Result: 3rd]

Race 7 MARK GOLD JEWELS Merit Rated 83 Handicap R 67,000 1400m

MY ONE AND EIGHT - J S Snaith; K Zechner
Meadowlands Racing (Pty) Ltd (bred by W.Frances & T.Steytl)
4 b g Fahal - Ain’t Life Sweet(A (Snaadee) [Result: 2nd]

Race 9 FASHION EXPERIENCE Maiden Plate (f&m) R 53,000, 1400m

DANNY BLUE - P C/M J Riley; D Smith
Mr W J Sharratt (bred by W.J.Sharratt)
3 ch f Russian Revival - Shades Of Blue (Foveros) [Result: 3rd]

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KENILWORTH Saturday 17 JUNE

Race 4 WAR COUNCIL (2003) Merit Rated 82 Handicap R 56,000, 1600m 

MAJESTIC SUN - B Marcus, R Fourie 
Messrs K Steinberg and B Marcus (bred by Summerhill Stud)
3 b g Kahal - Blushing Summer (Jallad) [Result: WON by 1.75 lengths in time of 99.97]

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Turffontein, Saturday 17 June

Race 1 COMPUTAFORM Juvenile Plate (f) R 65,000, 1160m

EVENING ATTIRE - A/Anderso Roux; S Mtshali
Mr A S M de Almeida (bred by Connington Stud)
2 b f Kahal - Persian Guest (Northern Guest) [Result: WONby 8.25 lengths in time of 68.45]

LADY RED - D N Stenger; Devin Habib
Mr Andre Theron (bred by Summerhill Stud)
2 ch f Russian Revival - Gay Guest (Northern Guest) [Result: 3rd]

Race 6 WINNER’S WORLD Merit Rated 84 Handicap R 75,000, 1800m

BHEKINKOSI - G M Alexander, Donovan Habib 
Mrs A Devachander, Messrs G P Sadie, F Wilensky, R J Motlogeloa and Mr and Mrs G A Seager (bred by Summerhill Stud)
3 ch g Kahal - Amabokoboko (Sunny North) [Result: 2nd]

Race 9 WINNER’S WORLD Merit Rated 94 Handicap R 85,000, 1160m

FANYANA - K R Maroun; P Strydom
Messrs W H and C W Strydom (bred by Summerhill Stud)
3 b g Alami - Fidelity Bond (All Fired Up) [Result: Won by 0.75 length in time of 66.61]

GYPSEY CARAVAN - B O Wiid; J Sampson
Messrs J Apfel, A J Leonard, G Goddard, K P Dollery and Dr D L G Elliot (bred by Yellow Star Stud)
4 ch g Muhtafal - National Gypsy [Result: 4th]