EMERGING STALLIONS : EMERGING FORCES

Admire Main
(Photo : Greig Muir)

“One of the better young generations of
emerging stallions we’ve known”

Mick Goss
Summerhill Stud CEOThere’s a lot being written at the moment in the financial press about the role of emerging countries as the only hope for the world’s ailing economy. While the South African stallion scene is far from lacking in its established stars, there’s real hope among what could turn out to be one of the better young generations of emerging stallions we’ve known. Reports from the physical inspection for the Cape Premier Yearling Sale speak highly of the progeny of A.P. Arrow, Admire Main, Argonaut, Jay Peg and Kildonan, while the foaling crew at Summerhill will tell you that the Brave Tin Soldiers are up there with anything we’ve seen. They’re big, strongly made, and they all carry the magnificent head which was obviously an element of what made Demi O’Byrne part with $3million for him as a foal of just a few months. Besides “big”, you can count on the rest as well. Brave, and brilliant.

Encouraging too, was the money investors were willing to pay for the first crops of Mullins Bay and Stronghold at the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale. While it was to be expected that they would have their admirers when they went through the ring, following the healthy endorsement they received from the gallops inspection panellists, few would’ve anticipated the Mullins Bays would average alongside Kahal and Muhtafal, and that Stronghold would come away with a top price of R330,000, in this climate. Equally pleasing though, is the fact that this sale elicits healthy bidding for a horse, no matter his origins. The Ready To Run is designed for buyers to draw their conclusions from what they see, not what they think they see, and the gallop in the end, is the ultimate test.

Over the years, we’ve seen the likes of Gold Cup hero, Cereus, R8million earner, Imbongi, and Jo’burg’s “love-child”, Pierre Jourdan, all by unfashionable sires, attract a healthy proportion of bids simply because they could run.

While they’re quietly off the commercial boil at the moment, Solskjaer and Way West are another pair who still seem to have a bit of puff in their sails. Solskjaer’s top price was R225,000 for Battle Of Hastings, while Way West justifiably averaged R90,000 (with two “centurions”), given that he’s had two Group One performing fillies in his first two small crops, and that Extra Zero put up such a grand performance in the R2 million Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup the day before.

Enquiries :
Linda Norval 27 (0) 33 263 1081
or email linda@summerhill.co.za
www.summerhill.co.za

WILFRED KOSTER : A Life Worth Celebrating

Wilfred Koster

We were a day or two late in hearing the news, and it came courtesy of a journalist who phoned to ask for a tribute. That such a legend of our business should have passed without us knowing is probably the best indication that the horse game is no longer about lifestyle: it’s about all the things Wilfred Koster represented. Firstly, he was a model of hard work, he was an exemplar in the sphere of integrity and honesty, and while his forthrightness sometimes got him into trouble, the one thing you could never say about our friend Wilf, was that you didn’t know where you stood with him. Beyond that, though he was the son of a gifted breeder of racehorses, he was even more gifted in his own right, leaving behind a legacy of at least three colossi of our sport: National Emblem, London News and Argonaut, besides many, many others of abiding talent. Wilfred had an instinct in the breeding of thoroughbreds that most would call genius, yet it wasn’t only in the design of his horses, but in his consummate horsemanship, his understanding of the land, his sympathy with his people and his ability to bring them all together in a spectacular harmony.

Besides, he was one of the last great “on-the-farm” breeders, the business having been largely hijacked by venture capitalists in the past 30 years.

He was far-sighted to a degree that left few stones unturned, and in leaving himself the time to pass on to his son Vaughan, everything he could of his God-given gifts, he exhibited his rare capacity for planning. But perhaps the best example of this lay in the fact he took a personal interest in every facet of his business, right down to what his staff should be doing on the day of his funeral.

“I think we’ll leave the horses out that night, so that the staff can attend the proceedings, and return home without concern.” To his last breath, he was still attending to his accounts personally, getting to his feet himself, enjoying the company of his family, and remembering how lucky he’d been to spend his life the way he did, and where he did.

Which brings us to another point. We can’t imagine a National Sale without Wilf, his wise counsel at meetings, and his ready laugh at gatherings. A whiskey after a day at the sales will somehow taste different.

Throughout history, there are very few thoroughbred farms anywhere that’ve survived the third generation. For all the great breeders of the world, we can think of only two, both Australian, in the form of the Kellys of Newhaven Park, and the Thompsons of Widden Stud, who’ve successfully made it beyond these boundaries. Wilfred (and let’s not forget the contribution of his lovely wife, Shirley,) has pretty much guaranteed the continuity of what this family stands for, both ethically, and in thoroughbred lore, for at least one more generation.

The teams at Summerhill, Hartford, Vuma and Goss & Co Insurance salute you all, Shirley, Tanya, Nikki, Tess and Vaughan and wish you long life. We’ve no doubt that the memories of Wilfred will be your strength in the days and years ahead, and for South Africa’s sake, we are comforted that the legacy will go on.

ARGONAUT sails into new waters

Argonaut (Gold Circle)2007 Equus Champion Two Year Old Colt, Argonaut is getting ready to commence his racing career in Australia. After spending a mandatory period in quarantine, he will begin his racing career in Australia in a partnership with Blue Gum Farm which is situated near Melbourne.

Argonaut’s performances to date have drawn rave reviews from various international racing commentators. Many people rate him as the most exciting horse to come out of South Africa since the legendary Horse Chestnut.

Easily winning his debut over 1400m at Turffontein in March, and his impressive performance at Scottsville in the Group 1 Gold Medallion Stakes over 1200m. Bursting out of the pack he mowed down the field and just failed by a neck, to catch eventual winner Seventh Rock. Even though he had to settle for second, it was the manner in which he ran that garnered much attention.

About six weeks later, Argonaut got his reward with his first Group One win at Greyville in the Schweppes Golden Horseshoe over 1400m. In a performance worthy of his champion status he was asked by Champion jockey Mark Khan to go, and boy did he respond. This beautifully bred son of Champion sire, Western Winter, set off and accelerated to win by two lengths from his very game stablemate, Profit Report.

Watch Argonaut winning the Schweppes Golden Horseshoe 2007.

As if this wasn’t enough to confirm his amazing talent, and that we were witnessing a champion in the making, Argonaut blasted his way through the field in the Meydan Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600 m at Clairwood, going away to win by a staggering five lengths and in an unbelievable time of 1:34.48. Any critics that he might’ve had were silenced for good, even South Africa’s leading turf paper, Sporting Post commented “Wow”. Enough said.

South Africa’s loss is certainly Australia’s gain, and the only consolation we have is that he was born and bred in  Africa and has the continent’s blood coursing through his veins.

Posted by Megan Romeyn 

All the Winners : Equus National Racing Awards

As promised, here are the category Champions following a quite spectacular gala evening in Johannesburg.

From a Summerhill perspective, we didn’t only earn the Breeder’s title but we also took the Champion Middle Distance Female title with Kahal’s daughter, BOLD ELLINORE, whom we bred in conjunction with our old school pal , Mike Destombes.

BOLD ELLINORE and her mum, ELLINORE, were both recently sold for what is reportedly a record local sum to Mary Slack’s Wilgerbosdrift Stud. Mercifully, both she and her illustrious own brother, EMPEROR NAPOLEON, have not joined the international exodus of top horses reported in yesterday’s column and which include Group One Winners (and Champions in cases) KILDONAN, ELUSIVE FORT, ARGONAUT, AFRICAN APPEAL, DANE JULIA, LITTLE MISS MAGIC, WAR ARTIST, JAY PEG, RIPPLING RING, SUN CLASSIQUE, KYAK, ROYAL VINTAGE, DIVINE JURY, LUCKY FIND, SAM MCGEE, MOCHA JAVA, STATELY and possibly, HIT MAN.

Some kind of list, isn’t it, so thank heavens for the resolve of people like Michael Destombes who’ve decided they still want to have some fun locally.

2007 EQUUS AWARDS – WINNERS

CHAMPION TWO YEAR OLD FILLY

Rat Burana

CHAMPION TWO YEAR OLD COLT / GELDING

Argonaut

CHAMPION THREE YEAR OLD SPRINTER : FEMALE
(up to and including 1400m)

Ethereal Lady

CHAMPION THREE YEAR OLD SPRINTER : MALE
(up to and including 1400m)

Mythical Flight

CHAMPION THREE YEAR OLD CLASSIC HORSE : FEMALE
(1600m and further)

Sun Classique

CHAMPION THREE YEAR OLD CLASSIC HORSE : MALE
(1600m and further)

Jay Peg

CHAMPION OLDER SPRINTER : FEMALE
(up to and including 1400m)

Disco Queen

CHAMPION OLDER SPRINTER : MALE
(up to and including 1400m)

Successful Bidder
CHAMPION OLDER MID-DISTANCE HORSE : FEMALE
(1600m – 2200m)

Bold Ellinore

CHAMPION OLDER MID DISTANCE HORSE : MALE
(1600m – 2200m)

Pocket Power

CHAMPION STAYER : FEMALE
(2400m and further)

Festive Occasion

CHAMPION STAYER : MALE
(2400m and further)

Long Dollar

WORK RIDER OF THE YEAR

John Nel

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR

Gavin Lerena

CHAMPION BREEDER (special criteria)

Summerhill Stud

CHAMPION SIRE (special criteria)

Jetmaster

CHAMPION BROODMARE (special criteria)

Loyal Linda

OWNER OF THE YEAR

Chris van Niekerk

CHAMPION JOCKEY (highest number of wins)

Mark Khan

CHAMPION TRAINER (highest stakes earned)

Geoff Woodruff

HORSE OF THE YEAR

Pocket Power

BREEDER OF THE YEAR AWARD (Special Award from TBA)

Mrs B.D. Oppenheimer

OUTSTANDING SERVICES AS AN OWNER (Special Award from TBA)

Mrs B.D. Oppenheimer

Photos coutesy of JC Photographics

JULY DAY: New News, As Promised

Mike de KockEveryone out there wants to know what Mike de Kock has to say about his runners in the Group Ones on Saturday. We’ve spoken with Mike, and these are his views:

1. The Vodacom July. He stands by his statement that Kildonan is bred for the trip, and people shouldn’t read too much into the brilliance he showed in the Golden Horse Sprint. Great horses are brilliant by definition, and have the ability to win at all at all distances, and they intend to ride him with the confidence he deserves. If he stays, he wins, or so they hope. If he doesn’t, they won’t go down having done him less than justice. Do you think they realise Pick Six, Dynamite Mike & Veiled Essence are even in the field?

2. Bold Ellinore is in top gear for the Garden Province (1600 Gr.1 for fillies). The Summerhill-bred daughter of Kahal belongs to our old school mate, Michael Destombes, and no lady deserves a Group One more. She’s in cracking form, is the highest rated filly at the trip, but has Soft Landing, Stratos, Angel Flight, Dane Julia & Little Miss Magic to beat.

3. The Golden Slipper Gr.1 (for Juvenile fillies). Mike has both 1^st and 2^nd favourites engaged, and the stable jockey Weichong Marwing has chosen in spite of her 13 draw, to ride Gilded Minnaret, jointly owned by Mike and his old sidekick, Pat Shaw, now a leading trainer in Singapore. Only thing is, Weichong hasn’t remembered where the 2^nd favourite, Cleome, comes from (she’s a Muhtafal filly from Summerhill), and Kevin Shea might well be the celebrant rider in the end. Mike says there’s little between the two other than the draw (in Cleome’s favour) and the latter has come on again since her excellent run against elders a few weeks back. She might be value at 4/1.

4. The Golden Horseshoe. (Gr.1 for Juvenile Colts). We have one runner here, Springbok Summer, but he is probably more hopeful than anything else. Muhtafal has a promising sort in Let’s Get Started and while he could well feature, the probabilities are that Robert Muir’s Argonaut is the one they all have to beat. With Cataloochee already ensconced as a stallion at Summerhill for the Muirs, with a couple of Group Ones under his belt, this could be another for the roster in a couple of years.