THE CATALOOCHEE TRAIN KEEPS ON PUFFING...

 

Chatanooga Chuchu
(Photos : Gold Circle)

“SEE THEM GALLOP” 
FRIDAY, 15 OCTOBER 2010

There are more of these from the leading Freshman Sire
at the Emperors Palace Ready To Run.

Position	Horse	Trainer
1st	CHATANOOGA CHUCHU	Garth Puller
3rd	JUNE BUG	Michael Azzie

EMPERORS PALACE READY TO RUN SALE
SUNDAY, 7 NOVEMBER 2010 

For more information please visit :
www.tba.co.za

AS PREDICTED, CATALOOCHEE'S LEADING THE PACK

Cataloochee
(Photo : John Lewis)

COMING SOON… HIS FINAL TWO CROPS.

He was always out there on his own.
Once he hit the front, no horse ever passed him.
Now, his progeny are paying their own respects.

Another winner this week :
1st OOCHEE AGENT for Paul Matchett

For more information please visit :
www.summerhill.co.za

or contact :

KERRY JACK
+27 (0) 82 782 7297

THIS CAT’S COOKIN’, BABE

Cataloochee
(Photo : Summerhill Stud)

CATALOOCHEE

In a land in which speed is king, he was the Emperor. Whether it was Turffontein, Newmarket, the Vaal or Scottsville, once Cataloochee hit the front, no horse ever passed him.

On his way, he ran the fastest 1000 metres in recorded history. In the 1200 metres of the Golden Horse Casino Sprint, he ran faster than any horse had ever run. To understand what that means, you have to visit the Honour Roll. 

And now, it seems, his progeny have come to understand their heritage. Thus far four runners; one winner (Ms Loochee by five); one runner-up on debut (Ikeechobee); and two third (Zee Cat and Jeanre), also on debut.

Those that watched the Emperors Palace Ready To Run gallops at Summerhill, will remember our predictions. All the sadder, that we’re talking of the dead. It’s the way of the world, we’re afraid, but the old Cat’s up there somewhere, and he’s doubtless talkin’ up a storm about his babies.

CATALOOCHEE : Now this is a story worth telling...

CATALOOCHEE

“Like him, his progeny can handle their own corner”

The story of a loner, who toughed it out against the odds, who shouldered his 530kgs through the sound and pain barriers. A horse who, in the very best of races, never let a horse lead him once he had hit the front. Even for a stride. He ran the fastest 1000m in history, doing it the hard way, and came back for more, and did it again at 1200m against the best. A real champion, a fighter, a winner.

CATALOOCHEE: Out there on his own. Metaphorically. Literally.

For more information please visit :
www.summerhill.co.za

VANGELIS : Patience Pays

Robert and Robin Muir at the annual Summerhill Stallion Day
(Summerhill Stud)

Vangelis’ run away win in the East Cape’s top liner on Friday was a salute to perseverance. The day this man was born, our Foal Care Manager at the time, T.K.Nkabinde, proclaimed him a Derby prospect; that, unfortunately, was not to be. Within two months of his arrival, the horse that would become Vangelis revealed a distinct lameness in his shoulder, and he carried this right through his yearling year. A lovely big colt bred on the same lines as and reminiscent of Emperor Napoleon (the deadly cross of Kahal on a Northern Guest mare) would undoubtedly have been one of our top commercial prospects of his year at the sales, but he was scratched from all his engagements, including the later Ready To Run, while we were tearing our hair out trying to decide what to do with the colt.

As with Humpty Dumpty, “all the Kings men and all the King’s horses” were called upon to express their opinions and find a remedy, but it all came to nought. In the end, Michael Booysens, a Zulu gent who was abandoned at Summerhill at six or seven years of age and has since become a folklore character of the place, suggested that we treat Vangelis’ condition as a “mechanical” lameness, and that we “ride” him through it. In the end, his advice was prophetic, and within two months of us starting with the horse, he began to move with only a hint of lameness.

That he still carries this condition to a small degree, is as much a testimony to his courage and will to race, as it is to Michael’s instincts as a horseman. Last weekend, Vangelis racked up his sixth victory from eleven starts, and from the manner of his achieving it, he’s not done yet.

Going back a little, our old mate, Robert Muir, happened to be staying at Hartford House on one of his frequent visits from the United States. He turned up at the early morning exercise session, took one look at Vangelis and bought a half from the estate of the late Colly Fram. Robert has owned many great horses in his time, Argonaut, Cataloochee and Candidato Roy among them, yet he’s never had a braver one look through a bridle.