TOUGH AT THE TOP

Breeders of Chocolicious, Ian Todd and Keith Russon from Backworth Stud,
with Linda Norval from Summerhill Stud
(Photo : Leigh Willson / Summerhill Stud)

KZN BREEDERS AWARDS 2010

It’s one thing being top dog, it’s another being a big dog. But when you’re both, you need to watch your “p’s” and “q’s”. You see, the old Afrikaans saying “die hoogste boom vang die meeste wind” (otherwise known as the “tall poppy” syndrome), is alive and well, and living in South Africa, much as it is elsewhere in the world. So, be mindful when you blow your own trumpet.

That said, the outcomes of last weekend’s KZN Breeders Awards were inescapable and reminded us of the responsibility Summerhill bears towards our region.

Of the 19 prizes given away on the night, 17 fell either to the farm itself or to people or horses with Summerhill connections.

Nine of them were directly awarded and the rest were taken by horses either sired in our stallion barn or by people who learned their trade with us. Three of these were Grade One Winning daughters of Kahal, while Muhtafal and Labeeb accounted for the balance.

The Breeding Achievement of the year was aptly awarded to Connington Stud, whose owners Brendan and Candice Norman both served apprenticeships with us in their formative lives.

There’s an old truism that it’s more rewarding to give than to receive, and we have to say that to see the connections of these horses marching up to the podium on such an auspicious occasion, was fulfilling.

Few people know it, but among their number were some proper survivors, people who’d mortgaged their farms and hence their lives to pay their service fees, or just to stay in the business. And while silverware alone cannot sustain survival, it is the one recognition that maybe, just maybe, the struggle has been worth the trouble and that the light at the end of the tunnel, even in these times, is the sign that we all need to press on.

If you’ll allow us a bit of “back slapping” for a moment, this was a tribute to a policy of “no compromise” on quality, of sound customer relations and world-class service, and of an eye always on the long haul, and not the short buck.

We earlier showcased the awards that came Summerhill’s way : here are those that called our pals to the winners dias :

Award	Horse	Sire	Breeder
Outstanding 2 Year Old	CHOCOLICIOUS	KAHAL	Backworth Stud
Outstanding Sprinter Female	NOBLE HEIR	KAHAL	Connington Stud
Outstanding Sprinter Male	THUNDER KEY	MUHTAFAL	Cecil Baitz
Outstanding Middle Distance Female	SPICED GOLD	KAHAL	Greenhill Farm
Outstanding 3 Year Old Filly	SPICED GOLD	KAHAL	Greenhill Farm
Outstanding Older Female	NOBLE HEIR	KAHAL	Connington Stud
Outstanding Older Male	MAGICAL	LABEEB	Mrs & Mrs Rodney Clarkin
Breeding Achievement	n/a	n/a	Connington Stud

THUNDER KEY STRIKES IN DIADEM STAKES

Click above to watch Thunder Key in the Diadem Stakes (Grade 2)
(Footage : Tellytrack)

THUNDER KEY
DIADEM STAKES (GRADE 2) 2009

Saturday saw lightening strike at Kenilworth when the son of Muhtafal, Thunder Key, stormed home to steal victory in the Grade 2 Diadem Stakes over 1200m.

A most formidable field of big name performers, including Kapil, Villandry, Warm White Night, Gaultier and Blue Tiger to mention but a few, took their places in the starting gates. But it was the Glen Kotzen-trained 6-year-old speedster, under jockey Karis Teetan, who ignited the afterburners to win by a half length from Blue Tiger with Dance With Al trailing a further length and a quarter.

(Please watch the video above for all the race action and post-race interviews.)

Thunder Key had been knocking on the door in 2009 season with runner-up placings in the Southeatser Sprint (L), Golden Horse Casino Sprint (Gr1) and Umngeni Handicap (L).

Congratulations to trainer Glen Kotzen, owner Jean Van Heerden and Thunder Key’s breeder Cecil Baitz.

The Emperor's Palace Ready To Run Sale : HAIL MARCUS

Basil MarcusAnd we mean Basil Marcus, not the one-time Roman Emperor, Marcus Andronicus. Leading Cape trainer, Basil Marcus, had a great weekend with his Ready To Run graduates, his five runners earning themselves three victories and two seconds in Cape Town on Saturday.

First up was Pele Pele, a R140 000 buy on behalf of leading industrialist, Roy Eckstein, who only got going in the last 100 metres and won going away by ¾ of a length. He has just had a handful of starts, and this one looks like a more than progressive sort. If he had been entered for the event, he was a more than likely runner in the R500 000 Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup, due to be staged on the 3^rd November at Turffontein.

His stablemate, Don’t Tell Titch, also belonging to Roy Eckstein and his long-time partner, Cecil Baitz, stole the laurels in the second race from yet another Summerhill graduate, Royal Racer, the property of Hong Kong resident, Andrew Yuen. These two drew well away from the field, showing their class over the extra furlong and here again, Don’t Tell Titch would’ve been a compelling entry in the Emperor’s Palace Cup, had he won his previous start, and his trainer Basil been in a position to plan things that way.

As if that wasn’t enough, Basil had Sbakhabakha engaged in the last on the card, and she came from last after turning for home very green, to mow the field down and win by ¾ length. Yet another Summerhill graduate for Marcus, Amaphupho ran his socks off to be second after also experiencing difficulties on the turn, and closing as quickly as anything on the day. This was a very encouraging run first time out of the maidens, as he had won his last start by 2 ¾ lengths. Basil has five highly promising three year olds from last year’s Summerhill draft, and he has a great deal to look forward to as the Cape season approaches. Speaking on Saturday evening, he says the foundation of his stable is based on his successes with Summerhill-breds, not forgetting of course that much of our own success dependant upon on what Basil does with the stock he takes home from us.

If anything emerges from Saturday’s events, it’s the advantage Basil gives himself (& by definition, his clients,) when he takes the trouble to come to Summerhill and ride the horses in advance of the Sale. He wasn’t a multiple Champion jockey for nothing, and his judgment is unerring, even though he never steps on them to any degree when he’s trying them out.

Don’t forget, the previous year, he bought Desert Links (of his admission, one of the best in the country this year,) and multiple Group/Stakes winner, Majestic Sun who was a Ready To Run graduate of the year before.