OLÉ! OLÉ! SOLSKJAER
Wednesday, February 9, 2011 
Ice Axe by Solskjaer
(Photo : Gold Circle)
“It’s been a ‘Hot Weekend’ for
Markus and Ingrid Jooste…”
When Mike de Kock tipped his progeny at the Ready To Run gallops, Solskjaer must have been listening. Named for the man that won the European Champions Cup for Manchester United, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, our man came to Summerhill as the most accomplished son of one of the world’s best stallions, Danehill, to set foot on continental Africa.
It was always going to take a little time for the “Sollys” to come to hand, given his pedigree and the fact he’s a brother to the immortal stayer, Yeats, and if Ice Axe’s 4.75 length romp on debut Sunday was anything to go by, he’s announced his arrival in no uncertain terms. A half brother to the Champion filly, Icy Air, this fellow was a December foal, of whom little could’ve been expected ‘til now. But they’ll be waiting for him from here on hence, especially as he’s bred to get at least 2000m, and you’d have to believe he could move up on his weekend performance on this evidence.
It’s been a hot weekend for Ingrid and Markus Jooste, Charles Laird and their Summerhill Ready To Run graduates. At Turffontein on Saturday, Hollywoodboulevard, (a R900,000 daughter of Street Cry) made it four in a row in the Three Troikas (Grade 3), “Figgy’s” hands-and-heels ride carrying her to the top of the Gauteng sophomore fillies’ class. Remember, she has a parallel line of form through her erstwhile Summerhill paddock mate, Igugu, to the Cape champion, Ebony Flyer, which puts her right up in that bracket. Racing fans have something to savour in the KZN winter season’s clashes between these three exceptional young ladies, who may even be better than their male counterparts.
