IF YOU ARE GOING TO WAR...

Muhtafal
(Photo : Summerhill Stud)

MUHTAFAL

Just a fortnight ago,
ARABIAN MIST cantered away with the Defy Merchants (Gr2).
Against the odds.

Last Saturday,
THUNDER KEY did a simalar job on the pride of the
Cape in the Diadem Stakes (Gr2).
Again, against the odds.

…BE SURE TO WIN THE WAR. MAKE MUHTAFAL YOUR GENERAL.

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

or contact Linda Norval
+27 (0) 33 263 1081

RECOLLECTIONS OF ISANDLWANA

 

Thunder Key WPOTA Diadem Stakes (Gr2)
(Photos : Gold Circle)

MUHTAFAL : THE GENERAL

Students of history might recall the utterances of the British Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, in the Commons following the death of the Prince Imperial during the Anglo Zulu War of 1879. Remember, it happened in the aftermath of Isandlwana, the most ignominious defeat of a British army in history, and in the wake of opposition to the hostilities from Bishop Colenso, his daughters and their friends, which eventually led to the break up of the Church of England, as it was known.

“Who are these people?” the Prime Minister uttered (speaking of the Zulus), “who woo our woman, convert our bishops, defeat our generals, and this day have put an end to the greatest ruling dynasty in European history?”. Trepidation indeed, and a reflection on what is possible against the odds when you have the will and the capacity to surprise. Here was the greatest army on earth, which held dominion over two thirds of the earth’s surface and had never known defeat in all of its imperial conquests, dumped and upstaged by what was arguably the worst equipped, but undoubtedly the best disciplined army on earth.

Saturday witnessed a parallel. We have long proclaimed Muhtafal our general, the man we’d want to go to war with, and a fortnight ago, his son Arabian Mist revealed his own capacity to surprise, when, against the odds he overturned the pride of Gauteng’s sprinters in the Defy Merchants (Gr.2). On Saturday, Thunder Key did the same for Glen Kotzen in the WPOTA’S Diadem Stakes (Gr.2) when he put an end to the aspirations of the best in the Cape (some call it, “of Good Hope”).

If there’s a Muhtafal in the race, no matter his odds, remember what happened to the Prince Imperial.

BLUE HENS : NO PRICE ON THEIR HEADS

Arabian Mist - Defy Merchants Gr2
(Photos : JC Photographics)

KZN BREEDERS AWARDS 2009

At the KZN Breeders Awards on Friday evening, we were reminded not only of the good health of breeding in this region, but of the bottomless value of an outstanding producer. To think that the dam of two of the evening’s champions, Garden Verse (responsible for Champion International Performer, Imbongi, as well the Champion Older Filly or Mare, Spring Garland,) didn’t make the final cut for Broodmare of the Year, speaks volumes for the depth among female producers in the province. They were no fewer than three dams of multiple Grade One winners nominated for the title, with Sweet Sheila emerging victorious on the back of her daughter, Zirconeum’s spectacular year at the races. Well done to ex-Summerhill manager, Karin Render, and husband Warwick.

Another to march off into the history books this weekend, was the Summerhill matron, Valley Mist, who had already found herself in the mix for the title on two previous occasions through the exploits of her exceptional son, Nhlavini, the only horse in South African history to have lined up on six separate occasions as a finalist for the Equus National Awards of Horseracing. On Saturday, his kid brother, Arabian Mist, making his debut in Graded Stakes company in the Defy Merchants (Gr.2), skated home by two and a half lengths from Cyber Case, who was another three lengths ahead of the third in what was a representative field of the Highveld’s best sprinters.

Now a seven time winner, Arabian Mist exemplifies the accruals of a patient handling, of which you are always assured in the Gary Alexander yard. A late maturing type, this fellow was given the benefit of an early education at Summerhill, and only went into training at the back end of his two year old year. An animal of obvious potential, he took time to find his feet, and he was given the time to do so, as we’ve come to expect from the coolest customer in the game.

On Saturday, he rewarded his connections for their patience, and he put up his hand for the biggest sprint prizes in the country later in the year. Another one for Muhtafal, by the way, whom we’ve always said would be our general, if we were going to war. Well done to Bruce and Jo Gardner, our fellow breeders who’ve been onboard since the gates opened,and to the usual “Alexander” suspects, Greg Sadie, Myron Berzack, Chris Gerber and Leon van Rooyen.

ARABIAN MIST BLOWS THEM AWAY IN DEFY MERCHANTS

Click above to watch Arabian Mist in the Defy Merchants (Gr2)
(Footage : Tellytrack)

ARABIAN MIST

Whilst the name Arabian Mist may not be synonymous with “Sprint Sensation” quite yet, those with memories will recall the exploits of his half-brother, six-time Equus Awards finalist and three-time Champion, Nhlavini, who was still contesting (and winning) at Group One level well into his ninth season.

Racingweb reports that Arabian Mist, the five-year-old son of Muhtafal out of Valley Mist, is not nearly as famous as his illustrious half-brother Nhlavini, who retired as South Africa’s grand sprinting star in 2006, but he’s one cracking sprinter himself. The Gary Alexander-trained gelding was reminiscent of Nhlavini in the way he quickly put daylight between himself and his rivals when taking a decisive victory in Saturday’s R450,000 Grade 2 Defy Merchants over 1200m at Turffontein.

Arabian Mist tracked Red Flyer and Carbon Leader in the early stages of the race with Cool Spender and Opening Night in hot pursuit. But the outcome was decided when apprentice Karis Teetan switched Arabian Mist to the inside in the final 200m. He got right up the leaders and the drew away without much fuss to win by over two lengths going away.

“I kept him covered for as long as possible as Mr Alexander told me,” said Karis Teetan.

Gary Alexander Racing Stables say that what makes the performance that much more impressive is that Arabian Mist had the better of the likes of Red Flyer, winner of the Umgeni Handicap, and Sharks Bay, runner-up in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint and winner of the Grade 2 Post Merchants, over six lengths behind him.

With Arabian Mist now notching up his seventh victory, and with a good season or two ahead, he may well also get on the Grade 1 Roll before he retires… remember Champion Nhlavini won 15 races including several Grade 1 sprints.

Congratulations to owners Mrs Jo Gardner and Messrs Myron Berzack, Bruce Gardner, Chris Gerber, Greg Sadie and Leon van Rooyen.