FRANKEL : FRANKLY, THE BEST

Click above to watch Frankel winning the Sussex Stakes (G1)…
(Image : Daily Record - Footage : Racing UK)

QIPCO SUSSEX STAKES (Group 1)
Goodwood, Turf, 1600m
27 July 2011

Just a month ago, after his commanding victory over in the one mile Queen Anne Stakes (Gr1) over the nine time Group One winning filly, Goldikova, Richard Hannon’s Canford Cliffs was hailed as the “Emperor” of European milers, a view that was hammered home by Frankel’s somewhat sub-par performance in the three-year-old version of the same event at the same meeting, the St James Palace Stakes (Gr1), in which he came closest to being defeated for the first time in his career, by a previously unheralded performer. With the renewal of the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood for the 133rd time since its inauguration in 1878, Canford Cliffs was most people’s idea of the most likely horse to lower Frankel’s colours for the first time.

Yet such was the faith in this hitherto seven-times unbeaten three-year-old, he still went off at prohibitive odds-on. Coolmore Stud’s gamble of a substantial investment in Canford Cliffs towards the end of last season, appeared to have paid off as he approached the start with his usual professionalism, and in an exchange of messages with our old pal, Dr. Barry Clements, Down Under, a bit of sparring was triggered when he ventured a prediction of a three length victory for Frankel, with us countering it would be Canford Cliffs by two.

In the end, we all got it wrong, as Frankel romped away by a staggering five, suggesting that he may well be the best miler the world has seen in several decades. He joins an August honour roll of the Sussex’s recent winners, including the colossi Giant’s Causeway, Rock Of Gibraltar, Noverre, Ramonti, Henrythenavigator and Rip Van Winkle.

It’s easy to get carried away with superlatives in a situation like this, but this is a helluva horse, and following on the consummate victory by Galileo’s son, Nathaniel, in Saturday’s King George VI & Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Gr1) at Ascot, this was a whole clutch of feathers in the burgeoning Galileo cap. Let’s not forget, earlier this month, Igugu pretty much guaranteed her place as this year’s Horse Of The Year in South Africa, with her surging victory in the Vodacom Durban July (Gr1), and that the progeny of Galileo have already dominated the European Classics to an unprecedented degree.

Word-spinners are always eager for a good story, but it would not be stretching things too far, even at this relatively early stage, to draw comparisons between Galileo and his own illustrious sire, Sadler’s Wells (hitherto unchallenged as the greatest sire in European history, measured by his stallion championships), and it may even be possible (as unthinkable as it might be,) that Galileo could stake his claim to immortality by surpassing Sadler’s Wells’ 14 titles.

CORNELL COLLAR

Diane Stenger
(Summerhill Stud)

Kerry Jack Summerhill Bloodstock & Racing ManagerDorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) is a condition not uncommon in racehorses and causes upper airway obstruction and poor performance. It occurs when the soft palate (the rear roof of the mouth) moves up and over the airway and is similar to sleep apnoea (snoring) in people, where the palate billows in the airway and obstructs the airway during exhalation. Surgery is the conventional solution, but is costly, risky and often unsuccessful.

The Cornell Collar has been developed by an equine hospital in New York as a non-surgical solution - it straps around the horse’s neck with a small lifting mechanism under the throat which prevents the larynx from retracting backwards, thus preventing the occurrence of DDSP. It is a simple, inexpensive gadget and treadmill studies have shown that it is over 90% effective, more effective than any other treatment so far developed for the condition. This collar is licensed by racing authorities in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, New Zealand, the US and now also South Africa.

Earlier this week Paradise Alley returned to the racecourse wearing the Cornell Collar and won impressively by 4,5 lengths for trainer Diane Stenger and owners Ronnie Napier, Dr Barry Clements, Len Konar and Summerhill Stud. After a promising start on the track, Paradise Alley was found to have DDSP and was unable to perform at her best.

Dr Barry Clements discovered the Cornell Collar in Australia and thanks to the patience, persistence and ingenuity of her connections, this filly looks to be capable of fulfilling her maximum potential.

Clements Close : A Summerhill Landmark

As the breeding season approaches, we’re reminded of those that’ve assisted us in the endowment of Summerhill with its stallion power. The association of the Maktoum family with this farm is known across the length and breadth of the horse world, and we remember every day, that they joined us in what can be aptly described as South Africa’s darkest hour. Their Highnesses the late Sheikh Maktoum and Sheikh Hamdan’s decision to support our ventures here followed our visit to England in December 1990. Alarmed at what we’d been told during a meeting on the farm by the then Minister of Finance, Barend du Plessis, about the country’s rather scary economic expectations (remember, we’re talking about the late 80’s, early 90’s, when there was greater uncertainty about this country than at any previous time in the last two centuries), we were prompted to convene a delegation to United Kingdom to speak to people about the prospect of racing and breeding in South Africa.

Amazingly, having invited 150 people to the Jockey Club rooms in November, more than 450 turned up, probably the expectation of the release of Nelson Mandela. We reminded the Brits in our introductory speech, that as a country we’d given up more than two million lives in the Colonial cause, and that more than 400 000 had been sacrificed in the Empire’s wars. In the sort of stoic style we’ve come to expect from our erstwhile Colonial masters, the Brits turned up in numbers. To the degree that today, the Western Cape Owners Association claims more than 20% of the horses in training in Cape Town (by value) belong to British citizens, while at Summerhill more than 40% of the horses here have foreign owners.

Clements CloseAmong those who’ve come to the party more recently, is Dr.Barry Clements, an old rugby mate during his days at Cape Town University (poor soul) and was a houseman at Edendale Hospital in Maritzburg. Mick Goss’ affliction for horses, with which he was born, was boosted, if that was possible, by his friendship with Barry Clements, an inveterate gambler (and a successful one at that) as a student, and the parties he used to organize at Scottsville racecourse during his internship at Edendale. The “disease” (his affection for horses, not betting) has maintained itself throughout Barry’s life, and he is today not only a substantial owner (with his lovely wife Liz) of numerous broodmares at Summerhill, but he is also a large investor in the stallions SOLSKJAER, and next year’s big excitement, MULLINS BAY.

Barry is a pediatrician in Perth, having migrated to Australia almost 30 years ago, but he has never lost his love for South Africa, nor his fascination for horses. For its troubles, the Summerhill team decided some years ago (as can be seen by the age of the sign at the foot of this report) to honour him in naming one of the avenues on the farm after him. For the record, Solskjaer is one of the most sought after stallions on the roster for the coming season, some sort of statement for the horse, bearing in mind that his first foal is yet to be born, and the competition within our stallion barn itself.

Dubai: The Aftermath

We’re all back on the ranch, and the estate is looking spectacular. Agri chief, Barry Watson, has just concluded more than 700 acres of winter pasture planting, and whilst there’s a debate as to whether he got late or not, what’s not in doubt is he got lucky. The day he finished the rains came, and the emerald germinates have the place in magnificent contrasting colour. Remember, Autumn is setting, and the golds and burgundies are creeping into the firmament, with the near certainty of huge blue skies day upon day.

Dr Barry ClementsWe’ve also a greatly cosmopolitan mix of visitors, Americans, Argentinians, a few Brits, and of course Mullins Bay’s part owner, Dr. Barry Clements of Australia. He’s working his way through his hoards of mares, yearlings and foals, and having examined his local balance sheet, he’s in the form of his life.

On the subject of Mullins Bay, Champion Trainer Mike de Kock phoned from the UK this morning to enquire if we had any problems with his entering the horse for the Irish Champion Stakes later in the year. Now that’s a compliment to the talents of our man, if ever there was one, and he should know if anyone does.