DEATH OF BANKABLE : NO MORE BANKING.

Click above to watch a tribute to Bankable
(Image and footage : Summerhill Sires Film 2011/2012)

BANKABLE (IRE)
Medician (GB) - Dance To The Top (GB)

Racing people have always been superstitious, and Friday 13^th has long carried its own demons. For Summerhill, it was a black day with the sudden death of the Dubai star, Bankable. South African racing fans, and especially the team at Summerhill, had developed a deep affection for a horse whose trademark was to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, and he had developed a legion of supporters since his arrival at Summerhill. He died quickly from severe complications arising from colic, which had become inoperable.

Winner of eight races (including four at Stakes level), it was Bankable’s versatility from six furlongs to ten under the expert tutelage of Herman Brown Jnr, that appealed most, besides his 560kg physique, though it’s arguable that his best performances were in defeat. In England, he was second to the world champion miler Raven’s Pass in the Celebration Mile (Gr2), giving the winner six pounds, and his track record going down a short head to Eagle Mountain in the Darley Stakes (Gr3) sticks in memory to this day.

“He was a lovely horse, both as a specimen and as a personality, and he’d grown into an imposing stallion. His manners in the covering yard were exemplary, and his fertility was excellent, to the point that he will have exceeded 90% in foal by the time the final returns come in”, said Greig Muir, who has been managing the stallion barn at Summerhill for close to a quarter of a century now. “It’s a great loss not only to us, but to President Kadyrov, who had developed a special affection for the horse, to the degree of supporting with 24 of his own mares, all of which are tested in foal. All told, we will have of the order of 70 of his progeny on the farm, and hopefully there will be a couple of champions among them”.

He went on to say “there are parallels in the case of Dubai Millenium, Sheikh Mohammed’s favourite racehorse, who died in similar circumstances at the end of his first season at stud. The Sheikh’s affection for his horse led him to buy almost all of Dubai Millenium’s first crop, wherever he could get his hands on them, and he was handsomely repaid by the performances of Echo Of Light and Dubawi, who was not only a world-class racehorse, but also an international stallion of great significance. We have every hope of some déjà vu”.

Further Information :
Linda Norval 27 (0) 33 263 1081
or email linda@summerhill.co.za
www.summerhill.co.za

BANKABLE TO STAND AT SUMMERHILL STUD

Bankable
(Photo : Herman Brown Racing)

ONE CAREER BANKED.
Perhaps you can “bank” on his next one, too.

There’s no South African racing fan worth his salt, that doesn’t know Bankable. If you’re writing a press release announcing his arrival in this country, that’s probably all you have to say.

We all remember his imposing presence in the parade rings of Nad Al Sheba and Meydan, and we all have vivid memories of his destructive come-from-behind finishes for Herman Brown Jnr and Kevin Shea. But it was a measure of the man that he managed this at distances from six furlongs to nine, against some of the most accomplished racehorses in the world.

Those performances alone would earn a horse of his pedigree a place at the world’s top stud farms, yet that’s not everything Bankable brings to the table. From the Mr Prospector male line out of a Sadler’s Wells mare, he weighed in at a monstrous 560kgs in training. His trainer describes him as the best looking specimen of a thoroughbred he’s been associated with, so it’s worth recalling that he previously conditioned the stars Linngari and Jay Peg to international fame as well.

That he was a world class talent, was apparent some time before he returned to Dubai, as he demonstrated several times against some of England’s best racehorses of their era.  A bob-of-the-head defeat against Mike de Kock’s Eagle Mountain, and a quarter length defeat to dual Group One winner, Passage of Time, were precursors to what might arguably have been his finest hour. Conceding six pounds to a World Champion in Raven’s Pass, is impossible enough, but to go down less than a length in the process in Goodwood’s Celebration Mile (Gr2), is the mark of a hero.

“Like most of our breeding colleagues, we watched Bankable’s Dubai performances in awe. There can hardly be a soul in the stallion business, that wouldn’t have wished secretly that one day this fellow would wind up on their farm. He has everything: size, a flawless physique and lightning speed.” So said Greig Muir, stallion master at Bankable’s new home, Summerhill Stud, where he joins the Grade One ace, Visionaire, as the new “kids” to be introduced to their six hundred international guests on Investec Stallion Day, Sunday 3^rd July.

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

EAGLE MOUNTAIN RETIRED

Eagle Mountain
(Photo : Hong Kong Jockey Club)

EAGLE MOUNTAIN
(ROCK OF GIBRALTAR x MASSKANA)

Attendees at last October’s Emperors Palace Ready To Run Gallops at Summerhill, will recall the impressions left by the first progeny of the Freshman sires, Way West, Hobb Alwahtan and Cataloochee. In the event, they sold like the market had developed a renewed appetite for new sires again, and this weekend vindicated their judgement, when Waywest Goddess left the opposition for dead in the Ruffian Stakes (Listed). Sheikh Mohammed’s Hobb Alwahtan stock will, by nature, take longer to show their mettle, so it was encouraging to see two of them nominated for the R125,000 Sentinel Stakes in Durban, even though, in the end both were unfortunately withdrawn. They were obviously showing their trainers enough to warrant inclusion, so we can only look forward to their names among the nominations in the weeks ahead.

The Sheikh’s been in the news again with the announcement by Mike de Kock that his globetrotting Eagle Mountain (Rock of Gibraltar x Masskana by Darshaan), winner of the 2008 G1 Hong Kong Cup, has been retired after sustaining a tendon injury in training. The six-year old bay finished runner-up in the 2007 G1 Epsom Derby and G1 Champion Stakes when trained by Aidan O’Brien, and preceded his career highlight with a runner-up finish in the 2008 GI Breeders’ Cup Turf in his second start for Mike de Kock. 

“This is his third career-threatening injury, and enough is enough,” the trainer said. “He’s been a great servant to Sheikh Mohammed and the stable, and he did us proud. Eagle Mountain’s future as a stallion is being discussed, and we will entertain offers for him. He has an amazing race record and was one of their best horses I have ever worked with.” Eagle Mountain, who finished second in a February 19 conditions event at Meydan in his final start, retires with a career record of 19-5-7-1 and earnings of £1,790,492.

SOUTH AFRICANS BID FOR SIXTH AL FAHIDI FORT

$250,000 AL FAHIDI FORT (GROUP 2)
MEYDAN 19 FEBRUARY 2010

South Africa has a great record in tonight’s feature on the sixth card of the 2010 Dubai International Racing Carnival at Meydan, the Group Two Al Fahidi Fort sponsored by the Commercial Bank of Dubai over 1600m, with both Mike De Kock and Herman Brown seeking to win the race they have dominated between them – sharing five victories since 2003.

Brown scored twice with Linngari and this year Ryan Moore has elected to ride Bankable over Bronze Cannon (non runner). Moore said: “He is a very nice horse and seems in good form. It is a strong renewal of this race but I expect him to run well.”

Mike de Kock, seeking a fourth victory, saddles Imbongi who was fifth last year but ran well in the UK over the summer and made a very pleasing return over 1400m on Tapeta. Christophe Soumillon rides Imbongi and De Kock said : “Godolphin look to have a very strong hand and run Group 1 horses in the race. We were delighted with Imbong’s first run back and he is in good form at home. Godolphin will be hard to beat but he should run a good race.”

Godolphin are well also represented and Frankie Dettori takes the ride on Justenuffhumor who was last seen running a close third at the Breeders’ Cup for Kiaran McLaughlin.

Ahmed Ajtebi partners 2007 Group One Racing Post Trophy winner Ibn Khaldun with Ted Durcan on Fravashi to complete a strong trio for trainer Saeed Bin Suroor who said: “Ibn Khaldun will probably need the run more than the other pair, while those two are having their first start for us. Fravashi has useful form in Australia and Justenuffhumor’s American run is very good form.

“All three have been going well at home and we have to be hopeful of at least going close.”

Catch the Al Fahidi Fort on Tellytrack DSTV 232 at 8pm (SA time) tonight.

Although the Al Fahidi Fort is the feature, the preceding 1600m conditions race on Tapeta, the CBD Worldmaster Card, will attract a similar level of interest with Mike de Kock choosing this race as the one in which he will unleash Group One winner Eagle Mountain.

He only ran twice last year but is reported in good order by the handler: “I think he is as fit as we can get him and this race looks ideal to test him on the surface. If we want to run him in the Dubai World Cup he needs to show us he can race on Tapeta.”

It is a warm little race with Consul General, third in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round One, Brian Meehan’s Cat Junior and Godolphin’s West Side Bernie among a host of dangers.

Catch the CBD Worldmaster on Tellytrack DSTV 232 at 7:25pm (SA time) tonight.

AL FAHIDI FORT FIELD
TURF 1600m

#	Horse	Kg	OR	Jockey	Trainer
1	JUSTENUFFHUMOR (USA)	57.5	120	Frankie Dettori	Saeed bin Suroor
2	BRONZE CANNON (USA)	57.5	119	Keagan Latham	Herman Brown
3	BANKABLE (IRE)	56.0	115	Ryan Moore	Herman Brown
4	IBN KHALDUN (USA)	56.0	113	Ahmed Ajtebi	Saeed bin Suroor
5	IBN BATTUTA (USA)	56.0	105	Wayne Smith	Musabah Al Muhairi
6	DEBUSSY (IRE)	57.5	113	William Buick	John Gosden
7	PREMIO LOCO (USA)	57.5	116	George Baker	Chris Wall
8	FRAVASHI (AUS)	57.5	112	Ted Durcan	Saeed bin Suroor
9	DUNELIGHT (IRE)	56.0	109	Kieren Fallon	Clive Cox
10	TAM LIN (GB)	56.0	110	William Supple	Mubarak bin Shafya
11	IMBONGI (SAF)	57.0	115	Christophe Soumillon	Mike de Kock

GROWING HEAT: Imbongi Warms Up

Mike de Kock
(John Lewis/Mario Alberto Magallanes Trez)

In celebrating its twenty year association with that country’s Rulers, Summerhill’s preoccupation with the Dubai Racing Carnival is acute, to say the least. While most South African racing fans spend Thursday evenings glued to Channel 232, and no doubt marvel at what our horses are doing out there, Summerhill’s involvement is obviously founded on a number of other premises.

It means so much to us to be represented there, and it’s a permanent aspiration that we should have runners in this desert sheikdom. Better than that, we want to see good runners, and so Mike de Kock’s revelation in his conversation on Friday with Mick Goss, that Imbongi was headed for two major Group races in the next fortnight, was illuminating. Imbongi has had just one run since arriving in Dubai, a block-busting second to multiple Group winner, Hatta Fort, over 1300m, well short of his best.

As a multiple Guineas winner in South Africa, you might be forgiven for thinking that would entail an automatic invitation to Dubai World Cup night, but since the status of these time-revered races has been affected through the tampering of our own Graded Stakes committee, despite two victories over perennial Champion and dual Horse Of The Year, Pocket Power, Imbongi still has to impress others, it seems. Mike de Kock’s reasoning then, is rather than go for a single target in which luck, (or the lack of it,) may play a decisive role, he’s going to ask the horse for two big efforts in a narrow timespan.

Judging by Friday’s article in The Mercury, Mike de Kock was pleased with the performance of Imbongi last week and was hoping he would qualify for the Dubai Duty Free. However, he intimated that his two top horses, Eagle Mountain and Archipenko would also be going for the Duty Free. “Imbongi is a very good horse, make no mistake, but to beat European horses of that class at level weights is not going to be easy”.

We don’t know about his ability to get the 1777 metres of the $5 million Dubai Duty Free (Gr.1), but what we do know is that Imbongi appears to have matured some since the end of last season, and we’re not alone in relishing the thought that at 1600m, he might well be up to competition with the best, including Archipenko and Eagle Mountain. Something to savour for next Thursday.