HAWKEYE'S HOPES

Graeme Hawkins
(Photo : Gareth du Plessis)

EMPERORS PALACE READY TO RUN SALE
TBA Sales Complex, Germiston
2nd and 4th November 2012

In “Consider Your Verdict” earlier in the week, we gave you the picks for the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale of the most powerful “bench” in racing. Mike de Kock, Sean Tarry, Dean Kannemeyer, Michael Roberts, Graeme Hawkins, Jehan Malherbe, Alec Laird and Yusuke Tsukahara were restricted though in their selections, to the three colts and three fillies they thought might do the job in next year’s R2.5million Ready To Run Cup. Inevitably, this means they will have been torn between any number of horses in the catalogue, and if you’d care to look at their notes in the years to come, you’ll find they pencilled in more than a few others that went on to distinguished careers as well.

For that reason, and especially because we want to be true to the adage, now well established, that “there’s a horse for everyone in the Ready To Run”, we asked “Mr Racing”, Graeme Hawkins, to provide us with his value choices from the day, in the hope that we could broaden the net a little, and provide succour for those with an eye for a bargain.

Colts
17 FRANCOIS P Captain Al - Great Wall
88 ILIYSHE (AUS) Fastnet Rock (AUS) - Reem Albaraari (GB)
73 BELLA’S BOY Mullins Bay (GB) - New York Folly (Really nice, coul be good value buy)
197 YEAROFTHEDRAGON Kahal (GB) - Electric Elegance
72 SOLAR STAR Kahal (GB) - Nevada Sunrise (USA) (Really nice, could be good value buy)
108 UNNAMED A.P. Arrow - Silwood (May need time but plenty of scope)
28 STORM INCOMING Mullins Bay (GB) - Hlabelela (Looks really nice sort)
Fillies
130 ETHEMBA Kahal (GB) - Trusted Instinct (AUS)
95 UKULALA Kahal (GB) - Roman Dream
86 WATERS EDGE Mullins Bay (GB) - Rainbow Lady
120 ADMIRAL’S EYE Admire Mian (JPN) - Surfers Eye
87 RAINBOW RED A.P. Arrow (USA) - Rainbow Red (Lacked pedigree but eye-catching number)
2 TOAST OF THE TOWN Mullins Bay (GB) - Favoured Nation (Could be really good value buy)
66 AYESSAYPEE A.P. Arrow (USA) - Mythical Madam (May need time but looks a classic sort)

A couple of other experts shared their opinions too, both of them renowned pickers:

Tony Rivalland

Colts
31 UNNAMED Jet Master - Hunter’s Glen
88 ILITSHE (AUS) Fastnet Rock (AUS) - Reem Albaraari (GB)
157 DIE KAT (AUS) Tale Of The Cat (USA) - America’s Idol (USA)
Fillies
47 MYSTICAL STAR Jet Master - Leading Dame
120 ADMIRAL’S EYE Admire Main (JPN) - Surfers Eye
199 IKIMASU Admire Main (JPN) - Espinado

Gavin van Zyl

(He wasn’t giving much away in the presence of “arch” patron, Brian Burnard!)

Colt
17 FRANCOIS P Captain Al - Great Wall

Don’t forget though, the Summerhill stables were alive on the weekend with visitors from various realms, equally intrigued by what was on offer. Besides John Plumtree, or “coach” as he’s known to the Sharks rugby players, the interest at Summerhill has maintained itself well into the week, and many of those who’ve either visited or been in touch, have sought the choices of the people closest to the horses, our jockeys and grooms. For their opinions, please visit Summerhill’s Ready To Run news page… click here!

Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup • Saturday 3rd November
Lots 1-75 • Friday 2nd November 17h00
Lots 76-202 • Sunday 4th November 14h00

Read more about the
2012 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale

For more information please visit
www.tba.co.za

THE READY TO RUN PHENOMENON

Click above to watch the Winners Circle insert on the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale
(Image : Gareth du Plessis - Footage : Winners Circle)

EMPERORS PALACE READY TO RUN SALE
TBA Sales Complex, Germiston
2nd and 4th November 2012

Andrew Bon presents a Winners Circle insert featuring last week’s Emperors Palace Ready To Run Gallops staged at Summerhill Stud, Mooi River, in anticipation of the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup at Turffontein, 3 November and the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale to be held at the TBA Sales Complex in Germiston, 2nd and 4th November.

The insert includes interviews by Nico Kritsiotis with Tony Rivalland, Mike de Kock, John Motaung, Shirley Koster, Tom Callaghan, Peter Gibson and Mick Goss.

Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup • Saturday 3rd November
Lots 1-75 • Friday 2nd November 17h00
Lots 76-202 • Sunday 4th November 14h00

Read more about the
2012 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale

For more information please visit
www.tba.co.za

BLOODSTOCK GURUS GIVE THEIR READY TO RUN SALE PICKS

Emperors Palace Ready To Run Gallops at Summerhill Stud
(Photo : Gareth du Plessis)

EMPERORS PALACE READY TO RUN SALE
TBA Sales Complex, Germiston
2nd and 4th November 2012

Dave Mollett
Business DayIf the eight panel members assessing the breezing of the Emperors Palace Ready To Run candidates at Summerhill last Friday have got it right, the honour of being top lot at next week’s sale will be as close as last weekend’s Aussie-Kiwi rugby encounter.

It could come down to a straight fight between the progeny of two Aussie-bred two-year-olds (by Fastnet Rock and Tale Of The Cat) and two dominant local sires (ill-fated Jet Master and Var).

The sale is scheduled for the TBA Complex at Germiston on 2 and 4 November and - with only 202 horses set to go under the hammer - there is sure to be keen competition for many of the entries which the panel have earmarked as the choice lots.

Of the Aussie contingent, it was a son of Fastnet Rock (lot 88) and a son of Tale Of The Cat (lot 157) which each got the thumbs up from four panel members. But countering that for the home contingent was four votes for a son of Jet Master (lot 31) and three each for a daughter of Jet Master (lot 47) and a son of Var (lot 94).

But the striking fact of the panel’s selections is that there wasn’t a single vote for five big name overseas stallions - Henrythenavigator, Flying Spur, Stratum, Rock Of Gibraltar and Dylan Thomas. That is as astonishing as the length of time it took for Frankie Dettori and Godolphin to get divorced! The writing was on the wall for that back in March.

So let’s have a look - in no particular order - at the various picks of the eight-member panel:

MIKE DE KOCK

Lots 47, 120, 181, 88, 94 and 122.
He liked a Jet Master filly, daughter of Japan sire Admire Main, a daughter of Kahal, the Fastnet Rock colt, the Var colt and a son of A.P. Arrow.

JEHAN MALHERBE:

Lots 47, 120, 133, 17, 31 and 88.
First thoughts (with the first two picks being the same) was that Mike and Jehan were comparing notes like schoolboys - impossible of course! So Jehan’s sextet reads the Jet Master filly, daughter of Admire Main, a daughter of Kahal, a son of Captain Al, the son of Jet Master and the Fastnet Rock colt.

ALEC LAIRD:

Lots 110, 192, 199, 20, 115, 157.
Now Alec’s name wasn’t on the panel released to the press, but he’s a horse-picker of note so his choices are worth close scrutiny. They are a daughter of Mullins Bay, a daughter of A.P. Arrow, a daughter of Admire Main, a son of Stronghold, a son of Admire Main and the Tale Of The Cat colt.

DEAN KANNEMEYER:

Lots 47, 49, 131, 31, 56 and 88.
Dean kicks off with the Jet Master filly followed by a daughter of Stronghold, a daughter of Dynasty, the Jet Master colt, a son of Western Winter and the popular Fastnet Rock colt.

YUSUKE TSUKAHARA:

Lots 12, 20, 199, 120, 155 and 157.
Now it was as good a bet as night following day that this respected Japanese expert would fancy the progeny of Sunday Silence’s son, Admire Main. Spot on. He went for four of his progeny as well as a daughter of A.P. Arrow and the Tale Of The Cat colt. Yusuke commented: “I felt the Admire Main’s were typical of the Sunday Silence tribe in general.”

MUIS ROBERTS:

Lots 89, 198, 199, 94, 157 and 197.
Now Muis is convinced the big action will be on the Sunday of the sale - he hasn’t a single pick for the first session! He liked two daughters of A.P. Arrow, a daughter of Admire Main, the Var colt, a colt by Admire Main and the Tale Of The Cat colt.

GRAEME HAWKINS:

Lots 24, 82, 159, 31, 94 and 157.
Graeme will be on the rostrum with Andrew Miller and the ones that caught his eye were a daughter of Mullins Bay, a daughter of Kahal, a daughter of A.P. Arrow, the Jet Master colt, the Var colt and the popular Tale Of The Cat colt.

SEAN TARRY:

Lots 6, 66, 118, 22, 31, 88.
In contrast to Muis, four of Sean’s six picks are on the Friday session (17h00 start). Last season’s runner-up in the trainers log liked a daughter of Stronghold, a daughter of A.P. Arrow, a daughter of Mullins Bay, a son of Kahal, the Jet Master colt and the Fastnet Rock colt.

I was most interested to learn on the Summerhill website that Thabani Nzimande, who has been at the stud’s pre-training division for five years, is particularly sweet on Lot 167 - a daughter of Stronghold who is a half-sister to recent Turffontein winner, Waka Waka. Not one vote for Thabani’s top choice from the illustrious panel!

Also on the website, I came across an article written a few years ago by Charl Pretorius - he’s a journo of note in my book and many of us miss him because he shoots straight from the hip.

He had obviously asked Mick Goss if the two-year-olds had been rushed along for the Ready To Run Sale and this was Mick’s response: “It’s a complete misnomer that we’re hard on our horses to get them ready to gallop. I am a horseman and my staff consists of horse lovers. We care for our stock, this is our business.”

Good reply from the Summerhill boss, but sadly not always the case where some sale vendors are concerned.

Also, this from Mike de Kock, on what he looks for in the breezing: “I like to see an economical action and how the limbs move. But I also believe I was born lucky - and I’d rather have an ounce of luck than a ton of ability.”

I’m in Mike’s corner on this. I also like limbs that move well. Preferably those with two legs, not four!

Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup • Saturday 3rd November
Lots 1-75 • Friday 2nd November 17h00
Lots 76-202 • Sunday 4th November 14h00

Read more about the
2012 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale

For more information please visit
www.tba.co.za

Extract from Business Day

READY TO RUN GALLOPS VIDEOS ONLINE NOW

Ready To Run Gallops videos online now…
(Photo : Gareth du Plessis)

EMPERORS PALACE READY TO RUN SALE
TBA Sales Complex, Germiston
2nd and 4th November 2012

CLICK HERE

Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup • Saturday 3rd November
Lots 1-75 • Friday 2nd November 17h00
Lots 76-202 • Sunday 4th November 14h00

Read more about the
2012 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale

For more information please visit
www.tba.co.za

Enquiries :
Tarryn Liebenberg +27 (0) 83 787 1982
or email tarryn@summerhill.co.za
www.summerhill.co.za

PULLER'S PICK

Nico Kritsiotis interviews Garth Puller and Mthokozisi Sithole
(Photos : Leigh Willson)

MTHOKOZISI “SMALL BOY” SITHOLE
“Rider Of The Gallops”

If you’re an outsider looking in, you’d be forgiven for thinking the Ready To Run gallops are about horses. And for the most part, you’d be right. But that would be ignoring the role our people play. There’s not a soul on Summerhill that doesn’t have a hand in it, and on the day, they’re all on deck; there’s no sale in the world that demands more, particularly when you’re hosting it on your farm.

In the end though, it’s about the horses and the way they perform, and the performance is a product not only of the horses’ talent, but of the skills of the little man on top. That’s why we started a new tradition last year, honouring the best rider of the day. Unsurprisingly, the accolade went the way of our senior educator in 2011, John Motaung, who’d enjoyed two scholarships to the United States prior to his “championship”.

We asked a man whom Graeme Hawkins described at Thursday evening’s gala dinner as the most gifted and thoroughly knowledgeable horseman he knew, to be our judge. Garth Puller, genius that he is, needs no introduction. He’s exactly what Graeme Hawkins said he is. And this year, he chose Mthokozisi “Small Boy” Sithole as his Rider of the Gallops, for his style, his finesse and his “oneness” with his mount. No small compliment, coming from whence it did.

Well done Small - you’re a big boy, today.

Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup • Saturday 3rd November
Lots 1-75 • Friday 2nd November 17h00
Lots 76-202 • Sunday 4th November 14h00

Read more about the
2012 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale

For more information please visit
www.tba.co.za

Enquiries :
Tarryn Liebenberg +27 (0) 83 787 1982
or email tarryn@summerhill.co.za
www.summerhill.co.za