A VOICE FROM THE PAST

Click above to watch the 2012 Monmouth Stakes (G2)
(Photo : The Night Sky Racing - Footage : NTRA)

“There’s never been a better time to cash in.”

Some of you might remember a piece from our 2011/2012 sires brochure entitled “How Green Is Our Valley”? It went like this: “And then there are the mares, the ladies of the valley, who’ve spawned the athletes that earned the Championships. One of them, Garden Verse, could keep an accountant busy for days, tallying the millions her offspring have generated at the sales and the races. Some effort for a girl who arrived at the farm with a broken hip and no race record, and was put out to run with the cows when she first came home. A nice touch this, some might say, but Summerhill is a farm before it’s a business, only as good as its current batch of stallions, and what it puts back into the soil”.

We were reminded again this week by the magic of this game, of that element of chance that puts the breeding of horses beyond the reach of mere money, and which provides mere mortals with a chance of levelling the playing fields. As we’ve said before, you can’t beat a Harry Oppenheimer in the boardroom on Mondays, but at Greyville on the weekend, we’re all the same. Just a couple of weeks back, a son of the same old Garden Verse, Mahubo, who just recently became a Stakes winner in the United States for the first time, took on a field of Group One winners in a Group Two in New York. Yes, he went down to three of them, but he was beaten only two lengths, and seems to love racing Stateside. He is the third Stakes winner of the old mare with the broken hip, who ran with the cows. Her previous progeny include Dubai Carnival Victor Ludorum, Imbongi (earner of more than R8 million in stakes) and the Gerald Rosenberg heroine, Spring Garland, and the Group placed, Prima Versa.

On the 12^th July, you get another chance to spin the wheel of fortune at the KZN Broodmare and Weanling Sale. Garden Verse is by no means the only mare in history to have achieved what she has. We can recite the names of more than a dozen others who’ve made similar waves here at Summerhill alone, and there’s never been a better time to cash in.

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

MAHUBO : THE HYMN SINGER

NYS Lot 231 Highly Decorated (Captain Al - Spring Garland)
(Photo : Leigh Willson)

Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale
TBA Sales Complex, Germiston, South Africa
27 - 29 April 2012

Any Stakes victory against international competition in a foreign country is a story worth telling, but this one happened at Aqueduct in New York, and there’s no pushover Stakes race in the Big Apple.

Mahubo (which means “hymns” in Zulu) was chalking up his 5^th career victory in the Three Coins Up Stakes (Listed) over 1 1/16^th mile at the fabled race track, claiming his first bold Black type after placing third as a maiden in a juvenile Group Three some years back. He was a little fellow, afflicted as a weanling with a viral setback which left him and another accomplished youngster, stripped of all recognisable condition. He recovered though, almost miraculously, in time for the National Sale, and turned up there a smart but little fellow with more than a bit of character. In the end, nobody wanted him though, and he was brought home and prepared for the Emperors Palace Ready To Run. By November, he’d told us he had the makings of a racehorse, and he fell to a R900,000 bid by Herman Brown Jnr on behalf of the internationally renowned Dr. Jim Hay and his wife, Fitri, of Cape Blanco, Fame And Glory and Traffic Guard fame.

Mahubo gave glimpses of his talent again at three with a classy fourth in the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup, South Africa’s third richest horserace, before setting off for Dubai, where he was once again victorious at their Racing Carnival. We’d lost trace of him since, until Saturday morning, when we received news courtesy of the TDN of his courageous effort in New York. His big win is a tribute to the enterprise of Jim Hay, who sent him Stateside to the yard of Kiaran McLaughlin after his stint in the desert, and gave him the chance to be what he’d been bred to be.

Mahubo’s story is quite extraordinary, given where his mom came from. Garden Verse arrived at Summerhill with a broken hip and no race record, and was put out to run with the cows, when she first came home. Today, she could keep an accountant busy for days, totting up the millions her offspring have generated at the sales and the races. One of them, Imbongi (the “praise-singer” in Zulu) was an international globe-trotter with a Voyager Platinum card. Besides being the top South African miler of his generation, he chalked up Graded Stakes victories in Dubai and the United Kingdom via Hong Kong, and was the earnings victor ludorum at the 2010 Dubai Racing Carnival. In all, he raked in some R8million in earnings, not bad for another unwanted urchin of the sales ring, who was eventually sold to Ronnie Napier and Michael Fleischer following a private gallop at the foot of the farm on a Saturday morning. Between them, Mahubo and Imbongi have an illustrious sister, Spring Garland, a multiple Group winner for Gary Alexander, whose victories included the prestigious Gerald Rosenberg Stakes (Gr.2,) one of the best weight-for-age races for fillies in South Africa.

A nice touch all of this, some might say, but Summerhill is somehow a farm before it’s a business, only as good as its current batch of runners, and what it puts back into the land and its people. Spring Garland’s first foal is a stand-out representative by Captain Al, in this year’s Summerhill National Yearling Sales draft.

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

PRAISE LOUDLY : BLAME SOFTLY

Click above to watch the $US200,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1
(Image and Footage : Dubai Racing)

DUBAI RACING CARNIVAL 2011

The Summerhill mare, Garden Verse, has two runners competing in Dubai this season. The one, Mahubo, has already tasted victory and the other, Imbongi, ran with distinction last night at the opening of the 2011 Racing Carnival; without quite getting there.

Mahubo (Zulu for “hymns”) was a reassuring victor of his first start, and looks set to be a solid earner through the next three months. But it was the effort of last season’s victor ludorum, Imbongi, that really got the juices going.

Mike de Kock did not rate his chances after a dismal first outing, and said he was still a bit on the soft side. But like all his mother’s children, he has that one element that no good racehorse can do without : guts.

This time Imbongi jumped well, but within a furlong he was jostled to the back, and found himself trailing by the best part of ten lengths.

You can’t give a start of that sort in most circumstances, but this was a Group race, and included several Group One performers, Mendip, Fencing Master and My Indy among them.

The old grit came back to Imbongi when they turned for home, and somehow he conjured a weaving whirlwind of a run down the Meydan stretch, to catch all but Mendip. Some run, and though seven now, this boy ran like a juvenile.

Imbongi means “praise singer” in Zulu and he was deserving. The jostling to the back was nobody’s fault just one of those things that happens in dense traffic. And what is evident, is that the Tapeta surface at Meydan gives closers the kind of grip that enhances acceleration.

It was a big night for Mike de Kock and his principal patron, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum. He wore the “yellow jersey” twice with Reem and Our Giant (former South African Grade One ace), and was second and third a number of times. De Kock must already be back in his customary seat at the head of the UAE Trainers’ Log.

And the Sheikh has a clutch of top class daughters from the world’s best Sire, Galileo. Reem, Mahbooba, and the recently acquired Igugu, arguably the best of the lot.

$US 200,000 AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE ROUND 1
Meydan, Tapeta, 1600m
13 January 2011

#	Margin	Horse	Kg	Dr	Jockey	Trainer
1	0.00	MENDIP (USA)	57.0	1	Frankie Dettorie	Saeed bin Suroor
2	2.25	IMBONGI (SAF)	57.0	10	Christophe Soumillon	Mike de Kock
3	0.25	WIN FOR SURE (GER)	57.0	8	Gregory Benoist	Xavier Nakkachdji
4	Sh	COLONIAL (IRE)	57.0	4	Ted Durcan	Saeed bin Suroor
5	1.25	MR BROCK (SAF)	57.0	3	Kevin Shea	Mike de Kock
6	1.75	GREEN COAST (IRE)	57.0	11	Tadhg O’Shea	Doug Watson
7	0.25	FROZEN POWER (IRE)	57.0	7	Royston Ffrench	Mahmoud Al Zarooni
8	1.00	SEA LORD (IRE)	57.0	12	Richard Mullen	Mahmoud Al Zarooni
9	1.25	MY INDY (ARG)	57.0	6	Patrick Cosgrave	Mubarak bin Shafya
10	1.25	KING OF ROME (IRE)	57.0	5	Patrick Dobbs	Mike de Kock
11	Sh	MABAIT (GB)	57.0	14	Kieran Fallon	Luca Cumani
12	1.25	MAC LOVE (GB)	57.0	9	Michael Fenton	Stef Higgins
13	6.25	FENCING MASTER (GB)	57.0	2	Ryan Moore	Herman Brown
14	18.00	STORM ULTRALIGHT (ARG)	57.0	13	Ahmad Ajtebi	Mahmoud Al Zarooni

IMBONGI TO MAKE APPEARANCE AT JEBEL ALI

Imbongi - Dubai Duty Free 2010
(Image : Summerhill Stud)

AL SHAFAR GROUP
Jebel Ali, Dirt, 1200m
31 December 2010

The New Year’s Eve programme at Jebel Ali in Dubai has attracted South African campaigner Imbongi (By Russian Revival out of the Foveros mare Garden Verse), who makes an early reappearance as he prepares for the start of the Dubai International Racing Carnival in a few weeks time.

Soon to turn seven, the Summerhill Stud-bred chestnut had a very successful Carnival in 2010; winning the Zabeel Mile (Gr2), finishing a thrilling second in the Al Fahidi Fort (Gr3), placing third in the Dubai Duty Free Stakes (Gr1) and securing overall Carnival top earnings.

Trainer Mike de Kock, who will also saddle Hunting Tower (By Fort Wood) in the 1200-meter test on dirt, said, “They will both come on for the run but need to get back on the track. Hunting Tower did not fire last season, but Imbongi was a real star. He spent the summer here and should run well as he is fresh and happy.”

Owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum in partnership, Imbongi will be piloted today by Kevin Shea.

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News

FINAL FIELD

#	Horse	Kg	HR	Dr	Jockey	Trainer
1	IMBONGI (SAF)	59.5	113	5	K Shea	Mike de Kock
2	MANNJAL (USA)	58.5	105	11	W Buick	Dhruba Selvaratnam
3	TERRIFIC CHALLENGE (USA)	58.5	106	10	R Mullen	Satish Seemar
4	ALSADEEK (IRE)	57.5	102	3	P Dobbs	Doug Watson
5	HAPPY DUBAI (IRE)	57.5	102	9	R Ffrench	Ali Rashid Al Raihe
6	CAPTAIN RIO (USA)	56.0	87	2	H Bently (3.0)	Satish Seemar
7	HAMMADI (IRE)	56.0	101	6	W Supple	Doug Watson
8	HUNTING TOWER (SAF)	56.0	108	8	P Cosgrave	Mike de Kock
9	LAW LORD (GB)	56.0	96	4	R Cleary	Dhruba Selvaratnam
10	MONTPELLIER (IRE)	56.0	102	1	A Ajtebi	Ali Rashid Al Raihe
11	NIZAA (USA)	56.0	63	7	E Yavuz	Rashed Bouresly

MAHUBO STRIKES FOR MIKE DE KOCK IN DUBAI

Click above to watch Mahubo winning the Meydan Freezone
(Image : Gold Circle/Summerhill Stud - Footage : Emirates Racing Authority)

MEYDAN FREEZONE
Meydan, All-Weather, 1200m
30 December 2010

It’s not unusual for South African trainer Mike de Kock to start his annual campaigns in Dubai with a winner and Mahubo, under jockey Kevin Shea, put the stable immediately on target for the 2011 renewal of the UAE’s annual racing extravaganza at Meydan on Thursday evening.

The Summerhill-bred four-year-old looked a length or two out of his ground when the 12-horse field turned for home in the Meydan Freezone Handicap over 1200m. But as evident at the 2010 festival, this excellent track surface suits front-runners and latecomers equally well and the best horse invariably wins.

Mahubo, a graduate form the 2008 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale, hadn’t raced since 19 May 2010 but, as Mike suggested in his pre-race comments, the son of National Emblem out of the Foverors mare, Garden Verse, was fit enough to be in the shake-up. Halfway down the Meydan straight, Mahubo kicked into gear and he made up ground hand over fist to win fluently.

The short-head between Mahubo and Indian Skipper flattered the runner-up, because jockey Kevin Shea looked confident of winning the race well before the line and didn’t have to ride his most vigorous finish to get there.

Mike conveyed his thanks to Mahubo’s owner Friti Hay and her husband, Dr Jim Hay, and commented: “The Hays are new owners in the yard and this was their first runner with us. They live in Dubai, which makes it even better.”

Mahubo raced with a merit rating of 93, too low to qualify for the Carnival races, but this victory will change things. “We wanted to get him into the bigger races and tonight’s win was what we needed. He will improve more.

Seven-year-old Wonder Lawn gave a good account of himself in the Meydan Hotel Conditions Mile, staying on well for a close third behind Ali Al Raihe’s Derbaas. Wonder Lawn would probably have won in a few more strides and Mike’s prediction that he is one to be watched this season should be noted.

Mahubo’s well-accomplished half-brother Imbongi; top earner at the 2010 Dubai International Racing Carnival, winner of the Zabeel Mile (Gr2) and third in the Dubai Duty Free (Gr1), goes to Jebel Ali racetrack today for his first warm-up run of the season, a 1200m Conditions Race on dirt with his eight-year-old stable companion Hunting Tower.

“Both will come on with the run,” said Mike. “They enjoyed their long break. Imbongi looks a little fat, not as good as last year at this time, but we’re getting going with him.”

Extract from Mike de Kock Racing

RACE RESULTS

#	Margin	Horse	Kg	OR	Dr	Jockey	Trainer
1	0	MAHUBO (SAF)	61.0	93	4	K Shea	Mike de Kock
2	Sh	INDIAN SKIPPER (IRE)	55.5	80	1	P Dobbs	Doug Watson
3	1.5	SATWA STREET (IRE)	59.0	88	11	W Supple	Erwan Charpy
4	Sh	FIRESTREAK (GB)	62.0	95	10	W Smith	Musabah Al Muhari
5	1.25	MY VERSE (GB)	60.5	91	9	T Durcan	Dhruba Selvaratnam
6	1	EMIRATES SPORTS (GB)	58.0	86	6	R Ffrench	Ali Rashid Al Raihe
7	1	GLORIOUS GIFT (IRE)	60.0	90	8	K Fallon	Ahmed Al Shamsi
8	0.25	TEVEZ THE TIGER (USA)	57.5	85	7	H Bentley (3.0)	Satish Seemar
9	0.5	CHAPERNO (USA)	59.0	88	3	P Cosgrave	Mubarak bin Shafya
10	Hd	DESERT REALM (IRE)	58.5	87	2	A Murgla (3.0)	Ali Rashid Al Raihe
11	2	HE’SMINENOTYOURS (USA)	60.0	90	5	R Mullen	Satish Seemar
12	7	IMPENETRABLE (USA)	57.5	85	12	A Ajtebi	Ali Rashid Al Raihe

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