A TIME TO SOW, AND A TIME TO REAP

Katsumi Yoshida and Point Ashley
(Photo : Anne M Eberhardt/MCDeesh/Arrowfield/Keeneland)

KATSUMI YOSHIDA
NORTHERN FARM

There are countless stories throughout economic history of successful entrepreneurs who struck up the band in troubled times. What, you may ask, possesses people to so much as attempt to kick off a fledgling business in adverse circumstances? But look at those businesses, and as often as not, you’ll find a common thread; most times, they’ve swum against the tide.

South Africans may not have realised it to the degree the rest of the world has, but bloodstock markets, particularly that in North America face some of the biggest challenges in their histories, and finding investors is about as rare as rocking horse “bog”.

One man whose name is etched deep in the annuals of Japanese breeding success, is Katsumi Yoshida, founder and current proprietor of Northern Farm. Our link to Northern Farm came this year, courtesy of Admire Main, the horse with the princely connections.

Sales watchers who’ve been following the major international breeding stock sales of 2009/10, will tell you there’s been one outstanding (and intrepid) investor putting his hand up at just about every leading American auction. The same Katsumi Yoshida last week added a brace of outstanding mares to his farms portfolio, including the $1 million acquisition of the celebrated mare, Point Ashley (Point Given – Golden Thatch, by Slew o’ Gold), Dance The Classics (Sadler’s Wells - Head In The Clouds) and Ginger Punch (Awesome Again - Nappelon).

One thing you have to say for Mr Yoshida, is that when everyone else seems to be in retreat, he knows its time to invest.

BOBBY FRANKEL : ONE OF THE ALL-TIME GREATS

Bobby Frankel and Ginger Punch
(Photo : The Florida Horse/Slam)

OF BOBBY FRANKEL, HAPPY AND GINGER PUNCH

Few people in South Africa will know the late Bobby Frankel, but Americans will tell you, he was one of the all-time greats, and a rare inductee to their Hall of Fame, as a fabled trainer.

He passed away recently, and Mike Rogers (whom we deal with for Champion U.S. Breeders, Adena Springs and their founder, Frank Stronach) posted this piece on a man who clearly understood his priorities.

Leading up to the 2007 Breeders’ Cup at Monmouth Park, all of us in the Stronach Stable camp were excited at the prospect of Ginger Punch’s participation in the Ladies’ Classic. Five days out, I received a call from Bobby Frankel. In typical Bobby fashion, there was minimal small talk before he cut to the chase. He informed me that he would be unable to attend the Breeders’ Cup, going into detail regarding his dog Happy’s unfortunate medical condition and his decision to remain in California with her. My initial reaction was a simple “really?” Bobby asked me to respectfully relay the information to Mr. and Mrs. Stronach. I assured him that I would pass along the circumstances surrounding his decision to Frank and Frieda.

I immediately called Frank and relayed Bobby’s message. Frank’s response was identical to my own: “really?” Frank then requested that I get Bobby on the line so he could speak to him directly. I was apprehensive - my gut reaction was that the conversation would not go over very well with either of them.

I reached Bobby and told him that I had Frank on the line. It was easy to sense Bobby’s own apprehension with his simple, “Hi, Frank.” Following a pregnant pause, Frank said in the most caring voice, “Bobby, how’s your dog?” I gave a strong sigh of relief, and I’m certain Bobby did as well. Bobby went on to explain that his dog was not doing very well, and he was uncomfortable leaving her in California. After the two of them talked about Happy, Frank asked Bobby how Ginger Punch was doing. Bobby replied that she was ready to run the race of her life, and there was nothing more he could do for her. Frank finished the call, saying, AOK Bobby, you look after Happy and we’ll look after Ginger.”

I will always remember the feeling I had when I hung up after listening to two immensely successful, yet very misunderstood men. They each managed to show great respect for what was important to the other man.

Ginger Punch went on to run exactly as Bobby predicted. Her Breeders’ Cup victory was her crowning achievement and ultimately led to a coveted Eclipse Award. Happy lived a little while longer with Bobby close to her side, but ultimately succumbed to her illness. Bobby eventually acquired two new dogs. His choice of names was a very fitting tribute to one of the many champions that he trained during his remarkable Hall of Fame career: Ginger and Punch.

We will all miss him.

Mike Rogers

Curlin takes "Horse of the Year" in last night's Eclipse Awards

Curlin (equinephoto)Curlin overwhelmed the competition in Horse of the Year voting, receiving 249 first-place votes to 12 for Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches. Last year’s winner, Invasor, earned two votes.

Corinthian, English Channel and Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense received one each in balloting by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form and National Turf Writers Association.

Curlin dominated Street Sense and Derby runner-up Hard Spun in voting for male 3-year-old. Curlin received 262 votes to Street Sense’s three and one for Hard Spun.

Curlin’s other victories last year were in the Preakness, Arkansas Derby and the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Curlin’s immediate future could include foreclosure.

An attorney for 418 people, plaintiffs in a lawsuit against two of Curlin’s minority owners, wants a judge to order foreclosure on the horse, the stable that officially owns him and its parent company.

A foreclosure could have 20 percent ownership in the horse up for bid with the Boone County, Ky., sheriff, with any money made from the public sale going to settle a $42 million judgment.

The plaintiffs effectively have held a lien against Curlin since November, when a state judge granted them rights to Tandy LLC, the parent company of the stable with an ownership stake in the horse.

The award was made to settle the judgment, which stemmed from a lawsuit accusing Curlin’s co-owners, William Gallion and Shirley Cunningham Jr., of defrauding clients in a $200 million settlement over the diet drug fen-phen.

A hearing on the foreclosure request was set for Tuesday in Frankfort, Ky.

Rags to Riches won 3-year-old filly honors after upsetting the boys in the Belmont.

Todd Pletcher earned his fourth consecutive Eclipse as trainer of the year with 139 votes, easily outdistancing runner-up Steve Asmussen, who trained Curlin and received 65 votes.

Garrett Gomez, who led the nation in earnings last year, was named jockey of the year and teenager Joe Talamo was chosen apprentice jockey.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Champagne Stakes winner War Pass was voted 2-year-old male and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Indian Blessing won 2-year-old filly.

Woodward and Whitney winner Lawyer Ron won older male, while older female honors went to Breeders’ Cup Distaff champion Ginger Punch.

Sprinter honors went to Midnight Lute in the male category and Maryfield in the female category; both were Breeders’ Cup winners.

English Channel was voted male turf horse and the female award went to British-bred Lahudood. Good Night Shirt was named steeplechase horse.

Shadwell Stable won owner of the year and Adena Springs won the honor for breeder.

Winners were announced at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons hotel.

Horse of the Year        Curlin (Smart Strike)
Older Horse                  Lawyer Ron (Langfuhr)
2yo Male                       War Pass (Cherokee Run)
2yo Female                   Indian Blessing (Indian Charlie)
3yo Male                       Curlin (Smart Strike)
3yo Female                   Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy)
Older Female               Ginger Punch (Awesome Again)
Turf Male                     English Channel (Smart Strike)
Turf Female                 Lahudood (GB) (Singspiel {Ire})
Male Sprinter               Midnight Lute (Real Quiet)
Female Sprinter          Maryfield (Elusive Quality)
Steeplechase                Good Night Shirt (Concern)
Owner                            Shadwell Stable
Breeder                         Adena Springs
Trainer                         Todd Pletcher
Jockey                          Garrett Gomez
App. Jockey                 Joe Talamo

Extract from newsvine.com

The Breeders' Cup World Championship of Racing: A bit of a damp squib

                                                            Curlin (Charles Pravata-Horsephotos)

Bucketing rain turned the racing surface for the Breeder’s Cup Championship event at Monmouth Park into something resembling more of a swimming pool than a racetrack, and the results unfortunately reflected the lack of predictability that inevitably emerges in these conditions.

The first major upsets occurred when Dylan Thomas, a four-time Group 1 winner this season, and the outstanding Champion of Europe, failed to get a place in the major Turf event, while the Classic itself, billed as one of the races of the decade, turned into very much a procession for CURLIN, who obviously adapted best to the conditions, but who had been comfortably bested by the likes of Street Sense and Any Given Saturday in earlier encounters.

Watch the Breeder’s Cup Classic (Gr1) 2007.

Get a spectator’s view from Monmouth Park grandstand.