SUMMERHILL STUD's view from the top

 

Imbongi’s win the Group Two Gauteng Guineas at Turffontein last week was yet another successful graduate of his breeder Summerhill Stud’s Ready To Run sales programme and further reinforced the farm’s recent dominance, writes Nicola Hayward from Cape Town.

A son of Russian Revival, Imbongi (which is Zulu for ‘The Praise Singer’) has not been without his problems but showed a welcome return to form with a fine win for trainer Mike de Kock, who is well aware of the family’s lineage. Although Imbongi’s dam, Garden Verse , was unraced, she is from a strong family that has produced champions Victory Moon , Kelly , Imperious Sue and Turncoat ; her Stakes-placed daughter Full Spectrum is the dam of the Group Three-winning filly Oracle News while another - Spring Garland - won the Acacia Handicap (Gr3) over 1600m in February.

Saturday’s meeting underlined the strength of Summerhill Stud: they bred the winner of the first race Thekkady (National Emblem) as well as Golden Web (Slew The Red), who was third in the second race; Paris To Peking , who finished third in the Listed Aquanaut Handicap, and the full siblings by Kahal - Bold Ellinore (third in the Empress Club Stakes (Gr1) ) and Emperor Napoleon (third in the Hawaii Stakes (Gr2)) - were also bred on the KwaZulu Natal farm, as was Rebel King who ran fourth in the Hawaii Stakes (Gr2) for trainer Charles Laird.

Summerhill Stud (pictured above) is unique. Not only has it headed the South African Breeders’ table for the last three years (and currently leads the list again by a considerable figure), but the rich history of the two farms, Hartford and Summerhill, which constitute the operation, is worthy of all of the remaining words. The magnificent setting of the property and the country hotel at Hartford House draw guests from all over the world to the rolling grasslands of the foothills of the KwaZulu Natal Drakensberg.

The farm’s successes have not happened by chance, but are the result of years of planning, hard work and team building on the part of CEO Mick Goss. Of Irish decent, Goss studied law and practiced as an attorney in Durban before moving to Summerhill. He is a man of seemingly endless energy and has built a formidable team around him, each with the Summerhill ethos of excellence.

In the early 1990s, following a meeting with then Minister of Finance Barend du Plessis, Goss was involved in a mission to Newmarket (England) where a meeting took place to portray the benefits of South African Racing and Bloodstock in a bid to counteract the then low confidence in South Africa - Nelson Mandela was still in prison and there was no way of knowing the future path of the country or its economy. Following the meeting, the Maktoum family made a firm commitment to becoming involved in South Africa and the result is that they now have a significant number of stallions at Summerhill. Furthermore, the economy has boomed, politics is representative and stable, and the bloodstock industry is flourishing.

This year Summerhill will stand nine stallions: Albarahin ; Cataloochee ; Hobb Alwahtan ; Kahal ; Malhub ; Muhtafal ; Mullins Bay ; Solskjaer and Way West . Four others marketed under the Summerhill banner stand at farms elsewhere - Slew The Red at Invermooi Stud in KwaZulu Natal and Fahal at Bosworth Farm in Klerksdorp, while Desert Team and Russian Revival are in Kenya at Rawhide Stud.

Both Kahal and Muhtafal finished the last season in the top ten of the Leading Sires Log and it should also be remembered that long-time Summerhill resident Northern Guest finished atop the Broodmare Sires List for a record sixth consecutive time.

Over the years the farm has produced some fine champions - Nhlavini ; Spook And Diesel ; Icy Air ; Pick Six and Rebel King , to name a handful, and Goss believes that the decision taken about a decade ago to substantially reduce the reliance of the farm on synthetic fertilization has played a major role in the success of the horses raised there. No doubt an ideal climate, fine Zulu stockmen and carefully considered matings, have also helped make Summerhill a major player in the local industry. Incidentally, Vuma Feeds, which supplies high quality horse feed throughout the country, is based on the farm and supports the concept that a cornerstone of the stud’s success is a balanced nutritional programme.

But, whatever the reason for the Summerhill Stud  success, it is patently working and there seem few reasons why it should not continue for some time to come.

Click here to view the Summerhill Stallions.

Click here to visit Hartford House.

Click here to visit Vuma Feeds. 

Extract from Thoroughbred Internet.com 

The Clairwood Park meeting: MORE SPARKS

Mindful (Gold Circle)Ex Royal Navy Commander, John Ford and his lovely wife, Anne were the breeders of Karen and Greig Anthony’s quality winner MINDFUL (by Muhtafal), who impressed all of his rider, Sean Cormack, his trainer and interviewer, Deyes Dyanand, with the manner of his win, at the expense incidentally of another Summerhill graduate, NOTFORPUBLICATION.

Spalaphala (Gold Circle)Just two events later, SPHALAPHALA (a 3 parts sister to Champion ICY AIR) trotted up on her second start for Steve Sturlese and the farm. Garth Puller’s some judge, as we all know, and his instincts didn’t let him down here.

On the strength of their television performances, both he and Peter de Marigny could be “for president”, so let’s hope she’s half as good as her illustrious brother, AMPHITHEATRE.

Champion's brother salutes

Nordic Red salutes at KenilworthIn a performance worthy of a magician, Nordic Red (Muhtafal-Nordic Air) came from a fairly untenable position - being boxed in with a few hundred metres to go - to win by a few lengths in the Maiden Plate over 1600m at Kenilworth today. The talented son of Muhtafal is a half brother to Champion filly ICY AIR and his win confirms that all of trainer Basil Marcus’ hard work has paid off handsomely.

Contributed by Megan Romeyn

Ice Magic

The season’s final foal was born on a night when summer was interrupted by heavy rain and an unexpected veil of ice on The Giant. Fate? Perhaps. The colt is, after all, a full brother to Champion Filly ICY AIR.

With the close of one season, our thoughts cannot help but be drawn to the next when the first foals of the ‘06 freshmen work their own piece of magic.

In the interim a special note should be made of the broodmare team headed by Annet, the stallion nominations team headed by Linda, the stallion team headed by Greig, and of course Summerhill’s vet - Dr. Allan Bechard - for their involvement in bringing these 202 foals into the world - and ensuring mothers and babies get the best start to life.

Congratulations also to all our clients. You just have to wander the paddocks to see that the 2006 crop really is magnificent.

And then there was one ...

ICY AIR winning the Gold Bracelet. 201 foals have been born so far this season. Only one remains - a Jallad foal from Nordic Air (mother of champion filly ICY AIR and this season’s performer Nordic Red).

 The foal is due the 13 December and will be a full brother or sister to ICY AIR. Bets are on as to what date the mare will actually foal down as not many horses observe calendar dates the way the rest of us do.  Please contact Annet for latest prices !