GOOD GOLLY, IT'S CAPE GUINEAS TIME

Princess Victoria (Saf)
(Photo : Gold Circle)

CAPE PREMIER YEARLING SALE GUINEAS (Gr1)
Kenilworth, Turf, 1600m
17 December 2011

If there’s one spin-off for South African racing in the suspension of our exports, it rests in the quality of our domestic fields, none more so than in the three-year-old brigade. This weekend marks the running of one of our tried and tested classics, the Cape Of Good Hope Guineas (Gr1). Championed over many decades by the Chef’s de Race; names such as Colorado King (1963), Renounce (1965), Hawaii (1968), Politician (1980 and 1981), Empress Club (1992), London News (1997), Jet Master (1998), Horse Chestnut (1999), Captain Al (2000) and Jay Peg (2006), this year’s renewal is about as good as any we’ve known, with Cape trainers appearing to hold the upper hand. Joey Ramsden is of the opinion that his Selangor Cup (Gr2) hero, Variety Club, is the best three-year-old in the land, while there is a body of opinion that believes that honour belongs to Justin Snaith’s Oratorio colt, Gimmethegreenlight. But the truth is, Dean Kannemeyer, who between himself and his father, have collared six renewals, has arguably his strongest entry ever, including the as-yet undefeated Divine Jet. It is true that the latter has yet to meet a field of this quality, but the manner of his victories to date, suggests he will be right there when it matters, despite his wide draw.

That’s not the end of the story though, as there were any number of opinions flying around at Bernard Kantor’s excellent party in Robertson on Saturday night, including a powerful vote for Mike de Kock’s Silver Flyer, runaway winner of the Dingaans (Gr2). Let’s not forget though, that we have an unbeaten filly in the field, Princess Victoria, who couldn’t have been more impressive in the manner in which she’s smothered her own sorority thus far, so it will be a measure of the quality of the distaffers in how she fares against the colts on Saturday.

Either way, as disappointing as it is that we’ve not been able to send our usual compliment of horses to take on the world in Dubai and show them just how good we are, there’s consolation for local fans in Saturday’s line-up.

While on the subject of Bernard’s party, we were all there to celebrate the many positive things that are happening in our racing, breeding and sales environments right now, and in the interests of not spoiling the party, we’ll tell you more about that in tomorrow’s episode.

EMERGING STALLIONS : EMERGING FORCES

Admire Main
(Photo : Greig Muir)

“One of the better young generations of
emerging stallions we’ve known”

Mick Goss
Summerhill Stud CEOThere’s a lot being written at the moment in the financial press about the role of emerging countries as the only hope for the world’s ailing economy. While the South African stallion scene is far from lacking in its established stars, there’s real hope among what could turn out to be one of the better young generations of emerging stallions we’ve known. Reports from the physical inspection for the Cape Premier Yearling Sale speak highly of the progeny of A.P. Arrow, Admire Main, Argonaut, Jay Peg and Kildonan, while the foaling crew at Summerhill will tell you that the Brave Tin Soldiers are up there with anything we’ve seen. They’re big, strongly made, and they all carry the magnificent head which was obviously an element of what made Demi O’Byrne part with $3million for him as a foal of just a few months. Besides “big”, you can count on the rest as well. Brave, and brilliant.

Encouraging too, was the money investors were willing to pay for the first crops of Mullins Bay and Stronghold at the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale. While it was to be expected that they would have their admirers when they went through the ring, following the healthy endorsement they received from the gallops inspection panellists, few would’ve anticipated the Mullins Bays would average alongside Kahal and Muhtafal, and that Stronghold would come away with a top price of R330,000, in this climate. Equally pleasing though, is the fact that this sale elicits healthy bidding for a horse, no matter his origins. The Ready To Run is designed for buyers to draw their conclusions from what they see, not what they think they see, and the gallop in the end, is the ultimate test.

Over the years, we’ve seen the likes of Gold Cup hero, Cereus, R8million earner, Imbongi, and Jo’burg’s “love-child”, Pierre Jourdan, all by unfashionable sires, attract a healthy proportion of bids simply because they could run.

While they’re quietly off the commercial boil at the moment, Solskjaer and Way West are another pair who still seem to have a bit of puff in their sails. Solskjaer’s top price was R225,000 for Battle Of Hastings, while Way West justifiably averaged R90,000 (with two “centurions”), given that he’s had two Group One performing fillies in his first two small crops, and that Extra Zero put up such a grand performance in the R2 million Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup the day before.

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

BASIL MARCUS TO ACT AS ASSISTANT TRAINER TO SON ADAM

Basil Marcus
(Photo : Marcus Racing)

MARCUS RACING

Basil Marcus has returned to South Africa after deciding to cut short his Singapore training stint and this time he intends acting as assistant to his son Adam.

Marcus told Michael Clower: “Adam has a real passion for racing and he did tremendously well in the last two seasons that we were in Cape Town. We are very keen to get going again and at the moment we are waiting for stables in Natal. We are hopeful that these will come up in the near future as we are all ready to go.”

Marcus (54) started training in Cape Town in 2004 and sent out almost 300 winners in 5½ seasons including the 2007 Cape Guineas and Cape Derby with subsequent Dubai Duty Free and Singapore Airlines International Cup winner, Jay Peg. Early last year he moved to Singapore but, although he had 15 winners, he did not make the same impact and decided to return to South Africa. Adam was his assistant in Cape Town and in Singapore.

Marcus was a jockey for 30 years and had considerable success almost round the globe. In South Africa he twice won the J&B Met; he was champion in Hong Kong and in Britain he rode for Michael Jarvis and Clive Brittain. He was second on the latter’s Game Plan in the 1990 Oaks and rode her to victory in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh.

Visit
www.marcusracing.net

Extract from Racing Post 

BANKABLE ARRIVES AT SUMMERHILL

Herman Brown Jnr with Bankable
(Photo : Greig Muir)

BANKABLE
Medicean - Dance To The Top

Finance journalist Felicity Duncan commented on the recent economic downturn that “the last few days have been many things; boring was not one of them”. Stock markets plunged and many allowed emotions to overwhelm a sense of reasoning as the market encountered a crises in confidence; on Tuesday the market started a comeback, finishing slightly up.

For us, “it’s all about timing”, we witnessed a comeback as early as Monday night with the arrival of the aptly named BANKABLE (Medicean x Dance To The Top by Sadler’s Wells), who’s racing accomplishments accounted for 8 wins, including 4 at Group and Stakes level.

“Now is not the time to be caught napping”, Summerhill’s Stallion Manager, Greig Muir commented. “We’ve reason to be excited. BANKABLE boasted a Timeform Rating of 122 and is perhaps one of the best looking horses to come through the Summerhill gates in the last decade. He descends from a great sire line and is out of a mare by one of the world’s all time greatest broodmare sires, Sadler’s Wells. He’s perfect”.

This was confirmed by trainer Herman Brown Jnr who, when reunited with the BANKABLE on Wednesday, said “for me, there was very little between BANKABLE and JAY PEG. BANKABLE had the perfect temperament and was confirmationally faultless which gave him the ability to perform over a broader distance with tremendous ability”.

BANKABLE earned over R20 million in stakes over distances from 1200-1800m and ran World Champion Raven’s Pass to one length whilst giving him 6lbs. With 8 wins and 8 places (including 2 places at Group 1 level), “we think you can BANK on this one”.

For more information please visit :
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