LONDON NEWS : PASSING OF A WARRIOR

London News
(Photo : Freeman Stallions)

LONDON NEWS

It wouldn’t be overstating things that London News record-breaking victory in Hong Kong’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Gr.1) in 1997, was as big an event for South African racegoers, as the Springboks’ World Cup victory was in 1995.

As a five-time Group One winner, he gave weight and draw to the whole field, and while it would be overdoing things to say he beat “the world” on that historic day, that he broke the Sha Tin track record and had some serious performers in his wake, is no exaggeration.

As we remember one of South Africa’s gamest racehorses, lamenting his passing reminds us that this was no one-race-wonder. The Classic at Turffontein, the Daily News 2000 and the July at Greyville, and an astonishing performance in the J&B Met are all part this man’s C.V. Yet it was that day at Sha Tin that sticks in the mind.

He was the first “South African” to win abroad in the post-political era, and he was the first to win at anything like this level in the East. But those who lived through the political turmoil of the 1970s and 1980s, will know what events like this brought in the way of relief, and especially the recognition among local horsemen, that we could do it. It’s probably not beyond the realms of possibility, that it was this one performance that stimulated the likes of Mike de Kock to try their hands so in foreign climes in the years that followed. That’s another story, and it’s now so long, it demands a tome.

As much as anything, London News’ big day in Hong Kong was a tribute to the enterprise and sportsmanship of Laurie and Jean Jaffee, and the sad events of Monday which saw this great warrior laid to rest, brings to an end a spectacular chapter in the lives of three great South Africans.

LAURIE JAFFEE : The Passing of a Legend... a Summerhill Tribute

Laurie JaffeeWe’ve have just heard the sad news about Laurie. Only last night we were talking about the generation who had forged the character of racing as we used to know it, Laurie Jaffee, Eric Gallo, Graham Beck, Ronnie Napier and Cyril Hurwitz. Of course there have been others, but by any standards anywhere, these were the stalwarts and they stayed the whole course.

To Cheryl and I and the rest of the Summerhill team, the Jaffees were our role models. They bred and owned horses for the fun of the sport and with the style and grace of few others. Importantly, and unlike most, they took winning and losing the same way. In the end though, they had more fun because they knew that it wasn’t a matter of life and death, and that while racing was to be competed for earnestly, it was there to be enjoyed. Besides they never forgot that there were others who also wanted to play the game.

They both developed happy and enduring relationships and we shall forever count ourselves lucky at Summerhill, not only to have known the two of them, but to have enjoyed the great benefits of their friendship, their patronage and their loyalty, for so long.

By any definition Laurie was a “mensch”, and every one of us can take a lesson from his life. I was fortunate to have travelled with him and to have enjoyed his vibrancy, his generosity and his energy, and I can only hope that when my time comes, I will be able to say I lived half of Laurie’s life.

Cheryl and the entire Summerhill team join me in wishing Jean, Richard and Lloyd and their respective families, long life and every strength at this time.

Mick Goss 

Vuma Feeds The Gold Cup And Gold Bracelet Winners

Thundering Star (Photo Gold Circle)For the umpteenth time this season, both Graded Stake races run over the weekend were taken by Vuma-fed horses. In South Africa’s premier staying race, the Canon Gold Cup (Gr1), Mike de Kock’s recently-turned four year old, Thundering Star came home smoking in a significant turnaround for horses of this age. Being a 24^th October foal, this R120 000 National Sales purchase by Mike de Kock and his merry men, Gary Grant, Chris Haynes and Chesty Woolfardt, put in a quite staggering performance to get home from his older peers. He is still several months off his biological four year old birthday, and yet he won in the manner of an old pro.

Dance Along (Photo Gold Circle)In the Gold Bracelet (Gr2) Charles Laird trained the first two home, with Summerhill clients Laurie & Jean Jaffee’s Dance Along leading home Carry on Katie. For what it’s worth, another that knows the taste of Africa’s finest feed, Glen Kotzen’s Veiled Essence, was a flying fourth, coming from the outside draw and having to make up some 20 lengths in the home straight.

A great result for our brothers in the Horse Feed division – well done to you all.