EARLY WINTERS FOR EUROPE

Winter montage at the stud farm of Xavier and Nathalie Bozo in Normandy
(Photo : Normandy Stud)

An early winter in France

Article By: Greig MuirIn a country where the Pyrenees and Alps are favoured haunts for many partaking in the sport of skiing, the winter has come as a delight. Much of the French landscape has been turned into a picturesque scene, with occupants, or as the French would say la citoyen de cheval on many of the major French Breeding farms finding the snow equally appealing.

Most of Europe has been hit by unseasonal early winters, which has turned the countryside into a winter wonderland. Weather conditions forced the postponement of weekend racing at Fairyhouse in Ireland, a meeting set to feature leading favourites for the Cheltenham Festival next year.

THE BREEDERS’ PREMIERSHIP : A NEW RECORD

SOUTH AFRICAN THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’ PREMIERSHIP
2009 - 2010

It was the celebrated South African flyhalf, Naas Botha, who once famously said that “the Currie Cup is not won in May.”  He was quite right, and that’s been proven time and again with the passage of the years. However, Summerhill’s record of five consecutive Breeders’ Championships is one that stands alone in the last forty years, and this weekend, with a full three months of the racing season left, we have eclipsed all our previous (and South African) earnings records, as our runners amassed more than R1million for the week, catapulting our collective earnings for the season past the R16million mark.

We’ve asked the question before, only to be proven wrong, but we wonder whether we can ever best this season again. The log tells the story. And asks the question.

Figures courtesy of Sporting Post as at 5 May 2010

Breeder	Stakes	AEPR	SW Wnrs	SW Wins
Summerhill Stud	16,037,712	64,151	11	14
Lammerskraal Stud	5,207,650	56,605	3	3
Normandy Stud	5,113,525	71,021	6	10
Wilgerbosdrift Stud	4,960,900	55,740	3	4
Highlands Farm	4,599,587	38,845	2	2
Maine Chance	4,499,312	38,787	2	2
Ascot Stud	4,478,225	46,167	3	3
D Cohen & Sons	4,289,662	33,513	0	0
Avontuur Farm	4,264,325	63,647	5	5
Klawervlei Stud	4,201,075	25,933	2	2