FIRST KENYAN RUSSIAN REVIVAL WINS BY 8 LENGTHS ON DEBUT

Russian Revival
(Photo : Summerhill Stud)

“RUSSIAN’S REVIVAL”

Some years ago, in an attempt to uplift the flagging fortunes of Kenyan racing and breeding, Mick Goss took a delegation of our racing operators to Kenya. The outcome was an arrangement which saw the donation of tote equipment, on course cameras, a flighting of the Kenyan racing signal through Tellytrack, a reorganisation of their business model, and the placement of several stallions with Jo and Janet Mills’ Rawhide Stud.

One of the most recent of these was the highly performed Nureyev racehorse, Russian Revival (Timeform’s Champion Handicapper of his year), and sire of last year’s Dubai Carnival victor ludorum, Imbongi. Last weekend, the first of the Kenyan “Russians”, Viola, made her racecourse debut, and by all accounts, it was some performance. It is early days yet, but an easing-down margin of eight lengths tells its own story.

Imagine what a single Imbongi could do for the international image of Kenyan racing. There might be another reason to visit besides the Masai Mara.

The Revival of the Russian : The Kenyan's Delight

Russian Revival (John Lewis)His recent export to Kenya, where he stands under the management of Summerhill at that country’s leading stud, Rawhide, Russian Revival will no doubt have brought a big smile to Kenyan breeders following this weekend’s events. Not only did he sire Imbongi and Red Carnation, but his daughter Wild Ride was equally impressive in making it two in a row on Sunday at Clairwood for Gilbert Werner. This filly has run two seconds and two firsts from four starts to date, with daylight to spare in a respectable field of fillies, she looks set for a “Black Type” career down the road.

As Mike de Kock commented on the phone afterwards, they only have to die or get themselves exported to come alive, and that’s precisely what’s happened to Russian Revival. Our loss is Kenya’s gain.

Kenyan-based stallion making presence felt

Question: Which colt was rated Godolphin’s No 1 2YO of 1999 in a generation that included Gr 1 performers KINGS BEST, KUTUB, EKRAAR, CHINA VISIT, LAHAN and MELIKAH?

Clue - he’s a steel grey son of DANZIG out of SIERRA MADRE (multiple Gr 1 winner and dam of a champion - ALJABR) . He won his sole race as a 2YO and in his one start as a 3YO (before being sidelined by injury) he was placed in a Listed Stakes behind World Champion Miler OBSERVATORY (triple Gr 1 winner and vanquisher of GIANTS CAUSEWAY in the Gr 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes) and Champion 3YO Sprinter of 2000 and own brother to DANEHILL – SHIBBOLETH.

The answer is of course MAKAAREM.

The Summerhill managed stallion stands at Rawhide Stud in Kenya and a number of his progeny have recently performed very well on the South African racing scene. As Mick Goss commented to stud managers Joe and Janet Mills today: “Makaarem was the toast of both this farm and many race goers this weekend. He had three ‘first timers’ start at different tracks, one winning over 1200 by four lengths (beating a 7/10 import from Mike de Kock’s yard), another running second over 1600m (beaten by an older horse at level weights) and the third one running an impressive fourth, coming from last in a sprint, and wanting a good deal more ground. He has had a couple of good winners in the last few weeks, and is looking very respectable.”