THE STORY OF THE YEAR

Please click above to view the latest building site photos
(Photos : Leigh Willson)

AL MAKTOUM SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT EXCELLENCE

In world terms, there’s little doubt, the Soccer World Cup will change the way we are. For a little country like ours to be hosting an event of such moment, is remarkable. But we need it, by God we need it. For all this country’s been through, it’s our time now, and South Africans are determined to show the world, that this really will be the African century.

In racing terms though, the South African story of the year will be the Al Maktoum School of Management Excellence. There are not many schools of any kind serving the racing industry, some indictment in a business dominated by the rich and famous. But this one, under way right now at Summerhill, will change lives, for what it will do for people who have never dreamed of the stations they will aspire to as its graduates.

We know we’ve been lucky at Summerhill, and every day we hear of another soul willing to come to this “party” we know we’re even luckier.

Yet, in a twenty year relationship with the Ruling Family of Dubai, we had our luckiest moment. Their support of this project has enabled us to commit to a school of which every pupil will be proud. A school which, in time, the world will want to attend. And an education which will provide, at last, for graduates with the skills to manage. At a world class level.

Driving this project till now, has been Barbara Meier, our H.R.Manager. Two months ago, Heather Morkel and I made the “mistake” of accepting an invitation (from Moneyweb’s Alec Hogg,) to address the S.A. Institute of Personnel Management. They wanted to hear the fairytale of Summerhill’s “upliftment” story. All one thousand delegates.

Ours is not an ordinary story. It tells of a district with 80% unemployment and very few skills to speak of. Today, without any formal rules besides the Law of Common Decency, we’re embarking on our 36^th international scholarship for our Zulu grooms. Our traditional dance troupe is the pride of the continent, 3^rd in Tokyo, 2^nd in Hong Kong. In the world. All thirty-odd of them.

Two of our young Hartford cooks, with just primary educations, have cooked for this country in Zurich and Prague.

The delegates at the Institute conference couldn’t, no, they wouldn’t, believe it. They stood and clapped in the isles when it was all over. One delegate who took it seriously though, represented the ANC personnel team in Parliament. The road to Damascus (or to parliament) was obvious.  Recruit Barbara Meier, and she’ll fix everything. So she’s on her way to Cape Town, but she’ll not be lost forever. She’s done sterling work thus far, and in her very generous way, she’s volunteered to get the stuff in progress over the line.

In her stead, we have Glynn Rasper, with a steep history in H.R.management, and importantly, a bit of overseeing building projects at Selborne Country Club. So the School will be just fine. And I’ve promised not to be so rapturous about our achievements at conferences in the future!

SPARE A THOUGHT

Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum
(Photo : Summerhill Stud)

HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN KHALIFA AL MAKTOUM

There’s been a lot said about Dubai in the financial press of late, and people have been concerned. None less so than the Ruling Family of that country. One man though, for all his responsibilities, who never lies down in spirit at least, is His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifah Al Maktoum. To put him into perspective, his father was the elder brother of Sheikh Rashid, father of Sheikh Mohammed, the present ruler and Sheikh Hamdan, his deputy.

In years, “our” Sheik Mo, of Imbongi, Art Of War, Galant Gagnant and Asiatic Boy fame, is the senior Sheikh, and his great friend is Sheikh Hamdan, now in his 20^th year of support at Summerhill. We took a moment this morning to share our strength with Sheikh Mohammed and his team, for an early resolution to the problems of his region. But you have to know the man to understand his spirit. “Indomitable” is a word that comes to mind. To make the load a little easier, ever the sportsman, His Highness is going trout fishing. A small trip to big sky country, to Argentina and a few more of the horses he gets up for in the morning.

Here is a man whom all horsemen look to for a benchmark. Winning or losing, he takes them both the same. The sport is all that matters. His generosity knows no bounds. Importantly, his friendship is pervasive.

And his wishes for a happy and fulfilling New Year, are extended to everyone in the Summerhill parish.

Tight lines, Your Highness. We know the Rio Corentasa, and we’ve seen those submarines. We look forward to the tales.

Summerhill Sires : What we stand for. And what they stand for.

Kahal, Cataloochee and Malhub
(Grant Norval)

A glance at the South African Stallion Register of two decades ago, reveals two things. A good many more stallions than we have today, and an inclination to use the moderate relatives of this or that Classic winner or top class runner. But seldom the top class runner himself.

Enter the Ruling Family of Dubai, and a policy of respecting the fact that this business is about running, that a good pedigree belongs to a good horse, and the rules changed. Those rules have served us well, to the degree that there’s not a soul at the farm who wouldn’t acknowledge the role of racing class in our stallions in Summerhill’s four consecutive Breeder’s Championships. In fact, it’s one of the bedrocks on which our success has been founded.

Horses that have that winning attitude, don’t have it because they were good racehorses. They were good racehorses because they had that attitude, and it’s a combination of their athleticism and their will-to-win that they’ve passed on to their progeny.

Now take a glance at our current line-up, and apart from the depth of their pedigrees, you’ll find that class at the racecourse is embedded in their CV’s. To the last. Then look at their stud fees, and you’ll discover another thing. The market speaks. Summerhill listens. And only then do we fix our prices.

What it all comes down to, is this . If you’re not using a Summerhill stallion, ask yourself or your advisors, why not? Ever since we opened the gates in our valley, right here is where our most successful colleagues have staked their prospects. And luck had very little to do with it.

Remembering our Values: Loyalty points

MULLINS BAY’S spot in the line-up for his own place in history at the Dubai World Cup meeting on Saturday, is nothing short of an endorsement of Summerhill’s fundamental values: we are supporting those who support us.

There are few in the racing world who are not aware that the Maktoums, Ruling Family of Dubai, came to the rescue of the South African breeding industry as long ago as 1991, and that they have collectively housed of the order of twenty five stallions at the Mooi River property since that time. Summerhill is the only farm worldwide at which these titans of racing and breeding keep stallions on this scale, and the benefits to the genetic integrity of the Southern African thoroughbred has been immense.

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan

InvasorHis Highness Sheikh Hamdan, Deputy Ruler and owner of the exceptional Summerhill based stallions, MUHTAFAL and KAHAL, is represented in the $6 million World Cup itself by racing’s highest ranked horse of 2006, INVASOR, who’s reported to be in sparkling form. Another reason for the Farm’s invasion force to look forward to the meeting. More news from Dubai as the week progresses.