ARABIAN MIST STEALS HERTZ MERCHANTS FROM LINK MAN

Click above to watch Arabian Mist in the Hertz Merchants (Grade 2)
(Photo : JC Photographics / Footage : Tellytrack)

R450,000 HERTZ MERCHANTS (Grade 2)
Turffontein, Turf, 1160m
27 November 2010 

ARABIAN MIST (Muhtafal (USA) - Valley Mist by Mount Hagen (FR))
6 Year Old Bay Gelding

Trainer : Gary Alexander
Jockey : Derreck David
Owners : Mrs Jo Gardner and Messrs Myron Berzack, Bruce Gardner, Chris Gerber, Greg Sadie and Leon van Rooyen
Breeder : Summerhill Stud
Win Time : 66.67
Career Record : 8 Wins, 9 Place, 26 Starts
Career Earnings : R962,255

FINAL RESULTS

#	LBH	Horse	Kg	MR	Dr	Jockey	Trainer
1	0.00	ARABIAN MIST	54.0	99	12	D David	Gary Alexander
2	0.25	LINK MAN	53.5	108	1	A Delpech	Mike de Kock
3	1.00	COUNT EXPRESS	52.0	101	11	M Yeni	Ormond Ferraris
4	1.75	BLUE VOYAGER	55.5	102	8	G Lerena	Charles Laird
5	2.00	SWORDSMITH	52.0	79	10	G Figueroa	Brian Wiid
6	2.50	EXCLAIM ‘N EXCLUDE (AUS)	56.5	104	9	A Marcus	Charles Laird
7	3.00	JET COMMAND	52.0	94	4	R Simons	Alyson Wright
8	3.75	MANA MOU	54.5	100	14	P Strydom	Sean Tarry
9	4.75	LIGHTNING LECTURE	53.5	98	7	S Khumalo	David Niewenhuizen
10	8.00	CRUSO	56.5	104	2	M Mienie	Paul Matchett
11	8.50	ACROSS THE ICE	52.0	95	6	D Daniels	Sean Tarry
12	10.00	DON’T TELL TITCH	52.5	96	13	*D Mansour	Geoff Woodruff
13	11.00	IMPERIAL GESTURE	60.0	111	3	G Wrogemann	Charles Laird
14	13.00	HURRICANE FORCE	55.0	101	5	J Sampson	Louis Goosen
		Late Scratchings
15	0.00	STRIKE PARADISE	56.0	103	11	S Brown	Dominic Zaki
16	0.00	TUSCAN SKY	52.5	106	13		Alistair Gordon
17	0.00	IMALI	52.0	94	16	*JP v’d Merwe	Mike Azzie

For more information please visit :
www.summerhill.co.za

BLUE HENS : NO PRICE ON THEIR HEADS

Arabian Mist - Defy Merchants Gr2
(Photos : JC Photographics)

KZN BREEDERS AWARDS 2009

At the KZN Breeders Awards on Friday evening, we were reminded not only of the good health of breeding in this region, but of the bottomless value of an outstanding producer. To think that the dam of two of the evening’s champions, Garden Verse (responsible for Champion International Performer, Imbongi, as well the Champion Older Filly or Mare, Spring Garland,) didn’t make the final cut for Broodmare of the Year, speaks volumes for the depth among female producers in the province. They were no fewer than three dams of multiple Grade One winners nominated for the title, with Sweet Sheila emerging victorious on the back of her daughter, Zirconeum’s spectacular year at the races. Well done to ex-Summerhill manager, Karin Render, and husband Warwick.

Another to march off into the history books this weekend, was the Summerhill matron, Valley Mist, who had already found herself in the mix for the title on two previous occasions through the exploits of her exceptional son, Nhlavini, the only horse in South African history to have lined up on six separate occasions as a finalist for the Equus National Awards of Horseracing. On Saturday, his kid brother, Arabian Mist, making his debut in Graded Stakes company in the Defy Merchants (Gr.2), skated home by two and a half lengths from Cyber Case, who was another three lengths ahead of the third in what was a representative field of the Highveld’s best sprinters.

Now a seven time winner, Arabian Mist exemplifies the accruals of a patient handling, of which you are always assured in the Gary Alexander yard. A late maturing type, this fellow was given the benefit of an early education at Summerhill, and only went into training at the back end of his two year old year. An animal of obvious potential, he took time to find his feet, and he was given the time to do so, as we’ve come to expect from the coolest customer in the game.

On Saturday, he rewarded his connections for their patience, and he put up his hand for the biggest sprint prizes in the country later in the year. Another one for Muhtafal, by the way, whom we’ve always said would be our general, if we were going to war. Well done to Bruce and Jo Gardner, our fellow breeders who’ve been onboard since the gates opened,and to the usual “Alexander” suspects, Greg Sadie, Myron Berzack, Chris Gerber and Leon van Rooyen.

ARABIAN MIST BLOWS THEM AWAY IN DEFY MERCHANTS

Click above to watch Arabian Mist in the Defy Merchants (Gr2)
(Footage : Tellytrack)

ARABIAN MIST

Whilst the name Arabian Mist may not be synonymous with “Sprint Sensation” quite yet, those with memories will recall the exploits of his half-brother, six-time Equus Awards finalist and three-time Champion, Nhlavini, who was still contesting (and winning) at Group One level well into his ninth season.

Racingweb reports that Arabian Mist, the five-year-old son of Muhtafal out of Valley Mist, is not nearly as famous as his illustrious half-brother Nhlavini, who retired as South Africa’s grand sprinting star in 2006, but he’s one cracking sprinter himself. The Gary Alexander-trained gelding was reminiscent of Nhlavini in the way he quickly put daylight between himself and his rivals when taking a decisive victory in Saturday’s R450,000 Grade 2 Defy Merchants over 1200m at Turffontein.

Arabian Mist tracked Red Flyer and Carbon Leader in the early stages of the race with Cool Spender and Opening Night in hot pursuit. But the outcome was decided when apprentice Karis Teetan switched Arabian Mist to the inside in the final 200m. He got right up the leaders and the drew away without much fuss to win by over two lengths going away.

“I kept him covered for as long as possible as Mr Alexander told me,” said Karis Teetan.

Gary Alexander Racing Stables say that what makes the performance that much more impressive is that Arabian Mist had the better of the likes of Red Flyer, winner of the Umgeni Handicap, and Sharks Bay, runner-up in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint and winner of the Grade 2 Post Merchants, over six lengths behind him.

With Arabian Mist now notching up his seventh victory, and with a good season or two ahead, he may well also get on the Grade 1 Roll before he retires… remember Champion Nhlavini won 15 races including several Grade 1 sprints.

Congratulations to owners Mrs Jo Gardner and Messrs Myron Berzack, Bruce Gardner, Chris Gerber, Greg Sadie and Leon van Rooyen.

The Big Weekend Debate

22 August 2009
Vuma Horse Feed MR 92 Handicap
1160m
Turffontein
South Africa
(Footage : Tellytrack DSTV 232)

Which
MUHTAFAL
did you back?

KZN Breeders Awards 2006

KZN Breeders celebrated their Annual Breeder Awards Dinner on 17 November 2006. Summerhill secured the following trophies:

OUSTANDING 2YO COLT
REBEL KING (National Emblem x Cousin Linda)
Bred by Summerhill Stud

OUTSTANDING SPRINTER MALE
NHLAVINI (National Emblem x Valley Mist)
Bred by Summerhill Stud

OUTSTANDING MIDDLE DISTANCE FEMALE
BOLD ELLINORE (Kahal x Ellinore)
Bred by Summerhill Stud

OUTSTANDING OLDER MALE
NHLAVINI (National Emblem x Valley Mist)
Bred by Summerhill Stud

STALLION PROSPECT
ALBARAHIN stands at Summerhill Stud

BROODMARE OF THE YEAR
VALLEY MIST (Mount Hagen x Misty for Me)
Summerhill Stud

STALLION OF THE YEAR
MUHTAFAL stands at Summerhill Stud

BREEDING ACHIEVEMENT
Summerhill Stud