THE FUTURE IS NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE

Visionaire (USA)
(Photo : Greig Muir)

“If you’re not part of the process itself,
you’re going to be left behind.”

Mick Goss
(Summerhill CEO)There are not too many of us left who remember the Great Depression of the late 20s and early 30s, so the financial turmoil the world has landed itself in the last five years is, for most people, a unique phenomenon. In business talk, not so long ago we used to plan in 3-5 year cycles; these days, the rate of change is such that if you’re not part of the process itself, you’re going to be left behind.

It’s understandable in times like these, that horsemen should bet on the tried and tested. Which means that when it comes to stallions and their progeny, buyers look with greater comfort at the stock of the proven sire, rather than those of the up-and-coming.

At the same time, it’s a fact that all of Northern Guest, Foveros, Western Winter, Fort Wood and Jet Master, had first crops, and those with the enterprise to follow their intuitions, were the ones that cashed in. By the very nature of things, renewal is part of the process by which the world works, and whatever the state of the nation’s stallion play, we need to remind ourselves that there’s always a new generation waiting in the wings. Those that rely more on memory than on vision, are driving in the rear view mirror.

It’s been our observation over more than three decades in the horse business, that in good economic times, players are more inclined towards adventure; they’re more likely to gamble on unfamiliar territory than when austerity is the watchword. It’s our guess that we’re in the in-between faze right now, where financial indicators are telling us that the planet is slowly getting back on its feet, and for those who are in the breeding business, this may be a signal to revise our strategies.

Talking of vision, just yesterday, our new signing, Visionaire, delivered up his first runner and at the same time his first winner, the filly She Is Tango, by a scorching five lengths. And if the odd reports we’re getting from elsewhere in the United States of others from his first small crop are anything to go by, it seems we may be in for a bit of cooking.

None of us should be surprised though. Visionaire was one of the very best winners in recent years of America’s premier stallion-maker, the King’s Bishop Stakes (G1) at historic Saratoga, his last-to-first destruction of the fastest 3-year-olds of his year, stamping him a generation leader. Among America’s contemporary stallion luminaries, are the names of Distorted Humor, More Than Ready and Hard Spun, all of whom distinguished themselves in the King’s Bishop, and if they haven’t already claimed a championship, they’re bang in line for one.

So, if you’re still of a conservative disposition and believe the tried-and-tested route is your preference, Visionaire’s just given you the “heads-up” for a hell of a lot less than you’d have to pay for those of the older generation.

Enquiries :
Linda Norval +27 (0) 33 263 1081
or email linda@summerhill.co.za
www.summerhill.co.za

VISIONAIRE : THE BLOOD RUNS DEEP!

Visionaire (USA)
(Photo : Greig Muir)

VISIONAIRE (USA)
Grand Slam (USA) - Scarlet Tango (USA)

Visionaire’s half-sister by Smart Strike, Scarlet Strike, placed third in the Group 1 Las Virgenes Stakes over a mile on dirt at Santa Anita Sunday. She was narrowly defeated by America’s Champion Two-Year-Old Filly of last year, Beholder.

Scarlet Strike also placed third in the Group 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes earlier this year, third in the Group 1 Hollywood Starlet Stakes and second in the Group 1 Chandelier Stakes in 2012.

Standing at Summerhill, Visionaire by Grand Slam, is a big and powerful Group 1 winning chestnut stallion who has produced an outstanding first crop of foals in South Africa; very much in the image and substance of their sire. The blood runs deep!

Enquiries :
Linda Norval +27 (0) 33 263 1081
or email linda@summerhill.co.za
www.summerhill.co.za

US STALLIONS : CONFUSION REIGNS

Speightstown (USA)
(Photo : Winstar Farm)

“Speightstown who, like Western Winter and our own Visionaire,
is a member of the Gone West tribe”

You’d have thought that the world’s most sophisticated economy would be “tickety boo” when it comes to their stallion logs. But that isn’t the case in America, where he who leads depends on who you read. If your point of reference is the traditional source, the Bloodhorse, then Giant’s Causeway is headed for the Championship, but if you’re anything of a purist, you’d probably choose to believe the list compiled by the Thoroughbred Daily News. Why? Because the former list includes earnings over the jumps (as it always has), while the TDN schedule is limited to earnings on the flat. In the end, the one most people will go with is bound to be the Bloodhorse list, because it’s the way it’s always been done, the probability therefore is that Giant’s Causeway has taken his third Sire’s title in the past four years. On the other hand, if you go the TDN route, the crown has been handed to first-timer, Speightstown who, like Western Winter and our own Visionaire, is a member of the Gone West tribe. Gone West of course, is responsible also for the top stallions Elusive Quality, Zaphonic and Zamindar, so this is not altogether surprising.

But when you consider the American’s aversion to later maturing stallions, and the fact that Speightstown won his first Graded Stakes race at the ripe old age of six, you’d begin to understand that he’s arrived where he has by dint of his excellence, and nothing less. He’s only now begun to serve the mares he deserves, and with 19 Black-type winners in the past season, and 35 Black-type performers, this won’t be the end of our friend. For the record, Giant’s Causeway (with some 70 runners more), has finished the season with an equal number of Black-type winners, and 36 Black-type performers, 14 of the former at Graded stakes level.

Whichever way you shake up the numbers, the horse that ranks second or third, depending on which list you prefer, Empire Maker, just goes to prove the old adage; if they die or if you sell them, you’re bound to regret it. Empire Maker now resides in Japan, simply because his first crop were a little slow in making muster.

*Editor’s Note: At the time of publishing, Empire Maker had surpassed Speightstown according to the Bloodhorse log, and is currently in second position.

THOROUGHBRED DAILY NEWS LEADING SIRE LIST
1	SPEIGHTSTOWN
2	EMPIRE MAKER
3	GIANT’S CAUSEWAY
4	TAPIT
5	SMART STRIKE

	BLOODHORSE LEADING SIRE LIST
1	GAINT’S CAUSEWAY
2	SPEIGHTSTOWN (now in 3rd position)
3	EMPIRE MAKER (now in 2nd position)
4	TAPIT
5	SMART STIKE

WHY TWENTY TWELVE WON'T BE 2012

Entrance to the Summerhill Estate
(Photo : Summerhill Stud)

“There is salvation for anyone living within reach
of the Drakensberg mountains”

Mick GossThere’ve been all sorts of predictions on how 2012 would turn out, not the least of which is the foreboding suggestion that the world will come to an end on the 21^st December. By our calculations, that leaves most of us with about a week to live, but if you believe the movie “2012”, there is salvation for anyone living within reach of the Drakensberg mountains. In that context, it’s comforting to know that we’re just over half an hour from Giant’s Castle, and if what they have in mind is a flood of proportions to which only Noah can relate, there’ll be time enough for anyone booked into Hartford House to make it up there as well. The point of my note is that if you don’t already have a reservation at Hartford, get one because, in the same instant, you can enjoy a “Last Supper” before the curtain call at what is now officially KZN’s Number One restaurant!

From an operational perspective though, we’d have to say that the outcome of the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale last month, is the principal reason why twenty twelve won’t be 2012. By any stretch, the sale was a miracle, a tribute to good horses, good people and great customers, a convergence of all the ingredients in serendipity, and an alignment of the stars. Unless the Maya had something else in mind, it seems that what they were predicting was that 2012 would be not so much the beginning of the end, but the end of the beginning. In that case, we have much to look forward to in 2013, particularly if the market’s assessment of our young stallions is any kind of yardstick. When it came to the Admire Mains, A.P. Arrows and the Mullins Bays, Ready To Run buyers voted with both feet, and the gratifying thing is that they had the benefit of hindsight at the gallops before they did so. For now, we can at least approach the New Year with positive anticipation. Despite a fairly significant reduction in broodmare numbers around the country, we’ve had an excellent season in the stallion barn, with encouraging demand for the new boys Visionaire, Golden Sword and Traffic Guard, while the vibes on the first of the Brave Tin Soldiers augurs well for their market debuts in the New Year.

Besides the frenetics of the Ready To Run, ‘tiz the season for awards, and the number of occasions we’ve had to don our dinner jackets in the past few months has me wondering whether there is time still for a final investment in a new tuxedo. Last time out, I was astonished to discover in my inner pocket, an invitation from the former Administrator of the old Natal, Stoffel Botha, to a function at King’s House in 1983, and while that may be a compliment to the jacket’s longevity, it’s probably more an indication that this Zulu farmer either wears these things as little as possible, or that we just haven’t won enough awards in the interim!

We never take these things for granted though, and they always come as a wonderful surprise. Often enough, they are a tribute to two great teams: an eighth Breeders’ Championship, an award from each of Highveld and KZN Racing, and a string of podium visits at the KZN Breeders night out; for Hartford House, another national Top Ten restaurant award, a sixth American Express Fine Dining accolade, the number one spot on the Top 100 SA Wine Lists and a Diamond class certificate from Diners International. That means those of us with a foot in both camps, have attended a lot of dinners lately. None of it possible without the support and encouragement of great friends and wonderful customers.

‘Tiz also the season of many visitors, and this is the time when we top up our reserves of good conversation, fine wine and classic horses. If you’re passing this way, please join us: we’re bound to have other good friends from the neighbourhood. If not, this note comes with the best and the most grateful wishes of two of the best teams in their businesses.

VISIONAIRE FOALS IMPRESS

Pictured at Summerhill is this strong foal from the first crop of American Gr.1 sprinter Visionaire. Out of the Northern Guest mare Summersault, the colt is a half-brother to Gr.2 Gold Bowl winner Winning Leap and to stakes-placed Gymnast.
(Photo : Leigh Willson)

“THE STALLION WITH ROCK STAR LOOKS”

Ada van Bent reports in the European Bloodstock News that early reports indicate the first foals of Gone West’s Gr.1-winning grandson, Visionaire, are making quite an impact. The former Team Valor colourbearer entered stud at Summerhill Stud in 2011 following a successful racing career, the highlight of which was a breathtaking last to first victory in the Gr.1 King’s Bishop Stakes at Saratoga. Described by stud owner Mick Goss as “the stallion with rock star looks”, the powerful chestnut is passing on those same qualities to his offspring, according to Summerhill spokeswoman Linda Norval: “He has some stunning foals and what’s wonderful is that he’s really stamping them; they are robust, with big bums.”

According to Norval, the stud’s latest recruits, Irish Derby runner-up Golden Sword (High Chaparral) and More Than Ready’s Gr.1-placed son Traffic Guard, have settled in well and have taken to their new careers with gusto.

“Golden Sword has attracted a fine book of mares and is stopping his mares on one jump,” Norval remarked. “We have been pleasantly surprised by the popularity of Traffic Guard,” she added. “He has impressed all and sundry with his powerful good looks and breeders are really putting a lot of thought into the type of mare they are sending to him.”

Editor’s note : Visionaire’s sister, Scarlet Strike, was 2^nd Saturday in America’s Chandelier Stakes (Gr.1) behind the season’s unbeaten Champion Two-Year-Old elect, Executiveprivilige. The blood runs deep!