EMPERORS PALACE READY TO RUN SALE SHATTERS RECORDS

Denis and Gael Evans with Basil Marcus and Babazani (Lot 43)
(Grant Norval)

Charl Pretorius www.freeracer.co.zaThe 2008 Emperors Ready To Run Sale turned over an incredible all-time record R25.85 million at the TBA Sales Complex, Gosforth Park, on Sunday. This brought to an unexpectedly climactic close, another terrific year for Bloodstock South Africa.

The success of this year’s renewal left even the most optimistic commentators speechless and Mick Goss of Summerhill Stud, who consigned the biggest proportion of the 166-lot catalogue, said: “The sale produced awesome results and delivered ample testimony to the confidence that buyers have in the South African racing and breeding industries. We are extremely pleased.’’

The staggering one-day aggregate is 48.3% up on the record figure of 2007 and the average of R174 622 is up 38.2%. The highest price of R2,2 million was paid by Basil Marcus Racing Stables for MATAMBO (Lot 121) , a son of international boom sire Rock Of Gibraltar.

Second-highest price was paid by trainer Mike Azzie and partners for INSASA (Lot 26), a filly by another international sire sensation Galileo. South Africa’s athlete of distinction Oscar Pistorius is a member of the syndicate that purchased INSASA. Oscar’s sole purchase WATCHFUL (Lot 7, R200 000), will also be going into training with Mike Azzie and he said: “My involvement in racing is a long time coming. I learnt to love racing through my association with the Azzie family and I can’t wait for them to run!’’

BloodStock South Africa’s Chief Executive Jan Naude, delighted with the outcome of the sale, commented: “The presence of several top imported lots was a factor that gave the sale a boost, but even without them the aggregate would have been up on last year, which is most encouraging in the current economic climate.’’

Bloodstock South Africa’s Sales Manager Caroline Simpson added: “Over the last few years a big buzz has been created around the Ready To Run Sale, from the breeze-up gallops to the cocktail party to the big raceday that includes the exclusive Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup which is expected to have prize money of at least R1,5 million next year.’’

“Importantly,’’ Caroline Simpson adds, “Summerhill Stud’s six-cheque payment scheme made purchases affordable for everyone. Most of the other vendors followed suit, which brought regular buyers back to the sale while new clients came on board too.’’

Basil Marcus was the top buyer at the sale by aggregate. The former jockey and now top trainer and his clients, Denis and Gail Evans, invested R3,12 million at an average of R520 000 for six foals. This average was marginally bettered by trainer Charles Laird (R540 000, 4 lots), which made him the top buyer by average.

Summerhill’s Kahal, with 17 two-year-olds sold for R2,865 million, was the top sire by aggregate, closely followed by his Mooi River “stablemate’’ Muhtafal with R2,81 million for 11 lots.

WINNER'S CIRCLE TONIGHT : DSTV SUPERSPORT 1

 “Don’t miss Winner’s Circle tonight, 20h30 on SuperSport 1”

Coming off his appearance on the Winner’s Circle show which goes out at 8:30pm this evening on DSTV SuperSport 1, Mick Goss phoned in to tell us what a lovely guy, triple Olympic Gold medallist Oscar “Blade Runner” Pistorius is. Intelligent, unassuming and extremely decent, “Oz” is one of the host of celebrities who will be attending the Emperors Palace Ready To Run cocktail Party tomorrow evening.

Interestingly, he has a long association with the famous Azzie family, now in its third generation of champion trainers. While Springbok Fly-Half Andre Pretorius and World Cup winning coach, Jake White, both celebrities at this year’s race, have interests in horse racing.

Oscar has a deep passion for and understanding of horse racing, and he has kindly offered to formally open the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale on Sunday, where he’ll be joining the auctioneers on the rostrum.

Click here to view the full Summerhill Draft
for the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale
2 November 2008

For sale information visit:
www.tba.co.za

Quality Juveniles at Breeze-up Gallops

Ready To Run Breeze-up Gallops
(Summerhill Stud)

David Thiselton Top turf writer David Thiselton reported in the Sunday Tribune this morning that everybody present at the breeze-up gallops at Summerhill on Friday were in agreement that this was the strongest catalogue ever presented for the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale that takes place on November 2 at Gosforth Park’s TBA Complex.

“The day was overcast and chilly but the rain held.

The track was in perfect condition and there was not a single incident during the 120 gallops which were carried out very efficiently and in record time.

The Summerhill work rider’s skills improve every year and they clearly relish their valuable input on the day.

This year saw not only the usual gallops Opinion Panel but also two “Gallops Judges” Dianne Stenger and Tobie Spies, whose task it was to scratch any performer considered not good or ready enough to take its place on the sale.

Mick Goss of Summerhill announced afterwards that not a single horse was scratched and congratulated the stud farms and pre-trainers on their superb presentation of the juvenile lots.

Accolades

Yesterday’s breeze-ups held at James Maree’s farm on the Highveld drew similar accolades and Stenger and Spies also gave the 42 lots there a 100% pass rate.

At Summerhill the opinion panel consisted of Sean Tarry, Dean Kannemeyer, Graeme Hawkins, Mike Azzie, Michael Roberts and Irishman Eamonn Cullen, who each selected their best three fillies and best three colts.

The most popular selection was Lot 63, a National Emblem half-brother to GommaGomma winner, Pick Six, consigned by Summerhill.

Lot 121, an Australian-bred Rock of Gibraltar colt consigned by Summerhill, Lot 39, a Hawk Wing filly consigned by an agent, Jane Thomas’ Far End Pre-training, and Lot 36, a Malhub filly consigned by Summerhill were the others to appear on more than one list.

Jane Trotter from Ambleway Pre-training centre in Pietermaritzburg prepared three lots for Highlands Farm Stud and two Brazilian-breds for Marlon Aronstram’s Anfield Sports and of the Highlands consignment, Lot 23, a bay Spectrum colt, wowed the spectators, while Lot 12 had many fans too.

In 2006, the year in which the opinion panel was introduced, the experts had the likes of Umngazi (winner of the inaugural Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup and Grade 3 Byerley Turk winner), Art Of War (stakes placed and now Dubai bound), Galant Gagnant (Grade 1 Daily News 2000 runner up), Mzwilili (Grade 3 Pretty Polly Stakes winner) and Thekkady (Grade 3 Strelitzia Stakes winner) on their list.

Quality

Mark Dixon, trainer of Umngazi, commented on the quality of this year’s catalogue and said that in the current economic climate it could be a buyer’s market.

In fact, one of the wisest people present on Friday could well have been Jim Whitcher, a racing fan who hails from the south of London.

Whitcher was only able to afford Greyhounds to race in his native England, but, initially by the internet, has begun taking advantage of the strong British Pound and good value bloodstock to buy racehorses from places like Turkey and now South Africa.

Whitcher has a share in Requiem filly Foxy Blonde, a R70 000 purchase from last year’s Ready To Run, making her debut for the Gary Alexander yard tomorrow at Turffontein.

This year’s 1400m Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup to be run on November 1 at Turffontein sees the stake raised from R500 000 to R1,25 million while there are hopes that next year’s event will be run for R1,5 million.

Debut

Dixon has another hopeful for this year’s event in Kahal filly, Bellagio, who won a 1000m event at Scottsville on her debut.

Paul Matchett has one of the favourites for the race in Fakazi, an Albarahin filly, who has come into her own as a three year old and won the Listed Goldfields Sprint over 1200m last weekend.

Matchett said she would have no problem with the 1400m trip but added that it would be tough to win against the colts. He suggested the idea of a separate fillies race to Mick Goss.”