www.freemanstallions.co.za

DYNASTY – 2010 EQUUS AWARDS

freeman — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:58:38 +0000

Dynasty – Another Great Weekend!

freeman — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 08:14:36 +0000

Irish Flame sets DYNASTY on fire…

freeman — Sat, 15 May 2010 14:40:35 +0000

To consider this past weekend’s racing without tribute to Mike de Kock and Dean Kannemeyer would be unthinkable. Mike’s success in the Gr1 SA Derby was as a result of Dean’s careful nurturing of Dynasty’s son Irish Flame and to top this all Dean won both the KRA Guineas with a son of Pivotal (Noordhoek Flyer) and the Cape Winter Guineas on the same day with a son of Jallad (Last Regal – so named because he is the only foal of his ill-fated dam).

Click above to view the full size advert

The other Graded races on Champion’s Day included Captain Al’s success in the Gr2 Camelia Stakes – Captain’s Gal trained by Sean Tarry (who also won the Gr1 Champions Challenge with a son of Caesour bred by Avontuur Farm) won this event for Chris van Niekerk. Yet another super stakes winner for Veronica Foulkes who, having bred a Horse of the Year not so long ago, is having the racing season of her life. Captain Al also had very impressive hands and heels juvenile winner in Cape Town with Emerald Cove and the quartet in the 8^th race at Kenilworth fell to Captain Al and his sire – Captain Al providing the 1^st, 2^nd and 4^th and his sire Al Mufti accounting for the quartet link. Same again in the Sweet Chestnut Stakes as Captain Al and his sire provided a useful exacta in this listed event. Our stallion portfolio also enjoyed both of Dupont’s runners placing 2^nd well.

How does one describe Mike de Kock? Certainly he is the man most responsible for taking SA racing to the world so successfully. He continues to notch up more and more accolades at home and abroad with each passing season? It has been suggested that he is the world’s foremost international trainer. That may well be the case, and from we stand it certainly is worth holding onto as we enjoy and boast of his many achievements. One automatically thinks of Mike in the same frame as other greats like Aidan O’Brien, Richard Mandela, Wayne Lucas, Freddie Head, Andre Fabre, Todd Pletcher, Bob Baffert etc. Who is the best is not relevant right now so we’ll go with the euphoria of what happened on Saturday and give the crown to Mike for yet another momentous milestone achieved at home.

Mike de Kock landed his 2000th winner when Irish Flame shattered Pierre Jourdan’s Triple Crown aspirations in the R1.5-million Gr1 SA Derby over 2450m on Champions Day at Turffontein last Saturday. For us, the fact that he did this with a son of DYNASTY is extremely significant and that he did this with this particular son of DYNASTY is the stuff that makes racing so interesting.

Dick Frances would have made a best seller out of this story. It starts with tragedy as the hero of the story dies in a most unusual accident causing doubt about the mating that produced the horse happening at all. The horse eventually gets bred and goes into training with the late son’s friend. After winning 3 races in a row he is sold to Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Jockey Club reject the horse because he is not high enough in their interpretation of our merit rating. The stallion syndicate breathe a sigh of relief as the sale falls through because they now get a chance to have this son of their stallion score at home again for the benefit of the sire’s local statistics. He is eventually sold though and Hong Kong’s loss becomes SA’s gain as he goes to local interests – with another twist:- the new owners are passionate classic racing men and represent banking interests which own the sponsorship of the world’s foremost classic – this time the Derby at Epsom. The colt goes on to win the big one in the most impressive fashion – where does this story go next. It’s the sort of stuff that legends are made of.

Mike showed utmost confidence in the progeny of Dynasty, a horse he has been on record as having expressed admiration of, when within a short time after his annual summer visit to the Cape he managed to acquire the best 3 sons of this stallion in training here.

It all starts with the day that the mating was first considered and then actually happened despite the tragic death of Anton von Mollendorf before the season started – next came a request from Hong Kong that I find a horse that was worthy of representing our breed there for one of our top former trainers. I had watched this horse race with growing admiration and having seen him win the Politician Stakes I called Dean to ask if he could be bought. This all came to a head while the Cape Yearling Sale was in full swing and while we were all trying to concentrate on that sale. X-rays and blood tests were ordered and the deal was done subject to the Hong Kong Jockey Club approval. Then everything was in place barring their approval and I had no doubt that the sale was concluded. To my horror I was told that the HKJC would not approve his import because his merit rating was 2 points too low for this category of permit. The story has a sequel that is not worth telling.

Let’s go back to how the mating came about in the first place. My accountant at the time was a young girl called Claire Bisset – her ex-boyfriend Anton and his father owned a mare called Clock The Rock whose first foal was by another of our stallions – Jallad. Anton had long expressed a desire to send his mare to Fort Wood in the hope of breeding another Dynasty. He somehow gave up on that idea and called Claire to ask if she’d find out firstly if we thought his Flaming Rock mare would suit Dynasty and then if we’d be able to let him have a service to the stallion. Sadly Anton died in a tragic accident a short while later whilst inspecting work on a new home that he was building. Father Percy only confirmed the mating some time later but it did happen.

The foal was born on 19^th October. As we were putting together report and pictures of Dynasty’s first foals, we got report of the colt’s birth from Tony and Joanne Mincione. Joanne reminds me that, whereas most foals go through some ungainly growing phases this chap just kept on looking better and better and says that he “always put a smile on my face and looked so stamped by Dynasty”. She continues “his mother is a small 15.2hh mare but this chap just grew in the most balanced way. Just look at him now” – the proud words of a very excited host-breeder. The mare now has a filly by Dynasty “she is a bit taller and being a filly does not have Irish Flame’s bulk”. She says she was awestruck by Irish Flame’s incredible flexion through his hind leg as he raced and noted that “it appears when he is in full stride as if he is suspended in the air – he always seems to have his feet off the ground and as he hits the turf he’s into the air again so quickly”.

Mike de Kock’s commented on Tellytrack last night that “Irish Flame’s win was a mind boggling performance” says it all and we hope to see more of this chap during the KZN season. Let’s hope that the rest of Irish Flame’s career continues on the path that has been set in the SA Derby – he is a son of Vodacom Durban July winner out of a mare by Flaming Rock who also won the Durban July. Significantly these two winners were the only two horses ever to win that race from the worst possible draw of 20. We hope to see him emulate the feats of his inherited genes. Co-owner Bernard Kantor, whose company Investec secured the sponsorship of the Epsom Derby last year enthused: “we’d love to be able to give him a run in the Investec Derby at Epsom. I think that he’d give a good account of himself in more ways than one; sadly this is all just a dream. It can’t happen”.

Irish Flame won the local classic under a hands and heels ride by Kevin Shea. Having taken the lead at about the 300m mark (coming from way off the pace at the top of the straight) in just 100m he put a huge and ever widening margin between himself and his nearest rival. Then just 100m from the post Shea looked over his right shoulder and saw nothing and then over his left shoulder and seeing the opposition fade into the distance he just held his mount together for the line to win easing up by nearly 10 lengths – it could easily have been 15!

Let’s spare a thought for Dean Kannemeyer – what a weekend for him. It starts with his other son of Dynasty, Stormy Affair, winning a Juvenile Plate first time out in impressive style – watch this one bred by Gary Player and bought by Dean at the Equimark Sale for just R180k. Looks to have been a real bargain buy.

Next a son of Jallad (Last Regal) wins the Gr3 Winter Guineas in Cape Town for the stable and his day culminates with Noordhoek Flyer winning the Gr2 KRA Guineas at Greyville on Sunday, Some credit has to be given to Dean for Irish Flame’s win in the Gr1 SA Derby as well. I am sure that Mike de Kock won’t deny him that.

OF WAR ARTIST, REBEL KING AND UNCLE TOMMY

freeman — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:49:41 +0000

LIVING IN CLOVER

Those that watched Thursday evening’s big sprint in Dubai, will have noticed that Rupert Plersch’s War Artist came home smoking. This is not only great news for a long-time client of Summerhill, but it also franks the talents of a graduate of our paddocks. Rebel King was born into an “impossible” era of great sprinters in South Africa.

As a son of National Emblem, he already had great shoes to fill from a Summerhill perspective, as he was the successor in the same yard (champion trainer Charles Laird’s) as the great Nhlavini, the only horse in history to line-up six consecutive years as an Equus Awards finalist.

As if that wasn’t enough, Rebel King also happened to arrive on the sprinting scene at a time when National Colour was blazing her trail, and the emergence of the spectacular Mythical Flight was taking shape. As if repelling these two horses was not already enough of a challenge, he came to the Natal Mercury Sprint (Gr.1) two seasons ago for yet another encounter with the odds-on Mythical Flight, at level weights over Clairwoods’ 1200m track.

At last, he came to conquer the horse that had beaten him in the Computaform Sprint (Gr.1) in Johannesburg, and having just got the job done, and with victory looking like it was in the bag, War Artist flashed up to beat him by a neck.

Of course, we know that War Artist has gone on to Group race glory in Europe during the past season, as well as running a narrow third in the Prix de ‘l Abbaye (Gr.1) Longchamp’s showcase for the best sprinters in Europe. Again, at Dubai’s Meydan Thursday evening, War Artist showed his mettle by lowering the colours of a strong field of sprinters, reminding us of his battles with Rebel King.

Very recently, our Bloodstock Manager, Kerry Jack, visited Rebel King at his new stallion home at the prestigious Klawervlei Stud (translated, literally, “clover vlei”). There’s hope in the Klawervlei quarter that he will be the successor to his own illustrious father, National Emblem.

Patronised by the owners of more than a hundred broodmares in his first season at stud, he’s an obvious hit, and a tribute to the horses graduating from our paddocks. His half-brother, Uncle Tommy, was 2009’s highest priced yearling at all sales in South Africa last year at R2,5 million, knocked down to the bid of Mike Bass acting on behalf of the doyen, Graham Beck.

(Posted by Summerhill Stud – Feb 13 2010)

New Stallion for 2010: KING’S APOSTLE – Gr1 winning European sprinter arrives in SA

freeman — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:04:42 +0000

EXCITING NEW SIRE IMPORT – KING’S APOSTLE (IRE)

So many of our past leading sires were Gr1 winners or had at least useful Gr1 form and were leading lights of their generation in racing. In another edition of our eNews we will cover the stallion strike rate and how it can be loaded for success. Basically it’s all about breeding to Gr1 winners and especially those with speed and/ or precocity.

With that in mind, it is my great pleasure to announce the arrival in South Africa of our newest stallion for 2010: King’s Apostle (IRE), a leading sprinter in Europe last season.

He beat Europe’s top sprinters in the Gr1 Prix Maurice de Gheest (Deauville) earning a highest Timeform Rating of 124 in that event. He also a won Gr2 race at Ascot and would have won the Gr1 July Cup had he not been severely bowled whilst making his move close home. This handsome son of European Champion miler King’s Best will be syndicated to stand at Klawervlei Stud. King’s Best won the Gr1 2000 Guineas by an incredible 3.5 lengths and was TFR 132. He has bred 25 stakes winners and 11 Gr1 horses incl. Proclamation (TFR 132) and Creachadoir (TFR 126) – both recently retired to stud.

King’s Best hails form one of the most active families in the stud book today – he is a 3 part brother to Urban Sea, dam of Champion sire Galileo and 2009 Horse Of The Year Sea the Stars.

Gr1 winner King’s Apostle (IRE) was genuine, smart performer highly rated by his trainer William Haggis, who only raced him in Gr1 races last season.

King’s Apostle’s pedigree provides numerous proven matings for breeders to follow here. Consider that Galileo’s pedigree has Sadler’s Wells over a Mr Prospector daughter over great mare Allegretta; King’s Apostle is a son of Mr Prospector line over Allegretta over a Sadler’s Wells line mare (see graphic on page 2).

King’s Apostle’s own family has plenty of top class speed and strength in it. He is the 1^st foal of his dam (very few mares produce Gr1 winners from 1^st foals). His dam is out of the 1997 European Champion 2yo filly, Embassy – a very impressive winner of the Gr1 Cheveley Park Stakes. She is a half sister to Tarfshi, the Irish Pretty Polly stakes winner. The next dam, Pass the Peace also won the Gr1 Cheveley Park Stakes which secured her title as Irish Champion 2yo in 1998.

King’s Apostle is bred on one of the strongest crosses in current times, the Kingmambo/ Sadler’s Wells cross. Most Kingmambo stakes winners rely on the cross which has delivered an impressive 21 stakes winners including El Condor Pasa; Henrythenavigator, Thewayyouare, Divine Proportions etc.

Full details of his race record and pedigree, as well as a DVD video presentation on King’s Apostle have been added to our web site and can be viewed by visiting: www.freemanstallions.co.za.

ARO have also added a brief preview of King’s Apostle on the home page of their informative website (www.aro.co.za) and the Sporting Post have included some coverage in their forthcoming weekend edition. Exciting news indeed and a major coup for SA breeders in these challenging times!

John Freeman

Please click here to download PDF: eNews – King’s Apostle 18.2.2010

eNews: Better & better…

freeman — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 13:14:02 +0000

Though our news reports are not geared at boosting the careers of stallion interests outside of our own portfolio, it is appropriate to acknowledge greatness when it appears. I’d love to start this edition with how wonderful it was for Dynasty to notch up yet another feature winner on Queen’s Plate day and how well Count Dubois and Dupont have done – more about that later.

Pocket Power’s record 4^th straight victory in South Africa’s most prestigious Gr1 WFA is a “milestone” that will probably never be bettered. What a horse and what a fantastic raceday! Everyone in the racing and breeding industry will agree when I say that we are all in awe of Gaynor Rupert’s fabulous revitalisation of this event. L’Ormarins is the ideal branding for a day like this. The blue and white theme is catching on very well and it has turned into a major social event. The new acronym TQP fits well into the vocab of young people and it was wonderful to see so many of them on course and so well turned out. Jonathan Snaith as one of the event organisers praised the Sail Group and in particular Michel van Eyeen and the award winning PR firm Greater Than for making this Queen’s Plate what it was – a triumph in racing and a credit to the sponsors.

Such was the excitement of seeing the Champ keep his record that even those in our box with runners in the Queen’s Plate cheered him home. Always great to see a true Champion in action! The Bass team have come up trumps with this horse – long may it continue. Let’s hope he becomes even more of a legend – racing needs another star and he is it. Fitting then that breeder Dan de Wet was presented with a trophy by Gaynor Rupert who made sure that every attention to detail was covered.

This in striking contrast to the sponsors of the Paddock Stakes – TBA of SA. Those of us that stood around the winners enclosure were aghast at the Breeders Association, who sponsor a race worth R1m and then forget to say anything about the achievements of one of their members in breeding the winner (a small token to present on course would be the minimum requirement)! The chairman of the TBA went into the history of the race but failed to mention the breeders name (a TBA member) or to acknowledge her success, let alone her presence on the podium. Thank goodness Lita Futeran of Gold Circle rectified that! Mother Russia’s win in the Paddock Stakes is yet another stakes winner for Veronica Foulkes and another great horse for the filly’s new owner – Mary Slack and new trainer Mike de Kock who was undoubtedly aided by Joey Ramsden in the prep. Veronica is having the year of her life. Just when she thought things could not get any better than her Horse of the Year Winter Solstice a few years ago, she pops up with Windrush’s first Gr1 winner (and she bred another good horse by the same sire – Rushing Wind, a Gr3 winner). Veronica has had 5 stakes winners so far this season – the other 3 by Captain Al.

Dynasty now has the winners of 29 races from his 1^st crop to race. He is now what the American’s call a 2^nd crop sire even though he is yet to have a runner from his 2^nd crop – the 2^nd crop two years olds will see the track soon, but we hope those that have them are in no great rush. They will benefit from being allowed to mature as we have seen with his 1^st crop. Dynasty had another stakes winner on Queen’s Plate day – thanks once again to Dean Kannemeyer whose unfailing belief in the Equus Champion (who also became Horse of the Year) that he trained is paying off handsomely. Irish Flame has had 4 starts – 3 wins and the only time he has not been in the winners box was when he was sent out as an early 2yo over 1200m – his first start. Since being tried over a mile and further he has won each time and his win over 1800m in this Listed event on Saturday left the legions of Dynasty supporters and Kannemeyer in no doubt that this one will go further “possibly even a mile and a half” he said. Dynasty is the leading 2^nd crop sire by stakes winners and joint leading 2^nd crop sire by number of winners and number of wins – 18 this season alone. Copy of Dynasty’s banner in this week’s Sporting Post attached.

Captain Al remains the leading sire of 3yos overall and his 4 stakes wins make him the leader in that 3yo category as well. He has 15% stakes winners – see statistics attached.

Count Dubois is still the leading sire of 2yos by stakes and number of winners (10^th January) and we are looking forward to see more of his youngsters on track soon. They are known as precocious horses – that’s how he earned the Equus Award as Outstanding sire in 2006. Copy of our banner adverts for Count Dubois and Dupont from last weekends Sporting Post are attached.

On our recent visit to Normandy stud with a visitor from UK, we took some pics of Veronica Foulkes’ two resident sires – Dupont and Lithuanian – both are looking absolutely superb. Veronica is complimentary about the looks of Lithuanian’s first crop, now yearlings and coming on sale in 2010. She is also delighted with the fact that Dupont has made a early start with his new 2yos this season and continues to produce more winners from his small first crop which were sired in KZN before the horse joined her farm.

News from UK is that Mick Kinane who won all 6 Gr1 races on Sea The Stars has retired. Nothing like hanging your gloves up when you are at the top… Well done Mick! The Racehorse Owners Association in the UK honoured Sea The Stars as Horse of the Year and Outstanding 3yo Colt and his owner Christopher Tsui as Owner of the Year.

Click here to view the PDF version with photos:

eNews – 12 January 2010

Click here to view banner adverts:

Banner Adverts – Count Dubois, Dynasty & Dupont

eNews 2009 – Oh, what a year!

freeman — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:09:54 +0000

In This Edition:

2009 OVERVIEW
CAPTAIN AL STRIKES AGAIN
COUNT DUBOIS – LEADING SIRE OF 2YO’S AT 3/1/2010
DYNASTY – MORE WINNERS
DUPONT SHINES!
WEB SITE GETS 25% MORE NEW VISITORS

Please click here to view the eNews: eNews – 4 January 2010

eNews – Investec Derby & other stallion news

freeman — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:21:07 +0000

IN THIS EDITION…

SA TURF DIRECTORY
LONDON NEWS
OUR WEBSITE BLOG
INVESTEC DERBY
ANOTHER HORSE OF THE YEAR
OTHER STALLION NEWS

Please CLICK HERE to download the PDF file.

eNews: Breeders Cup, USA week & Stallion News

freeman — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:09:49 +0000

This mail is about 2 weeks overdue – I started writing on the plane on my way back from the Breeders Cup and sent it to my office where it has been in the draft box ever since – just wanted to put some local news with it not to waste the opportunity to show case our stallions whilst sending an eNews – don’t want to bombard you with any more than I have to so here it is – late as it may be.

Huge crowds at the 2009 Breeders Cup

FIRST SOME STALLION NEWS

We had a rough time with two stallion losses these past few months. Poor old London News had a fairly good run but Eyeofthetiger was just starting out – he’d made such great looking foals and was booked for another 100 mares – amazing, since it was his 3^rd season. He covered fewer mares in his 1^st season at stud but once his foals were sighted and those that know spread the word his book filled rapidly. We had to close his book last season and he was heading that way this year as well.

The good news is that our other boys are firing like crazy. The 3 new boys all doing well! The recently raced chaps started off a bit sluggishly – but that was to be expected. The Cape Breeders Club hosted a seminar on breeding just before the season opened and the foremost fertility experts from England covered this subject extensively in their presentation – top class racehorses when retiring fresh off the track take a while to build up the wherewithal – particularly tough for a champ like Jay Peg who spent a huge amount of time in quarantine and travelling. Fortunately that is all behind us and we can happily report that the statistics are good – he is popping his girls off like a dynamo.

CAPTAIN AL, fresh off his record breaking, award winning, last racing season he has hit the new season at full speed – can a horse break any more records than he has? He is currently the leading sire of 3yo’s and with 3 stakes winners he also leads in that category – his 17% Stakes winners/winners makes him joint leader in this category with Silvano. He has a super crop of 3yo’s on track this season and there is evidence of this in the nominations to all the classics thus far – one third of the Gr1 Avontuur Fillies Guineas are by Captain Al (five times more than any other sire) and he has more nominees in the Gr2 Southern Cross Stakes than any other sire. His 11% stakes winners of all ages make him 2^nd to Silvano as well – he has one more stakes win. He has had the winners of 32 races so far this season, 9 so far this month. The horse we bred with Guy Murdoch at Gary Player’s farm Echohawk won again yesterday, he now has 3 wins and a 2^nd from 5 starts and the only time he was unplaced was when tried over 2000m in adverse conditions. His daughter Townsend won the Gr2 Odessa Fillies Championship (he also had 4^th in that race – Seminole) just 2 weeks ago, Captain’s Secret won the Cape Classic (L) just a week before that and also won the Sophomore Sprint this season – she has won 4 of her last 5 starts. The 2yo of last season and Equus nominee, Exhilaration, Gr1 winner kicked off his 3yo campaign this season 2^nd in both the Jo’burg Spring Challenge (L) and in the Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes – he has had 7 starts for 3 wins and 4 seconds – 5 of his starts are in Graded company. Captain Scott won the Joburg Spring Challenge (L) and was 3^rd in the Gr2 November Hcap.

COUNT DUBOIS has few runners – mostly older horses. The gap between his big 2^nd crop and the 2yo’s that are due to run this season has taken it’s toll – bear in mind that he went through a very lean spell after the 2^nd crop – a very real 3^rd and 4^th season stallion syndrome and this reflects on his current statistics: – he had only 4 x 2yo runners last season and just 13 x 3yo’s – that is about to change very soon. His current runners are mostly from his large 2^nd crop – now 6yo’s – with only 29 active runners so far this season (two thirds of them 6yo’s) he still managed to get 5 winners in the past 7 weeks:- Bobby Jones – 6yo geld won over 2400m, Blushing Count 5yo geld won over 1200m, Louis Fourteenth – 4yo geld won over 1365m, Tokai – 5yo geld won over 1000m and his top 3yo filly of last season Sandy Beach won this week (now 4yo) over 1200m. In the same 6 weeks he has had 2 x 2^nd, 5 x 3^rd and 2 x 4^th placed as well. Can’t wait for his next crop of 2yos to run! We have excellent report from their owners and trainers – dare I say: watch this space.

DYNASTY has started the new season with a bang and is the leading first crop sire far ahead of his nearest rival – he has the winners of 11 races already with some very interesting potential classic contenders. We were over the moon that his first crop made him the 2^nd Leading Freshman Sire last season – we never expected such precocity – a valuable commodity in any sire that could win, as he did, at Gr1 level beyond 2000m. Three of his daughters have been nominated to Avontuur’s Gr1 Guineas and we hope that we’ll get to see some of them run there. He has two sons in the Gr2 Selangor on Sunday; Ancestral Fore caused a rumpus at Kenilworth after his very easy romp home on 10^th October with offers pouring in from all over. Paddy O’Reilly (trained by in-form big race winner Glen Kotzen) is a winner of two of his last 3 starts he might have a shout here. Every trainer that I have spoken to about them wants more. We are looking forward to another great statistic from him this year.

JALLAD hold his own every season – with the winners of over 1280 races over 125 stakes wins of which 23 are Gr1 he is undoubtedly one of SA’s big 3 and gets at least one more cracker-jack every racing season. He is getting on a bit in years now and is able to cover fewer mares than we’d like him to – but he still gets his mares in foal and many of those that have had the good judgement to give him a try have been rewarded. Jallad has had 15 winners in the last 6 weeks and it was my absolute pleasure to see Stan Elley produce 7yo Kapil looking so good for the Gr2 Merchants a few weeks ago. He rewarded his popular owners with 2 length win making no bones of the fact that, like his dad; there is still plenty of fire left in this old boy. On the same day Judged Excellent bounced back in form again – we had hoped that he’d be one of his sire’s better campaigners but seemed to lose direction last season he has now won 2 in a row in just 3 weeks. Seems that Dean Kannemeyer may have another useful son of Jallad in his yard – Last Regal won very well again on 7^th November and is in the line-up for this weekends Gr2 Selangor along with two others sons of Jallad – Robert the Bruce (Snaith) and Boundless Blue.

LONDON NEWS – may no longer be with us but he is definitely not off our radar. We have a duty to support and promote those that have yearlings and foals by him. He continues to get good runners, especially fillies and breeders have started to recognise their value as future broodmares – his pedigree and race record are a sure bet for stud success. We are looking for a good daughter so please keep us in mind if you are a seller. Piccadilly Miss is his top runner at the moment – she won the Gardenia Hcap (L) 10 days ago, her 2^nd win in 4 starts this season – she was also placed in the Golden Loom Hcap (L) a week before that win and won a fillies Hcap 2 weeks before that – tough filly – she now has 6 wins to her credit.

BREEDERS CUP

Even though it is so long after another exciting Breeders Cup, I have to tell you about the passion and enthusiasm one experiences amongst racing people at an event like this, it is truly contagious. To be invited once more to attend this year’s running capped for me the most perfect year in racing. Hard to think that I one year I have been lucky enough to see Sea the Stars become a back to back winner of the Guineas / Derby (Investec) and then witnessed first hand again how Zenyatta beat the boys in her 14^th straight win to take the Breeders Cup classic – her 7^th in Gr1 class – undefeated.

Good as she is, the Breeders Cup is so much more than the mighty Zenyatta – the South African contingent celebrated Dancing in Silks’ win in the Gr1 Sentient Jet Sprint and capped the event with a Gr2 place for Captain Al’s daughter Captain’s Lover. It was very apropos that a son of Maine Chance Farm’s newest sire Black Minnaloushe should win that specific race because it is the event hosted by Gary Player who has close ties with the Sentient Group.

Dancing in Silks

As if being around all of these magnificent horses and their proud owners and trainers was not enough South Africa’s most well known sportsman and ambassador, Gary Player, was honoured at a very special ceremony on the eve of the Breeders Cup – and I was there. Here is an extract from the wire in that week:-

ARCADIA, Calif. (October 30, 2009) – The Breeders’ Cup announced today Gary Player, nine-time major golf champion and leading South African Thoroughbred breeder, has been named the first recipient of the Breeders’ Cup Sports and Racing Excellence Award.

The Breeders’ Cup Sports and Racing Excellence Award honors an individual who has established a career of excellence in a chosen profession and also maintains a passionate interest as an owner, breeder or participant in the Thoroughbred racing industry.

Player will be presented the Sports and Racing Excellence Award, an elegant Steuben crystal, at Santa Anita Park on Thursday, Nov. 5, prior to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s two-day $25.5 million international event, Nov. 6-7.

“Demonstrating that same commitment to excellence which made him the world’s greatest international golfer, Gary’s outstanding success as a Thoroughbred breeder and passionate supporter of horse racing makes him an extraordinary first recipient of our Sports and Racing Award,” said Breeders’ Cup President and CEO Greg Avioli.

“On behalf of our Board, the racing industry and Gary’s many fans and followers around the world, we are extremely proud to present him with this honor at the Breeders’ Cup.”

One can only imagine the foresight, planning and wisdom that Zenyatta’s very sporting owners Mr & Mrs Moss committed to the strategy of her stake in this event with trainer John Shirreffs and jockey Mike Smith.

Gary Player and Zenyatta’s owners (Mr & Mrs Moss)

When she approached our suite near the end of the straight the first time round, just 200m after the jump it seemed that she showed no interest in the race at all – she trailed the field, almost in a hack canter – my heart sank – “is this ever going to be a disappointment?” I mused regretting the $20 I had bet on her. Gary thumped me on the arm “what’s wrong with her”? Before I could answer she was right in front of us but still at the back of the field – one could not miss how she was lengthening that stride, all the while, as only a 17hh filly could – she took these awesome giant strides and seemed to be ambling along effortlessly – so my response came out even as I did not believe it myself yet, “nothing”. I still held faith but by now they were in the back stretch and she was still at the back of the field. Then as she approached the top of the straight she went to the rail and took off like a guided missile. , but then looked headed towards a wall of horses in front of her. No question her rider expected this and held faith in her innate ability to be able to move sideways as quickly as she moved forward because she moved under a hard ride six horse widths to the right at the same time as she made up the dozen or so lengths she needed to take the lead – and she did. Did she ever!

Almost our entire dinner the night before was dominated by concern over her style of running and how she could not afford to do her usual 4-wide round the turn stunt – this time she was pitted against the best colts in the world. Then the subject turned to how we selfishly lamented the absence of Sea the Stars and how commercial interests in colts of that caliber are ruining racing – they win a big race and they’re off to stud as 3yo’s. Some speculated that he was either not up to the task and had chickened out of the transatlantic challenge like so many of his predecessors – to retire as a 3yo champion leaving doubt as to any real status as champions of record. But here was this 5yo heroine of the turf taking on all-comers while Sea the Stars was being retired after wining fewer Gr1 races because he’d had a hard season and to protect his commercial value. Would it really make that amount of difference to his value as a stallion if he’d done the trip and got beat? I think not so why didn’t he? But it would sure make a huge difference to those of us that are passionate about racing.

It is surely time that we stop adulating 3 year olds that retire before they are truly worthy of the titles we give them as our “all time hero’s”. We seem to keen to laud any good 3yo as the best horse we have ever seen just because he was good at 3 – is that really what racing is all about? I admit that having seen Sea the Stars win the Derby I was happy to proclaim him the best I had ever seen race and then when he won the Arc I was happy to confirm that view but, take a back seat now Mr. Sea the Stars – I have seen better – if you could match what this mare has done I’d be happy to confer upon you that ultimate title – champion you are but are you one of the “greats”? We will never know, because you ducked the ultimate test! That’s my view and I am going to stick with it.

I’d like to go even further – let’s do the full hog now! I heard tell that some feel that Rachel Alexander’s supporters would have her named Horse of the Year in USA and have since seen the world rankings. They made her 1lb superior to Zenyatta – what rubbish. Forget it. That title belongs to Zenyatta. As good as Rachel was, is or may be! She avoided the Breeders Cup and with that any chance of being crowned, in my humble opinion. Her owners cited a dislike of the “plastic” alternative to dirt – too bad that she can’t run on the only surface that can save American racing. Without “pro-ride” or “all weather” racing in USA they were heading for big trouble. The number of horses broken down on the old sand surfaces was becoming the single biggest reason for falling on-course attendances. Two Breeders Cup events on the “plastic” without breakdown signify a major turn around and irrefutable proof that this is the future. Maybe new bloodlines will score and the pure old-fashioned dirt lines will fail in future – if that is what’s needed to bring people back to the track then so it must be. It’s called progress.

We were looked after in grand style by Breeder’s Cup President Greg Avioli and his very efficient team. One of our great treats was to be taken to the quarantine station to see the European runners and chat with their connections. Gary teemed up with a long lost golfing pal Freddie Head and we chatted about the chances of his great filly Goldikova warm up for her gallop. Freddie was extremely confident in her ability to win the Breeders Cup Mile and she duly obliged to make history for Freddie as the only person ever to ride and train 2 Breeders Cup winners – he pulled off that amazing back to back victory with Miesque who became a major broodmare and Goldikova made it a double for him. We saw Conduit in the same walking ring – rumour had it that he has been sold to stand at stud in Japan. I was given a “Colonel John” cap the son of Tiznow’s owners which I wear with pride as a reminder of the wonderful time I had there.

Of course walking around with someone as famous as Gary has its rewards and its downsides – first you get into the most amazing places and I am truly grateful. But being who he is makes moving about very difficult. He has this cult status and has to stop and sign autographs, pose for pictures (I have become quiet adept at taking these snap-shots) and just about everyone he passes wants to shake hands or touch him. Six old boys saw him get into the car as we were leaving the races that Saturday. One tapped his pal on the shoulder and pointed at the car – he spun around and shouted “is that really you in there Gary Player” – our friend opened his window and greeted them – these old boys came hurtling over to the car and the oldest one grabbed GP’s arms through the window looked him eye to eye and said “Gary Player, you’re my man – we love you Gary”. That’s racing in America – those guys have real passion and know their sport. Where Gary gets the energy to do what he does is beyond me – I was wrecked after my trip but Gary went on. He flew to Mexico the next day, to Canada 2 days later, then to North Africa and then home for the golf at Fancourt. And on the way to USA he visited 12 countries. If only we could engender the American passion and racing culture in our increasingly fragile support base, we’d be so much stronger. It does help that Senators and Governors love racing and attend meetings regularly though. How are we going to do that here?

Myself, with Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat, Gary & movie producer, Scott Dmitrenko

Santa Anita course commentator Trevor Denman has been a great ambassador for South African horsemen. Gary ad I popped up to his box to meet with him. Trevor is much loved for his clear calm race-calling and we enjoyed hearing him.

Trevor Denman & Gary Player

I went to Korea again this year – shortly before the trip to the Breeders Cup. Trying to get a shot at their yearling buying has not been easy but we keep plugging away. The Koreans are mad about golf and have produced some of the world’s best golfers who are on the circuit right now. I have met with the Chairman of Korean racing on both visits and found that he was keen to talk about Gary. Imagine my glee when we saw Mr Kim in the Club stand and I was able to introduce him to Gary – if that doesn’t clinch the deal, nothing will. Thanks GP. Hold thumbs. The Koreans have the fastest growing horse industry in the world. Their turnover is the envy of every racing jurisdiction on the world and they haven’t even really started yet. They presently race home-bred ponies and some thoroughbred bought off the bottom end of the Australian and American markets. The potential for growth is massive.

Chairman of the Korean Racing Association, Mr Kim, with Gary and myself

On the last night of the Breeders Cup we were invited to a small (just 24 people) dinner party at the Langham Hotel by Greg Avioli, with Breeders Cup Chairman R “D” Hubbard and the guests included Dr Cyrus Poonawalla Chairman of the Indian Breeders Assn etc. I had read of D Hubbard in the book Diary of a Dream that Graham Hawkins spoke about on Tellytrack one night so I was intrigued to meet this great man who started his life as a salesman and now owns racecourses and several very successful horses. We lamented the fact that owners and trainers protect their horses from competition and a trite old saying concluded the conversation: – “if you don’t take a ticket, you can’t win a prize”. It is really sad for racing that so many retire their colts so early. As much as it is crucial for them to well at 2years I always aspire to breed with stallions that raced sound until they are 5. Already so many have bred stereo aspects of unsoundness into the horse population. So if we don’t breed with horses that could train on and prove themselves (injury not withstanding of course) we will terminally weaken the breed. So many of our competitors already breed exclusively for 2yo speed. Why not just breed Quarter Horses and get it over and done with.

Breeders Cup 2009 pics

freeman — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:49:21 +0000

here are some of the pics i took during my visit with Gary Player to the 2009 Breeders Cup – to see Zenyata make history in that race was one of the most memorable events of my racing life. Next year the event moves to Churchill Downs in Kentucky – I would not miss that for the world. John