Golden Touch Thoroughbred Services’ Gary and Jackie Joliffe have returned to Zimbabwe. The Joliffes have been up North since the beginning of September, with their equine expertise ensuring their considerable popularity in the local horse-racing fraternity.
Top-breeder Jackie Joliffe returns to Zimbabwe (Pic – supplied)
With their base, Nutfield Stud, being sold earlier this year, the Joliffes were given three months to relocate and duly chose to return to Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe’s gain is very much South Africa’s loss, with Gary and Jackie having made a considerable contribution to both the South African and Zimbabwe turf.
A trainer in Zimbabwe for nearly 16 years, Gary met Jackie when he got involved with the breeding industry in Zimbabwe. Gary was training out of a yard called Golden Lodge Racing, but when that name was found to be unavailable, Gary and Jackie registered their business as Golden Touch Thoroughbred Services.
The couple, who were involved with the spelling and starting of legendary champion Ipi Tombe, relocated to South Africa early in the ‘noughties.
Their decision to move to South Africa came as a result of the violent farm invasions which were happening in Zimbabwe at the time, with the conflict resulting in Golden Touch suffering a drastic loss of business.
Jackie, whose grandparents were involved in racing in Kenya, got her start when she worked at Borrowdale Stud.
Gary and Jackie more than made their mark on the South African turf , with the couple involved with a number of top-class thoroughbreds.
They bred Gr1 winners Chestnuts N Pearls (Golden Slipper) Guiness (Tsogo Sun Medallion), and Imperious Star (Woolavington 2000), and also bred and raced the classy Reflective Image. The latter, a daughter of Tamburlaine, picked up the biggest win of her career when she captured the 2014 Gr2 Sceptre Stakes.
The Joliffe influence was also felt at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday, where the Golden Touch Thoroughbred Services raised Northern Song caused a 25-1 boilover when he won the sixth race on Saturday’s card.
A gelded son of Oratorio and the Fort Wood mare Nordic Spring, Northern Song has three wins to his name, and he also ran second in last season’s Listed East Cape Guineas.
He could well add further gloss to the Golden Touch legacy in the months ahead!
We wish Gary and Jackie best of the best back in Zim!
