Gems in the Desert
Two stallions who are producing really eye catching stock are the Rosedene Stud’s pair, Express Way (Royal Academy – Nigh-Fall) and Greys Inn (Zabeel – Great Verdict). Both stallions stamp their stock quite noticeably, and Greys Inn, especially, has been a good money spinner in the sales ring.
The champion son of Zabeel has been really enjoying a purple patch of late.Not only is he the sire of recent SA Derby winner Royal Bencher, he is also the sire of impressive debut winners Lily St Pierre and King of Pain, while another offspring of Greys Inn, the 2yo November Rain, recently won against older horses. It is interesting to note that all three of the horses mentioned are two-year-olds, and the progeny of Greys Inn are showing considerably more precocity than he did himself.
November Rain is a classic example of this – he broke his maiden over 1200 metres – and yet is by a SA Derby winner out of a mare by stamina influence Strike Smartly!
Leading trainer, Alec Laird, is very keen on the progeny of Greys Inn. Laird, who trains the sire’s Derby winning son, had this to say of the sire,” I really like Greys Inn as a sire. I have two 3yos by him, and both are really smart horses. They are very athletic types, and I bought more by him at the Cape sales.”
His stable companion Express Way was himself an exceptionally talented colt who reeled off five straight wins, which included the G1 Bloodstock SA Cape Guineas.
Retired to stud in, Express Way battled to find support originally, but stud manager Graeme Koster has been so impressed by the quality of Express Way’s first foals he intends to send the stallion some better quality mates. His first crop are now two, and should be closely watched.
Both Greys Inn and Express Way enjoyed success at the recent Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale. Greys Inn, who stands for a fee of R20,000, sold a colt for R300,000, while the only Express Way on the sale, a really smashing colt, sold for R80 000. Express Way currently stands for a bargain fee of just R5,000.
Temptress timely boost for stud
King’s Temptress debut win in Saturday’s G2 SA Fillies Nursery proved a really boost for the Waterford Stud. John Kramer, who does the stud’s matings, explains why he did the mating which produced the classy filly.” I wanted to line breed to Northern Dancer, through Sadler’s Wells and Lyphard. She was a lovely yearling, really well balanced, and she has more that justified our expectations of her.”
A R75,000 yearling buy, King’s Temptress only just scraped onto the 2011 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale, but she recuperated her purchase price (and then some) when she won Saturday’s feature, and there is no doubt that she is a filly with a very bright future.
The Waterford Stud’s broodmare band was cut down in 2007, following the death of owner, Richard Sahd. Sahd’s brother took over, and asked John Kramer to assist him in culling some of the unsuccessful broodmares on the farm. He duly did so, and reduced the band to a much more manageable number. Kramer has also assisted in mating more commercial mares to fashionable sires, in attempt to upgrade their stock.
Mare’s valuable connections
Highlands Farms’ Gardener’s Delight has claims to being one of the more valuable mares in the country. Not only is she the dam of unbeaten champion 2yo colt elect, Soft Falling Rain, Gardener’s Delight has the pedigree to match. She is by Giant’s Causeway – not only a multiple champion sire, but also an increasingly important sire of sires, and broodmare sire. From a prolific US family, Gardener’s Delight’s immediate relatives include Kentucky Oaks winner Gal In A Ruckus and Breeders Cup winner Eldaafer. Gardener’s Delight is also the dam of a very attractive yearling colt, by Sail From Seattle, and has a foal by Black Minnaloushe. She is currently in foal to Trippi – which suggests that Gardener’s Delight’s success could continue to build in the years to come!
Champions Day
Last Saturday’s Champions Day was one of the best race meetings in recent times. A card jam packed with quality racing, the on course entertainment was superb – even if not all punters enjoyed the overall results.
However, the handling of the objection in the SA Derby seems somewhat questionable. The delay in announcing the result of the race seemed very strange – especially when the official photographs were taken in advance of the race being made official. The authorities should have made a clear announcement for the public to be made aware of.
It would also make for good publicity if the public was told on what grounds the objection was overruled.
Horse racing can only benefit from more transparency – it will lay to rest much of the rumour and gossip which can only harm its image.
Classic dead-heats
It is extremely rare to see a classic, like the SA Derby, ending in a dead heat. It is an occurrence which has happed rarely through the history of horse racing. First run in 1907, this was the first year that the South African Derby ended in a dead heat.
The Epsom Derby, the original classic, was first run in 1870 – but has seen a dead heat occur only once in its history. Back in 1884, Harvester shared the spoils with St Gatien.
It’s Irish equivalent has produced one dead heat in a history dating back to 1866. In 1934, Primero and Patriot King managed to finish as one across the finishing line.
Interestingly, the Deutsches Derby, first run in 1869, has produced a dead heat three times in its long history.
France’s Prix du Jockey Club has been declared a dead heat three times – in 1882, 1886, and 1908. The last saw the delightfully named Sea Sick take top honours along with Quintette.
The Australian Derby, one of the most prestigious classic races run in the Southern Hemisphere, saw a dead heat take place back in 1919 when Artilleryman fought out the finish with Richmond Main. The race again ended in a tie in 1935 when Allunga tied with Homer.
One of the more famous dead heats to ever occur in a South African classic, came in the 1972 Cape Guineas when In Full Flight tied with Sentinel for first place. Both winners were exceptional horses in their own right.
