Modus Vivendi
With all eyes on the July this weekend, I’d like to focus a little on a runner who won’t be joining the line-up on Saturday, mainly because, well, she’s really got nothing to prove. Dancewiththedevil is the unlikely filly with the unlikely breeding who now has 7 victories under her belt from 12 starts (twice beating the colts at weight for age) and earning R2 million in the process. However, scratch a little below the surface and perhaps the story is not all that unlikely after all..
How it all started
Great horses often stem from great dynasties and the story currently playing itself out on our local tracks has all the hallmarks of history, hardship and fairytale.
It starts off when Prince Khalid Abdullah (or Mr K Abdhullah as he prefers to be called) bought his first racehorses in 1977. His then racing manager, Humphrey Cottrill picked an initial crop of just four yearlings, all of which turned out to be winners. From that modest start, Mr Abdullah’s operation has developed into one of the most successful and professional bloodstock empires in the world. His extensive breeding interests are collectively known as Juddmonte Farms and now stretch to Britain, Ireland and Kentucky. Two costly early failures – Sand Hawk (a European record 264,000 guineas purchase in 1978) and Convention (a 1.4 million guineas acquisition in 1983) – convinced Mr Abdullah to rely on homebreds and he has grown his extensive Juddmonte interests into a one of the most professional and successful bloodstock empires in the world.
The ‘Right’ Ingredient
Every stud is built on solid foundation mares and an early Juddmonte acquisition was a Right Tack mare named Mofida. Bought from Robert Sangster, Mofida was mated to The Minstrel and produced Zaizafon, who went on to win the Group 3 Seaton Delaval Stakes and placed third in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (then Group 2). However, her real value was to come in the breeding shed and Zaizafon proved a phenomenon, producing (amongst others) two full brothers by Gone West – Zafonic in 1990 and Zamindar in 1994. Both colts were conditioned by Andre Fabre.
Zafonic
Zafonic was unbeaten as a 2 YO, going on to become Europe’s Champion 2 YO. At age 3, he won the 2,000 Guineas by three and a half lengths, smashing the course record in the process. Zafonic suffered an unfortunate bleed in the subsequent Sussex Stakes and was immediately retired to stud at Juddmonte’s Banstead Manor Stud in East Cambridgeshire, but not before adding the title of European Champion 3 YO to his CV. In 2002 he shuttled to Australia and sadly died in a freak accident. His loss hit the Juddmonte team exceptionally hard. General Manager Philip Mitchell said “He’d been a horse who had been with us for eight seasons and he’d become a friend“. Indeed Zafonic seemed to be a favourite with all who dealt with him and is described by Andre Fabre as “a fantastic horse and so easy to train. He gave us so much pleasure.”
Family Dynasty
Fortunately he left behind a stud legacy. In his very first crop he produced Xaar out of a Sir Ivor mare called Monroe. Xaar followed in his sire’s footsteps by winning the Dewhurst Stakes by 12 lengths in 1995, earning him European Champion 2 YO status and Zafonic a dream first season European sire title in 1997. Xaar of course went on to earn the Champion 3 YO title as well in 1998. Having known the family so well, it is no surprise that Xaar was also conditioned by Andre Fabre.
So when Monroe produced a full brother to Xaar in 2000 it seemed only right for the big chestnut colt called Modus Vivendi to follow the well worn path to Andre Fabre’s training barn as well.
Modus Vivendi
By the time he turned 3, Modus Vivendi had had 4 career starts, winning 2 (the Prix French Fox and Prix du Putois) and placing 4th in the Listed Prix Djebel and Gr3 Prix Daphnis.
He found himself on the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale in October 2003 where he caught the eye of Craig Ramsay. They say you should look at a horse at 3 days, 3 months and 3 years – well, it seems the big chestnut colt got his timing just right as Craig describes him as ‘one of the most spectacular horses I have ever seen – the best being Secretariat who I visited in his later years in Lexington.’ A little research into Modus’ pedigree reveals that he is linebred to the highly influential mare Somethingroyal 5m x 4m (Somethingroyal is of course the dam of Secretariat). In fact, his pedigree carries 12 sires of G1 winners under the first 2 dams !
The gavel fell and lot 821 was knocked down to Craig Ramsay for 105,000 guineas.
Dubai
Although he had been purchased as a stud prospect, his early career had shown such promise that Craig decided to send the colt on a little detour via Dubai, where he was entrusted to the capable hands of Mike de Kock. I believe the colt was never beaten in a training gallop and he went down to the start for the 28 February 2004 Emirates Airline Plate a firm favourite. Success seemed assured, but sadly it was not to be. The horse seemed uncharacteristically above himself and sweated up badly. Tragedy struck when he injured himself coming through the starting stalls. He fought bravely, but the Racing Post reports that he weakened 2 furlongs out and finished 8th – quite an achievement considering he’d torn his cruciate ligaments. After treatment, Modus Vivendi shipped to South Africa and started his stud career at Golden Acres Stud in KZN in 2004.
Stud Swap
They say life moves in mysterious ways. With the Grayston horses under Craig’s care at Golden Acres, St John Gray was both a client and a friend and in 2005 and the two reached an agreement to each send a mare to the other’s stallion. Craig stood Angel Bay (Damascus Gate) to Announce and St John Gray sent Emperor’s Dance (Caesour) to Modus Vivendi. Angel Bay duly produced D J Detzky and Emperor’s Dance produced a filly who would go on to be known as Dancewiththedevil.
Craig describes the Modus progeny as big, kind, backward and mentally immature, but over eager to impress and thus easily mistaken for precocious. St John Gray gave his filly time, the best of all she needed, and a structured race program and, well, the results speak for themselves.
Move to the Cape
Dr Ian Heyns is a long-standing Ramsay family friend and has always been a huge fan and supporter of the big chestnut stallion. On a visit to KZN he took Harold Muller along for a visit to Golden Acres. Mr Muller was very taken with the stallion and when Craig and his wife Tamzin announced their plans to emigrate to New Zealand, Harold decided to purchase Modus for his Mont Venteaux stud in Franschhoek.
Dr Heyns was instrumental in getting the stallion settled into his new surroundings and helping with his first season at stud in the Cape. So much so that Modus Vivendi has since taken up full time residence at Drakenstein Veterinary Centre.
Being a nosey sort, I dropped by for a visit.
Just like Secretariat
Like most racing fans I’ve read about Secretariat, watched the Youtube footage until I can practically recite that Belmont victory stride for stride and got caught up in the hype of the recent Hollywood film, so I was more than a little curious to get up close and personal with such a close relative.
Dr Heyns had described him to me as a magnificent specimen with a temperament to match, who is in the habit of poking his tongue out for visitors to tug.
On my visit, he was already in his stable and tucked up for the night, but one of the grooms kindly removed his rug so that I could get a better look. No headcollar, no nose chain – just calmly walked in and got on with the job. Modus stood in the back corner of his stable regarding me with those large eyes shining with intelligence. He waited politely to be unwrapped and then made his way over to the stable door to come and say hello.
I have to say that the physical resemblance between Modus and the legendary Secretariat is more than a little arresting. I obviously only have old press photographs and footage to judge from, and while it is pretty clear they are cut from similar cloth, Modus seems a more modern, refined model. He has the most exquisite head – lovely long ears, a broad, intelligent forehead and large eyes with that distinctive white splash down the middle. He has a beautiful long forelock that hangs halfway down his face. It is reminiscent of the Thoroughbred’s Arabian heritage as is his muzzle, which is fine and elegantly tapered.
He pokes his nose through the grill to sniff my proffered fingers and is delighted when I produce a carrot.
Stepping into the stable to get a closer look, he seems taller and more elegant than his stud profile shot suggests. His coat is burnished copper and he is glowing with good health and well-being. He lets me look him over from head to foot and waits expectantly by the door as I exit. I fish another carrot from my bag which he graciously accepts, crunches politely then hopefully nudges the bars for more. Utterly charmed I empty the rest of the bag.
Distinctive Stamp
Mel takes me on a tour of the rest of the stables to meet some of his progeny. We take a look at Brian Boru who is in the neighboring barn. Although he’s wrapped up under his rug, Modus has clearly stamped him with his size and colour and those wonderful ears. Like his sire, he ambles over to say hello and pokes his tongue out. I give it a friendly tug which he seems to take as a sign that I pass muster (even if I’m a little light in the pocket as far as carrots are concerned!). There are a few younger progeny in the outside paddocks, but the light is fading, so I say my thank yous, but can’t resist poking my head around the barn door to take one last look at Modus on my way out.
Where to from here ?
They say a stallion’s pedigree tells you what they could be, their performance tells you what they should be and their progeny tells you what they are. Well, if Modus’ pedigree and performance speak for what he could and should be, one certainly need look no further than Dancewiththedevil to see what he is.
It is always a challenge for young stallions to establish themselves, particularly when they belong to small, independent studs without a huge mare band to support them. Some get lucky and unfortunately some don’t, that’s just the luck of the draw. Some may say that Modus has not had the depth and range of mares to really test his value as a stallion and others might argue he should have turned out a good one by now. According to Wikipedia, Modus vivendi is a Latin phrase to describe parties holding different opinions agreeing to disagree.
I think I know which side of the fence I sit on.
