‘All generalizations are false, including this one’ – Mark Twain
I do love a good generalisation. Particularly when it can be proven wrong. You know, the sort of nonsense like Windrush doesn’t produce good colts, Rakeen fillies don’t run, the Vars don’t train on.
As per Mr Twain, those statements have fortunately proved themselves to be so much hogwash. Obviously the racing / breeding game is a fast paced and high pressured one and decisions made in the breeding shed or betting office can have far reaching effects, but in the vagaries of life and luck, those are precisely the sort of misconceptions that can make or break freshman stallions.
As my esteemed colleague Lance Benson pointed out just last week, the Vars are doing just fine, thank you very much. And as PE’s best kept secret is bound to be out after Friday- up in PE Gavin Smith is proving that Windrush colts are not so bad either.
The big bay colt, In A Rush is a heck of a lot of horse. Although as one of his competitors good naturedly lamented – he doesn’t look much like a race horse. That may be so – he certainly is still a big soft baby, but whether he looks like a racehorse or not, he sure runs like one !
In A Rush connections: Peter Choice, Johan Gerber, Mike Louw, Hennie Gerber, S’Manga Khumalo, Lionel Adams, Garith
It’s always fun to watch the juveniles coming out and one quickly finds favourites. This one looked interesting on debut when he came home a very green and fast closing 3rd back in January. His 10.5 length victory in February raised little comment at the time, but he proved he was no flash in the pan by making it two in a row when he beat Callum’s Rill home by 3.25 lengths in March. The EC Nursery didn’t get a lot of pre race publicity and even less post publicity, but again In A Rush came home an easy winner against a competitive field, proving that there are some good horses in PE.
The horse was bred by Peter Choice. He was a placenta previa baby and nearly didn’t make it, but for the vigilant stud staff who delivered him. Out of a useful Chief Warden mare, he is also sadly the last of his line as the dam, Sweet Whisper died in a foaling tragedy last year. So all in all, he’s got quite a story already.
Gavin Smith picked him out of the catalogue on the 2010 Cape Yearling sale. Having 4-time winning half brother In Extreme in the yard already, he knew the dam line and liked the mating to Windrush. The fact that it was a colt did not bother him one jot. Gavin said he liked the way the colt walked and despite not having any buyers, decided to buy him on spec for R85k. However, he needn’t have worried and assembled a syndicate relatively quickly. The colt now runs for the very enthusiastic partnership of Messers Hennie & Johan Gerber, Peter Choice, Lionel Adams, Kenneth Patson and Gavin Smith.
I have often said that while it’s great having big owners with lots of horses in their string, it’s the little guys and the racing syndicates making up that infinite curve that are the real lifeblood of the industry and what fun to see such enthusiasm and dedication rewarded.
Hennie has been a racing enthusiast all his life and shares his passion with son Johan. They have scrutinized and argued over form since Johan was a boy and Johan still claims his greatest triumph being that as a boy he dreamt Jamaican Music would win the July in 1976.
Lionel Adams and his very glamorous wife Yvonne were introduced to racing by a friend and have been enthusiasts for years. Lionel brought his friend and golf partner Kenneth Patson into the syndicate, which I dare say will earn him brownie points for years to come !
Originally hailing from Australia, Peter Choice has been a fixture on the South African racing scene for years now, as a breeder, an owner and also the proprietor of Choice Carriers.
Gavin of course is the son of the legendary Andy Smith and already a part of South Africa’s racing fabric.
S’Manga Khumalo has been in the irons for all four of the colt’s outings so far and the two of them seem to be forming a good partnership. He says the colt is easy to place and is surprisingly light and athletic for his size.
In A Rush’s day to day care is entrusted to Wellington, one of Gavin’s senior grooms who has been with the yard since his dad was still training. I’m told that Wellington absolutely adores his charge and judging by his condition, the big colt is flourishing in his care.
And so the big horse, with the small price tag, the small-time owners and from the little racing centre looks set to do big things.
Gavin tells me that the big colt has been easy and laid back from the start, proving easy to break in and an old school Christian on the gallops. He has got a fantastic temperament to boot and is gentle enough for Gavin’s 10 YO daughter to pet.
I gather that plans are now to strike for Durban. It will be a real test to see what the colt is made of, but Gavin tells me that every time they ask him a question, In A Rush keeps finding the answers. While he keeps doing so, may I wish the owners and connections much fun and long may you enjoy The Rush !
