In response to Robert Bloomberg’s comments made on Tellytrack during the panel discussion previewing the J&B Met Raceday to take place at Kenilworth Racecourse on 02/02/13.
In all my years of racing I have made it a policy not to respond to comments made by racing correspondents, panelists and presenters regarding our stable. I respect people’s opinions and since the early days when my dad was still riding I learnt that you have your supporters and you have your detractors. That is the business we are in, as in all sports, and I accept that.
However, in the interest of racing I feel strongly that I should set the record straight and am actually surprised that members of the expert panel did not respond to Robert’s comments and enlighten the racing public there and then.
Robert correctly stated that Blueridge Mountain(Arg) is in the care of trainer Joey Ramsden and has been for the past couple of months, preparing her for the feature Cape races on our behalf. He goes on to have a dig at the NHRA in this respect and that the public should be informed thereof. He further goes on to say that, and once again correctly so, that our stable has not had a winner in the Cape for the past 15 years (by the way, Robert, our last winners in the Cape were Tara’s Halls and Mosszao).
I take exception to the fact that after all Robert Bloomberg’s years in racing he makes mention of this. Placing a horse in the care of another trainer out of province is common place and has been going on for as long as I have been in racing. I would like to refresh Robert’s memory and that of the expert panel as it seems they all suffered from temporary amnesia during their discussion.
Aquanaut was placed in our care three out of the four years he contested the Gold Bowl. Mark Watters sent him to Gary after his raid in KZN and he joined our stable in the August. Gary prepared him on behalf of Mark for the Gold Bowl which used to be run in October in those days. For the record Aquanaut won the Gold Bowl twice and ran second whilst in Gary’s care. During his preparation Mark Watters did not travel up and down to Johannesburg, but came up a couple of days before the big race. Not only did we care for Aquanaut but we also were the caretaker trainer of horses on behalf of Ralph Rixon, David Payne, Herman Brown (Snr) and Eric Sands amongst others over the years. Only one trainer can train a horse, therefore these trainers did not travel up and down to Johannesburg, but entrusted our stable to get on with the preparation of their horses.
In the same way we have the confidence and trust in Joey Ramsden to prepare Blueridge Mountain(Arg) on our behalf. There is no reason for Gary to travel to and from the Cape, adding an unnecessary expense to the owner. Joey is a professional and is fully competent. Joey keeps Gary up to speed on the fillies progress and well being . Gary and Joey discuss things when it is necessary. Gary also discusses the programme with Derek Brugman and decisions are made.
What amazes me is the fact that Dancer’s Daughter and Givemethegreenlight were both placed in the care of trainer Geoff Woodruff and prepared by him on behalf of Justin Snaith whilst raiding the feature races in Johannesburg . Yet Jonathan Snaith made no mention of this during the panel discussion. I am open to correction but Viva Maria has been in Joey Ramsden’s care on behalf of Mike de Kock whilst she has been in the Cape. Sean Tarry has placed horses in Eric Sand’s care and there are many other occasions when this practice has taken place, so I have to ask, why only mention us?
It is not financially viable with all the costs involved for a trainer to take one horse to raid out of province for the season. Furthermore having been involved in selecting Blueridge Mountain at the NYS on behalf of Mr & Mrs Jooste and then having the privilege to train her, which involves taking her in as a yearling and caring for her on a day to day basis as she progresses through each stage of her career, we are thankful and appreciative to Markus Jooste and Derek Brugman for not moving the horse out of our care and allowing us the opportunity to continue training her.
Lastly, Robert makes mention of the fact that we have not had a winner in the Cape for the past 15 years. Please enlighten me, but barring Mike Bass, Justin Snaith and maybe Glen Kotzen, which Cape trainers have had a runner, yet alone a winner, in Johannesburg in the past ten years?
via email – Dean Alexander
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Punters Respond :
Regarding Robert Bloomberg comments. all he is trying to state is let the public know who is preparing the horse for another stable! Simple as that.
So me as a Punter would agree just Bracket the Trainer with the Trainer In who’s care the horse is in all race cards.
Trainers do make a difference same as Jockey’s
Regards
Noel Buchler
