It’s been close on a year since the Sporting Post last caught up with Green Street Bloodstock, the dynamic syndication and race management company managed by new WPRRA Director, Justin Vermaak.
We spoke to Justin some time ago.
The timing of our chat is a pleasant coincidence for two reasons:
Justin said that he was both excited and honoured as he has just joined the Board of the Western Province Regional Racing Association.
This is in line with the body’s progressive dynamic policy of introducing younger blood into the game. It follows the resignation of longstanding Director Tom Fowler, after nearly 15 years of unbroken service to Western Cape Racing.
Billy Jaobson salutes on Miss Nightingale – GSB’s first winner
The timing of our interview is further sweetened in that GSB’s first purchase, who turned out to be their first runner and first winner, Miss Nightingale, won at Greyville on Friday night for the first time since her debut win last February!
The passionate Justin Vermaak, who works closely with retained and sponsored jockey Bernard Fayd’herbe, was thrilled at what has been achieved in a relatively short time.
“It’s been an incredible year, we expected some growth but not quite of this magnitude this quickly. When we started with one horse I had a chat with Gavin Van Zyl about how he ran his syndicates for Team G and he told me that at its prime he had 25 horses.”
Justin with GSB Team members at the Big D
Vermaaak added that he had told Bernard Fayd’herbe that he had wanted to double that and get to 50 horses in training under the Green Street banner.
“It seemed a laughable pipe dream but in the last twelve months we have gone from 4 horses in training to the current number of 24, are thus halfway there! We have already added 3 yearlings to the stock list taking the total to 27 and we plan on being very active at the next few yearling sales, with the aim of securing another 15 or so yearlings this year.”
The young racing expert said that they had been well supported by some owners who kept reinvesting.
“That really helps and we thank them for that. Obviously we are always looking for new ownerS,” he said.
Of the current 24 GSB horses in training, 19 are unraced two-year olds likely to start running soon.
“That could be our next major drive in terms of raising our profile and our next big PR push,” he confirmed.
In a game where talk is cheap and results count, Green Street Bloodstock have delivered.
”Our results have been great which has helped us instill confidence in people to buy new horses and to grow.”
Three wise men! Justin (far right) with Gavin Van Zyl and Charl Pretorius
GSB have had a total of 32 runners, 5 have won and 23 of the runners have found the first 4 places. That is top 4 strike rate of 72% which is something they are obviously very proud of.
“This means the horses are constantly earning which importantly means that our owners aren’t paying as much as they may do on a monthly basis as the horses are paying their way.”
Selecting the right horses is at the core of the success of the business.
“The results are a testament obviously to how we pick them, especially considering the first few that have been flying the flag for us were relative cheapies. I look at most horses on the sales, then Bernard usually arrives before the sale after riding commitments and I show him a shortlist, from which we monitor what they go for in the ring and grab the ones we perceive as value.”
He added that a key factor to their good earning strike rate came from buying ready to run two-year olds in training.
“It naturally helps when you can buy them off the track when they already showing some good work, and not blind like at the yearling sales, it also helps the owner get a quick return and not wait a year for horses to run, although I’ve noticed some prefer buying yearlings. I think between myself being at the track fairly regularly and Bernard working a lot of horses, our “scouting network” for picking horses in training is quite good.”
On the subject of available stock he confirmed that they still have one more two-year old in training to get involved with this year.
“He is a high quality Hard Spun colt (sire of Ertijaal) who has produced Gr1 winners globally, He is an Australian import and qualifies for the CTS Ready To Run bonuses and his work is very good, He is in training in KZN with Paul Lafferty and we couldn’t be happier with him- there are a few shares left,” he confirmed.
Querari during his racing career
GSB have two smart yearling fillies, one by Maine Chance sire Querari, who Justin believes is one of the next big stallions.
“Querari’s freshman record backs it up and he is a horse close to my heart. This filly has been stamped by him down to her facial markings and we are hoping he has left some ability in her too! The other filly is the first Green Street Ladies Syndicate horse.She will be based in KZN and is almost sold out. We have had a huge response from ladies wanting to race together, so when this filly sells out we will probably have to grab another one for the ladies to race in the Cape or JHB! Her name is Oriah and she was bred at Mauritzfontein. It is difficult to get better than that!”
