So it’s been another busy week for racing. The stud farms have been abuzz with open days and last minute yearling preps, we had some feature race gallops at Kenilworth last Wednesday and of course the Met gallops and draw on Thursday. I’m not entirely sure how the public found out about them – I’m told that there were a couple of ads in the local papers, but I’m afraid I missed those somehow. Even Wednesday’s Racegoer page covered the Cape Flying Championship. On enquiry, I was told that gallop invitations were sent to GC members. Um, isn’t that a little like taking out an ad on CCTV folks??
Met Gallops - Astro News
However, the Met gallops were well attended and the draws were exceptionally well done. I loved how the cards printed with the runners’ silks slotted cleverly into the innovative ‘starting stalls’. Simple, fun, elegantly done and (I am told) very TV friendly as well. Thumbs up guys !
And while I’m beating the publicity drum, I believe that the operators have installed a new correspondent to publicize our horses and racing events internationally and I am absolutely thrilled. There have been some lovely articles and beautiful photos and we need as many people as possible to be shouting our achievements from the rooftops. However, being a bit proprietorial about Pocket Power, I feel compelled to correct the small point that that he did in fact take home the Queen’s Plate in 2010.
Cape Flyers Rev Their Engines
However, the ‘mane’ talking point for the week was the Cape Flying Championship. I was desperate to see JJ The Jet Plane again since his return from his travels and snuck down to Milnerton a few times last week to look in on the Champ. I was surprised by how little he was in person, but he looked in excellent shape and the travel has certainly not bothered him one bit – every time I popped my head over his door, he had his head in his trough !!
JJ and his groom Everisto Nyambo
I chatted to What A Winter’s groom at the gallops last Saturday and he assured me his colt could not be beaten.
The reports from the Val De Ra camp were much the same.
And that was of course not even counting the other 3 runners.
Excellent Build Up
Things wound up to fever pitch. So much so that it even reached the attention of mainstream TV. I was inundated with calls from non-horsey friends on Friday night about ‘some horse race’ on TV. Well done to that man Andrew Bon for an excellent excerpt and his sterling efforts in raising the profile of the Betting World Cape Flying Championship.
With accompanying coverage in the papers, websites and chat groups, it was therefore no surprise to arrive at Kenilworth on Saturday to a significantly fuller crowd and a definite buzz in the air. Everyone had their opinion and their favourite, but the buzzword on the day was JJ. There is something about the prospect of a good fight that draws a crowd, but judging by the awed looks and folks taking cell phone pics, I think a lot of people just wanted to see our real live globe-trotting superstar in the flesh.
Behind the Scenes
By invitation we slipped to the stable area to see the horses prepare. The first of the runners we passed (and she was so relaxed and chilled out that we nearly did pass her by) was Val De Ra. I would love to say that she brimmed with energy and electricity, but the speedy filly appeared to be saving her energy for when it counted and was having a quick 40 winks. However, catching her in repose afforded an opportunity for a thorough appraisal and she is a lot more imposing close up than the cameras suggest.
Just around the corner we found What A Winter and Captain’s Secret. I have to say that What A Winter has really filled out and come into his own recently. The Bass string are always in magnificent condition, but What A Winter looks exceptional even by their very high standards. He has a particularly fine and intelligent expression and regards you in a direct, no-nonsense manner.
A few stalls down was JJ, somehow miraculously transformed. He seemed at least 2 hands taller than on my last visit (and I’d seen him that very morning!) and it was clear that the ignition switch had turned and the engine was running. Where his famous brother has a tidy, well-behaved mane, JJ’s is fluffy and seems to stick up in every direction. It is enormously endearing. He was already wearing his vetwraps and blue bridle and Everisto was wearing a blue shirt to match. Everisto has the most beautiful smile that lights up his whole face and he smiles a lot when he’s with his horse. Where Pocket Power is all focus and taut energy, JJ seems to regard the world with a sense of mischief and as though he’s in the mood for adventure. You get the sense that he’d be fun to hang out with. After a few final flourishes, JJ heads off to start walking and warm up his muscles.
Copper Parade and Rabattache filled the last two stables. Copper Parade seemed to pick up a sense of occasion and looked keen to get going. The grooms put the finishing touches to neighbour Rabattache and in a last flurry of quarter marks and Flair strips, they followed JJ and Val De Ra through to the saddling enclosure.
Saddling Up
With no disrespect to Candice, it was great to have Mike Bass back on course, even though he looked a bit pensive sizing up his runners.
Joey Ramsden lounged against a stable wall with the lovely Fi by his side and chatted amiably to passing trainers. I love Copper Parade’s distinctive blinkers and matching silks and he is always a cheery and eye-catching runner. I’ve noticed that the Ramsden yard has also taken to plaiting up for big races and it certainly adds a nice touch.
Glen Puller seems to glide in and out with no fuss and the neatly turned out Rabattach was out on parade before I’d even realised.
Lucky, as brisk and business-like as his horse, deftly got the job done, dispatched his horse and headed off under the trees.
Dennis Drier, dapper in his jacket and tie, attended to his charge in his quiet, thoughtful manner and then went to join the connections in the parade ring. Chin in hand, he looked lost in thought as he assessed the field. Alec Forbes had clearly benefitted from arriving on course 3 hours early and looked remarkably relaxed and composed, posing for a beautiful portrait for me before receiving final instructions. Pippa Mickleburgh completed the little group. She enquired who I was supporting and I guiltily admitted it was JJ, which she accepted with some good-natured teasing. Val De Ra looked entirely unphased by my traitorous admission and strolled around for all the world like a Sunday hack.
While admin staff do a remarkable job of swelling the parade ring for big races, there were an enormous number of connections, press and hangers-on in the hallowed oval and not only that, but a respectable crowd filled the stands on both sides of the parade ring, all straining to catch a glimpse of their fancy.
You have to be quick to catch the canter past for a sprint and unfortunately I mostly caught the tail end view, but my vantage point afforded a good hard look down that 1000m gauntlet. The silks disappeared behind the starting stalls, the stage was set and Kenilworth held its breath.
The Race
I don’t know how the big chestnut powers up from her relaxed idle into a jet propelled rocket, but it must be something to behold. She shot out of the stalls with meaning, grabbing the lead and installing herself in full charge of the race from the outset. There is not a lot of room to hide in a sprint and the pace was on. And yet, miraculously Val De Ra and What A Winter drew clear of the pack in an exciting tussle for the finish. There has been plenty of talk about What A Winter this and Karl Neisius that. Yes, it was close and the colt was certainly mounting a spirited challenge, but the big copper filly burned that turf up the straight and she held them off fair and square. She was quite simply magnificent. Most impressively, after the pull up she geared straight back down again and strolled languidly over to the winners’ enclosure, not even looking out of breath. What a girl !!
Better Out than In
There’s not a lot of time to rest on your laurels in racing and while the sun was setting on our Cape Flyers, the Klawervlei folks were putting the final gloss on the prep for their Met Fever Sunday luncheon. I gather it was a fabulous event, although some exuberant revelry may have left a few folks feeling sheepish on Monday morning. We all like a party, but losing your cookies in the clover is just not cricket !
Cape Premier Sale
Monday’s Klawervlei golf day allowed a last opportunity to pitch amongst the putts while the first of the Cape Premier Sales draft were being delivered to the venue. The catalogue (efficiently delivered by the super friendly and helpful Amanda Carey) holds a lot of black type and big hopes and feedback from the farm viewings is that there are some outstanding individuals on offer.
It takes an inordinate amount of work to produce a horse to sales standard and with the credit crunch, nerves and anticipation will be running high. However, recent international auctions have proved that there is still money for quality, so may I wish our breeders a successful sale and our buyers every luck in choosing your picks.
The Rubberbandits
My favourite teen singing sensation, Mark Boylan covered the Rubberbandits’ song ‘I have a horse outside’. It’s a fun and catchy little tune about a lad who goes to a wedding and tries to chat up a bridesmaid. He offers her a lift and she reels off her list of suitors and their cars and asks why she should go with to go home with him. His answer? Feck your Honda civic, I’ve a horse outside. Feck your Subaru I have a horse outside. Feck your Mitsubishi, I’ve a horse outside. If you’re looking for a ride, I have a horse outside !
Apparent pulling power aside (!), there’s nothing nicer or more fun than owning a horse. Truly. We moan about training fees, vet bills, lousy jockeys, bad weather, etc etc. and it IS expensive and there are a lot of other options to blow your (not so spare) cash on, but there’s something about a flesh and blood racing machine that you just don’t get from a car.
I’ve got my horse. Do you ??
