Brewing up a storm on debut – the keenly named Macduff was impressive for Mr Bernard
We enjoyed a fabulous day’s racing on Easter Monday. We had the beautifully bred son of Street Cry, Macduff, which we bought in Sydney for a reasonable price at their premier Easter Sale, having his first run and winning very nicely, writes Joey Ramsden.
We also have a very nice Encosta De Lago bought at the same time that still needs to have his first outing.
We also saw Act of War’s brother, The Stone Thrower, having his first run and he also put up an impressive performance to win. Hopefully there is plenty more to come from both of them now.
It is about this time of year that we like to get going with our 2 year olds and see where we are with them.
I really do prefer running them over 1200m first time up as I find they are just not quick enough over the 5 furlongs.
Birthday Boy
This was another day – that’s Joey wishing the young Ross Kieswetter well – while the older Craig Carey observes. (Pic – Brian Finch)
It was great to see What A Mission win again. He is a horse that came back from a terrible injury and for once, touch wood, everything has turned out well for him. He is a smashing big horse by Elusive Quality that we picked up in Joburg for first time owner, Ross Kieswetter.
It was actually Ross’s birthday present and at the time it was not looking like the greatest of gifts. However, he was slowly and patiently nursed back to health and is now coming good. Ross is having loads of fun with him.
It is wonderful to see young people getting involved in the sport as, by heaven, do we need it.
Rain Dancer
Dean Diedericks – this man works miracles
Talking of needing, there is not much rain around these days and we can desperately do with a few drops. I am sure Dean Diedericks at Kenilworth is having a really tough time of it with his pumps sucking up mud. There cannot be much worse than having to eke out your last water supplies. He must feel like that fellow that was dumped in the desert with only half a jerry can of water and not knowing how far he is from anywhere. How long must he make his water last? I am sure it is a question that Dean is asking himself at the moment. However, I am sure he will get it right: he always seems to.
Easter weekend is traditionally the time we get our rain but no luck this time. We did have some cold, wintry weather and a few drops in the Southern Suburbs but that was it. It all seems to be up there in Gauteng.
It was another competitive weekend’s racing in Gauteng and I have no doubt that they are all looking forward to their Grand Finale in a couple of week’s time. Our own Happy Forever did not fare too well but despite being a horse with leg problems, he really does like the going rock hard. He races with bar shoes in front and he literally got stuck in the mud. We will now send him for a couple of week’s holiday in Summerveld with Annette Dawes and give him a well-earned holiday.
Winter Series
Act Of War – winter series or not?
As usual, the Winter Series is just around the corner and it is a fabulous starting point for the potential stars of the future. I cannot think of a horse which has won a couple of legs of it and then not gone on to be an extremely smart horse indeed. The programmer has very kindly programmed a really nice Open Handicap and I thought this race would suit all my prospective candidates that are entered in the Winter Guineas.
Lo and behold, they go and give Act Of War 70,5 kg’s. There is no other race for him to run in so I am left scratching my head. I was not expecting such a huge weight and I really don’t think anyone else was. It was obviously an Open Handicap to everyone apart from him. I think it is an extremely short-sighted move indeed.
He could end up having to go into the Guineas on workouts alone. I will have a chat with Derek Brugman and see how and what and where we go from here.
Nightmare
About the football, I will keep it short as not much to say. West Ham is back on the dreaded losing curve and Manchester United fans are gloating all around Old Trafford, I am sure.
One cannot help but say something about the terrible atrocities going on in Kenya and what it must be doing to that beautiful country and its tourism, the main source of its income. To shoot 150 plus students who are either asleep or wandering around their campus is extremely tough to get one’s head around. Alleged terrorists murdering and gunning down unarmed children. Revulsion is the only word that comes to mind. At the moment, Africa looks to be in a poor way. Let’s hope things start picking up.
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