I have been silent for a couple of weeks. Many people would say that is an extremely good thing. However, it has been a hugely busy time for us; not just as a family but in racing terms as well. Sadly, our kids’ annual holiday was cut short (for me, anyway) by the moving of the CTS Ready to Run sale.
This sale was a huge success with beautiful weather, some smashing horses and some lovely breeze-ups.
There were some very good prices all round. I don’t think there were too many vendors who left Durbanville dissatisfied with their lot.
We bought a few nice individuals and bought one or two on spec. We will have to try and find owners and place them in the very near future.
This is usually a fairly quiet time of year for sales and we are able to sit back and and give ourselves some time off from the sales. However, this is no longer the case with the two Ready to Run sales taking place up in Johannesburg. Nicola Coppez had her gallops on the Thursday and I believe this was a big success.
Summerhill judges and lots of fun – some good looking guys in this bunch
Mick Goss and Summerhill had their gallops on the Friday and, as always, it was an extremely good show and great fun. The only part that was spoilt was my journey home when British Airways had a breakdown, leading to a four hour delay.
Thankfully, for me, the airport to home drive at midnight is only half an hour but poor John Koster was driving all the way back to Klawervlei. He is a true soldier and I take my hat off to him.
We did not stop there with sales. I spent four days in London and Newmarket for Tattersalls Book 1 where only the rich show their faces. It was great to see all my old mates, trainers and bloodstock agents, and have a Bloody Mary and a good laugh and keep an eye on the shenanigans and goings-on.
There are some whopping prices paid there but there only looks to be four serious players in the Coolmore Team, the Qatar Team and a little bit of Sheikh Hamdan.
It seems crazy to say “a little bit of Sheikh Hamdan” but he just does not play it big with Godolphin and get in head to head battles with them. And then along come Rabbah Bloodstock and mop up the rest. As I speak, Book 2 and 3 are going on. It will be interesting to follow the market trends going on over there. Racing and the bloodstock market defy all logic.
Long drive to freedom for poor old John Koster
The weather in the Western Cape is more stable and the trainers are starting to bring out their big guns in racing. We have had a busy three weeks bringing our runners towards their peak in order for them to be competitive in the feature races over the summer season.
At this stage, the future is golden but we have not run anything yet and the proof of the pudding will be in the eating.
We start off with a couple of nice horses on Wednesday and climax on the weekend with some smashing runners, horses we feel will be some of our nicer 3 yr olds.
They are in some funny conditions races where they are having to give weight to higher rated horses. This is never easy but we have to get out and about and start somewhere and these races we chose seem like a pretty good place to start. It will also be fun to see our two old stalwarts, Happy Forever and Andrew Fortune, teaming up in Race 10.
We then move on to the following Wednesday, where we also have some nice runners. So, come a week Thursday, my nails should be bitten down to the bone. I will either have a big smile on my face or a large noose around my neck. I hope it’s the former but I am sure there are many others who are praying for the latter.
Andrew Fortune – a case of ‘weight’ and see?
Speaking of Andrew Fortune, the fat man bounced back and rode a beautifully judged race and a winner. However, 62kg’s is no good to man or beast and it is hard work trying to drill it into his head that he has to shed a few more kg’s.
I have no doubt it is extremely tough for him. Just to compare; while we have had the arrival of our two fresh lambs we had to say goodbye to our two old sheep and they were as tough as mutton.
They were also two fairly large beasts and no matter what we tried to do to get them to shed that extra weight, we had no success. The older they got, the harder it became and I have no doubt it is just as difficult for Andrew. I likened him to our two big lumps of mutton as once you get that fat inside, it is almost impossible to shake it off.
I do admire Andrew and he is doing his best. He is such fun to have around the yard and I would hate to lose him and wish him luck with losing the kg’s. He knows what he has to do; I just don’t think he knows how to do it anymore. However, full marks to him for a superbly judged winning ride on Miss Saigon.
There was some smashing racing at Newmarket and the much talked about Champions Day, which is sadly run on ground not best suited to the best horses in the world. It must be extremely difficult as the Qatarians are putting up big prize money to showcase the best – and they did get the best of what was around – but sadly it is that time of year with injuries and retirements and bad weather.
While it would not be fair to say it tainted the days racing, it certainly took the edge off slightly. The Champion Stakes was memorable and won by Frankel’s brother, Noble Mission for trainer Henry Cecil’s wife, Lady Cecil.
This truly was a racing fairy tale.
It must have been double mixed feelings for the winning jockey and one of the best young jockey’s in the world, James Doyle. He usually rides the 2nd placed horse, Al Kazeem, which has made an incredible comeback from a failed, infertile stallion career. What a great training achievement from his trainer, Roger Charlton. Whilst it was wonderful to see Frankel’s brother win, Al Kazeem was the run and achievement of the day for me.
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