Five future sires have added the Kuda Matchem Stakes silverware to their impressive cv’s over the past twelve renewals of the 1400m season launch contest and today’s class of 2024 looks set to continue the proud tradition, even though we are not likely to launch future stallion material as Dean Kannemeyer’s Teflon Man is the only colt in the eleven horse field.
Our Mate Art (Aldo Domeyer) wins the 2017 Matchem Stakes, beating Table Bay under Anton Marcus (Pic – Hamish Niven Photography)
The Matchem Stakes has been won by some big names over the years. Charles Dickens made it a double for Candice Bass-Robinson and Aldo Domeyer last year after Trip Of Fortune’s victory in 2022.
The combination, who also won it in 2017 with the Aussie-bred Our Mate Art, are represented by Sugar Mountain on Saturday.
Met winners in One World and Rainbow Bridge won the Matchem in 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Champion miler Capetown Noir won it in 2013, while Joey Ramsden’s dual SA Horse Of The Year Variety Club took the honours in 2011.
Capetown Noir wins 2013 Kuda Matchem Stakes in hands of regular pilot, Karl Neisius (Pic – Supplied)
Another interesting name on the honour roll of relatively recent times is that of present day champion sire Captain Al, who was trained by Vaughan Marshall and won it in the hands of Jeff Lloyd in 1999.
The race was run for a stake of R100 000 that year.Twenty five years later, we are racing for R300 000. Horseracing has been outpaced by inflation!
The Matchem was traditionally run at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth but was switched to Hollywoodbets Durbanville in 2010, the year it was again won by Vaughan Marshall with Tales Of Bravery, who was ridden by MJ Byleveld.
Marshall has three runners in Look For Hounds, Coastal Commander and the improving Questioning carrying his flag on Saturday.
The most successful Matchem trainers of the 21st century include pacesetter Vaughan Marshall and the now retired Glen Puller, who won it in 2002 and 2003 with Sevilliano, when ridden by Gerrit Schlechter and Karl Neisius, respectively.
Glen Puller also trained the 2005 winner Great Rhythm, who was piloted by Greg Cheyne, and the 2014 winner Reim, who was ridden by his late son, Chris.
The earliest traceable record of the Matchem Stakes dates back to 1958. It was open to 2 and 3yo horses and run on 19 April over 1400m at Kenilworth for a stake of £1,250.
Saturday’s feature is named after the famous thoroughbred foundation stallion, Matchem (1748 – 1781) (Pic – Supplied)
The idea of running juveniles against three-year-olds over 7 furlongs in April, at what was more or less weight for age terms came in for a lot of criticism, with many feeling it was too much to ask of the youngsters.
However, on the day a total of 6 runners faced the starter, including two 2yo’s (Kowloon and Avon) and four 3yo’s. The 1958 running of the Matchem proved the quality and strength of the juvenile crop.
Although the game filly Kowloon cantered to post as the favourite, she failed to show and it was left to Mr A Kruyer’s colt Avon.
Ridden by M Strydom and carrying 7st 8lb, Avon brought the field into the straight and never looked like being headed, scoring by half a length from the fast-finishing Southern Drawl (8st 13lb) who had been hampered when making his run.
Burweed (8st. 13lb) finished a neck back third and Squeegee (9st 2lb) was fourth.
The 2yo Avon was a bay colt by Naval Prince out of Avonet and was bred by J.R.A. Bailey. He was owned and trained by Mr A Kruyer.
The Matchem Stakes is named after the famous Thoroughbred foundation stallion, Matchem (1748 – 21 February 1781).
Matchem (also spelled Match’em, possibly after the jockey Match’em Timms), is a direct male tail line descendent of the Godolphin Arabian (or Godolphin Barb as he is also known) and along with Eclipse and Herod is considered one of the three 18th century stallions that produced the Thoroughbred sire-lines of modern times.
Matchem was bred by John Holme of Carlisle in Cumberland. He was sired by Cade (a son of the Godolphin Arabian), out of a bay mare by Partner. Like his grandsire, he was a small horse, but with good bone and an athletic build.
He was dark bay in colour, but exhibited 2-3 bars of white hair at the base of his tail and is thought to have carried the rabicano gene as he went on to produce a number of roan offspring.
Matchem was sold to William Fenwick and as was the custom at the time, lived at his Bywell stud in Northumberland until he was fully mature and commenced his racing career at the age of 5.
On the track, he proved himself good, if not outstanding. He contested a total of 12 races, winning 10 and gaining a reputation for being a thoroughly genuine competitor, durable and honest, who always gave of his best.
Matchem covered a few mares at Bywell during the 1758 season, but wasn’t retired from racing until the following year. Matchem was Champion Sire from 1772 to 1774 and in total, he would go on to sire 354 winners of ₤151,097.
His hallmark was excellent temperament and durability, the ‘truth and daylight’ so desirable in breeding.
Matchem lived to the ripe old age of 33 and died at Bywell on 21 February, 1781.
