Normandy’s Oscar Foulkes is no one-dimensional racehorse breeder.
An opinionated thinker, he has done the hard yards in racing and business since his childhood days of the 1970’s in the paddocks of his parents’ champion producing farm.
Oscar and Veronica Foulkes (photo: Wayne Marks)
With a big weekend ahead that culminates at Kenilworth on Sunday with the CTS Ready To Run Sale, we asked Oscar why anybody would buy a Ready-To-Run candidate rather than a yearling?
“Buyers have the opportunity of seeing the horses in action during a grass gallop, which provides more information than just seeing a yearling walking. Plus, the vendor has paid to keep the horse until this point. And, of course, the record of RTR graduates speaks for itself. This is a kind of select sale, rather than ‘last chance saloon’,” he says with a smile.
Normandy’s track record speaks for itself. They have seven lots on the sale – could the class of 2021 be one of their best ever?
Sergeant Hardy – Gr1 soldier and top speedster
“Our 2015 draft comprised Gr1 Cape Flying Championship winner Sergeant Hardy as well as other graded stakes-winners Crowd Pleaser, Bishop’s Bounty and Nordic Breeze. Last season’s Equus Champion Sprinter Rio Querari was a product of our 2018 draft. Therefore, from us, any claim about best-ever, as you suggest, is going to be measured against a significant history! Our draft this year is smaller than usual, and we’re sure it will deliver results. Notably, we have a Silvano filly out of a full-sister to Mother Russia. There won’t be many more Silvanos offered for sale!”
Is Ready-To-Run a literal term, or is it just sales mumbo jumbo, with the horses six months off a run?
“It always depends upon the horse, but ours are prepared as if a race is imminent. Saturday’s runner Homely Girl and Greek Myth had placed runs less than eight weeks after the 2020 RTR sale. Sergeant Hardy made a winning debut just five weeks after the 2015 sale. So they are mostly ready to run, in essence!”
Are the Normandy draft there to sell on Sunday and do they have reserves?
“While they are here to be sold, market conditions do require some degree of modest protection. If there is just one interested buyer – regardless of the quality of the horse – it would be suicide to have absolutely no reserve,” observes Oscar.
It’s a first to be holding the gallops and the sale at Kenilworth as opposed to Durbanville. We asked the experienced racing man and marketer how that changes the dynamic?
“Kenilworth is more central, and it’s a racecourse with a special place in South African racing. As much as I like the atmosphere of ‘the country course’, I’m always nervous about young horses galloping on the less forgiving surface of Durbanville,” he adds.
RTR preparations under way (Pic – Taubin Grove)
The work-riders will put the sale candidates through their paces at the beautiful racecourse on Friday. We asked Oscar whether the Normandy gallops riders are important to the packaging of the product and whether they are hand-picked.
“You’re asking me to reveal trade secrets! I think work-riders are very important, but they can only execute on good preparation. I should add that the work-riders get better and better every year. The work that’s being done with them is brilliant. For me, there are few equine sights more beautiful than a horse striding out in the hands of a skilled work-rider!”
And the concept of a long weekend of racing and sales – let’s not forget about the election on Monday!
“Yes, a sense of occasion is an important part of building the hype and excitement, I feel.”
Normandy’s graduates have also performed with distinction in previous ready to run races, with Sergeant Hardy, Rio Querari and Captainofthesea all getting onto the board.
Saturday’s race once again sees Normandy graduates in the running, with Homely Girl and Area Fifty One being the flag bearers.
Homely Girl continues to hold a joint-second on the log (Pic – Chase Liebenebrg)
We asked Oscar how important a carrot the linked sales race is that for the prospective buyer?
“I have to believe it is a factor. Having said that, the RTR race stake has unfortunately had to be reduced. The money comes from vendors and owners, and we’re all under pressure!”
We put it to Oscar that, while there have been bursts of isolated good news for the industry – take the doubling of the Charity Mile stake to R800 000 – is it likely that the instability around stakes could be undermining the market? We hear talk of Cape meetings being reduced to 60 a year – and possibly no racing for July and August. This can’t be good news for the market, surely?
“I prefer to pay attention to reality rather than rumour. Fewer race meetings would be a disappointment. But if it’s the first step on a path to sustainability, so be it. Sometimes one has to get smaller before one grows. Pretty much every step that takes us further from the structures and institutions that got us into trouble is a good one!” he adds optimistically.
We observed that the horse that won the Cape Classic on Saturday is now a four time winner – including dual features. He has banked R222 000 odd. While he is a colt with a bright future and has massive upside yet, should this be exciting owners with lesser horses, who are paying around R10k or 12k / month to feed their horses?
“I believe that good horses keep owners going in the face of dire economics. It doesn’t mean, though, that we can rely on the thrill of owning good winners; we need to do all we can to close the gap between stakes income and expenses.”
Oscar then points out that the Hong Kong Jockey Club is Hong Kong’s single biggest funder of charities. He acknowledges that this is a product of the club’s unique situation in Hong Kong.
“In a local context, charities provide a link for racing to access new networks, of forming new relationships. I remain a racing purist, but there may be times that the activities on charity race days add to the day’s entertainment, and I’d put the BMX races that we are hosting at Kenilworth on Saturday squarely into that category.”
What Oscar is referring to is that the Kenilworth parade ring will once again come alive after the running of the last race on Saturday, when the jockeys have their annual BMX match races against children from the Songo programme.
The Parade Ring Derby raises funds for Songo, which has delivered an after-school programme in Stellenbosch’s Kayamandi township since 2008.
“While we’re on that subject, I do need to add that we can also do a lot more to build the appeal of racing around the human athletes – the jockeys – who are among the best sportsmen (and women) in the country. They make us proud on a world stage. Also, their careers last a lot longer than the horses they ride, which gives greater longevity to the story one builds. Something to think about!”
Oscar’s notes on his draft for Sunday:
Lot 7 Tothemoonandback c. (Twice Over – Cat And The Moon) His dam was a five-time winner, including the Grade III Final Fling Stakes, and a few listed races. Classic distances will be well within his range.
Lot 34 Russian Taiga f. (Silvano – Matushka) This daughter of multiple champion sire Silvano is out of a full-sister to Mother Russia. She is from the only family to have produced two Queen’s Plate winners. This racy filly was born on 20 November, and she will just get better and better.
Lot 38 Unnamed c. (Legislate – Mink Coat) Legislate’s first crop has produced winners and black-type horses at a sensational strike rate. 18 of those 23 foals are winners, which includes 6 stakes performers. This colt’s stakes-placed dam is a half-sister to the Summer Cup winner Flirtation.
Lot 44 La Mas Bella f. (Querari – Pelaya) German breeding is in the news again, courtesy of yet another Arc winner. This well-grown, substantial filly is bred on the hugely successful Querari – Silvano cross, from a German family that has already produced two stakes-winners by Querari. We have loved her since she was a foal; she could be anything.
Lot 50 Unnamed f. (Flower Alley – Skipping Gal) Flower Alley fillies have been flying the flag for their internationally successful sire. This athletic filly is out of a Captain Al half-sister to Liquid Mercury, and there is a lot of her broodmare sire about her.
Lot 62 Madam Longsword f. (William Longsword – Woosh) William Longsword is making a promising start to his stud career. This is a substantial filly, with plenty of speed in her pedigree.
Lot 65 Unnamed c. (Royal Mo – Alileo) From Royal Mo’s exciting first crop, out of a three-time winning Captain Al mare. His grandam was a stakes-winner by the sensational Galileo. This smart colt has a pedigree to match his looks!
Parade Ring Derby
Scheduled for after the final race at Kenilworth on Saturday, the Parade Ring Derby raises funds for Songo, which has delivered an after-school programme in Stellenbosch’s Kayamandi township since 2008.
Watch the local jockeys take on the third-graders in a fun event!
The fundraising component of the event is that owners sponsor jockeys to race in their colours. If you would like to participate, please contact Oscar Foulkes (083 297 3402 or [email protected]).
Read more – click on the image below!
