St John Gray’s going nowhere – for now, anyway.
The veteran owner, trainer and breeder is rationalising his string to keep the numbers down to manageable levels that suit his social lifestyle and professional life, as he approaches his septuagenarian decade.
Bloodstock South Africa are hosting the 38 lot Randjesfontein September Sale in Barn 19 at the training centre on Tuesday 14 September at 12h00.
See the catalogue by clicking on the image:
“I have given thirty years of my life to this wonderful sport and have loved almost every minute of it,” says the former legal eagle as he feeds the Sporting Post’s curiosity as to what has led to him putting horses on the sale next week.
While nearing his 70 milestone, the top horseman doesn’t look a day over 60.
St John Gray – keeping his numbers down to manageable levels
“When my good mate and colleague Romeo Francis passed away in November last year, I continued the yard at the Vaal which was run by Romeo’s fiancé, Chantal Bowles. It worked well but Chantal has decided to do something else with her life now, and I have no wish at this stage of my life – I’m old, hey – to run a Vaal stable and have more than 50 horses at my Randjesfontein home base. Remember I still have youngsters coming in from the farm, too. So we are packing it in at the Vaal, and we have put 38 horses on the sale on Tuesday. Let nobody say Gray’s dumping horses – there is lots of quality and it’s pure mathematics, simple as that.”
The charismatic St John went on to explain that he and his wife Claire also wanted to travel a bit and that he had a two year plan to eventually retire.
“It makes no sense to flood the market now. Every one of those 38 horses on the sale are available for inspection. Any interested buyer can make a time and bring their jockey to take any horse they may be interested in out on to the track. They are being sold without reserve and I am a very realistic man who is fully aware of the economic climate and the rest. That said, stakes are going up 20% in a few weeks as recently announced by the RA.”
A standout lot looks to be #31, dual stakes winning 5yo, Christopher Robin.
Christopher Robin – on the market (Pic – JC Photos)
St John agrees and suggests that the seven-time winner still has plenty of racing life left to give a new owner plenty of fun.
The 5yo entire won his only start of the season on 1 August.
“Christopher Robin is a horse who is worthy of another tilt at the Summer Cup. He won the Victory Moon last year and is in good spirit and shape.”
St John says that all the paperwork is in order for all the lots on offer and that he was pleased that BSA were offering a Zoom online bidding platform too.
“People aren’t moving around like they used to. But there is something that could appeal to many trainers and owners all over the country. And I’d just like to record that anybody who likes any of our horses that may not even be on the sale, is welcome to come and talk to me.”
