Thoroughbred Breeders Association eNewsletter - March 20111

SAF Champion wins $1 million race

South Africa’s champion sprinter, J J The Jet Plane, scored a thrilling win in the G2 Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night. The Al Quoz is worth $1 million.

J J The Jet Plane, who was sent off a warm favourite for the race, was coming off a fluent win at his last start. J J The Jet Plane suffered traffic problems during the Al Quoz but produced a fine turn of foot to win in the shadow of the post.

Again ridden by top South African jockey, Bernard Fayd’Herbe, J J had to work for victory in the Al Quoz Sprint, but his class prevailed and he got up in a tight, four horse finish. War Artist, formerly based in South Africa, was a head back in second, with Better Be the One a further head away in third place.

Interestingly, Rocket Man, who had been defeated by J J The Jet Plane in the G1 Kong Sprint, came out to win the G1 Golden Sheehan on the same night. Rocket Man is trained by South African Pat Shaw and owned by leading South African owner, Fred Crabbia.

J J The Jet Plane, fast becoming one of the world’s most popular racehorses, had previously won the Al Quoz Sprint back in 2009.

Trainer Lucky Houdalakis, who has done a superb job with J J The Jet Plane, was thrilled after the race. Houdalakis (also a part owner of J J), said ,”Although 1000 metres is short of his best, he has such brilliant natural pace and it was going to take something really very good to get away from him.”

J J’s jockey was also ecstatic after the race. Fayd’ Herbe said,” I had a horrible race, but his class prevailed. It’s a

privilege to ride horses of this quality. He really is top-class.”

J J The Jet Plane has now won 14 of his 26 starts, for prize money in excess of R17 million. Winner of five G1 races in South Africa, J J has now captured stakes races on four different continents, with his victory coming in last year’s G1 Hong Kong Sprint.

J J The Jet Plane has twice been named Equus Champion Sprinter in South Africa.

By champion sire Jet Master, J J is out of the Listed winner Majestic Guest, a daughter of the great broodmare sire Northern Guest.

Bred by Mrs Pat Devine, J J is owned by Thea Boyens, Hennie du Preez, Coenie Strydom and Lucky Houdalakis. He was a bargain buy at the 2006 National 2YO Sale, where he cost just R70 000.

J J has a full brother , lot 268, coming up for sale on the 2011 Emperor’s Palace National Yearling Sale, named Jet Juggernaut. It looks safe to say he will fetch considerably more than R70 000!

Met winner game in defeat

South African born and bred, River Jetez, put up a mighty run to finish second in the $5 million Dubai Duty Free on Dubai World Cup night (March 26th).

Now a 7yo, River Jetez, was kept close to the pace of the 1800 metre race, but had no running room at the 250m mark. She barged forward and shot clear, but unfortunately was just outdone by the fast finishing Presvis. Nonetheless, River Jetez, a past winner of the

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J&B Met, had four international G1 winners behind her in the Duty Free.

Another partnered by Bernard Fayd’ Herbe, River Jetez was saddled by champion Mike de Kock.

Fayd’ Herbe was impressed by his mount’s run, saying afterwards “I thought we had it. At about the 200m, I thought surely there’s nothing that can get us, but Presvis came to me. He’s just a really, really good horse, but my mare ran superbly.”

Prior to her game run in the Dubai Duty Free, River Jetez had been a desperately unlucky third in the Cape Verdi, before winning the Balanchine Stakes impressively.

Owned by Marsh Shirtliff and Mr and Mrs Cedric Amm, River Jetez was a R230 000 bargain buy at the 2005 National 2YO Sale. Bred by the Out of Africa Stud, River Jetez has won races and over R10 million in prize money.

A full sister to legendary racehorse Pocket Power, River Jetez is by champion sire Jet Master out of dual Equus Broodmare of the Year Stormsvlei.

She is likely to run next in the G1 Audemars Piguet QE II Cup in Hong Kong.

TBA graduates fight out Classics

English Garden and Top Seller, both TBA graduates, fought out the finish to the recent G1 SA Classic. The SA Classic, worth R2 million, run at Turffontein over 1800m, is the second leg of the South African Triple Crown, with the final leg being the G1 SA Derby.

English Garden and Top Seller were both bought up from the Cape to have a tilt at the Classic, and their success is likely to ensure that more Cape horses follow in the footsteps. English Garden, a R100 000 buy at the 2009 Grand West Sale, produced a fine turn of foot to win the Classic, beating Top Seller, who failed to make his reserve at the 2009 National Yearling Sale, by a length.

English Garden got a great ride by veteran rider, Karl Neisius, who bought the colt from off the pace, to win going away. Neisius, however, did not have the easiest of passages, saying,” I stayed wide, and was going to go through the horses in front of me, but couldn’t see

if there was any trouble. So I switched him out and he quickened for me.”

Top Seller, who won the G1 Investec Cape Derby earlier this year, was not disgraced in second, and both colts look to have more big wins in them. Trained by Mike Bass, English Garden had been looked after by Robert Fayd’ Herbe since arriving in Gauteng. It was yet another big 3yo race triumph for the Bass stable, whose 3yos What A Winter and Covenant excelled in the Cape Summer Season.

English Garden, a winner of three of his eight races, was bred by Oldlands Stud, who have five yearlings consigned to this year’s Emperor’s Palace National Yearling Sale. A son of the ill-fated Camden Park, English Garden’s dam, Royal Habit, is a once raced daughter of Dominion Royale. This is the same family as former Gold Cup winner Colonial Girl (the latter has a Captain Al colt on the Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale).

English Garden, who has earned over R1.3 million, is now likely to be aimed at some of the feature races in the Kwa Zulu Natal season.

Just before the SA Classic, the brilliant filly, Igugu made mincemeat of her rivals in the G1 SA Fillies Classic. A R1 million buy at the 2009 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale, Igugu thrashed her rivals in the Fillies Classic, winning by a staggering 10.25 lengths.

Owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum in partnership with Andre and Joyce McDonald, Igugu has won the first two legs of the fillies Triple Tiara, having previously captured the G2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas. She could run next in the final leg of the series, the G2 SA Oaks. Igugu will be campaigned in Dubai next season, where she should make her mark.

Bred in Australia, Igugu is a daughter of champion sire Galileo. Her dam, Zarinia, is closely related to unbeaten Arc winner Zarkava. She has now won five of her seven starts, for earnings of over R1.5 million.

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Filly upsets boys in R1 million Horse Chestnut Stakes

The filly, Dancewiththedevil, caused a 25-1 upset, and demolished a few reputations, when she ran out an impressive, five and a half length winner of the R1 million G1 Horse Chestnut.

Run over 1600m at Turffontein, the Horse Chestnut is one of the country’s top mile races. Again, this year, it attracted a strong field, with Cape trainers, Vaughan Marshall (Tales of Bravery) and Mike Bass (Captain’s Secret, Fort Vogue), both having representatives in the race. The brilliant 3yo colt, Kavanagh, was sent off a warm favourite for the race, ahead of the likes of Tales of Bravery and the versatile Earl of Surrey.

The latter jumped badly, and lost ground at the start. The eventual winner, Dancewiththedevil, raced towards the back of the field, as her stablemate, Call To Combat, set out to make the running. At the 400m mark, the race looked wide open as Rebel Knight, Earl of Surrey and Dancewiththedevil all made strong forward moves. It was a misleading impression, however, as the 4yo filly simply drew off to win by nearly six lengths, under a confident ride from S’Manga Khumalo. Earl of Surrey was a game second, with Rebel Knight, another two and a half lengths back in third. Another female, Goat, finished fourth.

The Horse Chestnut was yet another top race to fall to a member of the “weaker sex”, as fillies and mares had captured all of the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, Charity Mile and Sansui Summer Cup this season.

It was also a great triumph for St John Gray, as he owns, bred and trains the winner.

Dancewiththedevil, who had won the G3 Acacia Hcp on her previous outing, is a daughter of the Zafonic horse Modus Vivendi. She is her sire’s first G1 winner, and has now earned over R800 000 in prize money. Her dam, Emperor’s Dance, iwas a smart, racefilly, who reeled off a hatrick of wins in the early stages of her racing career. She is a daughter of emerging broodmare sire Caesour – he is also broodmare sire of this season’s G1TBA Paddock Stakes winner Emerald Cove.

More winners for Shadwell

The famous blue and white silks of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum have been successful at the highest level all over the world. It is no different in South Africa, where Shadwell has been doing extremely well of late.

The beautifully bred Silver And Gold put his name in a few notebooks when running out a ready winner of a maiden juvenile plate recently. Disappointing on debut, Silver And Gold is held in high regard by Mike de Kock and his team, and the colt duly won at just the second time of asking.

It was a good win for the 2yo, as his pedigree suggests he will improve over more ground. A R340 000 purchase at the 2010 Emperor’s Palace National Yearling Sale, he is by Silvano out of the Golden Thatch mare Golden Galla. His granddam, Have A Ball, won the G1 Cape Fillies Guineas. Silver And Gold was bred by Mrs Pat Devine.

Shadwell’s colours were again to the fore when the 3yo filly, Meezah, scored a gutsy win at Scottsville. Racing in a handicap over 1400m, Meezah dug down deep under Anthony Delpech to register her second career win from her last four starts. A R1.2 million buy at the 2009 Emperor’s Palace National Yearling Sale, Meezah was bred at the Cheveley Stud. She is one of the best bred fillies in the country, being a daughter of successful sire Goldkeeper and the Royal Academy mare, Mystic Spring. A full sister to top sprinter, Secret of Victoria, Meezah is also a half-sister to the ill-fated champion, Rabiya.

Sheikh Hamdan also races the very promising juvenile, Royal Ridge. The colt made a cracking debut when second in the G3 Protea Stakes, behind the crack juvenile Delago Deluxe. A R1 300 000 purchase at last year’s Emperor’s Palace National Yearling Sale, he is a son of the very promising sire Tiger Ridge out of the G3 winning Jallad mare, Princess Faberge.

Shadwell already have one classy South African, in the shape of Zanzamar, racing for them in Dubai, and Royal Ridge could well follow in his footsteps.

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US Glory for Trippi

Drakenstein Stud’s Trippi was recently represented by a pair of graded stakes winners in the USA. His 3yo daughter, R Heat Lightning, confirmed her status as one of the top fillies in the US with a dominating 8.25 length romp in the G2 Gulfstream Oaks (worth $300 000).

Coming into the race, R Heat Lightning had won her last start (the G2 Davona Dale S), by 7.25 lengths. Sent off a warm favourite for the Oaks at 3-5, R Heat Lightning never gave jockey, John Velazquez, an anxious moment, drawing off to beat her opposition by daylight. The well bred filly Island School was a distant second, followed by Salary Drive and the previously unbeaten filly It’s Tricky.

R Heat Lightning is now likely to head to the G1 Kentucky Oaks, run the day before the Kentucky Derby. Winner of the G1 Spinaway Stakes at two, R Heat Lightning has now won four of her starts (three of her victories coming in graded stakes) for prize money just under $1 million. She is owned by the Estate of Paul Robsham Stables.

Her trainer, Todd Pletcher, was very impressed by the filly, saying,” I think now she’ll be recognized as top of the class.”

The same Pletcher, Velazquez, Robsham and Trippi accounted for the following day’s G2 Swale Stakes with the once defeated Travelin Man.

The Swale, run over 1400m at Gulfstream, attracted a small, but talented field, which proved no match for Travelin Man. The 3yo colt was sent off a raging hot favourite, at 2-5, for the Swale, after a good second in the G2 Hutcheson Stakes (on his graded stakes debut).

Travelin Man simply tracked the leader, Razmataz, back in second, before making his move at the eighth pole.

From there it was race over, as Travelin Man drew clear to win by two lengths.

Pletcher has high hopes for the colt, and said,” I don’t know that he’s limited to sprinting. He’s rateable and can relax. We might stretch him out in the Derby Trial.”

Travelin Man has now won two of his three starts, for prize money of over $140,000.

He is from the great Lassie Dear family, responsible for such stars as A P Indy, Summer Squall as well as SA sires Al Mufti, Tiger Ridge and Mambo in Seattle.

Emperor’s Palace National Yearling Sale of 2011

South Africa’s biggest yearling sale is set to be held in April. The Emperor’s Palace National Yearling Sale will be held from 15th April to April 17th.

Held at the TBA complex in Germiston, the National Yearling Sale has a long and storied history of producing both local and international champions. Bold Silvano, a Equus Champion and winner in Dubai of the G3 Al Maktoum Challenge, was a R300 000 purchase at the 2008 sale, whilst Zanzamar, who was second in the UAE 2000 Guineas, was a R800 000 purchase at the 2009 sale.

Other recent stars, to name but a few, to come off the sale include this year J&B Met winner Past Master, this season’s Cape Fillies Guineas winner Ebony Flyer and Gypsy’s Warning, winner of the US G1 Matriarch Stakes.

G1 winners purchased off the sale have come in a variety of prices. Desert Links, winner of the Gold Cup, was a cheap buy – costing just R25 000 at the 2005 sale. Whilst at the other end of the scale, dual Guineas winner Noordhoek Flyer (who has just retired to stud) cost a cool R2 500 000 at the 2008 National Yearling Sale.

The sale will feature yearlings from many of the country’s top stud farms. All the top sires in the country will be represented in Germiston. Leading stallions with

Jet Master

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progeny up for sale include Jet Master, Western Winter, Captain Al, Silvano, Fort Wood, Jallad and Dynasty.

Last year’s leading first season, Tiger Ridge, will also have a strong draft on sale, as will this year’s current leading first crop sire, Black Minnaloushe. Incidentally, both are sons of world leading sire Storm Cat.

Proven US stallion, Trippi, will be represented by 20 of his first South African crop of yearlings on sale.

The Emperor’s Palace Yearling Sale will also offer a handful of yearlings by such world-leading sires as Giant’s Causeway, Rock of Gibraltar and Elusive Quality.

On sale are the progeny of no fewer than 17 G1 winning mares. Amongst the mares represented on sale is former Horse of the Year Ilha da Vitoria. She has a Tiger Ridge colt on offer, who is a full brother to the promising filly Ilha Grande. Another G1 winner represented on the sale is former G1 Majorca winner Sarabande. The dam of the promising Chesalon, Sarabande has a colt by Jet Master on sale.

Other star lots include lot 268 (a full brother to international champion J J The Jet Plane), lot 151 (a Fort Wood half-sister to US G1 winner Gypsy’s Warning), lot 533 (an own brother to current 3yo sensation Shea Shea) and lot 299 (a Trippi half-sister to champion sprinter Mythical Flight).

All in all, the 2011 Emperor’s Palace National Yearling Sale looks to be a cracking sale, and one which is bound to produce it’s fair share of G1 winners and potential overseas campaigners. The catalogue is currently online at www. tba.co.za.

Leading breeders by stakes as of 31/03/2011

1. Summerhill Stud R8 916 330 2. Klawervlei Stud R6 691 680 3. Maine Chance Farms R4 621 375 4. Highlands Farms R4 593 642 5. Lammerskraal Stud R4 232 840 6. Graystone Stud R4 081 945 7. Varsfontein Stud R3 485 880 8. D Cohen & Sons R3 438 315 9. Normandy Stud R3 365 875 10. Gary Player Stud R3 267 995

Leading sires by stakes as of 31/03/2011

1. Jet Master R8 847 656 2. Captain Al R8 237 398 3. Western Winter R7 251 278 4. Silvano R7 090 725 5. Kahal R4 842 540 6. Windrush R4 457 950 7. Fort Wood R4 293 240 8. Muhtafal R3 630 692 9. National Emblem R3 623 970 10. Al Mufti R3 560 140

Leading Trainers by Stakes as of 31/03/2011

1.M F De Kock R13 134 900 2. J S Snaith R8 790 028 3. MW Bass R8 535 530 4. J Ramsden R5 693 904 5. CS Laird R5 502 108 6. GV Woodruff R4 619 875 7. AC Greeff R4 477 438 8. StJohn Gray R4 413 825 9. PF Matchett R4 283 362 10. GD Smith R4 164 188

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Dubai

Hunting Tower Dubal Casthouse Hcp

8 g Fort Wood – Stirrup CupBred by Mrs B Oppenheimer

10 February 2011

River Jetez Balanchine Stakes (G2)7 m Jet Master – Stormsvlei

Bred by Out of Africa Stud18 February 2011

Wonder Lawn Jaguar XF Trophy7g Fort Wood – Velvet Green

Bred by Wilgerbosdrift 24 February 2011

J J The Jet Plane Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Hcp

6g Jet Master – Majestic GuestBred by Mrs P Devine

10 March 2011

Singapore

Agenais Initiation WFA3g Tamburlaine – Jukao

Bred by Chevely Stud6 March 2011

Hong Kong

Fearless East Point Hcp7g Western Winter – Festive Forever

Bred by Maine Chance Farms30 March 2011

SA Winners