KZN Breeders Million Mile – Going Back In Time

KZN Breeders Million Mile – Going Back In Time

The inaugural KZN Breeders Million Mile is set to run this coming Sunday, with the field including the likes of last year’s winner The Mouseketeer as well as Checcetti, we have a look at some of the horses who won this race – which was previously known as the KZN Breeders 1600 run at Clairwood.

The year 2000 saw Summerhill-bred Nhlavini win it from Classic Lord and The Gard-Farder. Nhlavini had an incredible career that spanned over eight seasons, with 58 starts, 15 wins, 23 places and earning R2,744,128 in stakes. These include the Cape Flying Championship Grade 1 twice, six Grade 2 wins (Mondi, Spring, WPOTA Diadem Stakes x 3, Hawaii Stakes), a Grade 3 win and two Listed races.

His name translated means ‘Playboy’ in the Summerhill tradition of naming of their horses in Zulu. Sadly, Summerhill announced the death of their great sprinter in February earlier this year. By National Emblem out of Valley Mist, Summerhill name him amongst their best, up with St Pauls, Mowgli, Sentinel, Magic Mirror, Panjandrum, Dancing Duel, Imperial Despatch, Spook and Diesel, Pick Six, Igugu, Pierre Jourdan, Rebel King and Imbongi. He was nominated six times for an Equus Award, and took it home three times as leading sprinter.

Summerhill’s blog sums it up, saying, “His trainer (Charles Laird) sent him home to his birthplace, where he occupied the sacred paddock which, in the 60s, housed the multiple champion sire, Masham, in the shadow of the great eucalypts of Hartford House.

“Rested, the brave soldier always returned to the fray, always faithful, always true. This was especially so in his latter years, when it seemed his heart was willing but his limbs could take no more. His master was always masterful, and it was a measure of his great respect for the great horse that in his latter years, there were only two races on the official calendar. The Diadem Stakes and the Cape Flying Championship, at six, seven and eight.”

2004 saw Royal Mariner (by Rambo Dancer) win from Just King, National Party and Love A Laugh. His record stands at 24 starts, 5 wins and 8 places earning R620 580. His wins include the Gr 3 Graham Beck Stakes, the Senor Santa Gr 2 Handicap and a second to the very good racefilly, Overarching(USA) in the Horse Chestnut Stakes Gr 1, a field which included Tyson and Eventuail.

Another son of National Emblem, Carnadore, trained by Mike de Kock, won in 2006. Over three seasons he had 16 starts, 4 wins, 7 places earning R681 270. He defeated Rathmor’s Malteme (a winner of the Gr 1 Steinhoff Summer Cup and Gold Circle Derby Gr 2) as well as Eli’s Connection and Press King. Carnadore’s achievements include the Gold Reef CR Gold Medallion Gr 1 over 1200m, and the Protea STakes Gr 3.

2007 saw the fastest KZN Breeders 1600 run in a time of 94 seconds flat by Khebraat, another son of Kahal trained by Mike de Kock. He was followed by Pick Six, Surfin’ USA and Rose Window. Khebraat had 6 starts, winning 3 of them and placing in every other. He finished fourth to Biarritz in the Hyperion Listed, but had the likes of Equal Image, Appelate Court and Malteme lying behind him. Pick Six who ran second that year went on to an admirable career – winning the Midmar Premier Trophy Gr 2 from Floatyourboat as well as the Gommagomma Challenge Gr 1. He also finished second to Jay Peg in the Investec Cape Derby Gr 1.

Carbon Leader defeated a good field in 2008 with Gallant Gagnant, Winter Fever and Art Of War finishing behind. Interestingly, three of the four horses passed the post that year were all by Kahal. Carbon Leader had 3 wins and 6 places, including placing in the Gr 3 Tony Ruffel Stakes. Gallant Gagnant ran second in the Daily News 2000 Gr 1 and Art Of War went on to 5 wins and 12 places – one of those in Dubai as well as placing four times there, after he was sold for a princely sum of money and went on to compete and place behind the likes of Asiatic Boy in Dubai.

In 2009 Paul Lafferty’s Labeeb filly, Goat took this win home from the Slew The Red gelding, Littleredcorvette, El Padrino and Tie The Knot. Interestingly, she has a half-sibling available by Miesque’s Approval at the upcoming Suncoast KZN Yearling Sale on 5 and 6 July, bred and consigned by Keivan Stud. Goat sadly had to be put down last year after colic complications. Initially attracting controversy over her name, which proved that you cannot judge a book by its title but rather its contents – as her race record reflects – she had five wins and 13 places from 31 starts and earned R738 580 at the track. Considering her price of R80 000 from the 2007 Sibaya KZN Yearling Sale, she proved herself a lucky find indeed. Her two stakes wins included the Grade 2 Gold Circle Oaks over 2400m.

DJ Detzky (by Announce, who returned to KZN recently for the 2012 season) won by the furtherest distance of two lengths overall in 2010. A horse that was the result of a stallion swop (the other product being champion racemare Dancewiththedevil), he has had seven wins and 10 places to date, including placing in the Gr 3 Algoa Cup and the East Cape Derby Gr 3. The horses that placed behind him were Askari, Secret Babe and Aim High.

Last year saw The Mouseketeer take home what was to be the last KZN Breeders 1600 title held at Clairwood for a stake of R250 000. It was a fitting tribute to Warwick Render, as breeder (Bush Hill Stud), who was the Chairman of the KZN Breeders Club at the time. The Mouseketeer has again been entered to attempt a second win; should he achieve th feat, he will be the first horse to win the KZN Breeders Million Mile. He went on to win the Gr 3 August Stakes on sand last year, shortly thereafter taking home the victory in the Gr 2 Emerald Cup – Africa’s richest race on sand – proving his versatility over a turf and dirt. He has a half-sister by Miesque’s Approval coming up at the Suncoast KZN Yearling Sale.

The KZN Breeders Million Mile forms part of the new Triple Million Challenge concept introduced by the KZN Breeders for horses registered with the Association for the Premium Scheme.

Subject to terms and conditions (horses born in KZN do not automatically qualify as a KZN-Bred horse – the breeder must be a member of the KZN Breeders Club and have registered that horse for the Breeders’ Premium Scheme), KZN-bred Yearlings at the sale who qualify for the Triple Million Challenge will have red stickers placed on them as well as posters on their stable doors to distinguish them from the rest.

Any horse that passes through the Suncoast KZN Yearling Sale this year, regardless of where the horse was bred, will be elligible to compete in the KZN Breeders’ Cup to be held on Vodacom Durban July day in 2013, for a stake of R1 million.

The burning question is who will be the winner of the first race to be run on Sunday at Greyville? We all wait in eager anticipation.

Information courtesy www.summerhill.co.za