Summerhill Once Again Do KZN Proud

Summerhill Once Again Do KZN Proud

Summerhill Stud, Champion Breeders for eight consecutive years. Image: Summerhill Stud

Summerhill Stud have achieved the incredible again, being crowned Champion Breeders of South Africa for the eighth consecutive year in a row – since 2005. According to the NHRA, who have the stats up to 30 July (but there is no doubt who the winner is) Summerhill have amassed R13 257 203 in Stakes since the season opened last year 1 August 2011, with Klawervlei Stud sitting in second at R11 860 842.

Summerhill’s blog is quoted as saying “It is a tribute to one of the best teams in the world, their sacrifices and their dedication, that the margin in the end will be close to R1,5 million in our favour. It is a tribute to those who support us, to the loyalties of those who keep their horses with us, who buy our stock at the sales, to those that train and ride them, and to our fans in the stands. That “eight” is a brand new number in the modern world of breeding, and that it’s attainable by anyone with the will and the resolve to make it happen.”

A hearty congratulations to Mick Goss and his team at Summerhill Stud – and with their new exciting new stallion additions of Golden Sword(GB) and Traffic Guard(USA) the future looks bright indeed. We also look forward to the first foals to arrive at Summerhill from Visionaire and Bankable this coming season.

Kahal, consistently top of the South African Sires Log, finishing third this year. Image: John Lewis

Other KZN farms that have made it into the top ten include the ever consistent Scott Bros, finishing fifth overall, who have been breeding champion racehorses out of KZN for 45 years and have an incredible history and profound influence nation-wide. Miesque’s Approval has certainly made his presence felt over the last year with some exciting youngsters coming through – including the likes of Eton Square and Yellow Star-bred Placido- as well as Scott Bros beautifully bred son of Storm Cat, Mogok (a half-brother to Machiavellian – sire of Kahal) the most successful son of Storm Cat to stand in South Africa. He has sired the likes of international Gr 1 winner Gypsy’s Warning (bred by Rathmor Stud), Orbison and more recently The Apache who is headed east under the care of Champion trainer Mike De Kock.

St John Gray’s Graystone Stud finished sixth on the log, with a regular turnover of winners over the season but the stand-out mare for St John Gray is Dancewiththedevil. We look forward to what she will produce in the UK, where the going and tracks will suit her style of running.

This an incredible feat for St John who is a passionate owner, breeder and trainer, whose breeding operation stands at Cathy and Jonathan Martin’s Hadlow Stud. St John has recently added Announce and Modus Vivendi to his list of stallions in KZN for the 2012 season, and with Emperor’s Dance residing at Hadlow Stud we can only assume that we might look forward to seeing the possibility of a full-sibling to the five-time Grade 1 winning Dancewiththedevil in the future.

KZN-bred Jet Master, once again sixth consecutive season Champion Sire. Image: Google Images

Kahal has once again made KZN proud, finishing an incredible third on the National Sires Log this last season. Smanjemanje is doing the business for Kahal – finishing a close second in the Vodacom Durban July this year. As Mick Goss said at his annual Investec Summerhill Stallion Day – Summerhill-bred Smanjemanje was a winner one stride before the finish and one stride after. Kahal is also the sire of last seasons’ winner of Africa’s richest race on sand in South Africa (the Gr 2 Emerald Cup), that being the Bush Hill Stud-bred The Mouseketeer, who also finished third in this year’s KZN Breeders inaugural Million Mile race on 1 July 2012.

On Ladbrokes Gold Cup day Kahal stole the show – having several horses Group placed on the day including Black Wing, Love Struck, Checcetti and Tales Of Bravery. Kahal finished with Stakes earnings of R10 538 686 for the season. It is interesting to note that Kahal stood last year of a service fee of R45 000 – compared to the stallions he is surrounded with in the top five who averaged R117 500 between them.

KZN-bred Jet Master, who passed away last year without covering for the season due to his contracting West Nile Virus, leads the way once more to be crowned Champion Sire for six years in a row – Pomodora won the Vodacom Durban July this year and that continues to push this locally bred stallions’ profound influence on South Africa, amongst many other talented horses he has sired.

King Of Kings, who led the South African Two Year Old sires log earlier this year, finished a creditable fifth. Image: Candiese Marnewick

King Of Kings is another fine example of what KZN has to offer, after leading the Two Sires Log for quite a few months earlier this year, he finished fifth overall for the season as Sire of Two Year Olds. He has had an exceptional season, producing the likes of Reign As Kings, King’s Temptress and Heavenisaracehorse is beginning to make himself felt on the tracks. He stands at Peter and Jenny Blyth’s Clifton Stud.

King Of Kings is exceptional value for money at the moment when it comes to service fees – his service fee for this year has been announced at R20 000 – the same fee as what he stood for last year. The first four stallions ahead of him on the log – excluding the late Victory Moon – stand for a combined average of R108 000 between the three of them. KZN eagerly awaits the birth of new sire at Bush Hill Stud, King’s Chapels’ (by King Of Kings) first South African crop this season.

Champion Broodmare-sire Northern Guest, who stood his entire breeding career at Summerhill Stud. Image: Summerhill Stud

Another feather in Summerhill’s cap comes in the form of Northern Guest, who will once again be Champion Broodmare Sire for the season. A stalwart that stood out his whole career at Summerhill, he has left a profound broodmare influence in South Africa. His stakes earnings as a Broodmare sire for the season is R4 825 175, leading the way with the above mentioned 2012 Vodacom Durban July winner Pomodoro, over R2-million ahead of Elliodor(FR) in second place with earnings of R2 441 840.

Leading trainer once again goes to Mike De Kock with earnings for the season in excess of R21-million, and Jockey championship to Anton Marcus. Congratulations to them and their valuable contribution to racing in South Africa.

As of 1 August our Thoroughbreds, and in particular our weanlings have now become yearlings, we look forward to the coming foaling season and future with many more champions to come out of KZN.

KZN Breeders would like to congratulate everyone concerned, and we look forward to the coming season ahead.

Information source courtesy of www.nhra.co.za