Turffontein: Another Great KZN Day
Another impressive day for KZN-breds at Turffontein yesterday, as five of the 10 races carded went to horses born and raised in Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Amongst the winners was the second career win for Mike De Kock-trained daughter of Crusade, Onamission, for owners Messrs Matthew de Kock, C Gordon, T Quigley, P E White, Brad and Brett Summers. The black Roski-bred filly (which is no surprise as both of her parents are exactly the same – black with no markings!) is out of Gr2 winner Tempted (out of Tempter) by Jallad.
Under an exceptional ride from Callan Murray, the R120 000 purchase off the 2016 National Yearling Sale defeated Best Kept Secret, a R5,250 000 graduate off the 2016 CTS Premier Yearling Sale by a length.
Summerhill had a great day with wins from three of their stallions, including KZN Breeders Award nominee The Elmo Effect winning under a top weight of 60.5kgs by Lyle Hewitson in an MR90 Handicap over 1800m. The Admire Main half-brother to Gr2 winner Heaps Of Fun secured his sixth career victory for owners Messrs Pravin Chetty and H B Odendaal. The Elmo Effect has been nominated for KZN Breeders Outstanding Stayer and Outstanding Middle Distance Male.
Await The Dawn is proving indeed to be a sad loss to breeding in KZN – he had yet another winner yesterday for Paul Peter with Tammany Hall – a three year old out of the brilliant Bridal Paths.
She thumped her opposition in weight – carrying the top under Keagan De Melo at 60.5kgs to finish almost half a length in front of Fish River Canyon, carrying 53.5kgs. Tammany Hall, who had a name change and sold for R80 000 at the 2016 CTS Ready To Run Sale, is now a 2-time winner from three starts.
Await The Dawn is the leading 3yo sire nationally by winners to runners percentage of 34% (as of 11-10-2017 nhra.co.za). He also lead as the 2yo sire by these statistics.
From the Summerhill website: “Await The Dawn was entitled to be a top stallion, bred as he was on a foal share between two of the best stud farms the world has known, Juddmonte and Coolmore. Like the immortal Frankel, he was the pick of his year for Coolmore, and while his career was one of unfulfilled expectations just as it was blossoming into that of a major Group One performer, the manner of his Group race victories from Ireland to Royal Ascot was that of a horse with “Arc” pretentions.
Coolmore’s rotten luck was to be South Africa’s fortune, and he was imported to Summerhill with precisely what he’s doing right now in mind. Sadly, with less than a half crop from his second season at stud, just a handful of his progeny remain for sale, and they’ll come under the hammer at the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale on Wednesday 25th October.
The difference between these and the last progeny of an aging stallion is simply this: whereas older stallions often “train off”, here was a horse in the prime of his life, whose stock on the ground have caught the attentions of some of the country’s finest judges.”
Summerhill will be hosting their Ready To Run Sale on 25 October at the School Of Excellence. The last crop of the Await The Dawns are on offer – make sure you dont miss out!
