The TBA Council welcomes Bradley Ralph to the board.

The Council of the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association of South Africa is very pleased to announce that Bradley Ralph has been co-opted as a Council member.

Brad has accepted the position on the Council and joins Lee Scribante (Chairman), Eugene Freeman (Vice-Chairman), Marc Greene, Warwick Render,
Rennie Price, Craig Kieswetter and Vaughan Koster in administering the affairs of the Association. 

Bradley is well known in racing and breeding, and currently serves on the board of the Racing Trust.

The Chairman said: “The Council thanks Brad for agreeing to serve the breeding industry. He brings with him an in-depth knowledge of the industry
as a whole, together with solid business acumen. We look forward to his involvement in, and contribution to, the running of the Association on
behalf of all breeders.”

-tba.co.za

Summerhill Sales will be offering an 11 strong draft at this month’s Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale, which takes place in Germiston on April 24^th to 26^th.
Remarkably, each and every yearling in the Summerhill draft was sired by a G1 winner!

Summerhill Stud’s well performed Dubawi horse Willow Magic dominates this draft, with the former G1 SA Nursery winner the sire of seven of the Summerhill Sales’ yearlings. Willow Magic’s first crop of yearlings on offer include Hot Poppi (Lot 248), a filly whose seven time winning dam is a ¾ sister to champion sprinter Mythical Flight,  Look Of Eagles (Lot 341) –a colt from the family of Australian champion Faint Perfume, and Willow’s Wish (Lot 356). The latter is a colt out of the Kahal sired Fillies Guineas winner Fisani, from the same female line as Epsom Derby winners Sir Percy and Teenoso.

Willow Magic is also responsible for Willy The Wizard (Lot 374), a colt whose dam is a winning half-sister to the above mentioned Fisani, a half-brother (Lot 383) to four winners including G3 Flamboyant Stakes runner up Lala, a half-brother (Lot 426) to the very smart performer Euphoria, and a filly (Lot 461) from the immediate family of Kentucky Derby winner Go For Gin.

Champion sire Trippi, whose recent notable winners include the impressive G3 Byerley Turk winner Tristful, is the sire of Rite Of Passage (Lot 530), whose G3 placed dam is a Var half-sister to G3 Scottsville Stakes winner Dazzling Heights. The blue blooded Rite Of Passage hails from one of the best families in the stud book, with his numerous high class relatives including champion US sire Exclusive Native and the international G1 winners Poet’s Voice, General Assembly, and Versailles Treaty.

Dynasty’s G1 Cape Guineas winner Act Of War has two members of his first crop on offer –a colt (Lot 301) out of a winning half-sister to G1 SA Classic hero Love Struck, and a half-sister (Lot 510) to G3 Strelitzia Stakes winner Royal Pleasure.

Another Cape Guineas winning sire represented in the Summerhill draft is Summerhill’s very promising Equus Champion Capetown Noir, whose early runners include the classy filly Brandina. The triple G1 winning Capetown Noir (himself a former National Sale graduate) is represented by a colt (Lot 545) whose stakes placed dam is from the same female line as G1 winners Shoe Express, The Sheik, Top Seller and legendary champion Politician.

-www.bsa.co.za

Bruce and Delia le Roux’s Spring Valley Stud will be offering 11 quality yearlings at this year’s Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale in Germiston.

One of the picks of the draft is the Querari filly (Lot 39) whose G2 SA Oaks winning dam Bedloe’s Island is a Fort Wood half-sister to two G1 winners.

Four time winner Kileigh, a three-parts sister to Triple Crown winner Abashiri, has a choicely bred Master Of My Fate filly (Lot 116), while Silver Fantasy, a stakes winning Silvano half-sister to G1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Indiscreet Fantasy, is represented in the draft by a  Flower Alley filly (Lot 217).

Master Of My Fate is also represented in this draft by a filly (Lot 103) out of a stakes placed winner of seven, while multiple Equus Champion What A Winter is also doubly represented, with his pair including a filly (Lot 309) out of a 3 time winning half-sister to G2 winner Silver Age.

Over The Bay (Lot 330) is a colt by champion and exciting sire Twice Over whose dam is a full-sister to the dam of East Cape champion Widow’s Lamp and this is also the family of Equus Champion National Bay.

Princess Phee (Lot 295) is a filly from the first crop of Horse Of The Year and four time G1 winner Futura, and this half-sister to the useful Aranjuez is out of a 3 time winning own sister to G2 winner Lazer Star.

Young Galileo sire Flying The Flag has two members of his first crop in the Spring Valley draft, including a filly (Lot 378) whose dam is a full-sister to top class racemare Cover Look.

Spring Valley are no strangers to producing high class racehorses, with the farm’s past star graduates including the likes of July winner Dunford and fellow G1 winners Buy And Sell, Count The Money and Indiscreet Fantasy.

The 2019 National Sale will take place from April 24^th-26^th, with each day of selling due to commence at 11:30 am.

-bsa.co.za

Bruce Le Roux once again brings an outstanding draft of yearlings to the Nationals at the end of April, including progeny by Querari, Flower Alley, first season sire Flying The Flag, Futura, Mogok, Twice Over, Legislate, Crusade, What A Winter and Master Of My Fate amongst others.

The Flying Flag and Eightfold Colt pictured scored 9 on physical inspection.

Images: Candiese Marnewick

The Thoroughbred Breeders Association and Bloodstock South Africa held a seminar for the KZN Breeders Club recently to discuss the scoring of mares for the National Yearling Sale.

A number of examples of mares currently at stud were given of both suitable and unsuitable prospects, and how the panel chose the pedigrees and scored accordingly. Amongst them, Jehan Malherbe gave Sahara a 4, the dam of Matador Man recently sold to Gary and Colleen De Klerk of Summerview Stud (scores are from 1-5).

Jehan advised breeders to be mindful and use the scoring as a guideline, drawing comparisons to lesser bred fillies with better race records, and better bred fillies with perhaps not as inform race records, but well related – breeders must take into account what they have produced, and how many foals produced to date in relation to their success at stud.

Jehan also covered the various strengths of mare’s catalogue pages, who had progeny racing in overseas jurisdictions such as Kenya, Mauritius, Singapore, Hong Kong and Zimbabwe, and why some information couldnt be shown due to racing standards – such as Kenya.

“Singapore and Hong Kong will count. An example is the Hong Kong Gr1 race that Singapore Sling won – its an International Listed race, but a Gr1 in Hong Kong. The QE II on the other hand, Champions Mile and Champions Cup are proper international Gr1’s from Hong Kong. The rest are considered to be Listed races from an international standard. In the catalogue we would show either as a Listed race, or “HK-Gr1″. Kenya dont have Black Type races at all. We have to conform to international cataloguing standards and we have international buyers attending our sales. We can mention at special request to add in if a horse won the Kenyan Oaks, but it will not be in Black Type.”

“If you have to look up to the third dam to find quality, it is not Nationals quality. A mare who scores 1.5 is not Nationals quality and will be excluded, however, if you have a mare that is a 1.5 and a colt that is 9 from a very good  Top 5 stallion, we will review it.” It was also important to review as a breeder, if the family in the first 3 dams has been successfully active in the past 10 years.

“When the entries arrive, we have 500 spots open and 350 horses score 15 points and above, and that is our cut off point – they will all be on the sale as they immediately qualify. From 13.5 to 14.5 will be considered and from there on, its by invitation only for the balance of the places available.” Jehan also gave examples of first season sires represented at the sales and the points allocated, and said the list of sires and their points will be available on the TBA website for breeders to view and plan ahead. All stallions start of on 2.5.

If he is a local Gr1 winner, he gets a 3. If he is an international Gr1 winner, he will get a 3.5. If he has an exceptional pedigree, he will get another half a point for pedigree. If you breed a mare that is a 4.5 to a stallion thats a 2.5, you will get on the sale. All first season sires are considered.

If you send a mare that is a 5 to a stallion who is a low score, and breeds a 9 yearling, it has to get on the sale as there is more than 14 points and it will be sold. Jehan also advised breeders not to send all mares to first season sires, as only 1 in 20 make it. He also advised to send mares to big sires to keep individual sales drafts balanced.

Jehan emphasised that breeders must not be scared to talk to the selectors – “we are not here to to fail or pass you, we are here to try and work together to put the right horses on the right sale. Listen to the selectors if they assess that a yearling will be better on a later sale.”

Chris Haynes and Jane Thomas of Bloodstock South Africa were on hand to discuss sales and yearling inspection and selection questions, whilst Catherine Hartley of the TBA also addressed all present and gave an update on the Studbook.

Thank you to the TBA and BSA for putting the seminar together, and to Jehan Malherbe for making the trip to address the KZN Breeders Club which is really appreciated.

The KZN Level 1 Stud Groom’s training took place this week at the School Of Excellence at Summerhill Stud, and culminated in their exams on Thursday. Thank you to the TBA for this great initiative and support which we really appreciate, to assist with the education and upliftment of the most important people who work with our horses and play an important role in producing champions for owners and trainers.

It forms part of the TBA’s programme for Stud Farm and Industry training. The participating farms represented sent staff from Bush Hill Stud, Clifton Stud, Hadlow Stud, Wood Moore Manor Stud, Rathmor Stud, Spring Valley and Summerhill Stud.

Congratulations to Maxwell. Lindelani, Buse, Amo, Reggie, Sundile, Nkosinathi, Thuthukani, Langelihle, Samkelo and Nkosinathi for completing the 3-day course.

Thank you to Summerhill and the School Of Excellence for hosting the course, the TBA, lecturers, translaters and examiners for your valued assistance, and to the various stud farms for the support.

The Level 1 Grooms’ Course will be held on Tuesday the 27th and Wednesday the 28th March at the Summerhill School of Excellence.
This is an EQASA accredited course for stud grooms who have not yet had any formal training. The assessments will be done on Thursday the 29th, facilitated by Kate Hurst who has been instrumental in the courses offered by the Cape Breeders Club. On passing the course, grooms will accumulate the module points for certification.

We’d like to follow this course up with a Level 2 course in June in order to progress this group to the next level this year.

If you have not already put forward numbers and names for attendance, please reply to this email so that we can send you the relevant registration forms. Space is limited.
Accommodation can be arranged for grooms from farms outside of the Mooi River area and all costs, apart from transport, are covered.

Best regards
Catherine
0836401155

A reminder of the seminar for all KZN TBA members, to be presented by Dr Martin Schulman (Veterinary reproduction specialist), and associates on the 2^nd of August at Rawdons hotel.

Apart from some topical breeding issues, Dr Schulman will also be updating us on the proposed revised Stud Health Scheme and Code of Practise.

This is also a great opportunity, as the breeding season kicks off, to speak to Martin should you have any specific questions or concerns.

Please RSVP to Catherine on catherine@tba.co.za by Tuesday the 25^th of July.

KZN Breeders’ Seminar

Wednesday the 2^nd of August at Rawdons Hotel

9.30:      Tea and registration

10.00:    Dr Melanie Scholtz: Development of an App for in -the-field identification of horses for the South African Thoroughbred breeder

11.00:    Dr Kate May: Management of the orphan foal

Reproductive emergencies

12.00:    Lunch

1.30:      Professor Martin Schulman: Proposed revised Stud Health Scheme and Codes of Practice

Management of infectious abortion

2.30:      Question and discussion session

3.00:      Tea and departure

At a meeting of the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA) council, held on the 23^rd May, and following the end of term of office of Mrs Susan Rowett, the council unanimously elected Mr Lee Scribante as the TBA Chairman.

A passionate racehorse owner and breeder, based at his Kwazulu-Natal Piemonte Stud, Lee brings with him a wealth of knowledge, business acumen and solid leadership.

The current TBA council, including Mr Lee Scribante, consists of Mr Eugene Freeman (Vice-Chairman), Mr Rennie Price, Mr Marc Greene and Mr Warwick Render.

In order to clearly define the role of the TBA as a breeder members association, promoting and looking after the interests of all breeders of South African Thoroughbreds, Catherine Hartley has been appointed by the council as the CEO, responsible for all Association matters, not only breed affairs, reporting directly to the council.

For queries or further information, please contact Catherine on 0836401155 or catherine@tba.co.za

Note from the KZN Breeders Club:

Congratulations to Lee Scribante, former Chairman (and current Vice-Chairman) of the KZN Breeders Club and to Warwick Render (Bush Hill Stud), both representing KZN. 

Lee Scribante of Piemonte Stud in Summerveld is passionate about the breed of the Thoroughbred, and his young farm in Summerveld has already produced the likes of Eastern Cape champion Kalamain, Gr3 winner and Eastern Cape champion O Tamara, followed by Gr3 placed Celestina. 

Purchasing top class fillies each year at sales with outstanding pedigrees and racing them himself, they find their way back to the farm for breeding and Piemonte Stud is clearly reaping the rewards at the this early stage. Watch this space for more to come. 

The KZN Grooms Training Course took place this week over three days and finished yesterday, taking place at Summerhill’s School of Equine Management Excellence.

A big thank you to Sam Sharkey for all her effort, Leigh Adams, Elize and Kabelo Pitori for all their teaching assistance, as well as the Thoroughbred Breeders Association of South Africa, Elsenburg Agricultural College and Singayenza for making it possible.

The Grooms who attended represented the following farms: Rathmor Stud, Far End Racing, Clifton Stud, Bush Hill Stud, Piemonte Stud, Summerhill Stud, Hadlow Stud, Spring Valley Stud. A big thank you to the farms and the various organisations concerned, and well done to all who graduated.

The top 5 Grooms from this course will head to Elsenburg in July for further learning and examination.