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SELECT THOROUGHBRED NEWS STUD / TURF / EQUINE SPORTS / HORSES FOR SALE Issue No. 1 - December 2020
SELECT THOROUGHBRED NEWS S E L E C T THOROUGHBRED NEWS is a monthly electronic magazine published on ISSUU that is dedicated to promoting the Thoroughbred as a breed and the people that care for them in South Africa. EDITOR / DESIGN & LAYOUT Charles Baker CONTRIBUTORS © Candiese Lenferna Photography
Front Cover: The exceptional mare RUN FOX RUN (AUS) owned by Ridgemont (Nominee Mr. Wayne Kieswetter), trained by Brett Crawford and ridden by Anton Marcus.
Tony Ridgway Catherine Hartley Kayla Gertenbach PHOTOGRAPHERS Candiese Lenferna Tamara & Blake Images Chase Liebenberg Pauline Herman Carolyn Erasmus Anke van Wyk ADVERTISING / ENQUIRIES Charles Baker connecta321@gmail.com
© Candiese Lenferna Photography
Back Cover: The Snaith Racing trained DO IT AGAIN, with Richard Fourie in the saddle, at the end of his workout at the 2019 Vodacom Durban July gallops.
TOUCH THE SKY (by Jet Master) and KISSIMMEE (by Jet Master) enjoying the lush grazing at Varsfontein Stud.
In this issue of
S E L E C T THOROUGHBRED NEWS
.
- ARCH RIVAL jumps his first 1.30m classes - “Unsung Heroes” (Part 1) ADELE ALSOP - GUS, SA’s most significant thoroughbred foal? - AFRIKABURN makes another winning debut - Candiese up close with SUMMER PUDDING - The grey mares of Varsfontein and their foals -
MARCHFIELD (CAN) 2004 youngsters impressing!
-
Where are they now? ERIC FORDRED
Polo Pony Showing Class at the Johannesburg Show Horse Festival - Eaton Farm
Sublime SUMMER PUDDING’S sensational 9 from 9
-
VARDY out due to injury!
THE GOLDEN AGE OF THOROUGHBRED SHOWJUMPING HORSES & RIDERS IN SOUTH AFRICA (PART ONE)
SEA COTTAGE from a painting by H. von Michaelis
ARCH RIVAL jumps his first 1.30m classes Kayla Gertenbach tells us about her very exciting show jumping partner, ARCH RIVAL.
really has a huge buck, but only ever playful, never nasty.
He came from Geoff Woodruff’s yard, and was a very good stayer, winning 6 races and placing 13 times, including the Grade 2 OK Gold Bowl, amassing stakes of almost R775000. He’s by A.P. Arrow out of the National Emblem mare, Competitive Edge.
Within a month I took him to a training show and jumped him around the 90cm class and then he progressed very quickly on from there. He has plenty very natural ability and an attitude to match! He goes around the ring like he’s a king.
I was still in Europe at this time. He did a bit of work and was mostly hacked in the beginning. I came back to SA in May 2018 and started with him then.
July 2019 he jumped his first 1.20m show and then in August 2019 I was kicked by a horse in the chest and suffered severe, life threatening injuries, so I was out of action for about 7 months. In this time my sister Chelsey kept him in work for me and took him to a handful of 1.10m shows.
He had a great attitude right from the start. Was very bold and brave, but very very sensitive – he does not react well to pressure at all. He is also very receptive and vocal. Squeals when he is having fun, or when he does a big jump. Whinnies every time I come past his stable or paddock and can buck like hell, he
Then when I finally got up and running again, covid happened. So after lockdown we jumped a couple of 1.20m shows to get going again (and for myself to get going again) and now this past weekend jumped his first open show in the 1.30m classes.
So he’s done a lot in a really short time! I think his biggest assets are his “can do” attitude and his huge canter! He really has a champion mind! I have very big hopes for him and can without a doubt say the he will make it to the big classes! He just jumps anything you ask him to and does it with a smile on his face. He finds everything so easy, he is not even trying yet. He’s just having fun, which causes him to lose focus sometimes, but I imagine once he needs to start trying that will change!
He loves his job and is always having fun. He is really such a pleasure! He isn’t the simplest of rides as he is so sensitive, but I have had many unconventional horses in the past, so this doesn’t phase me too much. His jump definitely makes up for that! My plan now is to keep him in 1.30m for a while that he can do his learning there. Maybe middle through next year he can move up to the 1.35 classes. He is a very special horse, and possibly the best horse I’ve ever sat on.
“Unsung Heroes” (Part 1) ADELE ALSOP Photo above: Adele Alsop & colleagues with ONE WORLD. Photo courtesy Chase Liebenberg. I think I was one of the last “visitors” to the Vaughan Marshall stables in Milnerton to meet and greet the great son of Captain Al, ONE WORLD, before he left VHM for good and moved on to stud. I had visited with him also, a week or two before his fantastic Sun Met victory over Rainbow Bridge. A proud and sentient boy, who carried himself with pride and assurance, he left a great impression on me. That’s what great horses do... impress. I was, on those occasions, hosted by Mr Marshall and his gregarious and redoubtable assistant, Adele Alsop, and their inimitable canine cohorts Jack and Molly, the equinefriendly Jack Russells who have the run of the place.
A friendlier stable I have never visited. And hardly a more successful one. VHM Racing is legendary, and the “Graded” notches on Marshall’s rather capacious belt are many. Racing fundis would know all that! Assistant trainer Adele Alsop is pushing 10 YEARS now as Mr Marshall’s “right hand.” Born and bred in Tokai in the Cape, Ms Alsop has always been “besotted with horses.” She explained: “My first experiences with horses were on my Ouma’s farm. My Oupa was a very good horseman. The farm experience led to riding schools, excercising friends’ horses, and then into racing.” As a ‘work rider’, Adele had no less than a legend as teacher/tutor: Bert Abercrombie. “He taught me how to ride work, and then the bug bit,” she recalled.
Before joining the Marshall stable in February 2011, she admits: “I was a bit restless when I was younger, so before joining Vaughan, I have quite a list of ‘befores’. I worked for Greg Ennion for two years, Geoff Woodruff for two years, and Andre Heyns for six-and-ahalf years. I ran Clodagh Shaw’s satellite yard for two years. I was in Johannesburg for four years before returning to Cape Town where I worked for Glen Kotzen for four-anda-half years. And then I joined VHM. In Feb 2021 it will be 10 years with Vaughan.” An obvious question I asked her was, to name some of the best horses she’s been ‘associated’ with. “so many,” was her answer, ‘but firm favourites are Big City Life, Hill Fifty Four – even though he once broke six of my ribs -, William Longsword, Tap ‘O Noth. And, of course, my ‘heart horse’, One World.” As we waltzed around the stables with Molly at our heels, I asked Adele to give a ‘precis’ of how her average working day is...“I get to work at 5am. Make coffee for The Boss and me. I then take a walk around checking up on things and then off to the first string. Thereafter another walk around, checking the horses’ legs and chatting to our staff on how their horses are doing. Then it’s second string time. At 8am the Vet’s in to check up any concerns and to do any follow-up treatments on the horses. Thereafter it’s the third string. After that, final check-ups and home.” She’s back at the stable at 2pm when the afternoons, she admits, are fairly quiet. “But,” she adds, “we’re always there!” Adele used to compete in showjumping and eventing so, when she has the chance, she follows her many friends who are still active in the various branches of equestria. “I’ve met so many amazing people and made so many friends through this incredible sport,” she says. “Also, after a very serious accident a decade ago, I was
amazed and humbled at how the industry look after each other. Very, very humbling.” I asked her about her thoughts on the future of racing, and Cape racing in particular, given the fact that the industry is ‘rollercoasting’ presently. “Worrying times,” she admitted. “However, there are a lot of powerful and influential people with a great love for the game. I’m confident we will pull through. Two things: if the E.U. open our travel restrictions, it will be huge. And, of course, we need to get people back onto the racecourses.” I met Adele decades ago, when she was working for Andre Heyns. I was an oncourse presenter back then and interviewed her on camera several times. She always came across as friendly, approachable, goodhumoured and extremely likeable. Nothing’s changed. She still is that person I knew back then. I asked her about her ‘hopes and ambitions.’ “Well,” said Adele, “I want to keep moving forward in a positive way, and, simply, carry on being involved with these majestic animals...” And then there we were, Adele, Molly and me, in front of One World’s box. The big boy looked at us and stuck out his tongue.
“Come,” said Adele to me. “Let’s go check out the William Longsword baby.”
GUS, SA’s most significant thoroughbred foal? Is GUS South Africa’s most significant thoroughbred foal? That question is easy to answer if you are thinking strictly racing and potentially the next multiple group race winning superstar and potential stallion, then it’s a big NO! However, if you are thinking sport horse, particularly showjumping, then it’s a resounding YES!
$800000 between 1985 and 1997. He was a stalwart member of the United States Equestrian Showjumping Team during those years. In many respects GEM TWIST (originally named Icey Twist) is not only the best Thoroughbred showjumper that the world has ever seen, but he would rank as one of the best ever of any breed.
GUS, who has not been officially named as yet, was born on the 18th October 2020 in the beautiful Nottingham Road area of the KZN Midlands, at Almiray Veterinary Practice & Farm, belonging to Dr. Allen Béchard and his wife, Robyn.
His sire Good Twist and his grandsire New Twist were both International showjumpers themselves. For more information, please Google GEM TWIST, and read about his fascinating story and watch a few of the many videos of him competing on YouTube.
He was conceived artificially at Almiray using imported frozen semen from the first GEM TWIST clone, GEMINI (2008) - there are two living GEM TWIST clones, the second clone is named MURKA’S GEM (2012).
GUS is owned by friends, business partners and staunch supporters of showjumping, Govett Triggol & Pierre Lepart.
The entire GEM TWIST story is a long one, save to say that he was an American thoroughbred, a gelding and an International showjumping sensation, earning in excess of
They chose very wisely when deciding to use the Cataloochee mare, Michelle My Belle, who belongs to Michelle & Gary Green. She is extremely well related in showjumping terms to many of the most successful thoroughbred jumping lines in South Africa and abroad.
Robyn Béchard tells me that mom, MICHELLE MY BELLE (pictured right), is a bit short on milk for her robust and demanding colt, so as a result he has to have his milk intake supplemented every two hours at the moment. I for one will be following this stunning and exciting colt’s progress very closely. South Africa’s most significant Thoroughbred Foal? A definite YES, best of luck Govett & Pierre, make us all proud GUS! - CB
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Varsfontein owned stallion elect ERIK THE RED wins the 2020 CAPE MERCHANTS (Grade 2)
AFRIKABURN makes another winning debut The magnificently beautiful Group 1 winning son of Trippi, AFRIKABURN, has made an impressive winning debut in the show ring. The now nine year old gelding was very well received by the judges at the recent 2020 KwaZulu Natal Showing Championships, winning numerous classes including the Newcomers Showing Championship.
He is now owned in his second career by national yearling inspector Jane Thomas, in partnership with Cathy Martin of Hadlow Stud and ridden by Darryn McIntosh. Jane Thomas picks up the story; “I selected AFRIKABURN at the CTS select sale for stalwart owner Fred Crabbia. He was pre-trained by me at Far End Farm until he went into full training with Dean Kannemeyer. He was unbeaten going into the 2014 July day Group 1 Golden Horseshoe, which he duly won. He also ran in the Group 1 Premiers Champion Stakes on the 2014 Gold Cup day, where he finished 8th (beaten by 5 lengths), so Dean sent him back to the farm to mature. He then went into training in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. He ran 2nd in the 2014 Group 3 Matchem Stakes and won another 4 races thereafter. He ended his career with Tara Laing in Port Elizabeth at the end of last year. Cathy Martin and I, over a couple of gin & tonics, decided to offer AFRIKABURN a home as a show horse and, orchestrated by Emma Rorke, Fred Crabbia kindly gave him to us. Then before we could really get going with him the long Covid-19 lockdown time hit us and both Cathy and I worried about our perhaps frivolous decision to take him, but as Dean Kannemeyer said to me “bad horses don’t win Group Ones”. AFRIKABURN & Darryn McIntosh (photos on the left by Equerry and Pauline Herman’s gorgeous head shot is on the right) have now shown us that to be very true at the recent show!!” AFRIKABURN (SAF) 2011 a bay gelding by TRIPPI (USA) out of AQUATINT (AUS) by PEINTRE CELEBRE (USA).
Top priced colt at the 2020 Two Year Old Sales The top priced colt at the 2020 Bloodstock South Africa / Emperors Palace National Two Year Old Sales was Lot 285, LAMBORGHENI. A beautiful, quality colt with a gorgeous head, he is by Gimmethegreenlight, and out of the Trippi mare, San Trip. He sold for R1,2 Million and was from consigner Danika Stud, as agent for the Missing U Syndicate. LAMBORGHENI was purchased by KZN trainer, Gavin Van Zyl, of Team G Racing. The colt is from the family of Shesgoing Tobe Fun, a champion filly in Chile. Photos courtesy Candiese Lenferna.
Top priced filly at the 2020 Two Year Old Sales The most expensive filly sold at the Emperors Palace National 2YO Sale came from Cheveley Stud, the beautifully bred Lot 224 sold to VS Varsfontein Stud for R900 000. A daughter of Group 1 winner Wylie Hall, and Broodmare Of The Year, Mystic Spring, it’s a pedigree page that only shows the 1st dam due to the incredible Black Type progeny! The filly is a ½ sister to Varsfontein Stud's grey Bela-Bela (who is also a two year old sales graduate) and Rabiya, as well as Spring Lilac, in turn the dam of Snowdance. It is also the family of All Is Secret. Congratulations to all concerned! Photos courtesy Candiese Lenferna.
Impressive MALMOOS makes it four in a row winning the 2020 CONCORDE CUP (Grade 2)
Candiese up close with SUMMER PUDDING Candiese Lenferna was over the moon at getting to visit 2020 EQUUS HORSE OF THE YEAR and darling of the South African turf, the queen herself, SUMMER PUDDING. While in Johannesburg for the recent National Two Year Old Sales, Candiese had the opportunity to visit the Turffontein yard of Paul Peter and photograph the fabulous filly.
Fresh off her eighth win in succession now, SUMMER PUDDING is clearly looking an absolute picture of health and very quickly notching up a very impressive supportive band of adoring fans too. Amid all the doom & gloom that has brought racing to its knees during 2020, she’s the best thing that the industry could wish for!
GIVEUSAKISS (by Greys Inn out of the imported Australian mare, Viva La Belle, by Defensive Play) with her 2020 Master Of My Fate filly.
The grey mares of Varsfontein and their foals
The 2020 Master Of My Fate filly out of GIVEUSAKISS is becoming more and more grey by the day.
TOUCH THE SKY (by Jet Master out of Mystic Spring) and KISSIMMEE (by Jet Master out of Whatsinakiss) enjoying the lush grazing.
KISSIMMEE left (by Jet Master out of Whatsinakiss by Elliodor) and TOUCH THE SKY right (by Jet Master out of Mystic Spring by Royal Academy).
The darling of Varsfontein Stud, BELA-BELA (by Dynasty out of Mystic Spring by Royal Academy), with her 2020 Gimmethegreenlight filly.
KISSAWAY (by Gimmethegreenlight out of Whatsinakiss by Elliodor) and her 2020 Master Of My Fate colt.
Marchfield (CAN) 2004 youngsters impressing! Canadian bred MARCHFIELD, by A.P. Indy, who is from the Bold Ruler - Boldnesian Bold Reasoning - Seattle Slew sire line, out of the mare Pico Teneriffe, from the Hail To Reason - Turn To sire line, has wasted no time in throwing his hat into the ring as a potential sire extraordinaire of talented thoroughbred showjumpers. First to be discovered was a daughter of his, CARRIBEAN CARNIVAL (SAF) 2015, out of the Al Mufti mare, Carnival Girl (pictured above and opposite). Purchased off the track, after having only two poor starts with Candice Bass-Robinson, by Diane Snodgrass-Botes, the mare displayed her terrific jumping talent from day one. Produced up to the 1.10m classes in Port Elizabeth under Diane’s care with Lloyd Nicholls in the saddle, the mare has recently been sold to Clodagh Shaw in KwaZulu Natal.
Next to catch the eye was GUN HILL (SAF) 2015, who is out of a Lundy’s Liability / Complete Warrior mare. A winner of three races in Port Elizabeth under the care of Yvette Bremner, he was quickly snapped up by leading South African showjumping coach, Chad Cunningham, who is based in Johannesburg. Chad quickly sent him off to the very capable Chris van der Merwe to start off his second career as a showjumper, with obvious jumping talent being evident from day one. The pair recently made their impressive debut at the President’s Cup Show in the 90cm classes (see Tamara & Blake Images). Anthony Kay has also recently reported that he has a very decent Marchfield in his stable too, the gelding ALL OUT. MARCHFIELD has since left stud in South Africa and made his way to Namibia for breeding purposes. - CB
Where are they now? ERIC FORDRED Photo above: Eric Fordred riding the first winner of his career as a jockey for trainer Alec Uzent at Newmarket on the 1st May 1974 aboard the filly Nandina, owned by Messrs Forssman, Ebner & Leaver. The race was a Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1500m. Diminutive in stature, but sizeable in intellect. That is 64 year old Eric Fordred, a name our older readers will remember well. A household name as a jockey for 21 years in all SA Racing venues, Fordred was born in Zimbabwe, but moved with his parents to the Alberton / Germiston area in Gauteng, as a child. Riding farm horses with his siblings as a young boy, he cites his Grandfather as fomenting the Horseracing interest in him, and the bug bit at an early age.
In 1970, a 28kg waif of a lad tried joining The Jockeys’ Academy, but a pituitary glandular problem, affecting his weight (or lack thereof), almost cost him admission. After successful medical intervention, his apprenticeship commenced, initially at Pinetown Academy. As an apprentice, commencing in 1970, Fordred rode only two winners on the turf, but twelve on the sand. Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth his chief stomping grounds back then. He recalls, with great delight, his first ride, for Herman Brown. He was put on a giant of a horse, some 18 hands high. Despite the obvious nervousness, he finished 5th. They had to put cement around the saddle,� he chuckled. The 1980s were the golden years for Fordred. The list of legendary horses he sat, and/or won, on is impressive and lengthy. Among the champions he piloted that era were: Horatius, Flaming Rock, Captive Prince,
Epoque, Counter Punch, Esprit Du Corps, Mystery Me, Izindaba and Bombay Duck.
not comprehensive enough and he got proactive.
Memorable rides were, winning on his first ride for Terrence Millard, when he punched the Argentinian-bred filly Epoque home in the SA Fillies Guineas in 1988/9, drawn 16 out of 16.
Getting involved with several insurance companies, he began selling insurance to fellow jocks ‘out the jockeys’ room’ so-tospeak.
Beating home the brilliant Tucson on Horatius in the 1980 Diadem Stakes. Partnering Esprit Du Corps to victory in the 1988 Cape Merchants. Booting home a 3 year old Counter Punch in the Matchem Stakes. A close 3rd to the great Foveros in the 1982 J&B Met on Captive Prince and, the multiple victories on the flying daughter of Politician, Izindaba, who won an astonishing 15 races. Eric had a long-standing relationship with Cape trainer Alex Nicholas; some 10 years as the late conditioner’s stable jockey. He grins, recalling how some labelled him “Five Wide Fordred,” as he was never one to be afraid to circle a field, as many great overseas jockeys are wont to do in the modern era. “Losing a race giving a horse a chance,” he told me, “is eminently better than losing it by being boxed in on the fence!” Another nickname he got over the years was from race caller Rouvaun Smit, who to this day, calls him “Effervescent Eric.” I can testify to that, as this slight man with a broad smile is probably still as “bubbly” as he was when he only weighed in at 28kg! In fact, he’s easy to spot in a crowd, as he still has pretty much the same look as he did when sitting on those 800 or so winners he trotted into the winners’ box all those years ago. In the mid-90s, as retirement loomed on the horizon, the ever astute business minded Fordred saw a gap in the insurance market for jockeys. He cites that, back then, insurance and medical aid coverage for jockeys and other “extreme” sportsmen were
And once he stashed his riding gear away for keeps, insurance became his main focus. He is currently in his 26th year as a “broker” to race riders and other sportsmen and women, always looking to get those brave enough to mount a half-ton beast daily, a “fair and dependable” indenture. His clients have been far and wide. What about the future? I asked him over our 2nd restaurant cappuccino in Melkbosstrand, the village we both currently reside in. His eyes lit up. “I’m working on retiring to Mozambique,” he replied with a broad smile. “I’ve already some vested interest there.” When will all this happen? I asked. “I will let you know,” his reply. As we walked to our cars, I couldn’t help but notice the trademark “Effervescent Eric” gait, and I’m almost sure he went “five wide” around a few locals, before he climbed into his car.
SEEKING THE STARS who was devastating in winning the 2020 CTS READY TO RUN STAKES
The youngest polo player in the class, Jocelyn Koller, on RARE COLOUR, an unraced mare by Hobb Alwahtan out of a Red Ryder / Oligarchy mare.
Polo Pony Showing Class at the Johannesburg Show Horse Festival - Eaton Farm
The competitors lining up for the judges of the class who were, Fee Berning, Edith Venter, Greg Goss and Ken Twort.
Warming up before the start of the class. Barring two of the horses, the majority were aged between 4 & 9 years old and they are in their first and second seasons off the track / stud farm.
The eventual winner, SUMMER IN THE CITY, busy impressing the judges.
In the arena under the scrutiny of the judges.
The two youngest competitors placed 3rd & 4th, James Dewey on the 19 year old EASTERN SPIRIT (Al Mufti x Eastern Venture), a lovely polo pony schoolmaster, & Jocelyn Koller on RARE COLOUR, unregistered, but she is by Hobb Alwahtan.
Rory Twort on TASTY TIPPLE, an unraced filly by Byword.
Lucas Mthethwa, groom and green horse work rider, on EMMA a 4 y/o filly by Jay Peg out of Star of Equus.
2nd placed Charlie Dewar on MAMASITA, a 9 y/o mare by Admire Main x Espinado.
The winner of the class, SUMMER IN THE CITY (Mogok x Cool Summer by Shaamit), a 7 year old mare owned by Wayne Hartley and looked after by Alfred Ngcube. Previously a 3 time winner for the Patrick Lunn racing stables.
Fantastic fractional ownership offer available. The Woodhill Syndicate, gets you the thrill of the racing careers of these four magnificent fillies. It’s a wonderful opportunity to maximize the horse racing experience for a portion of the investment. T & C’s apply. Please contact us woodhillracing@paarlonline.co.za
Sublime SUMMER PUDDING wow! Now a sensational 9 from 9 after her victory in the 2020 World Sports Betting Summer Cup. Congratulations to all the connections.
Š Candiese Lenferna Photography
Trainer Carl Hewitson saddled his first winner at Greyville on Monday 23rd November 2020 when the speedy filly SET THE DATE by Gimmethegreenlight and bred by Varsfontein Stud won with son Lyle in the saddle. Welcome to KwaZulu Natal and may there be many more.
Š Candiese Lenferna Photography
Well done Carl Hewitson on your first winner!
Š Candiese Lenferna Photography
Š Candiese Lenferna Photography
Accomplished SNAITH RACING groom, SANELE, holding onto an exuberant, LITCHFIELD.
Photos Candiese Lenferna Photography
VARDY out due to injury! Sad news from the yard of Adam Marcus in Cape Town is that his 2020 EQUUS CHAMPION MILER AWARD winner, VARDY, has injured his near fore suspensory ligament and that he will be side-lined indefinitely. The young and very adept trainer will give the lightly raced five year old’s injury all the time it needs to repair, adding that VARDY has been prone to issues during his career. As a young horse he had chips removed from his near fore knee, as well as his off fore fetlock joint. Adam says he has dealt with injuries like this before and that it is all about rest and TLC. A scan of the area will be carried out in two months’ time in order to ascertain the speed at which the injury is healing and Adam is hopeful that VARDY can be brought back to his best.
THE GOLDEN AGE OF THOROUGHBRED SHOWJUMPING HORSES & RIDERS IN SOUTH AFRICA (PART ONE)
Pictured above: An amazing South African Showjumping Team photograph C1985 of from left to right FLAUNT & Gonda Betrix / POWERFORCE & Barry Taylor / STORM FINCH & Anneli Wucherpfennig / GOSSIPER & Peter Gotz. In Part One, of what will be a three part series, we take a look at the cream of the hugely talented pool of Thoroughbred horses, who once finished with their racing careers, went on to establish themselves as exceptional showjumping horses of the highest order in South Africa together with their riders, many of whom became household names from the late 1960s through to the early 1990s. During that period these super athletes thrilled big crowds at major events like the Rand Easter Show, the Royal Show, the Rothmans Showjumping Derby and the Tongaat Grand
Prix. Many of them were also brought directly into our living rooms by the SABC during the Saturday afternoon sport shows of the early years of television in South Africa.
We take a look at and remind ourselves of the following horses & riders in Part One. Horse
Rider
Born Colour Sex
Sire
Dam
Dam Sire
Grandam Sire Hyperion
APPRAISE
Mickey Louw
1965
Brown
Gelding Joie De Vivre II
Logistic
Combat
DRESS SUIT
Janie Myburg
1971
Brown
Gelding
Kingbenitch
Dress Ring
Abadan II
Lenin
FLAUNT
Gonda Betrix
1975
Chestnut Gelding
Prosperous
Fast Feet
Royal Affair
Red Wood II
GOSSIPER
Peter Gotz
1971
Dark Bay
Mare
Porky
Cantankerous
Cantador II
Defiant II
HONEY GIRL (SPEEDY CIRCLE)
Gonda Betrix
1968
Bay
Mare
Arctic Circle
African Helio
Astale
Sunstone Boveney
NEBRASKA
Anneli Wucherpfennig
1971
Chestnut Gelding
Even Beat
Shalvah
L'aretin
POWERFORCE (WILLIE GARVIN)
Barry Taylor
1972
Chestnut Gelding
Akbar II
Silver Shadow
Clouds
Brookhill
PRECENTOR
Sue Louw-Pieters
1973
Brown
Gelding
Preamble II
Limoges
Abadan II
Niccolo Dell'arca
SEVILLE
Anneli Wucherpfennig
1967
Bay
Gelding
Jerez
Minden
Giafar
Fenimore Cooper
STORM FINCH
Anneli Wucherpfennig
1973
Bay
Gelding
Jerez
TAMBOURLAINE
Janie Myburg
1966
Bay
Gelding
Dramatic II
Bay
Gelding Noble Chieftain
Thunder Light Thunderhead II Majorca
Preamble II
Kipling Niccolo Dell'arca
THALES
Peter Gotz
1961
New Eclipse
Double Eclipse
Grassgreen
TORCH SIGN
Mickey Louw
1958
Chestnut Gelding
Signification
Tontorch
Victory Torch
Marlborough
TSUNAMI
Barry Taylor
1978
Chestnut Gelding
Trocadero
Beauclare
Dramatic II
Mail Plane
Horse
Breeder
Racing Record
APPRAISE
Birch Bros.
Runs: 31 Wins: 2 Placed: 4
DRESS SUIT
G. Strydom
Runs: 7 Wins: 0 Placed: 0
FLAUNT
D.O. Wright & Son
Runs: 29 Wins: 4 Placed: 6
GOSSIPER
E.V. Williams
Runs: 10 Wins: 0 Placed: 0
HONEY GIRL (SPEEDY CIRCLE)
J.H.P. Blignaut
Runs: 0 Wins: 0 Placed: 0 Runs: 26 Wins: 1 Placed: 4
NEBRASKA
Mrs. L.M. Houseman
POWERFORCE (WILLIE GARVIN)
Oasis Stud (PTY) LTD
Runs: 0 Wins: 0 Placed: 0
PRECENTOR
Mr. R. Koster & Son / Klavervlei Stud
Runs: 29 Wins: 6 Placed: 4
SEVILLE
Mr. R. Koster / Klavervlei Stud
Runs: 19 Wins: 1 Placed: 3
STORM FINCH
Mr. R. Koster & Son / Klavervlei Stud
Runs: 17 Wins: 1 Placed: 2
TAMBOURLAINE
Mr. R. Koster / Klavervlei Stud
Runs: 46 Wins: 6 Placed: 14
THALES
Mr. M.de Wet
Runs: 54 Wins: 8 Placed: 7
TORCH SIGN
M.G. Cooper
Runs: 122 Wins: 8 Placed: 28
TSUNAMI
Varsfontein Stud
Runs: 11 Wins: 0 Placed: 1
Note: The Koster family and their Klavervlei Stud are the breeders of many extremely talented Thoroughbred showjumpers in South Africa. Their list of super talented horses that have performed at the very top of the sport of showjumping in their second careers is truly remarkable and impressive and is by no means limited to just the four horses mentioned above.
Horse
SA Showjumping Derby
APPRAISE DRESS SUIT
SA Outdoor SA Showjumping SA Indoor Showjumper Of The Year Grand Prix Championships Grand Prix Harry Amler Trophy 1975 / 1976 / 1978
1981
1975
1979 / 1981
1981
FLAUNT
1989 / 1990 / 1991
GOSSIPER
1986
1986
HONEY GIRL (SPEEDY CIRCLE)
1979 / 1980
1979
NEBRASKA
1987
1980 1983
POWERFORCE (WILLIE GARVIN)
1977 / 1978 / 1979 / 1981
1985 / 1987
1982 1985 / 1986
PRECENTOR SEVILLE STORM FINCH
1982 / 1992
TAMBOURLAINE
1978
THALES TORCH SIGN TSUNAMI
1986 / 1990
1985
1976 / 1977 1970 / 1971 / 1972
1973
1983
1977
Anneli
Let’s look at our featured horse & rider combinations in Part One. The gorgeous PRECENTOR and Sue LouwPieters won the 1985 Transvaal Championships and narrowly missed out on a chance of winning the 1983 Rothmans Showjumping Derby with just a silly stop at
the top of the bank and a couple of time penalties, eventually finishing third. Sue did a real work of art in producing PRECENTOR from off the track to the top grade of showjumping and the result was one of the
most beautiful to watch showjumping combinations one could ever wish to see. Although PRECENTOR had gaps in his competition career, Sue pretty much kept him in regular work until his late teens when he contracted Cushing’s disease. He is now buried on Sue’s property, which is a leading pre-training and spelling farm in KZN, now aptly named PRECENTOR PLACE. Sue is one of the most highly respected showjumping coaches in South Africa and a horsewoman of note.
Above: PRECENTOR & Sue Louw competing. Below: PRECENTOR as a yearling prepared for the 1975 National Yearling Sales. Above Right: PRECENTOR & Sue Louw after winning the 1985 Transvaal Showjumping Championship.
Above: HONEY GIRL & Gonda successfully negotiating the derby bank in the old arena at the Inanda Club. What more can one say about the immaculate and superbly talented Gonda Betrix that hasn’t been said or written about before? Anyone who understands total goal focus, self-belief and the need to keep working as hard, if not harder, when you are
already at the top of your game will totally get the magic and success that was Gonda Betrix. Space restricts us here, so let’s get straight onto the fabulous mare HONEY GIRL. Gonda bought her from Louisa Coetzee and she was already a tremendously successful showjumper in the junior ranks when Gonda purchased her. Although not bred directly by the Koster Family & Klavervlei Stud, HONEY GIRL was by ARCTIC CIRCLE (pictured below as a yearling and ready for the 1961 National Yearling Sales) who was bred by them, being a son of DRAMATIC II.
Trainer George Azzie paid the fifth highest price on the 1961 National Yearling Sales of R6930 for him on behalf of Mr. & Mrs. Charles Engelhard. He was the champion 2yo of his year, finished 7.45 lengths behind Numeral in the 1964 Rothmans July Handicap and ended his racing career as a 9-time winner and 13 places from 48 runs. ARCTIC CIRCLE appears to have stood for only one season at stud and is noted as producing 11 foals in that year, one of them, HONEY GIRL, being probably South Africa’s best ever Thoroughbred showjumper! Above Right: ARCTIC CIRCLE as a 2yo. Centre Right: HONEY GIRL & Gonda looking fantastic over a huge triple bar. Below Right: FLAUNT & Gonda Betrix, winners of three consecutive South African Showjumping Championship titles. Flaunt’s full sister, Fair Flight (registered as Allegation), was also hugely talented and so beautifully produced by June Fletcher.
The diminutive Janie Myburg is pictured below with her two awesome South African Rothmans Derby winners, DRESS SUIT in 1981 (Below Centre) and her 1978 winner TAMBOURLAINE (Below Bottom). Janie, is the wife of George Myburg, mother of Michele and grandmother of first season Eastern Cape trainer, Montana Turner. Janie has not been feeling too good of late and we hope she gets better soon. A brilliant horsewoman who has ridden so many top showjumpers in South Africa that it is hard to keep track of them all. Sadly Janie lost the fabulous TAMBOURLAINE to colic shortly after his Derby win. Bred by the Koster Family at Klavervlei Stud, the dam of TAMBOURLAINE and the dam of Sue Louw-Pieter’s PRECENTOR were ½ sisters.
90s in South Africa and rode many other great horses during that period, including the tiny mixed-breed CHARLIES SWOP, the tall and very talented Porky mare, GOSSIPER, as well as NOBLE CUT by Ten Dollar (a son of Porky). Peter also competed with distinction as an individual in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics on a Belgian Warmblood stallion called DIDI, which he leased from Michael Whitaker. Pictured opposite with his very consistent and loyal partner, THALES (by Noble Chieftain), Peter Gotz was at the top of his game for a good three decades through the 70s to the
To my mind Mickey Louw’s retirement from the sport as still a young man came far too soon, as there was still so much to come from him. A terrifically naturally talented
Mr. Tony Wilson’s TORCH SIGN and Mickey Louw down the bank in the 1970 South African Showjumping Derby at the Inanda Club. He was bred by Mr. Hendrik Swanepoel - Colga Stud.
A wonderfully nostalgic hand written letter (dated 15th January 1974) from Torch Sign’s breeder, Mr. Hendrik Swanepoel of Colga Stud, to Mr. Tony Wilson, his owner.
Mickey Louw and APPRAISE (bred by the Birch Brothers) over a huge wall at a Royal Show in Pietermaritzburg in the late 1970s. They were prolific winners and very quick against the clock.
Below: Mickey Louw with another of his fantastic partners, TORCH SIGN, competing in the old derby arena at Inanda.
rider with an eye second to take-no-prisoners approach to offs against the clock saw him winner of countless competitions both here and Kingdom.
none and his winning jumpemerge as the showjumping in the United
During his time of competing in South Africa Mickey rode some superbly talented horses. Two names that come to the fore though are APPRAISE, a son of Joie de Vivre II (by Relic) and TORCH SIGN (by Signification). Both were exceptional horses and together amassed an unbelievable list of wins in the biggest showjumping competitions on offer in South Africa (the equivalence of racing’s Group 1 events). Mickey, who is now fully retired and living on the KwaZulu Natal South Coast, is quick to credit his ex wife, Sue, for a lot of his success. Mickey explains that he always had a day job and that it was very much Sue who ran their yard, caring for the horses and doing a lot of the schooling of the horses. Above Left: Mickey Louw and APPRAISE, with the then secretary of the South African National Equestrian Federation, Mr. Bob Charter, at APPRAISE’s official retirement ceremony in 1982, aged 17.
Barry Taylor is (in my opinion) the last of the riders from the “golden age” (besides Gail Foxcroft, Ronnie Lawrence & Anne-Marie Esslinger who we will feature in Part Two) who remains active and very much part of the top end of showjumping in South Africa at present. Barry rides with a wonderfully natural relaxed feel and is tremendously effective on all types of horses, be they Thoroughbreds or Warmbloods of varying ring temperaments and ability seem to respond positively to him, the result being that he always produces beautifully prepared competitive horses who are a joy to watch. Barry runs one of the biggest competition yards in Johannesburg together with his gorgeous and very supportive wife Lorette, herself a rider of note! The wonderful POWERFORCE (Top Next Page) who Barry enjoyed a very successful junior career on before making his mark in the adult ranks must rate as one of his best horses ever seen in South Africa, but there is an exceptionally long list of horses that Barry has not only produced, but competed on as well with great success. (Bottom Next Page) Barry and his extremely talented Trocadero gelding TSUNAMI (out of Beauclare by Dramatic II) as a young A Grade.
Photos Previous Page: Both photos are of Anneli and the fabulous SEVILLE. We wrap up Part One with the great Anneli Wucherpfennig and wow what can one say, but take a bow Anneli! This remarkable lady and rider of note left the United Kingdom for South Africa with a host of multi discipline international and British successes as part of her resume. She quickly established a string of top horses and began her onslaught on the South African showjumping scene. Being always fearless and extremely focussed when the chips were down meant South African showjumping fans and spectators were treated to some of the most exciting jump off rounds ever from Anneli. A truly dedicated and consummate professional who at 80 something still rides daily and competes regularly, what an amazing, much-loved lady! - S E L E C T THOROUGHBRED NEWS
Above: Anneli and the extremely brave and courageous STORM FINCH (by Jerez, a son of Dramatic II) bred by the Koster family at their Klavervlei Stud. Below: Anneli and NEBRASKA (by Even Beat, who was one of the 42 sons of Drum Beat who took their place at stud in South Africa), showjumper Of The Year in 1982. NEBRASKA, a 7/8 brother to DEVASTATION (by Drum Beat) owned and ridden by Clodagh Shaw.
MAZARIN and Bertie Hayden with owner, Mrs. Tendereni and trainer Syd Laird after winning the 1971 Durban July Handicap. Looking on is the late Liz du Toit on the resident Durban Turf Club lead horse at the time, the lovely grey, Battleship. Photo courtesy Joe Nagel.
Vintage South African Horse Racing
COLORADO KING, with Carol Nagel in the yard at Roamer Lodge, Milnerton. Photo courtesy Joe Nagel.
