Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

Tarry tops Highveld log

David Thiselton
Sean Tarry ended the season on top of the Highveld trainer’s log with earnings of just under R9,5 million in 610 races contested in that region including 89 wins. He pipped record-breaking National Champion trainer Mike de Kock, who contested 263 races for 56 wins and earnings of just over R9 million.
Charles Laird won the most races on the Highveld with 95 wins from 483 races contested for earnings of just under R9 million. Gary Alexander ended a memorable season fourth on the Highveld log and ninth on the National log having taken care of the best horse he’s ever trained, Pierre Jourdan. The next positions on the Highveld log in stakes earnings were occupied by Paul Matchett, Geoff Woodruff, Roy Magner, Dominic Zaki, St. John Gray and Alec Laird respectively. It was a halcyon season for Tarry who ended second on the National log with earnings of just under R14 million, just under R2 million ahead of third-placed Laird and just over R8 million behind runaway winner, De Kock. Tarry’s bloodstock agent brother, Mark, made a fine contribution to his season as he identified and bid for his pair of two-year-old Grade 1 winners on Vodacom Durban July day, the New Zealand-bred Gold Onyx, who won the Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1 600m, and the Australian-bred Happy Archer, who won the Durban Thekwini Stakes also over 1 600m. Sean said, “Mark looks for a mix in the pedigree. It is intensive work especially when there are so many horses on the sale. He was very happy with the pedigrees of both Happy Archer and Gold Onyx.” Mark then flew to Australasia and was pleased with the conformation of both horses. Happy Archer is by one of the world’s current boom sires, Dubawi, and Gold Onyx, is by the now South African-based sire, Black Minnaloushe.
Tarry said both Happy Archer and Gold Onyx would be prepared in Johannesburg for their next targets. “If Happy Archer draws well we will go for the Cape Fillies Guineas and Gold Onyx will go for the Dingaans,” he said.
Tarry won three other Grade 1 races during the season, including the two richest races on the Highveld calendar. He won the Summer Cup, considered one of South Africa’s big three, with the Silvano four-year-old gelding Aslan, and the Champions Challenge with the Caesour four-year-old gelding Regal Ransom, both races being run over 2 000m at Turffontein. His other Grade 1 success was with the four-year-old Captain Al filly, Captain’s Gal, who won the SA Fillies Sprint over 1200m at Scottsville, beating a top class field. Captain’s Gal will be staying in training although she will have a long break before being aimed at the Johannesburg Autumn Season. Tarry said he was looking forward to the forthcoming Spring Season in Johannesburg as he had a fresh string of horses ready to compete including Mana Mou, Across The Ice and former Grade 1 winner Give Me Five as well as the sand stalwarts Incomodo and Sayadaw. He added that he had some “nice three-year-olds” that would also be coming out in the Spring. His Clairwood-based satellite yard that is run by Deshone Steyn will remain in operation, although he added that he had not been happy with the state of the tracks there for most of last season and hoped the situation would improve. Tarry has made no secret of his admiration for De Kock and said, “I have learnt so much just from the example he sets, from his scientific approach, to his ability to have horses ready at the right time and from easing back when necessary. I am in the fortunate position of being a friend of his so can ask his advice when the occasion arises, but his example is there for all trainers to see.”

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