The entire dining room rose to its feet to give Stan Elley a standing ovation when the now-retired trainer was announced the winner of the Acknowledgement of Achievement Award at Stellenbosch’s Lanzerac Hotel on Friday evening.
Justin Snaith, tongue firmly in cheek, caused laughter when he said: “Enjoy your green pastures, Stan. I am sure your wife will kick you out and send you to the races.”
There were also Special Service presentations at the Cape Racing & Breeding Awards Dinner to yearling inspection legend John Kramer and Robert Bloomberg.
The latter’s award was presented by Vidrik Thurling who paid tribute to his fellow Kenilworth Racing director for all he has done for Cape Town racing and added: “His daily punting makes a substantial contribution to the coffers of the racing operators!”
Bloomberg countered: “I thought that if I ever received an award like this it would be posthumously.”
Futura was named Horse Of the Year and is widely expected to follow up at tomorrow evening’s Equus Awards in Johannesburg.
Kenilworth general manager Dean Diedericks was not present but he was singled out for special mention by Markus Jooste’s racing manager Derek Brugman who said: “It is so important for us that our horses come back sound and in Dean we have somebody at the helm who does a wonderful job.”
Cape Breeders’ chairman Vaughan Koster, whose Cheveley Stud bred award-winner Legislate, pointed to the high success rate of Western Cape breeders and stallions – over 60% of last season’s Grade 1 races – and singled out Main Chance and its stallion Silvano’s achievement of accounting for the first three in the Vodacom Durban July.
He said: “This has never been done by a breeder or a stallion before and the question begs whether it will ever be done again.”
The theme of the importance of the horse was initially underlined – and subsequently reinforced by several award recipients – by leading breeder John Koster who said: “Here we all sit when in actual fact our tables should be graced by Seventh Plain, Futura, Legislate, Captain Of All and all the other nominees.
“It is because of these noble animals that we are able to rise from ordinary lives and feel a wonderful sense of achievement. It is because they run their hearts out for us – unconditionally and without expectation of personal glory – that we are so fortunate.”
Koster, whose Klawervlei organisation took a whole host of awards, also had words of encouragement for smaller breeders, saying: “It matters not the size of your broodmare band, nor that of your budget but – with the right skill, passion and commitment – we can all breed the horse of our dreams.”
By Michael Clower
