“As an owner, if you don’t get a thrill out of owning a racehorse you’re missing the plot.” That’s was the view of Anton Procter (76), one of the doyens of South African horseracing, who died on Saturday after a short battle with cancer.

Procter was not a man to let the grass grow too long under his feet and moved house and stud probably more often than wife Judy would care to remember. Procter eventually settled Burwell Stud just outside Howick in KZN, where he kept a small but select band of broodmares.

Marching to the beat of his own drum, Anton lived by the motto of his old high school, Kearsney College – Carpe Diem – seize the day.

An agricultural adviser in his youth, he was cattle farmer, bookmaker, stud manager, owner, trainer and stud owner during a career in racing spanning over 50 years.

While still working as an agricultural adviser Procter was a keen participant in a thriving amateur horseracing circuit in the sixties where many trainers on the professional circuit cut their teeth. Richmond was a particularly strong centre and Anton was secretary of the Richmond Gymkhana Club. But in those days racing was held in many rural areas and Anton recalls “raiding” Umtata from his then home base of Donnybrook.

The transition from agricultural agent to bookmaker was sudden.

Anton recounted; “I was stationed in Noodsberg doing a “time-and-motion” study for the sugar industry and it was extremely boring. One day I heard that the bookmaking rights in Greytown were for sale. I said to Judy, ‘when you go into town this morning, find out how much they want’. As it turned out it was part of a deceased estate and was for sale for R1000. I happened to know the executor who said they already had a bid but I could have it if I offered more. I offered R1020 and went into business even though I didn’t have a clue about bookmaking.”

 “We only raced on Saturday’s and Wednesday’s in those days and the first day was hectic. When I finally tallied up, I had made R35 profit but it was a start.

“After ten years in the business bookmaking was becoming boring but in 1970 he had a stroke of good fortune. Naval Escort was favourite for the July and somehow it happened that if he won Procter stood to lose a fortune. “On the morning of the race I told Judy to get ready for a busy day. She said to me before I left, ‘You know what I dreamt; I dreamt that Court Day won the July.’ I took no notice. Later that day she told me, ‘You know what I drew in the tennis club sweep, Court Day’”.

 It proved prophetic.

“It was a hell of a busy day and when we closed up I was knackered and just stuffed all the money into a bag and went home and I asked the kids to count the takings – R35 000.”

“It was enough to buy a farm and the end of bookmaking.”

 “I was always desperate to get into the breeding side and it was about this time that I got a call from Robin Bruss and Peter Lovemore with an offer to manager Stapleford Stud, then one of the biggest operations in the then Rhodesia, for Rob Davenport.

 “We spent three years there but it was a steep learning curve.”

From Rhodesia, Anton got an offer to manage the fledgling Summerhill Stud, and he pulled up his grub stake once again and he and Judy headed back home. He managed Summerhill for eight years before moving on to Aldora Stud owned by Guy Landon where Anton was instrumental in buying the top stallion Rakeen for the Tawny Syndicate while the ill-fated Secret Prospector also stood at Aldora.

Being a highly personable character with an inquiring mind, Anton had mixed with the best horseman in the world and gained a vast knowledge of the industry and horses. Burwell today is more a “boutique” stud in the larger scheme of things but with a high quality broodmare band going to the best commercial stallions.

Anton was outspoken on many industry issues but one of his more strongly held beliefs was that owners do not get their due recognition. “In the post-race TV interviews on Tellytrack we get the jockey and the trainer first and the owner as an afterthought. The owner should be the first to be interviewed.”

“Watching your horse win is a thrilling moment. It’s what keeps people going in this sport and they need to be given recognition.”

It was horses that got Anton up in the morning. “I eat, dream and sleep horses. I have travelled to America, England, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. I have had the privilege to have mixed with the best horsemen and women around the world. Everything I own is due to the racehorse.”

Anton leaves his wife Judy, married for 52 years, two daughters and five grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements to be announced.

By Andrew Harrison

Image: “I eat, dream and sleep horses.” Anton Procter (Photo Credit:Rob Haswell)

Missisippi Burning, who has not raced since springing a 22-1 shock in the WSB Cape Fillies Guineas more than three months ago, pleased Adam Marcus when partnered by Craig Zackey in a spin at Summerveld yesterday.

Marcus said: “She travelled to Durban exceptionally well. She is not a big filly so she doesn’t need that much work – it’s just a case of keeping her happy and so far all has gone according to plan.

“One of her main aims is the WSB Fillies Guineas on May 1 and I have entered her for the Umzimkhulu over 1 400m on April 5. But there are penalties in that race – she gets 6kg for being a Grade 1 winner – so I am going to analyse the strength of the field and look at the draw before deciding.”

Vardy, winner of the WSB Green Point and L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate but badly hampered when only sixth in the Sun Met, remains on course to start his Durban campaign in the Independent on Saturday Drill Hall on May 1. However last year’s Vodacom Durban July third Twist Of Fate will now take a different road towards the big one.

Marcus explained: “He is a horse who gives his all and I feel that three hard runs prior to the July could set him back. I want to freshen him up, and have him happy and confident, so he will probably go on a route away from the weight-for-age races.”

Despite Summerveld’s variety of gallops and training tracks Marcus says – a little surprisingly perhaps – that so far  he slightly prefers his Milnerton home base. “Summerveld is more spacious and the stables are nice but I feel that at Milnerton you can maintain horses at their top level for longer. With the sea breeze and the Cape Town climate they seems to thrive there. But if we win one of the big ones I am sure I will like Summerveld just as much!”

Favorita

Favorita may be upped in class after demolishing the opposition in the Listed East Cape Fillies Nursery at Fairview last Friday.

Justin Snaith said: “I thought she would win – but not by almost ten lengths going away! It was a hell of an impressive run. She is not a big filly but she is extremely gutsy and she will maybe go for a feature here next.”

Klawervlei race

Glen Kotzen and Vaughan Marshall dominate (numerically at least) the R225 000 Klawervlei Farm Sale Stakes at Durbanville on Saturday. Between them, they account for seven of the 11 runners.

No racing in Mauritius

The start of the Mauritius racing season has been postponed for at least a fortnight because of CoronaVirus. The Turf Club decided that meetings scheduled for this Saturday and April 4 should be postponed “until further notice” following Prime Minister Pravin Jugnauth‘s announcement of a two-week period of confinement that began last Friday. The country’s citizens have been ordered to stay indoors for 14 days.

By Michael Clower

The Turffontein Inside track meeting tomorrow has some competitive races but it provides an opportunity for exotic punters to land healthy dividends and on the ball on-the-nose punters might find one or two value bets too. 

The seventh over 1450m is the highest rated race on the card and the in-form mare Florida Quays is tipped to win. She beat the well regarded Saragon last time over 1400m and the form was franked. Furthermore, she jumps from pole position. Stage Dance and Promise will both enjoy the course and distance and should be right there too.

The first race is a workriders maiden over 1600m and at first sight looks to be a duel between Pucker Up and Anatura. On a strict line through Rock You, Pucker Up comes out 1,50 lengths clear. However, Anatura does have the pole position draw compared to the five draw of Pucker Up. Deebaa was not disgraced on debut last September in a fair field and likely needed her last start. She is drawn well and could be the dark horse.

In the second race over 1000m Caerphilly has plenty of substance and is improving accordingly. She has pace and can take advantage of a pole position draw. She is made a PA banker despite this being a competitive event in which a number of others have chances. Chasing Green is the most intriguing runner. She has not raced since last May. She was thereabouts in all three of her starts in the strong centre of Cape Town and she has plenty of pace so will appreciate being in Johannesburg where all of the sprint courses are faster than the tough Kenilworth sprint course. Cappadocia also has pace and can be in the shake up if starting on terms from a fair draw. Showdown Kid was backed on debut and this good looking sort could improve on that disappointing effort. Exultant is a long time maiden but has been competitive lately and is capable of finishing well. Western Vision, Mind Reader and Urban Oasis could earn too.

The third race over 1450m is uninspiring and the two first-timers could have a say despite both having tough draws. Nordic Queen is tipped to win it. She led last time over 1600m and was beaten 3,75 lengths by Fayrooz. The latter went on to win the Listed Oaks Trial easily. Nordic Queen now has pole position. The Mike De Kock-trained first-timer Barak is by Master Of My Fate out of merit rated 100 five-time winner Bermuda Sloop. The Sean Tarry-trained first-timer Take The World is by Pomodoro out of Tinchy Stryder who won three times including her first two starts. Bartholomeus is improving and gets blinkers on. Pluviophile has a shout if recapturing her best with a 4kg claimer aboard and blinkers on.

In the next race over 2000m Daphne De Maurier is made the best bet of a tough card. She had to work to overcome a wide draw over 1800m last time but still finished close up and from a fair draw this time could reverse form with Curvation. The latter finished strongly from way back in that race and has to be included in the Pick 6 over this suitable trip.

In the next race over 1000m Jozi Hustle is a fascinating runner having gone close in a strong Graduation Plate over this trip on Saturday and now facing a much easier task on paper in a handicap. Isphan loves this course and distance and has a good draw. Ice Eater looks the other one to include.

In the sixth race over 1200m Oden has a fine record over this trip and should make another bold bid. However, with the Tarry yard back in form Pidgeon Rock could be a threat and if Epic Dream takes his place after his fast-finishing win over 1000m on Saturday he should also be right there. 

The last race over 1450m is wide open and a few will have to be included in the Pick 6. The top three look to be Readysetglo, Miss Khalifa and Cut Loose and they should all be included in the PA. Tigermil, if she stays, could be a big runner and Lightning Rock and Golden Spiral also have the ability to go close. The Maiden Fire Flower is well drawn and improving so she also has a shout. 

By David Thiselton

Greg Cheyne, East Cape champion for the last three seasons and 62 winners clear this term, will continue to ride at every Fairview meeting as well as meet his Cape Town commitments despite the NHA’s request that jockeys and trainers should avoid air travel.

This was issued shortly after 4.00pm on Friday by which time Cheyne had already made the switch from plane to car and had driven the 750k from Cape Town the previous day. “It took me eight hours,” he said yesterday. “Coming back I split the journey in half, stopping over in Mossel Bay, and driving the other half on Saturday morning before riding at Durbanville.”

Cheyne is second on the national log with 136 winners and 97 have of these have come at Fairview, almost all through his association with Alan Greeff. M.J. Byleveld, also a Fairview regular, issued a statement to the Sporting Post on Saturday as spokesman for the Coastal Jockeys Association. This said that the jockeys will abide by the NHA request and added: “Some of the guys have already made plans to rearrange their riding commitments and to curtail regular travel.”

NHA chief executive Vee Moodley’s statement, issued in conjunction with the operators and others, did not give a specific must-obey instruction but said they “discourage all air travel of industry participants entering racecourses and training establishments countrywide, subject to the 14-day isolation period being complied with.

“We appeal to all persons involved in the racing industry to act responsibly and with integrity as your conduct and commitment is paramount to the continuation of racing fixtures. The established high risk element of airports, and the severity of the CoronaVirus, necessitates such drastic measures.”

The statement takes effect from today and follows hot on the heels of a front-page article in last Thursday’s Sporting Post. This called for urgent action to stop the infection risk posed by travelling jockeys and out-of-province grooms accompanying interprovincial raiders. It was backed up by Summerveld trainer Garth Puller saying: “We need to shut down the interprovincial movement flow immediately.”

Several Cape Town trainers could see the shutters coming down on their plans for the Durban season and Justin Snaith said: “It caused a bit of a scare among all of us. People have changed their float dates and horses are now en route.”

Snaith has already arranged to spend four months in Durban without coming home but several other trainers had planned to fly backwards and forwards. They could drive – at a considerable cost in terms of time – but the journey takes too long for jockeys. Regular visits from the likes of Durban-based Anton Marcus, Keagan de Melo and Donovan Dillon (plus Craig Zackey) may become a thing of the past, at least until CoronaVirus is no longer seen as such a threat to life.

By Michael Clower

Matthew The King could be Langerman-bound after making an impressive- albeit poignant – debut at a near-empty Durbanville on Saturday.

M. J. Byleveld’s mount, nibbled at from 12-1 to 10-1, was the first runner for 2014 Triple Crown winner Louis The King and the colt swept to the front over a furlong out, drawing away comfortably to beat 2-1 favourite Sh Boom by more than two lengths.

Greg Ennion said: “I had expected him to run very well even though he had only been on the grass twice, the first time just to have a look and the second to go a half-pace. Then I heard that Sh Boom was unbeatable so I took a step back and told the owner to just have places on the horse.”

Asked if the 1 500m Langerman on June 27 would be a possibility, the Milnerton trainer said: “Absolutely. He has a heart like a lion and he is definitely going to get a mile. His father won over 2 450m and his mother (Changing Heart who Ennion trained) won over 1 400m.”

This win meant a lot for Terry and Annabel Andrews who stand Louis The King at their Sorrento Stud and even more for owner Rocky Warby and his family. Their tragic story was related by Charl Pretorius in his Turf Talk newsletter only two days before the race. Son Matthew was born with heart problems and had to have two transplants, one at the age of eight and the second when he was 20, hence the name Changing Heart. Sadly he died six years ago at the age of 23. Saturday’s winner will ensure that be brings a lump to collective throats whenever he runs.

This was the first behind-closed-doors meeting to be run in Cape Town. “It’s an absolute ghost town,” declared Justin Snaith. “And there are no TVs anywhere bar the one in the weighing room.”

But that didn’t stop the dual champion trainer landing a quick double with Captain’s Ransom and Double Reward to take him just ten short of his 16^th consecutive century.

Suzanne Viljoen’s newcomer Captain’s Ransom was particularly impressive. When Keagan de Melo pressed the button the unconsidered 16-1 shot took off like a rocket leaving Cape Canaveral, and she covered the final furlong nearly 10kph faster than anything else. “I was very surprised,” said Snaith. “I thought she would be a bit green and would need further while the favourite (Fiftyshadesdarker) looked unbeatable on form.”

Owners were barred (as were the racing press) but Al Wahed’s owner David Curran travelled to the course and took up position in the trees on the other side of the fence. The only snag was that he was unable to tell who had won when Richard Fourie’s mount was involved in a three-way photo for the 1 000m handicap. He had to rely on a call from Mike Stewart who deserves considerable credit for keeping the gelding’s enthusiasm. – the eight-year-old was giving three years to the rest of the field and set a new class record. “He is a bit like me,” said the Noordhoek trainer. ”We are both old staggerers!”

There was no sauna so Craig Zackey was unable to get within striking distance of 53.5kg in the 2 400m handicap. Anthony Andrews proved a more than capable substitute on Winter Shadow and 35 minutes later Zackey delivered Al’s My Daddy late to decisively complete a quick double for Adam Marcus with his only two runners.

Uncle Anton was also on the mark on the Brett Crawford-trained Heaven’s Embrace in the 2000m handicap while De Melo sent Eric Sands home happy by landing the last on Midnight Badger.

By Michael Clower