The Summerhill Ready To Run sale took place on the majestic farm in Mooi River on Tuesday 21^st February. The weather never played its part but that certainly never put a dampener on the attendance and the atmosphere, with prospective buyers welcomed with hot coffee, a sherry or a glass of champagne. Summerhill owner Mick Goss whom was not at the sale last year due to illness, made a wonderful traditional South African welcome and listed a few horses that have gone on to win group races sold out of this very sales ring on the farm.

Guests whom included buyers from across the globe, Mauritius, Kenya and Zimbabwe were very active and purchased several striking lots. Nchaka Moloi, the owner of Gr2 winner Heaps Of Fun, purchased Lot 65, an outstanding colt by freshman sire Await The Dawn for R200 000.

A scrumptious lunch was served which was prepared by the staff of Hartford House whom boast being recently voted as one of the top 20 best restaurants in South Africa,

Trainers from around the country supported the sale enthusiastically. Gary Alexander and his brother Dean were very active, whilst Scott Kenny from the Highveld secured many lots and in form trainers Kevin and Alyson Wright also secured lovely horses. There is always something for everyone at these particular sales, and it was no exception for Ashburton trainers Julie Dittmer, Gary Rich and Des Egdes whom never went home empty handed.

The auction was handled by star auctioneer Graeme Hawkins and managed by Michael Holmes Bloodstock.

By Warren Lenferna

Image: A colt during the wet pre-inspection at the Summer Ready To Run Sale, Summerhill Stud. Image: Candiese Marnewick

Alec Laird is to train the unnamed Frankel filly that made R4 million at last month’s Cape Premier Yearling Sale.

This was the highest price paid for a filly at the sale. She is out of a half-sister to the Flying Childers and Molecomb Stakes winner Requinto, was sold by Klawervlei and was knocked down to American bloodstock agent Justin Casse.

Lammerskraal’s Dynasty colt Starship Legacy, who made R4.5 million to the bid of Coolmore Australia, is to go to Justin Snaith who trained the half-brother Solo Traveller to win the 2010 Cape Guineas as well as the KRA Guineas and the Cape Classic. Markus Jooste is a partner with Coolmore in this one.

Vaughan Marshall will train Flying Arrow, the Drakenstein-consigned Captain Al colt who was bought by Irish agent Mick Flanagan for the China Horse Club for R3.75 million. Flanagan recalls the colt’s dam Happy Archer winning the Garden Province, Thekwini and Gold Bracelet during the time he spent in South Africa as assistant to Mike de Kock.

By Michael Clower

Jockey Nooresh Juglall, a Mauritian who trained at the South African Jockeys’ Academy, quickly bounced back from a recent race fall injury with a win it his very first ride since the accident.

He took a heavy tumble from Rusty Brown in the penultimate race on 5 February after his mount appeared to clip heels at the 700m marker. At first there were some fears he might be out of action for a while, having hurt his tongue and cheeks.

Nooresh Juglall

A doctor’s review of his condition a few days later gave him the green light to return to race riding as early as this past weekend, meaning he missed only the previous week’s double meeting.

Booked on five rides on Friday and another seven on Sunday, Juglall did not take long to find his way to a place he had already visited nine times this year before the fall.

Partnering a horse he had steered to a creditable fourth on debut in spite of a bad draw – Southern Glory – Juglall elected for the same tactics aboard the Bruce Marsh charge in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden over 1400m, dropping back and only touching his mount for a run on straightening.

The 1100m of his debut had proven too short, but Southern Glory had 300m more to exploit this time. Favourite Redoubt (Glen Boss) looked to have the race at his mercy, but Southern Glory stormed home on the outside to deny him by a neck.

“I’m glad I was able to win on my very first ride back from injury,” said Juglall.

“You don’t want such injuries to happen, but you can’t escape them sometimes. I’d like to thank the trainer and the owner, David Goh, for putting me on such a nice horse.” – Singapore Turf Club

The in-form Andre Nel can strike again with yet another lightly-raced horse at Kenilworth tomorrow when Riverboat Queen bids to make amends for her odds-on flop a month ago.

Aldo Domeyer’s mount was only beaten half a length in an admittedly modest-looking maiden early last month but she was ominously reluctant to load when heavily backed a fortnight later and she beat only one home.

Aldo Domeyer (Liesl King)

Although nothing showed up at the racecourse Nel found her to be slightly sore on her left-fore the next morning and that evening she was running a temperature. The following morning she was lame on both front legs and still had a temperature. The vet recommended no exercise for ten days.

She opened at a tempting 9-2 for the Itsarush.co.za Maiden yesterday with World Sports Betting who had obvious form choice Golden Wine favourite at 22-10 with I Lived (13 lengths in front of Riverboat Queen) on 7-2 and Seattle Silva the same price.

The Brett Crawford runner is interesting as she also flopped last time although it was her first race for nearly three months and she lost ground at the start. “I think the 1 400m was too far for her,” says her trainer. “She is back to 1 200m, is working well and should run much better.”

Nanna Anna may just be good enough to warrant 2-1 favouritism in the first – she was unlucky not to win first time and was then fifth when Anthony Delpech rode her in the Met day Listed race. “I think she will be hard to beat,” says a back-to-form Paul Reeves.

However watch out for Casual Diamond and, in particular, fellow 22-10 chance Believethisbeauty. The R525 000 Captain Al newcomer is the first foal of the Winter Oaks winner Cause To Believe. “This 1 000m may be a bit short for her but she shows a lot of speed and she is talented,” says Vaughan Marshall.

Apollo Star is very short at 7-10 in the other two-year-old race half an hour later. The Joey Ramsden runner was fourth to Bold Respect in the R1 million Kuda Sprint so is hard to oppose.

Richard Fourie’s mount Royal Marine (11-2) is a son of What A Winter and apparently could make the frame at the first time of asking. “”I brought him to Kenilworth to gallop and he worked very well,” says Greg Ennion who, however, cautions: “He might just need it.”

Ennion, incidentally, expects Meaningful Look to go well against Riverboat Queen – “she has improved a lot from her first run.” But stable companion Mangrove, as short as 15-10 for race five, has an outside draw to contend with and so Redeemer is preferred despite not being much of a price.

By Michael Clower

Anton Marcus brings his extraordinary 27% strike rate – 33% in Cape Town – to Kenilworth for the Prawn Festival meeting on Saturday when the four-time champion has four rides for Joey Ramsden.

Marcus, who won last year’s Vasco Taverna Prix Du Cap on the Brett Crawford-trained Cuvee Brut, this time renews his partnership with Cape Fillies Guineas winner Just Sensual.

Anton Marcus (Nkosi Hlophe)

He brought her incredibly late in the classic whereas in last month’s $500 000 CTS Mile Frankie Dettori led early – he had to overcome a 15 draw – and the filly weakened well before the end to finish with only four behind her.

She is the highest-rated horse in the race, is drawn on the rails and probably has most to fear from last season’s Cape Fillies Guineas winner Silver Mountain who is drawn (8) far better than she was when fifth in the Klawervlei Majorca.

In the Vasco Food Trucks Pinnacle Stakes Marcus is re-united with last season’s Cape Flying Championship runner-up Brutal Force on whom he won the 2015 Merchants at Turffontein.

There is a R30 admission fee for the Festival this time but that includes a ticket in the draws for R50 000 worth of household appliances. Saturday’s Kenilworth racemeeting also features a carryover Pick 6 pool (Race 4 @ 14h45) estimated to top R1,8million.

By Michael Clower