Winterbach Stud is in the prime breeding region of Stellenbosch.

Winterbach Stud’s Pride Attracts Big Buyers

The Winterbach Stud of Hendrik Winterbach Snr and Hendrik Winterbach Jnr is chiefly a boarding stud and is a fine stud to consider for those who have broodmares but don’t have a farm to stand them on.

The farm is situated in the prime breeding area of Stellenbosch on the Annandale Road.

The Winterbach’s only stand about five of their own mares, the rest are boarding mares.

They are also soon to have a stallion at the stud, the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint winner Master Archie (Rafeef), who they are proud to say was born and raised on their farm.

Winterbach Stud has been going for 13 to 14 years.

However, Hendrik Snr has 35 years experience in the game having been one of the stud managers at Varsfontein Stud.

Hendrik Snr in fact bred two fillies who would both be in the who’s who of great thoroughbreds produced in South Africa, i.e. Perfect Promise and Irridescence.

Both fillies were by Caesour out of Hendrik’s broodmare Meretricious.

Perfect Promise won the Gr 1 Cape Guineas in South Africa as well as a Gr 3 and a Listed race, before going on to become the first SA-bred in history to win a Gr 1 in Australia, where she also won a Gr 2.

Irridescence won the Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic, the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 and the Gr 2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes before going on to win a Listed race in Dubai and the Gr 1 QE II Cup in Hong Kong. She also finished second in a Gr 1 in England and second in a Gr 1 in the USA.

Irridescence has gone on to be a fine broodmare and at present her four-year-old Declaration Of War colt Hopper is the winner of two Gr 3s in the USA.

Hendrik Snr has a widespread reputation for his meticulous preparation of sales horses.

Hendrik Jnr said, “My father takes great pride in preparing horses for the sales.”

Winterbach Stud clients will attest to how well the sales horses are turned out.

Hendrik Jnr said, “You can’t get a premium price for a horse unless it has been prepared well.”

Other good recent horses to have come out of Winterbach Stud have been Gr 1 winner Temple Grafin (Duke Of Marmalade), Gr 2 winner Rascallion (Vercingetorix), Gr 2 winner Bereave (Vercingetorix), Gr 2 winner Val D’Orcia (Vercingetorix) and dual Gr 3 winner Alula’s Star (Red Ray).

At the BSA National Yearling Sale this year Winterbach as agents aggregated R4 million for eleven lots for an average of R363,636.

Their highest price was R750,000 for a Gimmethegreenlight colt and there was also R600,000 for a Vercingetorix filly, plus R500,000 for a Vercingetorix colt and R500,000 for a What A Winter colt.

A noticeable aspect of that Sale was the list of high profile buyers.

They included stalwarts like John Freeman, Greg Bortz, the Hollywood Syndicate, Etienne Braun and Central Route Trading.

Some young Winterbach Stud raised runners to look out for include the two-year-old Vercingetorix filly Neerah and an unraced Rafeef colt called Mc Dazzler.

The latter is owned by Wilgerbosdrift and trained by Dean Kannemeyer and apparently had some big race targets before a hiccup kept him on the sidelines.

Meanwhile, Gr 1 Computaform Sprint winner Master Archie is in quarantine and will be arriving on the farm on July 16.

Twenty of the 55 shares in him have been taken and 25 mares have already been booked to him.

It is exciting times for Winterbach Stud.

Future Pearl is being eased well before the line by Richard Fourie in Saturday’s Gr 3 DSTV Gold Vase (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Future Pearl Out To Emulate “Woer Woer Woer Masjien” Hermoso Mundo

The Sean Tarry-trained Drakenstein homebred son of Futura, Future Pearl, stands on the cusp of landing what became known as the “Stayers’ Triple Crown” in 2017.

On Saturday at Hollywoodbets Greyville he relished the soft going once more and romped home in the Gr 3 DSTV Gold Vase over 2400m, just like he had done in the Gr 3 WSB Gold Bowl over 3200m at Turffontein Standside.

If the big three-year-old gelding wins the country’s premier staying event, the Gr 3 Gold Cup on the last weekend of the season over 3200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville, he will have emulated Hermoso Mundo, who won all three of the “Gold” staying events in 2017.

The great Australian writer Les Carlyon once said, “This is what makes racing interesting – horses and people. These are the only things in racing worth writing about. The rest is dross.”

The Weiho Marwing-trained Hermoso Mundo’s part-owner Sean Singleton provides a good example.

It is worth revisiting the Stayer’s triple crown feat of the Mauritzfontein Stud-bred Ideal World gelding, because it is a lovely story made more entertaining by Sean’s passion for the sport.

Read all about it below.

Hermoso Mundo “jou Woer Woer Woer Masjien”

Weiho Marwing has established a reputation as a phenomenal trainer of stayers and his charge Hermoso Mundo looked a potential winner when passing the stand for the first time in the Grade 3 SABC Gold Vase over 3000m on Durban July day 2017 as he was already relaxed in a perfect position.

However, in the end the connections had to go through the agony of an objection inquiry before landing the result they had dreamed about for weeks.

The most relieved man on course was part-owner Sean Singleton, who then entertained the crowd to his traditional victory war cry.

Over in Germany the race had stopped an important match on the tournament tennis circuit.

Sean’s war cry is well known to all of his racing friends, but this was the first time he had performed it outside the confines of his home or a racecourse suite.

He explained the Afrikaans sequence of words, which are shouted at full volume while imitating a jockey riding a horse, were invented by him chiefly as an adrenalin reliever and had no real meaning.

“Jou lekker ding, jou lollipop, jou opgeswelde hoender haan, jou woer woer woer masjien!”, echoed across the racecourse and it was clear afterwards Sean had finally recovered his composure and breath.”

“Hermoso Mundo you lekker ding” – Sean Singleton with the Gold Vase.

Earlier, while waiting for the objection verdict, Sean’s girlfriend Chantal as well as his good friend Darryl Maree had become concerned. The latter poured water down his throat and Chantal ordered him to breathe deeply.

On this occasion he really did need to get rid of the adrenalin.

He said, “I didn’t really have a big bet, but we just really care about this horse and it was all about the excitement of having a winner on July day.”

Later, Sean was speaking to part-owner Neil Patrick Smith on the phone.

“He was crying like a baby,” admitted Sean. “He then said, hang on, I have to get back to my tennis match!”

Neil is an outstanding tennis player and his important tournament match on Saturday was scheduled to clash with the time of the race. However, it had been agree by all involved, including the umpire, they would call a halt at race time and watch the live transmission from Greyville on a computer screen at the back of the court. The objection caused a further delay to the match as Neil could not leave the result hanging in the air.

Sean is a passionate fan of the sport of kings from many angles and the Pick 6 is one of his favourite bets. He did banker his horse in the Pick 6 and then landed a percentage of the healthy R253,143.70 dividend when his other banker Al Mariachi arrived in the last leg.

The connections of the Mauritzfontain Stud-bred Hermoso Mundo, who also include NC Smith, GD Cahn, G Morris and W Volschenk, were now dreaming of Gold Cup victory and the completion of a historic hattrick.

Sean said, “He won the Gold Bowl at Turffontein, which used to be a Grade 1, and he won the Gold Vase, which used to be a Grade 2. The Gold Cup used to be a Grade 1 and I don’t think any horse has ever won all three of these races in the same season.”

On Saturday Karl Zechner had the long-striding four-year-old gelding by Ideal World relaxed in a perfect position on the rail as they passed the winning post for the first time.

Hermoso Mundo had been shuffled back to about sixth from the back by the halfway mark. However, he had travelled beautifully throughout and crept closer when the field concertina-ed coming up the hill towards the straight.

He was going so well in the straight Zechner was able to force his way through a virtually non-existent gap between Sun On Africa and Helderberg Blue at the 350 m mark.

The rangy bay then got into full stride and began rapidly eating away the lead, which had been established by the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup winner Captain Splendid.

However, the latter then suddenly began hanging away from a right-handed whip and bumped him. Hermoso Mundo had to change legs and regather himself, yet still failed by only a whisker to get up.

In the objection inquiry Zechner pointed out the leader had been “treading water”, while his mount had been finishing strongly and was clearly on his way to victory.

Piere Strydom is a master in all aspects of his profession and countered by pointing out Hermoso Mundo had also moved inward. He added he had also been forced to stop riding in order to straighten his mount. But the stipendiary stewards were not buying it and quickly upheld the decision. They also slapped Strydom with a ten day suspension for failing to ensure he did not cause interference to Hermoso Mundo in the closing stages. .

Weiho Marwing heaped praise on Zechner as well as the owners. He had a glint in his eye when saying it had been a “privilege to win a race … again … on July day.” Of course, he was on the wrong side of one of South African racing’s most infamous ever objections three years ago after Wylie Hall had crossed the line first in the July.

Ideal World’s progeny are stout and continually improve so it looked likely there would be be a few more “woer woer woer” war cries before the end of the progressive Hermoso Mundo’s career.

The Gold Cup

Records were smashed when Hermoso Mundo won the eLan Gold Cup over 3200m at Greyville yesterday as he became the first horse to complete the “Gold” treble and Weiho and Weichong Marwing may well have become the first trainer-jockey brother combination to win the big race.

The crowd were treated to the colourful “woer, woer masjien” victory warcry of part-owner Sean Singleton, while part-owner Neil Patrick Smith, who had travelled all the way from Germany, was overcome with emotion and the other owners NC Smith, GD Cahn, G Morris and W Volschenk also joined in the celebrations.

The long-striding Mauritzfontein Stud-bred four-year-old gelding by Ideal World won the Grade 3 Gold Bowl over 3200m at Turffontein on May 6, the Grade 3 Gold Vase over 3000m on VDJ day and completed the historic treble under a cool ride.

Marwing had him tucked away in the running within striking distance and after a tussle in the closing stages with the five-year-old mare Zante, he stretched out to win by a neck.

The Marwing-trained Let It Rain finished third ahead of Fortissima and Tote favourite Kinaan.

Winchester Mansion gets up for a famous victory in the Hollywoodbets Durban July (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

‘The Pedigree Obsessor’ Analyses Winchester Mansion’s Pedigree

Luck vs the Art of producing champions …….

The Pedigree Obsessor

WINCHESTER MANSION became yet another G1 winner from the world class Drakenstein Stud Farm and this achievement warrants analysis for the lessons and pointers it might offer us.

That Mrs Rupert and Kevin Sommerville make a formidably professional executive team at the magnificently situated Franschhoek establishment is beyond question. Furthermore, that this Stud started with just 12 horses some 20 odd years ago when the Rupert family acquired the Farm is a story that commands recording for future benefit. Drakenstein is today a world-class Stud Farm of jaw-dropping beauty. The public observation is one of a deep-seated humility, pride, unwavering commitment and an undeniable passion.

Many might argue that having the funding, quality of stock and the facilities they do explains the recipe for their success. However one cannot deny that that conclusion belies fair explanation given that just about everything is relative. In the Drakenstein context those 3 success recipe factors carry an inordinately higher expectation of success.

To the horse under discussion – He is by the outstanding sire Trippi out of a broodmare called Sea Point who has previously produced a Grade 1-winning sprinter by the stamina-influential sire Twice Over.

To the observer who understands a fair bit about pedigree this progeny is an unlikely middle distance champion of the highest order, but now a July winner nevertheless. Near-Pedigree believers will be scratching their heads to find the answer because it’s hard to find. In the deeper pedigree it is also not abundantly evident where the magic originates from, although there seems to be a deeper reason than close up. Some may suggest that this horse is the freakish produce of a “chance’ mating.

Mrs Rupert and Kevin Sommerville are exceptional breeders who have an admirable record and an obviously and proven deep understanding of their trade. To suggest WM was the result of a chance mating would be an insult to their professionalism as well as those in the know and must therefore be summarily dismissed.

That there is luck involved in breeding is not up for debate, it is generally accepted that a healthy dash of luck is always required. In the case of WINCHESTER MANSION however it is a very different kind and dose of luck.

Not destined to be retained by Drakenstein and whilst being prepped for the Sales he cavorted headlong into a post and broke a vertebra in his neck. That should have been racing game over for the young fella.

Mrs Rupert is on record as saying “I remember thinking, oh well that is just too bad and he will never race.” We now know that that “unlucky” incident cancelled his sales chances and was replaced with an unimaginably “lucky” and fairytale outcome for Drakenstein whose journey has been laced with good fortune rather than luck as further explained by Mrs Rupert. “We’ve been so lucky, all of our great horses could not be sold. Charles Dickens could not be sold, because he displaced his palate and he still does it, but it just doesn’t bother him in running. Safe Passage didn’t reach his reserve. Trip Of Fortune didn’t reach his reserve. So those are our four big horses. I have just been so lucky.”

“Luck” aside the fascination of this pen goes into what explains a horse and its racing achievement. So lets park luck to one side and continue the search …….

We all know now how good a sire Trippi is. He was not an outstanding racehorse but rather a well above average one with only 1 G1 win to his name and another 5 of his 14 runs being G2 and G3 wins. Good yes, brilliant no.

He comes from a bloodline that perhaps caught many a little off-guard except for one pedigree maestro who has been instrumental in SA bloodlines and whose genius was not fooled. Charles Faull is the man responsible for Trippi being in SA, the most expensive stallion to arrive on these shores at the time and now proven to be worth far more than his price for the bloodline upgrade and champions he has afforded SA.

Because we are advised that the parental contribution is 50:50 to their progeny, we must investigate the other 50% – the female pedigree. Whether the genetic contribution from each parent is actually a maximum of 50% is still under much debate and scientific study and there is a theory of thought that it can exceed that number and, in many instances, a pre-potent gene can dominate a mating more than 50%. This is a debate for another time.

The dam line through Sea Point back to Compass Point is decent but certainly not sufficient to conclude that it is likely to produce a July winner, unless one firmly believes that luck alone is responsible.

Female Pedigree Analysis

Sea Point, bred by the Tawny Syndicate, was a mediocre racehorse with 6 runs for a single win over 1000m from her first runs and 5 poor runs subsequent to that. As a broodmare she has produced 7 foals, 4 runners, all winners of a few including 2 Gr 1 stakes winners. Her other Gr 1 stakes winner, Sand And Sea (Twice Over), won the Gr 1 Gold Medallion over 1200m.

Her bloodline by Spectrum out of Compass Point (Model Man) is interesting.

Compass Point (Model Man x Manuka by Rainbow Dream) was a 17 run 4win 4 places racehorse with all of her races in the lowest divisions and all over the short distances. No bells here. As a broodmare she was successful with 7 foals, 6 runners and 5 winners one of which was a single G1 stakes winner – Pointing North. However, that single Gr 1 win was an outstanding victory in the Cape Guineas at which point he was sold to race in the USA.

In WINCHESTER MANSION we have a son of a very decent 1400m performing sire out of a female line whose glimpses of top performance are over speed distances.

Being a Gr1 victor over 2200m is not glaringly apparent in his pedigree, despite Trippi having produced the like of Gr 1 Champions Challenge winner Deo Juvente, Met winner and July third-placed Jet Dark and useful stayer Crome Yellow.

Winchester Mansion’s career started with a surprise but heart-warming bang, considering his misfortune as a yearling, winning over 1250m in September 2021 but not a surprise from his bloodline perspective. He then ran a bit flat for his next few for a few places in minor races and over a little more ground around that which his sire displayed performance. Without much further success he was then thrown into a decent field over a G3 1800m, a distance which looked to be beyond his genetic breeding and seemingly a tall ask of his ability.

This appears to have been his turning point which quite possibly caused his connections to say something like “what have we here!” He ran a very credible from-behind 2nd which required him to check, threaten his finishing position and switch inwards as the winner closed him off on the rail. It was an eye-catching and hugely improved performance.

He then immediately confirmed that last run with a very good win in another G3 but this time over 2400m and, it seems, the rest is history.

In conclusion to explain WINCHESTER MANSION it must be that the Drakenstein Brains-Trust applied the very same detailed study they do for all the covers they plan and found acceptable promise in what they saw at the time. That decision could not have been put down to chance but rather a faith and confidence in the way they assess the pedigrees and ultimately decide to bring into union. Their breeding formula continues to present champion racehorses and, very importantly for SA Racing, construct bloodlines that will be very valuable and important into the future.

We don’t know what Mrs Rupert and Kevin Sommerville identified exactly when they elected to cover Sea Point with Trippi however the proof stands before us a July Handicap winner and that should be sufficient explanation. His success answers the many questions we may have.

This pen is still unsettled in its search for a sound pedigree explanation for the success of WINCHESTER MANSION. Without any intended disrespect to the connections and Sire, it is clear that this fairytale certainly does contain a very large slice of luck and is far from over. It has only just begun.

(Editor:

*It is interesting to note that Trip Of Fortune is from the same family as Winchester Mansion and at the weights he was the third best performed horse in Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Durban July

*Also interesting to note is that Sea Point’s last sales progeny went for just R75,000 sold to John Freeman at the BSA August Two-year-old Sale and that colt was by July-producing sire Twice Over, although this colt’s full-brother was of course Sand And Sea, the Grade 1-winning sprinter. Has John Freeman picked up another Legislate! (who was purchased for R100,000). Justin Snaith is training this Twice Over colt and Jonathan Snaith commented, “He is quite backward. Taking time. Big colt and just needs a lot of patience.”

Superstar Paddington goes for The Eclipse (Picture: Patrick McCann).

Echoes of Giant’s Causeway, as O’Brien seeks magnificent seventh Eclipse

Paddington following some great Ballydoyle names in heading to Sandown.

At The Races

Should Aidan O’Brien win the Coral-Eclipse for a seventh time with Paddington on Saturday, he will have created yet another piece of Turf history.

Currently he shares the record with Alec Taylor Jnr, famed as the ‘Wizard of Manton’ due to his success in the early 20th century, and Sir Michael Stoute.

O’Brien admitted the Eclipse – a race named after the horse whose footprint on the sport is still around today with his long-distance descendants – was vitally important in his early career.

His first winner, Giant’s Causeway, is regularly brought up in discussions of O’Brien’s best horses.

It was already his fifth race of the season and his first against older horses and 10 furlongs, having just won the St James’s Palace Stakes, and O’Brien is clearly keen to take advantage of the weight-for-age concession the Classic generation receive, given four of his six winners have been three.

“The Eclipse is obviously a very prestigious race for a stallion. It’s the first time the generations really meet and everybody gets a feel of where they all are,” he said.

“The people gone before us have always got it fairly right with the weight-for-age scale. Obviously a three-year-old is not usually as mature as the older horses yet, but as the year goes on it levels up.

“The Eclipse is a very prestigious race to win, Sandown is a good track that is always very well maintained and you get a good picture of where you’re going after.”

Paddington is following a similar route to the Eclipse as Giant’s Causeway, having taken in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes before running at Sandown.

“Paddington is a three-year-old and he’s running in a lot of the races that Giant’s Causeway ran in as well, but it’s just the way it worked out,” said O’Brien.

Another three-year-old to score for Ballydoyle two years ago was St Mark’s Basilica, who was also by the same sire, Siyouni.

“Paddington is out of a Montjeu mare whereas St Mark’s was out of a Galileo mare, but they are both by Siyouni,” said O’Brien.

“Paddington can quicken, he’s a miler that can quicken but then St Mark’s did that as well.

“I think he’s only the second Siyouni we’ve had this far among the colts, we’ve a few more two-year-olds by him but they are the only others.

“We’ve won the Eclipse with some great horses. So You Think was an unbelievable horse really, and he’s still at stud now and doing very well.

“Hawk Wing was a big powerful horse who had run in the Guineas and Derby, St Mark’s was very good and obviously Giant’s Causeway was very important to us.

“He was our first really good horse at that level and I remember George (Duffield) giving him an unbelievable ride. Pat Eddery was riding Kalanisi for Sir Michael and they were second, a great race.

“They are the days you don’t forget and they were very important days for us.”

When asked how early in the season he would identify a horse for the Eclipse, O’Brien said: “We enter them in all the big races. In Paddington’s case we were going to Goodwood (Sussex Stakes), but he was so fresh and well after Ascot, he started doing a few bits of work.

“The Eclipse is always an option. When the lads discussed it with us we said he could probably take it in with his well-being and when we spoke to Ryan (Moore) we decided to let him do it.”

Medlers Tart Can Take The Walmer Handicap

Henk Steenkamp

A small field of eight runners will face the starter in the open looking feature race of Friday’s meeting on the Fairview Polytrack.

The R150 000 Walmer Handicap is a Non-Black Type event for fillies and mares over 1800m and it is not easy for punters to discard the chances of most of the runners.

If Medlers Tart takes to the Poly surface she might just be the one to beat. The daughter of Master Of My Fate has been running well since she made the Eastern Cape her home in the care of trainer Sharon Kotzen. It is her second run after a layoff and that might put some off but Medlers Tart looks ready for a huge effort for an inform stable. Louie Mxothwa is the jockey and knows how to ride winners on the Poly.

Trainer Zietsman Oosthuizen won this race last year with Rattle Mouse and returns with Unconditional Love. Unconditional Love likes the Poly but will have to carry the top weight of 60kg and try the distance for the first time. She won her last start so well that her chances can’t be discarded.

But can Kotzen or Oosthuizen stop the mighty stables of Alan Greeff and Gavin Smith?

Greeff looks particularly strong with four runners, half of the field, who are all in with a shout.

Wildest Dreams was disappointing in her last start when she finished 1.25 lengths behind stablemate Definitely Maybe. She is 1.5kgs better off at the weights this time and top jockey Richard Fourie decided to stick with her. The daughter of Dynasty might be the pick of the Greeff runners but Definitely Maybe should also be right there.

Smith saddled a treble at the last meeting and the stable is clearly in fine form. Aerial View and Heartsease have to up their game to win this race but can be dangerous with a nice galloping weight of 53kgs.

It might be risky to go light in this race and punters will probably have to look at other races for bankers on the day.

The Walmer Handicap is race seven at 15:05. The meeting of nine races starts at 11:25, a bit earlier than usual. The second race at

11:55 is the first leg of the Bipot and the Place Accumulator gets underway in race three.

It is a challenging Pick Six for punters which starts with the fourth race at 13:05.

See It Again – the best horse in the country? (Picture Wayne Marks).

Karel Miedema Rates See It Again Higher Than Charles Dickens

Karel Miedema’s Raceform has awarded See It Again an AR (Ability Rating) of 120 for his second place finish in the Hollywoodbets Durban July and that must be the highest rating he has awarded to any horse all season.

The respected analyst awarded Charles Dickens an AR of 117 for his win in the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge and gave him a 115 for his second place finish in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate and a 110 for his wins in both the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas and the WSB Guineas.

Al Muthana received a 119 AR for his King’s Plate win.

Jet Dark and Kommetdieding both received 115 AR’s from Miedema for their runs in the WSB Met.

See It Again’s two Gr 1 wins in the Splashout Cape Derby and Daily News 2000 respectively earned him AR’s of 110 in both races, a ten point lower mark than Miedema gave him for his July run.

Miedema thus appears to rate See It Again the best horse in the country.

Paul Matchett and Philasande Mxoli are turning out to be a lethal combination (Picture: JC Photos)

Mxoli/Matchett Treble

Philasande Mxoli rode a treble for Paul Matchett on the Vaal straight track today.

Mxoli has had 47 wins this season at a strike rate of 9.67%.

He is leading the Highveld apprentice championship with 41 wins.

However, he is 55 wins behind Rachel Venniker in the national apprentice championship.

Matchett goes to 61 wins at 13.56%

Fairview Poly Fields, Friday

A picture of one of the horses in question. (Horse And Hound).

Today’s Question

Who were the two joint-highest Timeform rated British-trained horses of the 20th century?

Question answer at the bottom of the newsletter

Turdor Minstrel photographed above and Brigadier Gerard is the photo above the question (Timeform).

ANSWER TO TODAY’S QUESTION

Brigadier Gerard (born 1968) and Tudor Minstrel (born 1944) were both rated 144, which is three behind Frankel’s 147 and one behind France-based Sea Bird’s 145.

Turf Talk Newsletter – 6 July, 2023