Gregg Clarke
At the 2009 BSA Emperor’s Palace National 2 Year Old Sale he was knocked down for a mere R80,000 and at the end of his career 4 years later in 2013 had amassed R17million in 20 appearances across 4 countries.
In SA he raced 15 times for 6 wins including the G2 Dingaans, G1 Daily News 2000 and the G1 Champions Cup and 7 places including a very respectable run through the field to place 4th in the 2011 Durban July behind Igugu, Pierre Jourdan and English Garden.
He was trained by Gavin Van Zyl who recalls that “he was very sound, had a wonderful temperament and neatly put together…..nicely structured young horse…..but unimpressive in his work”. Van Zyl realised he had something on his hands after his 3rd run.
Such was the talent of this horse that he was shipped to Dubai, racing for the powerful De Kock Racing Stable, where he won the G2 Al Rashidiya and placed 2nd in both the G1 Dubai Duty Free and the G1 Jebel Hatta before a 4th place run. Thereafter he ran 2nd in the G2 York Stakes in the UK before going trans-lantic for his final appearance in the US Arlington Million where he crossed the line 1st only to be relegated into 2nd for interference in the latter stages. A remarkable record for any horse.
By Mogok out of Apache Rose (Dolpour), bred at Scott Brothers Highdown Stud in the Fort Nottingham District of Kwazulu Natal, there is much that confirms that THE APACHE was a top quality SA bred racehorse.
Foreign- Based Winston Chow who bought him at the 2009 Sale and now owns him outright says he has been extremely disappointed in the lack of support for THE APACHE however that he is looking forward to what he believes his mares may offer in breeding because of the valuable Coup De Folie in the pedigree. Mr Chow has a deep understanding of pedigree, arguably an expert level of understanding, which guides his thinking and refuses to accept that THE APACHE offers nothing to breeding saying that he has already identified some very nice nicks of substance for his mares.
Former Multiple Champion Jockey Anthony Delpech remembers the horse very well having ridden him in his first 4 starts as a 2 year old for a 4th, 2nd and two 1st’s. “I thought he was a very smart horse……he always showed the potential of being a good horse….and what he did in Dubai and the States proved he was a very smart horse”.
Raymond Danielson piloted him in his last 11 races in SA and had this to say “The Dingaans stood out for me because that’s where I learned how to ride him. He always liked to be towards the back of the field and then had a very good turn of foot but I had to wait till late to send him. In the Dingaan’s I rode him exactly like that and he ran through the field with ease and won a very easy race. That’s when we knew he was special.” He ran a credible 4th under Danielson in the 2013 Durban July who reckons “if he had stayed here another season he would have won the July the next year”. He added that he showed nothing during work but was very different on the track.
Tyrone Zackey currently trains 4 of the progeny and says they are very nice distance horses with good temperaments but can take a while to come on.
It is puzzling to understand just why the market has not been kinder to THE APACHE and its equally difficult to understand what more could be expected from a Sire. Sire’s do not choose their covers and so it would not be grossly incorrect to dismiss any Sire especially one that carries both the racing and the bloodline credentials THE APACHE does. This athletic individual has a proven race record of high quality and as the only son of Mogok in SA with the heralded Coup De Folie in his pedigree there remains much untapped and untested potential in his blood.
http://www.kznbreeders.co.za/News20032014.html for more info