J J THE JET PLANE READY FOR TAKE-OFF!

J J The Jet Plane
(Image : HKJC / T&L Racing)

Betting World Cape Flying Championship (Grade 1)
Kennilworth, Turf, 1000m
21 January 2012

Vuma Champion, J J The Jet Plane, makes his return to South African racing this weekend after returning injured from Dubai in the middle of last year.

JJ has been back in training at the Vaal, with the Lucky and Natalie Houdalakis team who have nursed their champ back to full health. He will line up with the rest of the field in the Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship, over 1000 metres on Saturday the 21^st January at Kenilworth.

The field of six includes the Mike Bass-trained What a Winter and the exceptional Var filly, Val de Ra for the Durban based Dennis Drier yard.

We look forward to a very exciting race!

BETTING WORLD CAPE FLYING CHAMPIONSHIP (WFA)(Gr 1) Kenilworth, Turf, 1000m 21 January 2012
#	Horse	Kg	MR	Dr	Jockey	Trainer
1	J J THE JET PLANE	60.0	122	3	B Fayd'Herbe	Lucky Houdalakis
2	WHAT A WINTER	60.0	117	6	K Neisius	Mike Bass
3	COPPER PARADE	60.0	108	4	G Hatt	Joey Ramsden
4	CAPTAIN'S SECRET	60.0	107	5	M Byleveld	Mike Bass
5	RABATTACHE	60.0	107	2	R Fourie	Glen Puller
6	VAL DE RA	57.5	111	1	A Forbes	Dennis Drier

THE EQUUS AWARDS 2011

Summerhill Stud receive the Champion Breeder Award
(Photo : JC Photos / Summerhill Stud)

They've done it again!!!

Summerhill Stud heads to the Equus Awards podium for the 7^th year on the trot!

The original home of Vuma Horse Feeds, Summerhill Stud, has achieved a first - they are the first South African stud farm to win seven consecutive Breeders Championships. The Summerhill team received their award last night, at the Equus Awards held at the Theatre of Marcellus at Emperors Palace!

It has certainly been a long, hard slog to get to this point but one of the factors that helped to shape their path to the Breeders Championship was the return to more natural methods in the raising of their horses.

From a nutrition perspective, the turning point came when they initiated the production of Vuma Horse Feeds, based on international research and a return to a more natural whole grain, muesli-type feed, with processed maize and a superior vitamin and mineral profile.

This enhanced nutrient density has played a major role in the correct growth and development of their foals. The foundations of healthy collagen and correct bone growth are irrefutable to the long term health and soundness of young horses.

This is clearly illustrated in the fact that Summerhill horses tend to run, on average, for longer and more often than others.

Vuma is proud to be part of this achievement and we salute team Summerhill - We love to feed your Champions!

Other notable Vuma, Equus Award winners were :

CHAMPION TWO YEAR OLD FILLY - Princess Victoria for the Glen Kotzen Stable and owner Georgina Jafee

CHAMPION STAYER - Aslan for the Sean Tarry Stable and owners Mrs Leisher and Anthony Jacobs

BREEDER AWARD for EXCEPTIONAL INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT - JJ The Jet Plane for the Lucky Houdalakis stable and all the connections.

Another feather in the Summerhill cap was that the award for CHAMPION THREE YEAR OLD FILLY, CHAMPION MIDDLE DISTANCE HORSE and HORSE OF THE YEAR went to Igugu. This phenomenal Galileo filly was bought in Australia by Summerhill and sold at the Emperors Palace Ready to Run Sale in November 2009!

Congratulations to all the winners - we salute you on your great achievements.

www.vumafeed.co.za

AFRICA'S FINEST HORSEFEEDS

For more information contact :
Catherine Hartley : 083 640 1155
Email: catherine@vumafeed.co.za

JJ THE JET PLANE TO JET HOME TO SOUTH AFRICA

JJ The Jet Plane - Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint
(Photo : HKJC)

JJ THE JET PLANE
"Fueled by VUMA"

Vuma champion JJ the Jet Plane will be returning to South Africa as soon as possible. In a letter received from Team JJ, Natalie Houdalakis writes : 

"Dear All,

It is with a very heavy heart that we have to make the following announcement.

JJ has unfortunately suffered an injury at track work in Dubai, whilst preparing for the Krisflyer International Sprint in May. He has suffered a core lesion of his medial lower suspensory of his near fore leg. Although not life threatening or permanently career ending, it is however serious enough to put an end to his International Campaign.

The entire JJ team, Lucky and owners, Hennie Du Preez, Coenie Strydom and Thea Boyens are all devastated with the news and are still in a state of disbelief. However, as you all know, racing can be a very cruel game and one learns to take the lows along with the highs. And our Champ has given us more highs than most experience in a lifetime!

We have decided that in the best interest of JJ's welfare, he is to return home to SA as soon as possible, where we can hopefully nurture him back to full health once again.

We would like to take this opportunity in thanking each and every one of you for your continued support of this marvellous race horse. He not only belongs to us but to all South African Racing fans and along the way, he has managed to capture the hearts of many fans abroad too.

Natalie"

Our condolences to all the connections on such a massive disappointment. JJ has certainly brought us all a lot of excitement and great memories and has helped to fly the SA flag high on the International Racing stage.

The Vuma team looks forward to welcoming our Champion home!

SOUTH AFRICAN CHAMPIONS AND POTENTIAL STARS

Click above to watch J J The Jet Plane winning the US$1,000,000 Al Quoz Sprint (Gr2)
(Footage : Dubai Racing)

"Start them right and you'll never look back!"

 Our favourite Vuma Champion, J J the Jet Plane kept the South African flag flying at Meydan on Saturday when winning the Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night - our very best wishes to Lucky Houdalakis and all the connections! This has truly been an amazing journey and we hope that someone is drafting a book!

River Jetez ran a creditable second in the Dubai Duty Free, ensuring that Jet Master stamps himself firmly at the head of South Africa's leading stallions.

The $10Million World Cup Race was a bittersweet 1st and 2nd for the Japanese, with these victories following so soon after the earthquake and tsunami that ravaged their home country.

All of this excitement took place less than 3 weeks ahead of the Emperors Palace National Yearling Sales, which start at 1pm on Friday 15^th April.

Vuma founders and stalwart clients, Summerhill Stud, will be there with their draft of 40 yearlings, all of which have had their foundations on Vuma Horse Feed. Ask the 6 time champion breeders what helped them get to their current position on the breeders log and they won't hesitate to say that the fundamental changes that they made to their feeding regime is what made the difference.

Utilising international research, the feeds are formulated to provide a nutrient dense, highly palatable feed containing the best vitamins and minerals allowing for steady growth.

These foundations lay down strong collagen and bone giving the young horse a superior start and ensuring that they train on (in the case of Hear the Drums, for 34 wins).

 So if you want to join the Champions, your best bet is to start off with Vuma Vitality and Vuma Vigour.

Once in training the highly digestible Vuma Upstart and Vuma Racer ensure high energy and a superior amino acid profile for repair and recovery.

Vuma Horse Feeds - The Choice of Champions!

www.vumafeed.co.za

AFRICA'S FINEST HORSEFEEDS

For more information contact :
Catherine Hartley : 083 640 1155
Email: catherine@vumafeed.co.za

JJ THRILLS IN HK... WE GOT DRENCHED IN BUENOS AIRES

 

JJ The Jet Plane
Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint (Gr1)

Of JJ The Jet Plane, Ellerstina and La Dolfina

The Saturday final of the 117^th Argentine Open Championship duly got underway, after the opening ceremony, in a light drizzle. Within 3.25 minutes, and a score of 2 - 1 to Ellerstina, the heavens opened, the match was postponed and we proceeded to get drenched getting off the stands!

Thus it was a sad group that headed for the Ezeiza airport on Sunday afternoon with the game set to continue under sunnier skies at 4.30pm, while we waited for our flight.

The sun was shining on some South Africans though, as across the globe JJ the Jet Plane had just lit up the Sha Tin track in Hong Kong by getting up, under a superb ride from Piere Strydom, to win the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint from Rocket Man. What a truly remarkable feat for our home grown, home trained and home ridden sprint champion! From the Vuma team, we salute Lucky, the whole Houdalakis team and all the connections for their unwavering belief in JJ, a true South African hero!

To make it an even bigger South African feat, Rocket Man is trained by Patrick Shaw and was ridden by Felix Coetzee.

Back in Buenos Aires; having watched most of the game on ESPN, we got the final score as the doors closed on the SAA flight. The young guns, Ellerstina, had just beaten La Dolfina 14-13 in a nail biting match, which sealed the Triple Crown for them and is a fitting end to their season.

Both teams are splitting up next year, with Juan Martin Nero (MVP for 2010) and Pablo Macdonough joining Adolfo Cambiaso and David Sterling for the 2011 season. That should surely make them a team to be reckoned with and the changes will certainly make for exciting polo.

Regardless of the weather, all in all it was an exciting weekend and JJ has made the sun shine brightly on South Africa!