WHAT WOULD ONE GIVE FOR A CRYSTAL BALL?

Emperors Palace Ready To Run Gallops at Summerhill Stud
(Photo : Gareth du Plessis)

The Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale
TBA Sales Complex, Gosforth Park, South Africa
6 November 2011

It was a great day out as the annual gallops for the Emperors Palace Ready to Run Sale took place last Friday at Summerhill Stud. 150 two year olds showed their paces to a fairly revered audience, made up of trainers, owners and horse enthusiasts.

The judging panel made up of stalwarts such as Mike de Kock, Michael Roberts, Graeme Hawkins and Dean Kannemeyer had a tough time selecting their best horses on the day but there were one or two definite favourites. What remains to be seen is who will have picked the best horse. Only Joey Ramsden had Horse of the Year, Igugu, in his list last year, so it certainly is no easy task.

From a Vuma perspective, we are always thrilled to see the Summerhill draft, fed and raised as they are on Vuma Vigour 15% and Vuma Upstart 14%. These strong foundations produce true champions and we love to follow their successes on the track!

Click below to read Nico Kritsiotis' commentary on the gallops and to see what the panel selected as their best picks:

READY TO RUN GALLOPS 2011:
THE JUDGES HAVE SPOKEN

THE INAUGURAL CAPE PREMIER YEARLING SALE

J J The Jet Plane - Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint (Gr1)
(Photo : Hong Kong Jockey Club)

"Will you be where it's all at?"

The place to be for the next five days is the Mother City!

Cape Town is always full of exciting things to do but never more so than the next five days as the inaugural Cape Premier Yearling Sale gets underway at the International Convention Centre near the Waterfront. Wednesday 26^th January is the first viewing day at the sales ground, with the sale itself kicking off on Thursday 27^th at 4pm, until 9pm and continuing at the same times the following day.

Saturday sees the 129^th running of the R2,5 Million J&B Met Grade 1 which promises to be a cracker, with the stalwart Pocket Power in his swansong appearance, against, among the field, his three stable mates as well as a strong hand from Mike de Kock, including Mother Russia, winner of the recent L'Ormarins Queen's Plate.

This new sale is bound to be very interesting with a strong catalogue, well represented by most of the top Cape Studs and a sprinkling from KZN. With the massive international interest in our SA bred horses, generated by the performances abroad of the likes of J J the Jet Plane, River Jetez, Jay Peg, Imbongi and Zanzamar, we can look forward to more than a few bids from international buyers!

Added to the reputation of our South African horses is the sheer value that they offer when compared to the purchase prices of yearlings bought at sales across the globe. Training costs are also less than elsewhere and no one really needs an excuse to visit our magnificent country!

We wish all of our Vuma clients  well and look forward to their continued successes! The Vuma team will be there in support, proudly South African and proud to feed your Champions!

www.capepremiersale.co.za

www.vumafeed.co.za

AFRICA'S FINEST HORSEFEEDS

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

PALERMO, POLO AND THE PAMPAS

  

(Please click above to enlarge...
 Photos : Catherine Hartley)

"Of Adolfo Cambiaso, Asiatic Boy
and the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini"

In two exciting "semi-final" matches played on the number one field at Palermo, La Dolfina and Ellerstina beat Pilara and La Aguada respectively, to secure their spots in the final on Saturday! From all accounts tickets are all but sold out and we expect a well fought game between the 40 goal Ellerstina team and the more experienced 39-goal La Dolfina team when they ride out onto the hallowed ground of Palermo one. Ellerstina will be trying to win the coveted triple crown, following on their previous two wins in the Tortugas and Hurlingham Opens, so will be determined to win this third leg. However, one can never underestimate the magician, Adolfo Cambiaso and when the chips are down he is at his best.

As incredible as the polo, fields, horses and sheer volume of players is, Argentina is not only about polo and we have had a few great days out in the country, topped off by a quick visit to Abolengo Stud and Asiatic Boy. The stud is magnificent and to see Asiatic Boy was certainly special. Having last seen him win the 2007 UAE Derby for Sheikh Mohammed and Mike de Kock, Asiatic Boy then ran up a fantastic second to Curlin in the 2008 Dubai World Cup. He continued under Mike's care for the 2009 season, which included a win in the third round of the Maktoum Challenge, before taking on the American's. He was retired to his native Argentina earlier this year and this is his first season at stud.

Saturday also sees the running of the biggest race on the Argentine calendar, the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini, which is being run at San Isidro and not at the Hippodromo oppostite the Polo fields, so sadly we have to pick one and will have to miss the race.

However, results of the Open will be posted as we have them, so watch this space!

A VERY SPECIAL DURBAN JULY DAY!

Gold Onyx - Premier's Champion Stakes (Gr1)
(Photo : Gold Circle)

Vodacom Durban July
31 July 2010

July Day 2010 was undoubtedly the pinnacle of an incredible season for Champion trainer Mike de Kock and we salute him and his team on this fifth trainer's title.

Hot on his heels though, is hot-shot trainer Sean Tarry with a total of 137 winners and R13,907 million in stakes. He finished his season in top style on July day with back to back Grade 1 wins in the Thekwini stakes, with diminutive filly Happy Archer and the Premier's Champion Stakes with the imported Black Minnaloushe colt, Gold Onyx.

Sean is a dedicated and talented trainer and will not be resting on these laurels for very long as the new season gets underway. You can be sure that Vuma will be there supporting him and the team at every finish!

Also on July day, trainer Michael de Beer celebrated a Grade 3 win with Saluki in the Schweppes 2200 and Glen Kotzen's Imperious Star ran second in the Grade 1 Garden Province Stakes.

Congratulations to all the connections from the Vuma team - we love to feed your champions!

For more information please visit :

www.vumafeed.co.za

CHAMPIONS DAY : EVEN THE WEATHER COULDN'T HOLD US BACK

Regal Ransom - Champions Challenge
(Photo : Spoting Post / Vuma Horsefeeds)

CHAMPION'S DAY
TURFFONTEIN, 1 MAY 2010

Despite the grey skies and soggy conditions that Johannesburg has been experiencing, Saturday’s Champions Day still brought us some sunshine!

Vuma was delighted and proud to shout home Sean Tarry’s Regal Ransom in the Grade 1 Champions Challenge as well as Captain’s Gal in the Camellia Stakes.

Earlier that day the Fillies Nursery Stakes was won by Louis Goosen with a daughter of resident Summerhill sire Way West, Waywest Goddess.

To end the graded races on a Vuma and Summerhill note, the Dominic Zaki-trained Winning Leap (Labeeb x Summersault) showed his stamina by winning the 3200m Gold Bowl.

Congratulations are also due to Mike de Kock who celebrated his 2000th career win by winning the SA Derby with Irish Flame.

Congratulations to all the connections – we love to feed your Champions!