David Mollett
4 January 2006
Johannesburg — ASKED to deliver a verdict on South African racing in 2005, a judge's summation might be: "Making significant strides to return to its former glory."
From a financial perspective, there was plenty to crow about in the industry in the past 12 months. JSE-listed Phumelela Gaming & Leisure, which runs racing in Gauteng and Eastern Cape, returned good results and the share is currently trading at more than R8. It was voted the most empowered public sector company in a 2004-05 survey in the Financial Mail.
Gold Circle, which runs racing in KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape, posted a R6m profit in the past racing year -- in strict contrast to 2001 when the company recorded a R24m loss.
"An asset restructure will be the main focus of the board in the next financial year," said CEO Michel Nairac.
The results from the industry's premier bloodstock sale, the National Yearling Sales, exceeded the forecasts of even the most optimistic pundits. The aggregate of R15,2m represented a 16,9% increase on 2004, with the highest-priced lot being the rather oddly named Wonder Lawn, sold to Fieldspring Racing for R3,3m.
Bidvest, Investec and Sun International announced new sponsorships, suggesting that they view the sport as a good advertising medium, and the racing channel, Tellytrack, is now being beamed to a number of overseas countries including Australia and the US.
The strategy for Phumelela and Gold Circle is to build the international export of the betting product on horse racing.
Those were some of the positive factors of 2005, but the sport was unable to find a champion in the mould of 1999 star Horse Chestnut -- indeed a number of our top horses were found wanting at home and abroad.
Greys Inn, winner of the 2004 July Handicap, was expected to prove too smart for his rivals in the Sheema Classic in Dubai in March, but Mike de Kock's star could only manage fourth behind the UK-trained Phoenix Reach. De Kock did win the Godolphin Mile with Grand Emporium but did not enjoy the same success of the previous two years.
He said: "This is the true Olympics of horse racing and the competition is getting stronger and stronger as the event grows in stature."
There was also no joy for Greys Inn fans when the horse was sent to Australia to contest the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup but it was a learning curve for De Kock, who handled the media attention like a veteran.
In May, De Kock saddled Right Approach in one of the World Series races, the Singapore Cup, but the gelding lost ground at the start and could finish only fourth, behind Mummify. The Australian horse subsequently broke down in the Caulfield Cup in October and had to be put down.
Yard-Arm, who carried Mike Rattray's colours to several big race wins in SA, also disappointed in Dubai and could only manage ninth place in the Dubai World Cup. He was later sold to Sheik Rashid with De Kock diplomatically saying that "it was a good deal for all parties".
Rock Opera, a filly expected to do well in Dubai next year, was possibly the most talented home performer last year. That's certainly the view of Sporting Post editor, Karel Miedema, who said: "She was my standout in 2005 -- we haven't had a filly rated so high (105) in a long while."
Dunford provided jockey Anton Marcus with his third July Handicap triumph following victories on Dancing Duel (1993) and El Picha (2000), but two lengths covered the first eight horses home and this wasn't a vintage year for SA's most popular race. The 2200m event was marred by the death of the favourite, Rabiya, who had to be destroyed after breaking a leg early in the race.
Winter Solstice, trained in the Cape by Englishman Joey Ramsden, enjoyed a successful year with his victory in the Champions Cup at Clairwood in July, assuring the Western Winter gelding the Horse of the Year title, and his sire that of champion stallion.
Other noteworthy performances came from two females, Overarching (Horse Chestnut Stakes) and Jamaica (Empress Club Stakes). Royal Approval -- from the stable of champion trainer Geoff Woodruff -- showed her rivals a clean pair of heels in the Oaks.
In fact, females had a particularly successful year, rounded off by the success of the Brazilian-bred mare, Ilha Da Vitoria, in SA's richest race, the R2,5m Gomma Gomma Summer Cup.
Incredibly, this was the seventh Cup triumph for De Kock following previous wins by Evening Mist, Record Edge, Golden Hoard, Delta Form, Ingleside and Wolf Whistle.
Jockey MJ Odendaal jetted all over the country to secure his first jockeys' title, while there was an amazing comeback to the saddle by Donovan Habib, whose career appeared to be finished following a hip replacement.
The biggest obstacle facing the industry is the continued problems in exporting our thoroughbreds. At present there are only two long-haul routes -- one via Mauritius and Europe and the other via America. In an interview, trainer Joey Ramsden said if he had a wish for the sport it was that it could come up with "a workable export solution".
Sadly, a Gold Circle advertisement on Tellytrack which states that "Kenilworth is home to international racing in Africa" is hogwash. The only international link is overseas owners.
Nevertheless, horse racing is continuing on an upward spiral, confounding those who predicted its demise when casino licences were granted. But, like football has Wayne Rooney and cricket Shane Warne, the sport needs to unearth a hero in 2006.
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