AUTUMN YEARLING FOR SALE

Ambleway has been consigned to take a yearling colt to the Michael Holmes Bloodstock Autumn Yearling Sale. This takes place on Monday, 29 March 2010, at the Pietermaritzburg Showgrounds starting at 14h00. The colt BLOCKROCK (pictured), Lot 26, which we are preparing for the sale is by the new stallion Tiger Dance out of the West Man mare Blue Stokesia. Tiger Dance is a full brother to one of the world's top stallions Giant's Causeway and the mare has already produced a winner over 2400m and is very well-related, being half-sister to Jacaranda House (9 wins) and Jinko (5 wins) and Jacaranda Lane (8 wins). This colt does look a little immature at the present but he is very athletic and is growing into a scopy colt. Do have a look at him.

The recent Equimark Vintage Sale at Durbanville was difficult for buyers - if a horse was decent everybody was interested in the same horse and there were a lot of horses that went unsold. But the overall prices appeared to be much the same as last year. We were delighted that one of our loyal patrons, Michael Roberts, was able to secure the top price of the sale. Lot 111, a very smart Captain Al filly which was consigned by Litchfield Stud. This filly will come to Ambleway later in the year to be prepared.

At this stage we have received 6 youngsters to grow out. Dennis and Gill Drier do a lot of hard work viewing all the yearlings and his time spent was rewarded, and he secured 5 lots for very reasonable prices including a beautiful filly by Daylami, Lot 156, and 4 colts: a robust colt by Toreador, Lot 196, out of a mare Fun Loving that they actually trained and then several other less mature colts, but very racy individuals; by Stage Call, Lot 265; by Second Empire, Lot 36 and by Right Approach, Lot 223. Craig Eudey has secured a lovely filly by Casey Tibbs, Lot 231, and let's hope she runs like his other Casey Tibbs filly, IRISH DARLING! We would like to thank these trainers for their loyal support and we will enjoy watching these youngsters grow out on the farm over the next few months.

This month has been a little quiet of Ambleway graduates on the track. Only two of our horses have been successful in small features around the country: SEVEN VEILS ran a cracking third in the Ladies' Pendant Stakes, a listed race over 1200m. She just failed to catch the leaders by under a length. Her form, since she has been relocated to the Cape under Vaughan Marshall, has really been fantastic. ILIAD competed in the Egoli Three-Year Old Mile where he was still green and ran on for fourth. The following week his efforts were rewarded over a trip a little further over 1800m where he won very easily by two-and-a-quarter lengths for his conditioner Robbie Sage. Well done to Mrs Oppenheimer, his owner, who is still having a purple patch in feature races. She has also been successful with two of the horses we prepared for her last year. IRELAND won again over 1800m for Gavin van Zyl and FORESTATION came back to his best form and won for conditioner Robbie Sage over 1450m. Congratulations to all of you!

In Dubai we have two horses competing successfully at top level. Last month LIZARD'S DESIRE won his first two starts and then ran a creditable third in open company. He will be competing on World Cup night, in the World Cup so good luck to his connections, Mike de Kock and owner, the Sheik.

LUCKY FIND ran second in Dubai then followed up in this seasonal debut by running a cracking race to get up to win the Imax Cup over 1600m. Kevin Shea, his regular race jockey was aboard for the Sheik. He is now being aimed at the Godolphin Mile on World Cup night. All of us back home in South Africa will be holding thumbs for you!

On the local scene we have seen the emergence of a new top sprinter, a Silvano colt, CLEARLY SILVER. At this stage Dennis Drier's colt has only been beaten at the tough Scottsville 1200m and recently showed his mettle over 1100m against other useful sprinters. With new stable jockey, Alec Forbes, aboard, he contested the finish in a ding-dong battle to get his nose in front of another useful horse for his Hong Kong owner, Mr F Lau. Congratulations to the team and to Dennis and to Messrs Jones and Wagenaar for their filly CHARMING LADY who ran a cracking third in this race. She was nominated as last year's Champion Sprinter in KwaZulu-Natal and is still showing a really good form. Well done!

Michael Roberts has had his first success for prominent owner, Marcus Jooste with a daughter of Captain Al, ST FRANCIS COURT. She ran on well to win by two lengths over 1000m and let's hope this is the start of a prosperous relationship for Michael. He also won with another stalwart supporter and owner, Sydney Cassell with DAUNTLESS DELANCE. This good-looking son of Scenic is a horse that has had problems so well done to you for getting him to win so well over 1200m. This was a very closely contested finish but he had his head down at the right place. Congratulations to you both!

The owners of CONNOR McLEOD must have had a field day as, apart from his good win that week, he was sold later in the week at Shongweni and the income they received must have been like having two wins. Well done to you Max, Neil, Ian and Stuart McGregor and to owner/trainer Craig Eudey.

SILENT MIST was rested here and has shown good form for conditioner Glen Kotzen since she has returned. She has had several places and finally won a very nice for Anfield Stud and Messrs Greg Blank and Walenski over 1400m. Congratulations to you!

BOLD WONDER has revelled over more ground and she won again over 1800m for her new conditioner Duncan Howells. She notched up her latest win by a good five lengths for Messrs Futter and Pennells. Congratulations to you all as this filly by Blackfriars will make a lovely brood mare in the future.

In Port Elizabeth SYCO'S STAR and DEBONAIR MAN won again for their new connections.

We have had lots of horses placed over the last month and, in particular, I was delighted to see the filly GRACY JONES run fourth in her debut. She is a daughter of Smarty Jones who was one of the favourites to win the Triple Crown in the United States. She is a lovely big filly and she ran fourth in her debut for Geoff Woodroff and owner/breeder Robin Bruss. Congratulations to you. Other horses to have been placed that should win soon are AUTUMN BREEZE, RISE AGAIN, STRING OF STARS, FRANKIE MERCURY, SPORTING WARRIOR, KRUGER PARK, HELLS BELLS, AVILLA, STREET CRED, AIR POCKET, VILAYET, LA NEGRITA, SYLVAN SHADE, TAMARILLO, PRO REGINA, KEEP THE KEY, SPLENDID NEWS, TURF QUEEN, CHARMING LADY, SAHARA, FANTASTIC LADY, NATIONAL NIGHTMARE, DIOR ADDICT, ARGENTINA, LAURELS, DUEL EMBLEM, FINANCE MINISTER, HARBOUR LIGHT and SERAPH. Please do watch all these horses run as soon they should win!

As of the 1st April 2010 we will be joined by Colinda McIntosh as my assistant. She has had plenty of experience caring for horses, in addition to working in racing yards at Ashburton.

Next month sees the National Yearling Sales at Germiston on 23 - 26 April. The catalogue is particularly strong and I believe there are some very impressive youngsters to be seen. We will be there and, if anybody needs assistance in selecting yearlings, or the spelling of them after the sale, please contact me.

Enjoy your racing and see you at the Sales or the races!

JANE TROTTER