It is the middle of the Cape Sizzling Summer season and we look forward to plenty of exciting racing there. The Gauteng season is fast approaching and there is more to look forward to there in the future months.

Back in KZN we have a few feature races starting but the main season starts in the winter months of March and April. A few races have begun here and Graded races wins build up reputations. The Grade 3 Flamboyant Stakes is no exception............

Run over a mile at Greyville there were a lot of questions being posed about the hot favourite- SAME JURISDICTION. Could she win this race as she was coming back from a long layoff due to being suspended suffering an epitaxis after the Thekweni Stakes Grade1 while beating Carry On Alice , and she had missed her prep run due to the heavy weather. Well she showed how good a filly she was by winning in fine style by 4 lengths under a hands and heels ride by Stuart Randolph. Kevin Shea her regular rider, before his op, was there at the finish and he had plenty to say about her championship qualities.

She won for Drakenstein Stud, her new owners, and a jubilant Dr Ralph Katzwinkel, Larry Vermaak, Mam Powell and Duncan Howells. Duncan deserves a special training tribute as this filly, albeit a star in the making, now heads up to the Gauteng to compete in some of the big races there! She certainly has made up for her purchase price of R270,000 at the KZN Sale. She was placed in her first start then has rattled off wins in her last 4 to date and has amassed the amount of over a million in stakes!

We at Ambleway have had 3 horses that have been placed in feature races- VIVA LA VAR, VARIKATE and JET EXPLORER.......

The latter horse JET EXPLORER is such a gutsy horse as has run his 3rd race since his fall with jockey Richard Fourie aboard. He ran a close finishing 2nd to Jet Aglow in the listed Cape Jet Master Stakes over a mile and ran a great prep for the Queens Plate. He then ran a great race in the Grade 1 Queens Plate. He ran on strongly to finish 4th. He had spent a few months at the surgery of Ralph Katwinkel and had had his jaw stitched up. He has been nursed back to getting his confidence by Justin Snaith his conditioner.

Justin was also 3rd with VARIKATE in the listed Laissefaire Stakes over 1100 to the highly rated Cold As Ice (who happens to be a half sister to VIVA LA VAR!)

VIVA LA VAR was scratched in JHB as he had bumped his head in the gates. He was all the rage and started hot favourite for his colourful owner Alesh Naidoo over a sprint distance. He was ridden by Sean Cormack and after stumbling and nearly coming down at the start of the race he finished 3rd. A disappointment as he was highly expected to win the race as he was unbeaten coming into the race.

We have seen our first juvenile runner in ETERNAL ICE came 4th in his first start. He was our top price sold at the Ready To Run Sale in November this last year, being by Western Winter out of the well related mare Easyjadeasy. There was a lot of interest in him and he worked very well at the gallops. I am delighted for owner Buffalo Bill and Gavin Van Zyl his conditioner that they are recouping some of his purchase price!

We have plenty of winners for Summerveld Champion Trainer of 2014 Dennis Drier, and KZN Champion Trainer of 2014 Duncan Howells........ apart from the latter conditioner being successful with SAME JURISDICTION.

Ambleway schooled locally for the Drier yard some well bred home- bred horses that have made the frame....SILVER HONEY, LEGEND FIGHTER and FIREWOOD!

The first mentioned was bred by Keith Foster also his owner with Kevin Latter. She is by Black Minnalouche out of his mare Silver Splash and she won over 1400 meters and was piloted home by Sean Veale.

The next two horses mentioned are very close to the heart being raised at Ambleway out of our mare that we raced-FINE FEATHER! She herself was a good sprinter winning 7 races and she has produced 7 runners and 7 winners for us! She has been to some of the Cape best stallions in Dynasty and Horse Chestnut and has successfully produced LEGEND FIGHTER and FIREWOOD who both broke their maidens over 1200 meters.

LEGEND FIGHTER, aptly named as health wise he has been through so much and he had been expected to run well in his debut but had been pulled up as he showed breathing problems. He was operated on by Dr Cave and obviously it was a success as he won his first start back and surprised all as he was the least fancied of the Drier trio in the race. He was piloted home by Keegan De Mielo and he won by nearly 2 lengths on the polytrack at Greyville and he started at the long odds of 33-1!

FIREWOOD in contrast to LEGEND FIGHTER started favourite to win at Scottsville and although green in the running, Sean Cormack steered him home to victory by 1 and 1\2 lengths. There were times during the race that it was thanks to Sean riding that we still won!

They both gave their owners welcome Xmas and New year presents-Rod and Jane Trotter ,The Apache Syndicate( a group of young supporters including James and Michael Trotter) , Rob Alexander and Bruce Campbell. Bruce we were so happy to see you at FIREWOODS win!

In KZN we have to thank the able Stuart Ferry who has run the Drier yard while Dennis and Gill have been raiding in Cape Town. It has been a frustrating start for them in Cape Town but it is certainly improving now!

Dennis Drier was also successful in the Cape with the graduate TRIPTIQUE. He notched up two victories in a row for his owners Messers Braam Van Hussteeyn, Willie Henderson and J Rauch. This very fast son of Trippi was purchased at the National sales in 2014 and certainly looks like he can run!

Duncan Howells had been frustrated running on the Greyville polytrack and now that he is running on the grass at Scottville and at Greyville he is smiling and is bringing home plenty of winners!

We have schooled a few of them and in particular LITTLEBLACKNUMBER , who has bounced back to her best by winning two sprint races for her owners Howard Schweggman , Tim Herdon and Duncan Howells himself . She is a special filly to train and is by Black Minnalouche out of a fast National Assembly mare!

We have been sent quite a few horses that have won their maidens for Duncan Howells-THE KINGS HAND, NATIONAL APPROVAL and the surprise packet SABAYA who is well bred being by Dynasty out of Seminole. She won her debut for Mr Shaik her owner! She was so rewarding to see win after being spelled here........

THE KINGS HAND was tried over some ground, 2400 meters, and he won impressively over3 lengths for his team of owners. NATIONAL APPROVAL in contrast to him won a sprint over 1200 and beat two other graduates HOLD THE LINE and SLEWSGATE for the winner’s purse. He is a son of KZN stallion Miesque Approval who really has been a useful stallion!

In PE we won with IKATHI! This 6 year old daughter of Catalooche was racing in KZN and now has moved to Dorrie Sham for owner Mayesh Chetty. She certainly has won her fair share of sprints for him!

We have a list of horses that have been placed and that deserve following.....
ALLYSA PRIZE,GLORIOUS MOMENT,KINGS ARCHER,MURMERING SKY,BECKEDORF,CODE RED.D’VASH,IMPERIAL FABERGE.KAMIKAZE,MISS ARGENTINA,MISS DECEMBER,AIR PATROL,HOLD THE LINE,SLEWSGATE,LOVE FROM AL,AFICAN TRIUPH,MASKED GIRL,CHILL, OTHER BRUDDA, BIRKENS BEST and ICE GODDESS
Watch them as they could win soon.......

Enjoy your racing -

Jane Trotter