LULL BEFORE THE STORM

Racing in all the provinces is quiet before the commencement of the new season in the Cape and in Gauteng. There are sand features during this period which attract the most interest including the Emerald Cup (Grade 2) where Ambleway was represented by graduates ART WISH, ALIMONY and MINA SALAAM.

ART WISH was one of the fancied runners but unfortunately disappointed. The day however started off fantastically for our graduates when St John Gray booted home a quick double in the first two races. TURKISH DELIGHT, the favourite, won the first race over a mile and then THE FIXER, who was less fancied, got up to win the 2nd race over 1 450 metres. Well done to the Gray team!

We have also produced other graduates that have won a quick double on the sand - OUR BUDDY and DRAWBRIDE. The former a son of Western Winter was sent here after knee surgery and has really come back to his own winning two races in a row on the dirt. In his win he hacked up by over 10 lengths to win for conditioner Alec Laird. He then followed up with a good second on the dirt. Well done to his team of owners Messrs Wilson, Stephen and Wernars. DRAWBRIDE is bred in the purple being a Fort Wood out of Daphne Donnelly and he won again over a mile for his owner/breeder Mrs Bridget Oppenheimer. Robbie Sage his conditioner must have been pleased with his win.

Ambleway scored another double at Scottsville when KALINAGO and PREDESTINATION won at the same meeting. The former big son of Tambourlaine won his maiden over 1200 metres for his team of owners Messrs Kay, De Marigny, Haramis, Nidd and Gill Drier. Dennis has always liked this colt and was rewarded with his win. PREDESTINATION has the claim of having won all of his three starts at this track! He is unbeaten at Scottsville and gave his field a galloping lesson over the trip of 2400 meters. He was fancied in The Gold Cup but unfortunately disappointed his connections Markus Jooste and conditioner Joey Ramsden on that day.

After these double successes we are delighted to have had a winner in all 3 provinces SHIMMERING JET won in Cape Town, ROYAL OVERTURE won in Gauteng and PUNTE DEL ESTE won in KZN. SHIMMERING JET is a big daughter of the current Champion Stallion Jet Master and is a half sister to the useful performer Shimmering Flame. She won for her owner\breeders Pat and Henry Devine. She has been very consistent for her conditioner Mike Bass so hopefully she will now visit the winner's box more often.

ROYAL OVERTURE is by speed sire Sarge but is out of the staying mare SKAGWAY by Saumerez, and when she was put over ground she lapped it up. She won well for owner\breeder and trainer - St John Gray over2600 metres. Her dam had also produced another winner on the day! Well done to the Gray team.

The Drier yard have had fewer runners lately as many of the horses have had short rests while getting their AHS vaccines. It was great to see PUNTE DEL ESTE bounce back over 1200 metres and beat a competitive field of sprinters. The partnership of James Drew and Mike Fullard has had a run of placed horses in the yard so it was great to see them successful in the winner's enclosure.

There have been plenty of horses come in from farms to be prepared for training over the past few weeks: Three horses came from Beaumont Stud in the Cape area - an athletic colt by Cordoba who is a half brother to the useful filly IM MOLLY that was schooled here; a strong muscular Var filly and a staying type of filly by Nysean who is a half sister to current PE star Im Three.

A well grown colt by GREYS INN from the family of Outstanding Star, an immature filly by Ecomium, and small but balanced filly out of the mare we schooled ABSOLUTE MISSION arrived from Arc En Ciel, and a racy well grown colt by Silvano came from Highlands farm. Apart from these two year olds we have had a batch to school from Hadlow Stud - three strong robust colts by Sarge and a colt and filly by Jam Alley. The filly is very tall and racy and could develop into an athletic horse once worked. All of these horses are currently being backed and getting ready to trot on the track.

It is that time of year when we are preparing a draft from Highlands Farms for the Ready To Run Sale. These 13 horses are all in work and are starting to travel to Summerhill to prepare them for the gallops on 14 October.

The following horses are at Ambleway and can be viewed here before or after the gallops:

WENDYS MAN is a neat well balanced colt by Black Minnalouche out of the speedy Argentinian mare Wendy's. The dam won 5 sprints and is a half sister to many graded winners and the 2nd dam Wally was the champion sprinter in the Argentine winning19 races!

THE AGAPO has a superb Brazilian pedigree being by Alphabet Soup and his dam Aliysa won 5 graded races in Brazil and the USA up to a mile. He is a typical sprinter type being short coupled and neat.

GALLIPOLI is a well grown mature son of Daylami out of the Northern Guest mare Northern Duel that has already produced 3 black type runners from 5 winners…...including Northern Frontier (5 wins) and Cool Prospect (11 wins) . He is very well topped with a lovely low action on the track.

THE SISTERHOOD is a strong robust filly by new sire Imperial Stride out of the speed mare Sister Sheila. She hails from the very fast family of Splendid Ann who was the ARCSA champion winning 10 sprints including the Gilbeys Grade 1! This filly looks special and moves well!

SUN FLASH is a tall rangy colt by Spectrum out of the Canadian Deputy Minister mare who has already produced a Dynasty juvenile that ran 2nd in the Cape Nursery. He has a lovely big stride on him and moves well. He comes from a speed family in the USA where Eternal Search featured in Canada as the Champion Sprinter there winning 18 sprints!

SAMMY SILVER is an athletic colt by Windrush out of another 4 time winning Canadian mare Sylvan Fields. He is a first foal and he loves and is very willing in his work.

SACRED CALL is a good looking showy daughter of Windrush out of the big Crypto Clearance mare CODE ELEVEN. She has produced a full brother to this filly that has won already that we sold a few years ago - TYLERS TALENT also a good mover.

ROMAN LEGION is a sprinting son of Spectum out of the speedy Mexico mare Roman Kiss. She has already produced 11 winners and is a half sister to Harry Hotspur. This colt is working very well and looks to be precocious and fast!

BAY OF CALM is a filly typical of her sire National Assembly. She is out of a Red Ransom mare and is a first foal. She is racy and comes from an exceptionally strong third dam that produced 8 or more black type winners! Definitely a racehorse in the making.

BOSTON BELLE is a tall scopy filly by Windrush out of a mare by USA sire Dynaformer who is currently doing very well. She is closely related to 10 time graded winning mare and producer Mystic Lady. She is an athletic filly with a super big stride on her.

THE IT GIRL is a powerful daughter of Spectrum out of the King of Kings mare I've Got It. We prepared her daughter IRISH MAID by Dynasty last year and she was nominated for the Champion Juvenile Award in PE where she ran second in the Slipper Stakes. A very strong filly and is only the dams third foal!

MICHIGAN is a robust sprinter type by Windrush out of the speedy mare Lake Snowy. We sold his brother, SNOW SPECIAL, a two time winner a few years back. He has amazing bone and muscle development and loves his work.

GANESH is a tall athletic colt by Spectrum out of the Pulpit mare we schooled for Mr Beck - TEMPLE GODDESS. The mare won over a mile and has produced 2 winners from as many foals so far! She is closely related to successful USA runners that have won graded races. He is very athletic and bounds along in his work.

Do have a look at these horses at Summerhill or at Ambleway before the sale at Germiston on 6th November. Also contact me if you have any questions or queries about any of them.

There is a long list of horses to follow that have been placed and should feature soon in the winner's enclosure: TRANSCENDENT, MALKIA, MADAME ROONEY, IRISH MAID, PSALTERY, ROLL CALL, CRUELLA, FESTIVAL SPIRIT, WIELAND, STELLAR SEASON, HAPPY HEART, FRENCH REEF, ISLE OF DOGS, ALLOCATION, XIS BOY, OVERBERRY, DIVIDE AND RULE, MOTHER SUPERIOR, RUBY QUEEN, ZEZINHO, BELO, FIRE ESCAPE, FINANCE MINISTER, MINA SALAAM, HALLOWED, WEST VIRGINIA, MR GIGILO, GREEN LINE, VUYANI, TYLERS TALENT, LAMORNA, MIKES CHOICE and DANCE TO THE STARS

Quite a few of the above mentioned names were prepared and sold for previous Ready To Run Sales………TRANSCENDENT, MADAME ROONEY, IRISH MAID, STELLAR SEASON, HAPPY HEART, XIS BOY and TYLERS TALENT. Do have a look at our draft of horses being prepared for this years sale as many that have already been sold are featuring.

That is all for now. Enjoy your racing!

Jane Trotter