AMBLEWAY BIG GUNS!

Ambleway graduates have again featured prominently in the big races in Gauteng and at the start of the "sizzling summer season" in the Cape. Our graduates won two of the big races on November Handicap Day.

SEATTLE ICE won the November Handicap, a Gr2 over 1600m, in fine style from one of the worst draws. Geoff Woodruff seems to have this son of Xaar back to his best as he showed plenty of pace to get into a good position and was full of running at the end of the race to beat a strong field by two and a half lengths. Congratulations to his owner/breeder Larry Nestadt and his racing partner Greg Blank! You certainly have a super horse here that is starting to show his mettle in the big races. BULSARA won the Graham Beck Stakes, a Gr3 race on the same day over 1400m, beating his two-year old rival Exhilaration by three and a half lengths. Although receiving weight from the previous champion two-year old the manner in which BULSARA won shows he is a serious horse to be reckoned with in the future features in Gauteng. Congratulations to Gavin van Zyl, his conditioner, and to Mrs Oppenheimer who is having great success at the moment - long may it continue!

The start of the Cape sizzling summer season is upon us and we have featured in two of the races there already.

KAPIL came back from a very long rest, having run in the July last year to win the Betting World's Merchant Sprint, a G2 over 1200m. He came with a very late burst to beat one of the top two-year old horses from last year, Villiandry, by over two lengths. Hat's off to Stan Elly who managed to nurse this horse back to his best for Mike Fullard and James Drew. We will watch the forthcoming Cape season where he campaigns in another sprint and then the Queen's Plate and Met. Last year he ran places in these races and we wish him well for this season. GOLDEN PARACHUTE started favourite for the Woolavington Stakes, a listed race over 2400m and unfortunately found one better on the day to finish second for Mike Bass, his conditioner. Marsh Shirtliff, Des Scott and Rupert Plersche will soon be rewarded with a win in a feature as this horse has been knocking on the door for some time, having run a few feature race places and, being by a son of Montjeu, will still improve further.

International racing has been very exciting lately with the presence of many superstar race horses competing. Top of the list at the moment, rated the Top Horse in the World is Sea The Stars at 135 pounds and just below him we have seen three fantastic fillies who have really come to the fore this season with Goldikova being rated 130, Xenyatta 128 and Rachel Alexandra 125. Ambleway has particular interest in the latter filly - Rachel Alexandra - who has pulverised the colts on three occasions in feature races. She is by Medaglio D'Oro and we have a beautiful filly here by the same sire out of the top race mare, Circle of Life.

It is very exciting for owner/breeder Robin Bruss to have the opportunity of breeding himself such a filly with such a great pedigree and the looks to match. She is going into training now and we look forward to her racing. Her sister, a year older than her, Gracey Jones, was by former Kentucky Derby winner, Smarty Jones who has already gone to Geoff Woodruffe and looks certainly like being a nice staying type.

We have also been sent a very well bred colt by Red Ransom out of the mare Prospect Fever. This mare has already produced the star two-year old Way West who raced in Australia and is now at stud at Summerhill. He is a very nice, muscular colt and he moves very naturally. Let's hope that he does well for his owner/breeders Greg Blank and Larry Nestadt as he has now gone into training with Paul Matchett. He has a fine pedigree and looks to match.

These are three very well bred international pedigrees to follow as they start their racing careers. These and many other locally bred horses are among the youngsters we look forward to watching in the near future on the track!

The Ready to Run Sale was a great success. Ambleway was successful in amassing R1.5 million for the 11 lots we sold as agents! Our top price was an awesomely balanced colt by Windrush, Lot 151, who fetched R320 000,00. We also sold several other lots including four fillies over R200 000,00 which is above the sale average and median prices!

The overall sale aggregate was R26 million, 1.5% up on last year's strong sale. It was interesting to see that this was the only sale that shows improvement amongst the world-wide slump of last year. Specially interesting was that the average colt price was up 9.4% showing that buyers still have a strong confidence in buying horses from the sale with the chance of winning the stakes of the Ready to Run Cup next year. This sale definitely looks like it has its followers and is worth supporting.

Michael Roberts began last month with plenty of winners and is continuing to do so this month. TIRADE a very good-looking son of Western Winter won his first outing after a long break and then followed this up by winning again over 1000m trip. Now that this horse has learnt to settle in his races he was full of running at the end of his race to win very easily for Fieldspring Racing. May he continue to show his fine form over sprint distances.

Sydney Cassell has been in the pound seats again having had two wins with Michael. FESTIVAL SPIRIT, the half-brother to Fearless, won well after having a long break over 1200m and BOLD PRINCESS, a racy daughter of Dolphin Street, an Australia sire, came out and won over 1400m for him. Congratulations to you and your family. It is great to see you so frequently in the winning box!

Dennis Drier had success with two of our Ambleway graduates on the same day: PRINCE PASEO, a son of Toreador started off the day shedding his maiden over 1000m for a team of largely Tawny owners - Messrs Shill, Blank, Wallenski, Yutar and local racer Peter de Marigny. Later in the day we were delighted that our son of National Assembly, KANEVARO, won again. It appears that now that he is fitted with blinkers and has been gelded he has really found his form and won a very good race sitting just off the pace and finishing full of running to turn the tables on INDECENT OBSESSION who beat him in his last race. Congratulations to all the partners, Ian Longmore, Rob Alexander and John Michau who races this gelding with yours truly!

After a week of rain and dull weather, which working made horses difficult, Dennis was again in the winning enclosure with two of our graduates over the weekend! STAR EMPIRE came from a bad draw to win well over 1600m for Michael Gramanie and Gill Drier. Then PRIVATE PRINCESS, who has been knocking on the door, won over 1400m for owner/breeder Roy Moodley! Well done to all!

With all the rain about Wendy Whitehead must have been relieved and thrilled with the victory of TWO TONE over the weekend. This colt remained unbeaten winning his third outing again in useful fashion. He was less green in the race over 1200m and was well positioned in the straight and kicked at the finish. Congratulations to his owner/breeder Mrs Oppenheimer - this son of Strike Smartly is going places!

We have had winners around the country and it is particularly interesting to see how many of the older horses that have won races again and still continue to feature: LAURELS in Port Elizabeth (9 years old) won again over 1400m and in Johannesburg HELL'S BELLS, who is now 7 years old, won over 1600m and SERAPH, who is a six-year old son of Announce, won over 1200m. Long may these older horses continue to fire. In Cape Town I AM MOLLY, who is owned and bred by Bill Nelson, won her third victory from 8 career starts. Congratulations to Bill and to trainer, Justin Snaith. In Kimberley, SPORTING WARRIOR has been relocated and he won again over 1200m. Congratulations to his new connections.

We have a long list of horses that have been placed that deserve following: FANTASTIC LADY, DIOR ADDICT, HOT EMBER, LA NEGRITA, IPSE DIXIT, RANIERI, BELOTTO FLASH, LA DULCE VITA, SCARAMOOSH, JET TYCOON, BARANOVA, RAKHEE, SWINGING JET, PREDESTINATION, SEA RAIDER, ECHO OF THUNDER, PRIVATE PRINCESS, CRUELLA, SCENT OF MONEY, CARBON LEADER, CANDID GIRL, PRO REGINA, FORTUNATA, STREET CRED, VILAYET, DUAL EMBLEM, MOON RAIDER, STRING OF STARS, CANDY TUFT, TURF QUEEN, BET ON BLUE, NORSE SKY, ADMIRALITY, TEST STRIPE and SIYA VANA. Watch these and I am sure that they will make the frames soon!

Enjoy your racing!

JANE TROTTER