THERE are no half-measures when it comes to the Cape Breeders’ Club, who hosted Saturday’s meeting at Kenilworth. They sponsored two Listed features for fillies and entertained guests in a big way with novel ideas and no expenses spared. The theme was “green with envy” and for many racecourses in South Africa, this paradox may have rung true as a fabulous day of racing was laid out for the full house that attended.
Cape Breeders Chair Liesl King, a no-nonsense lady with a flair for the innovative, explained:
“There is a perception that breeders are the luckiest people in racing who take the cream off the top and don’t give anything back to the racing industry. While that is a false perception to start with, this is our way of saying thanks to owners and trainers for supporting us every year at the various sales.’’
Rodney Dunn, himself a small-time breeder, won the Listed Jamaica Handicap with Tassie Belle and from his perspective as an owner thanked King and her team for staging two “much-needed” races for fillies. His words were echoed by many, including breeders John Koster, Veronica Foulkes and James Armitage.
Guests packed out the Peninsula Room, in which special treats awaited. On top of the regular delightful cuisine King and company had arranged a sushi bar, a coffee bar and a cocktail bar with attending experts.
Spot prizes, including select bottles of wine signed by the connections of Pocket Power, were given away throughout the day. A “Win Your Weight in Wine” competition made everyone tipsters for the day and the sponsors sent up silent prayers that commentator Rouvaun Smit would have an off day tipping. The balancing of the winners and boxes of wine on a makeshift scale was fun to watch.
King threatened to “close the doors” of the Peninsula Room after the conclusion of the last race, but there were more than enough “party animals” to dance away into the night. While some of the older guests preferred to watch summer skirts flopping up and down on the dance floor, the dancing skills of some younger folk proved to be quite amazing. James Armitage and wife Joy, in particular, knew all the right moves. Shirley Koster, as always resplendent in her attire, showed the energy of a 16-year-old and Freddy Macaskill’s almost begged for mercy as his wife Karen abused his old bones to the funky beats ringing across the stage.
The racing was also top class and provided punters with few surprises especially for followers of inform jockey Karl Neisius. The veteran Cape Jock hit devastating form toward the end of the day booting home the last three winners including both listed features. The first aboard Sangria Girl in the Sun Classique Handicap for Greg Ennion and then with Tassie Bell in the Jamaica Handicap for Basil Marcus.
One normally knows early in the day whether an arranged function will be a success or not. This one had enough elements to reach several highs and for that the Cape Breeders Club can take a bow. One hopes that Liesl King’s drive and energy won’t be blocked in other avenues by the ever-present workings of the sour and the jealous. It is a principle of life that some must lead and others must follow.
The CBC bash was a celebration of the healthiest element of the racing industry and John Freeman of the Thoroughbred Group commented: “I can’t recall the last time we had a group of such magnificent stallions active in South Africa, and it goes way beyond Jet Master, Captain Al, Silvano and Western Winter. Ours is a healthy and progressive community of breeders and great things lie ahead.”
The day provided a fresh twist to the routine racing that Kenilworth has become accustomed to, and as the DJ played to a full dance floor well into the late hours of the evening one could not help but wonder how racing could evolve should this be a regular fixture on future calendars.
Liesl King
Lionel Cohen and John Koster
Vaughan Koster and Pippa Mickleburgh
James and Joy Armitage
Liquid Chefs
