The Apache - what a warrior

The Apache and the Arlington Million – sometimes winning isn’t everything
The record books will record that The Apache, a six year old South African bred entire, trained by Mike de Kock, crossed the line first in the 2013 Group 1 Arlington Million, before losing the race in the boardroom. That is often the nature of racing, there are no sure things and even crossing the line in first does not always guarantee that you will return victorious.
It was a great day for Real Solution(USA), who became his sire’s third winner on the day, but it was an even better one for The Apache, despite being demoted to second. As a strapping black colt, The Apache, by Mogok(USA) out of the Dolpour(IRE) mare Apache Rose was purchased in 2009 by Winston Chow for a very modest sum of $8000. And what a purchase it has turned out to be.
Mr Chow eventually wanted The Apache to compete in Hong Kong, where an import may not have had more than 17 starts. This would soon prove to be a major challenge for his trainer Gavin van Zyl. As the colt showed immense promise, each race had to be weighed up and the consequences considered, all the while keeping an eye on that magical number 17.
It wasn’t long before The Apache started adding some Graded silverware to the cupboard. First up was the Grade 2 Investec Dingaans over 1600m at Turffontein where The Apache romped home 1.25 lengths clear. After a six-month break, he reappeared in Durban in the traditional winter season’s opener for three-year-olds, the Grade 2 KRA Guineas, where he finished a creditable fourth.
Next up was the big one, the one that all trainers with promising three-year-olds want to win, the Grade 1 Daily News over 2000m at Greyville. The Apache relished the extra 400m and stuck his nose in front to deny Run For It(SAF) on the line. For The Apache, the season came to a glorious end on the 31st of July in the Grade 1 Champions Cup over 1800m where colt showed he had matured beyond belief, winning by a quarter length against older horses. It was his tenth start and with two Grade 1 victories, he was crowned Equus Champion Three-Year-Old Colt.
A couple of placings in Graded company followed and then it was decision time as that magical total of 17 starts loomed. Mr Chow decided that Hong Kong was not a big enough stage for his star colt and opted instead to sell a half share to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum. Consequently, The Apache joined Mike de Kock’s merry band of Dubai bound horses at the quarantine station in Cape Town. Five months of quarantine followed on three different continents and yet The Apache lost none of his form.
Having his first start for Mike De Kock and his first in almost a year, The Apache dominated the Group 2 Al Rashidiya over 1800m under Christophe Soumillon at Meydan. With a second in the Grade 1 Jebel Hatta and a second in the Grade 1 Dubai Duty Free on World Cup night, The Apache was one of the stars of the World Cup Festival. Not bad for an $8000 purchase, who had spent five months languishing in quarantine!
De Kock and The Apache were however far from finished and the tough, sound South African bred boarded a plane for the UK. There De Kock allowed him to settle in, before having a warm up run in the Group 2 York Stakes. The Apache showed he was ready for another challenge, with a credible 4th behind the talented Mukhadram(GB ). The ultimate plan had always been the Group 1 Arlington Million and De Kock was satisfied that the colt was on target. Again a plane trip loomed.
By the time The Apache landed in the States, he had completed five long distance flights and visited four countries in just over a year! Not something any sane person would ever consider asking of a highly strung racehorse and yet due to quarantine restrictions, the South African horses do it routinely.
Sadly, the outcome did not go The Apache’s way and it is hard to lose a race in the boardroom, but even in defeat, the $8000, bargain basement buy from the Bloodstock South Africa National Two-Year-Old Sales, proudly flew the flag for South Africa. Just like passing the post first does not always guarantee victory, one also has to remember that winning is not everything and sometimes just passing the post is quite an achievement in itself.

Superb effort, if only our French friend had the effort to change his whip?
Who knows

scotia Wrote:

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> Superb effort, if only our French friend had the
> effort to change his whip?
> Who knows


He is from Belgium

And his Nationality

@bloodstock sa

How about

Unrelated

This filly bred in sa to a super sa stallion out of an al mufti mare as now had 9 starts and is rated 38. Having once run an amazing 4.8 lengths off the winner we really need to say that winning is NOT everything and much like the apache we need to find the positives in all 2376 horse born in sa every year. After all bloodstock sa has to promote sa racing and breeding even though its less than 2% of the yearly born that mae it to a rating of over 100.

In all other walks of life and businesses advertising is done promoting advances and price re duction. In breeding you boast about how prices are up and how expensive a horse is bought or, mental.

Keep up the positivity, its infectous.

Great stuff Tom you have the sales buzzing ATM , great job

Two weeks ago there was a race at the vaal, where there was a objection, with similar bumping, and it was not given to the horse that got beat a short head,why are these objection so inconsistent .

Savas

Because the american rules in my opinion are the best, bump and you out. Same in france, therefore the decision is taken away from stewards many of whom are part time.

The incident at the vaal shows you that in "someones opinion" the result was not affected but it could be that in 100's of other peoples eyes it was.

I am very vocal on a black and white rulenas i feel it stops all the arguing post result.

Well done Mogok and the KZN Breeding fraternity