Ipi Tombe
Encyclopedia
Ipi Tombe is a champion Thoroughbred
racehorse
and broodmare. She was bred by Peter J. Moor, chairman of the Board of Directors
of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association of Zimbabwe. With that country in a state of turmoil and near economic collapse following implementation of the government's land reform law
that resulted in confiscation and redistribution of horse farms, the granddaughter of Mr. Prospector
was sold at the annual Zim Nation yearling auction in Harare
for the equivalent of US$30
(thirty dollars). Purchased by a four-man partnership, she was given the name Ipi Tombe which in the Xhosa
language (actually: "ipi ntombi") translates as "Where is the girl?"
, Noelene Peech, Ipi Tombe began her racing career at age three. She made five starts at Borrowdale Park Racecourse in Harare, earning four wins and a second. Her demonstrated abilities were such that her handlers were able to syndicate her to a group of twenty-two South Africa
n investors who brought her to race there where stronger competition for higher purse money was available.
She was sent across the border to Mike de Kock in South Africa., Ipi Tombe's conditioning was entrusted to Mike De Kock, one of South Africa's leading trainers. She made her debut on March 9, 2002, finishing second in the South African Triple Tiara at Turffontein Racecourse
in Johannesburg
. She would never lose another race in her career.
After her initial defeat, Ipi Tombe then won the South African Oaks, the South African Fillies Guineas, and the Woolavington Stakes but her most important win in 2002 was in the country's most prestigious race, the Durban July Handicap
at Greyville Racecourse
in Durban
. In this Group One
race she would be up against the best horses from all over the country, including many older male horses. Ridden by jockey Kevin Shea, Ipi Tombe came from a difficult number eighteen outside post position to put on a powerful stretch drive that made her the first three-year-old filly to win the race in fifty years. Her performances that year earned her South African Champion Three-Year-Old Filly honors.
racing operation based in Versailles, Kentucky
whose business acquires racing stock by selling individual horse partnerships to the public. In August 2002, a deal was struck that resulted in Sunmark Stable retaining a twenty-five percent interest in the horse with Team Valor also holding twenty-five percent and prominent Kentucky breeder WinStar Farm
the owner of the remaining fifty percent.
Shipped to winter at trainer Mike De Kock stables at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse
in Dubai
, Ipi Tombe made her 2003 debut in March, winning the Group II Haafhd Jebel Hatta in stakes record time. She then defeated male rivals while capturing the Group One Dubai Duty Free Stakes in track record time. Ipi Tombe's outstanding performances would earn her 2003 Dubai Horse of the Year honors.
in Louisville, Kentucky
where her race conditioning was taken over by Elliott Walden
. Ridden by Pat Day
in her American debut, Ipi Tombe won the Grade III
Locust Grove Handicap
at Churchill Downs
, making her the horse bred in Zimbabwe to ever win at the historic Churchill Downs track.
A training injury that never healed properly resulted in Ipi Tombe being retired on November 22, 2003 and sent to the renowned Coolmore Stud
in Ireland
for broodmare duty. In foal to the Champion sire
, Sadler's Wells
, she was sold at a Tattersalls
auction in England
in November 2004 for £850,000 to Americans Richard Santulli and Barry Weisbord. On February 25, 2005 she gave birth to a colt
that was named Monastic Springs. She had her second foal, a filly by Pivotal, on May 1, 2006. Sent to Denali Stud in Paris, Kentucky
, she slipped a filly by Giant's Causeway
in late 2008, but produced a healthy colt by him on February 9, 2009. She is presently carrying a filly by Kingmambo
.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
and broodmare. She was bred by Peter J. Moor, chairman of the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association of Zimbabwe. With that country in a state of turmoil and near economic collapse following implementation of the government's land reform law
Land reform in Zimbabwe
Land reform in Zimbabwe officially began in 1979 with the signing of the Lancaster House Agreement, an effort to more equitably distribute land between the historically disenfranchised blacks and the minority-whites who ruled Zimbabwe from 1890 to 1979...
that resulted in confiscation and redistribution of horse farms, the granddaughter of Mr. Prospector
Mr. Prospector
Mr. Prospector was a thoroughbred racehorse foaled in Kentucky, whose descendants have been dominant in the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. He won half of his 14 career races.-Background:...
was sold at the annual Zim Nation yearling auction in Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
for the equivalent of US$30
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
(thirty dollars). Purchased by a four-man partnership, she was given the name Ipi Tombe which in the Xhosa
Xhosa language
Xhosa is one of the official languages of South Africa. Xhosa is spoken by approximately 7.9 million people, or about 18% of the South African population. Like most Bantu languages, Xhosa is a tonal language, that is, the same sequence of consonants and vowels can have different meanings when said...
language (actually: "ipi ntombi") translates as "Where is the girl?"
Racing in Zimbabwe
Conditioned by Zimbabwe's leading trainerHorse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
, Noelene Peech, Ipi Tombe began her racing career at age three. She made five starts at Borrowdale Park Racecourse in Harare, earning four wins and a second. Her demonstrated abilities were such that her handlers were able to syndicate her to a group of twenty-two South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n investors who brought her to race there where stronger competition for higher purse money was available.
Racing in South Africa
Racing under the syndicate's Sunmark Stable banner, Ipi Tombe joined the stable of trainer Noelene Peech and won four races from five starts in her native Zimbabwe. Showing the potential she did, owners Henk Leyenaar, Steve Tomlinson and Dave Coleman secured half a share for R250 000, the other half remaining with the Sunmark Syndicate, of which Rob Davenport was the nominee,She was sent across the border to Mike de Kock in South Africa., Ipi Tombe's conditioning was entrusted to Mike De Kock, one of South Africa's leading trainers. She made her debut on March 9, 2002, finishing second in the South African Triple Tiara at Turffontein Racecourse
Turffontein Racecourse
Turffontein Racecourse is a race track in South Africa for Thoroughbred horse racing founded in 1887 at Turffontein, Gauteng by the Johannesburg Turf Club...
in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
. She would never lose another race in her career.
After her initial defeat, Ipi Tombe then won the South African Oaks, the South African Fillies Guineas, and the Woolavington Stakes but her most important win in 2002 was in the country's most prestigious race, the Durban July Handicap
Durban July Handicap
The Durban July Handicap is a South African Thoroughbred horse race held annually on the first Saturday of July since 1897 at Greyville Racecourse in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Raced on turf, the Durban July Handicap is open to horses of all ages. It is South Africa's premier horse racing event and...
at Greyville Racecourse
Greyville Racecourse
Greyville Racecourse is a Thoroughbred race track in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The 2,800 metre pear-shaped track consists of several gradient features: it is run uphill from the 2,400 metre mark to the 1,800 metre mark, after which it slopes gently downward for...
in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
. In this Group One
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
race she would be up against the best horses from all over the country, including many older male horses. Ridden by jockey Kevin Shea, Ipi Tombe came from a difficult number eighteen outside post position to put on a powerful stretch drive that made her the first three-year-old filly to win the race in fifty years. Her performances that year earned her South African Champion Three-Year-Old Filly honors.
Racing in Dubai
Ipi Tombe's performances also brought her to the attention of Barry Irwin, head of the Team ValorTeam Valor
Team Valor Stable LLC is an American Thoroughbred horse racing stable based in Versailles, Kentucky. It was founded by Barry Irwin and Jeff Siegel who create partnerships with racing enthusiasts to race Thoroughbred horses at major racing venues, primarily in North America.In early July 2007,...
racing operation based in Versailles, Kentucky
Versailles, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,511 people, 3,160 households, and 2,110 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 3,330 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 88.18% White, 8.67% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.35%...
whose business acquires racing stock by selling individual horse partnerships to the public. In August 2002, a deal was struck that resulted in Sunmark Stable retaining a twenty-five percent interest in the horse with Team Valor also holding twenty-five percent and prominent Kentucky breeder WinStar Farm
WinStar Farm
WinStar Farm is an American Thoroughbred horse breeding and racing farm near Versailles, Kentucky. Formerly known as Prestonwood Farm, it was owned by Houston, Texas oilmen Jack, Art, and J. R...
the owner of the remaining fifty percent.
Shipped to winter at trainer Mike De Kock stables at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse
Nad Al Sheba Racecourse
Nad Al Sheba Racecourse is a former Thoroughbred horse racing facility in Dubai, United Arab Emirates opened in 1986. It has a 2,200 metre left-handed dirt race track and a left-handed turf course of the same distance...
in Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, Ipi Tombe made her 2003 debut in March, winning the Group II Haafhd Jebel Hatta in stakes record time. She then defeated male rivals while capturing the Group One Dubai Duty Free Stakes in track record time. Ipi Tombe's outstanding performances would earn her 2003 Dubai Horse of the Year honors.
Racing in the United States
Following her success in Dubai, in April 2003 Ipi Tombe was shipped to Churchill DownsChurchill Downs
Churchill Downs, located in Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, is a Thoroughbred racetrack most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby annually. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Churchill Downs...
in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
where her race conditioning was taken over by Elliott Walden
W. Elliott Walden
W. Elliott Walden is the President and CEO of racing operations for WinStar Farm near Versailles, Kentucky and a former Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.From a racing family, Walden grew up in the industry...
. Ridden by Pat Day
Pat Day
Patrick Alan "Pat" Day is an American jockey. He is a four-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991...
in her American debut, Ipi Tombe won the Grade III
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
Locust Grove Handicap
Locust Grove Handicap
The Locust Grove Handicap is an American Grade III Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Churchill Downs in late June/early July at Louisville, Kentucky...
at Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs, located in Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, is a Thoroughbred racetrack most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby annually. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Churchill Downs...
, making her the horse bred in Zimbabwe to ever win at the historic Churchill Downs track.
A training injury that never healed properly resulted in Ipi Tombe being retired on November 22, 2003 and sent to the renowned Coolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud, in Fethard, South Tipperary in Ireland, is the world's largest breeding operation of thoroughbred racehorses. It was established in 1975....
in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
for broodmare duty. In foal to the Champion sire
Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland
The list below shows the leading sire of racehorses in Great Britain and Ireland for each year since 1751. This is determined by the amount of prize money won by the sire's progeny during the season.----- References :* -See also:...
, Sadler's Wells
Sadler's Wells (horse)
Sadler's Wells was a Thoroughbred racehorse that was later a leading sire in France, Great Britain & Ireland and North America during the 1990s. He was foaled in 1981 in the United States, but achieved most of his racing and breeding fame in Europe....
, she was sold at a Tattersalls
Tattersalls
Tattersalls is the main auctioneer of race horses in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It was founded in 1766 by Richard Tattersall , who had been stud groom to the second Duke of Kingston. The first premises occupied were near Hyde Park Corner, in what was then the outskirts of London...
auction in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in November 2004 for £850,000 to Americans Richard Santulli and Barry Weisbord. On February 25, 2005 she gave birth to a colt
Colt (horse)
A colt is a young male horse, under the age of four. The term "colt" is often confused with foal, which refers to a horse of either sex under one year of age....
that was named Monastic Springs. She had her second foal, a filly by Pivotal, on May 1, 2006. Sent to Denali Stud in Paris, Kentucky
Paris, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,183 people, 3,857 households, and 2,487 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,222 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 84.23% White, 12.71% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16%...
, she slipped a filly by Giant's Causeway
Giant's Causeway (horse)
Giant's Causeway is a Kentucky-bred thoroughbred racehorse who competed primarily in Europe. In 2000, he won five straight Group One races. His performance that year earned him European Horse of the Year honors....
in late 2008, but produced a healthy colt by him on February 9, 2009. She is presently carrying a filly by Kingmambo
Kingmambo
Kingmambo is an American thoroughbred stallion racehorse.-Background:He was sired by the leading stud, Mr...
.