Team Valor Quits South African Racing

I may not always agree with Barry however I do have the utmost respect for someone who has dedicated much of his life to horseracing & breeding. It then follows that I am worried that he is stepping away from SA Racing at what I think is a critical time.

The fact that the world looks at the commercial team representing South Africa and has reservations is not without justification, one just needs to read any financial publication over the last 6 months to be weary. Ultimately if Chris has SA Racing at heart what would it cost him to take a back seat now? There are many people, even a team of 2-3, with the credentials to take over at this point that would be able to deliver the right result.

There are internationally accepted breeders in South Africa that the Racing World hold in high esteem that could represent our industry but if we are not prepared to look at these options then everyone will be a loser. At this stage the team unfortunately has a stigma which is not totally undeserved.

I note that Barry references the commercial aspect as an area of concern and I don't believe that he would mention this without good reason.

I respect Barry and also realise that there is much more to this than the summary presented as is his style he will bow out like a gentlemen.

Tony Mincione wrote:

louisg wrote: This is absolute bollocks in my opinion. Barry Irwin's constant complaining and griping have now reached a level , imho, that it is best for him and for SA Racing, that he moves on.

If the " International" people are that fickle and that stupid, what can we do about it ? What more could Chris van Niekerk do than to walk away from horse partnerships and carry on doing what he loves. Must he also exit racing, to please these holiest of holies? Must every Trainer who ever trained for MJ now hand in their license ? And every groom who groomed those horses - must they leave racing and become unemployed ? Lord help us !

So, the Scientific proof is no longer good enough ? Now its about who knew who. What an absolute lot of bullshit !

Barry Irwin came here and found his own gold mine. While he was here it was great and it's a pity he can't stay. But the tail shouldn't wag the dog. Politics changes with the inevitability of a clock ticking and it's sad Mr Irwin coundn't or won't stay the course to see how it all turns out. I don't know any of these players personally, but C.v.Niekerk's public profile seems to be decent and fair and i don't see how he is responsible for all possible progress as Mr irwin does.

....I doubt that Barry has targeted CvN on his own accord.....his people and reports have confirmed the stumbling block....I have in past exchanges with Barry(pvt messages here) discussed and exchanged information what I believed to have been positive attributes of having CvN fight the way forward for international acceptance of or AHS protocols as Racing SA under Peter Gibson was floundering at this matter at that time....so straight shooting Barry has rightfully outed the problem....which the people that have the financial means and would greatly benefit from a sound export strategy have failed to do....

Laying down with dogs or such i guess would be apt.

All those associated with Jooste will be viewed in a suspicious light until the dust settles and Jooste is in Jail and all his co-cons are identified and dealt.
PP an Parliament are now chasing Jooste and Phumelela in one way or another.
whether this should affect Export Protocols .... but again Dog and fleas come to mind or maybe Mosquitoes in our case

Chris is klein boetie ! Enough said !

So Barry exits SA Racing having just sold a horse for R3M at the Sale. Chris van Niekerk is at and has been at the Sale. Maybe Barry should rather have withdrawn his horse in protest. I mean....what will the Internationals think..... selling at a Sale attended by Chris van Niekerk....who used to race with MJ.

Maybe Barry the virtuous should donate the proceeds to the HHCU ?

Whether it is opinion or fact that certain individuals are less than effective in their roles to drive SA racing into the world market, it's sad to see any international influence talking about leaving. Even if the motivation is more personal than anything else it will always have some deleterious spillover effect.

Jessica Berry will join Team Valor International upon graduation in July from the Godolphin Flying Start program.

The 24-year-old served an internship with the Central Kentucky racing stable after graduating with a BA in international relations from the University of San Diego and before a stint in Australia with Arrowfield Stud and being accepted to the Flying Start program.

As part of her Flying Start experience, she worked for Ralph Nicks at Gulfstream Park, in marketing at Godolphin’s Dubai headquarters and at Crown Lodge stable in Australia.

“I was very impressed with Jessi’s handling of the Stanley Bergstein Writing Award ceremony at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion in Lexington,” said Barry Irwin. “She arranged the entire event, including filling the seats with industry members as well as students from colleges, racing clubs and universities in the Bluegrass.

“I told her when she graduated from Flying Start she always had a job at Team Valor. We are very excited that she has decided to join our team.

“She will apprentice herself to someday taking over operation of the enterprise. That’s how much faith I have in her.”

A Kentucky-bred, she grew up in the Louisville area and became an accomplished equestrienne. When she developed an interest in Thoroughbreds she worked with yearlings at Pin Oak Stud.

Irwin said “We’ve had experience before with Flying Start grads and I have a healthy respect for their ethics and education. We think our racing partners will enjoy working with Jessi.”

louisg wrote: So Barry exits SA Racing having just sold a horse for R3M at the Sale. Chris van Niekerk is at and has been at the Sale. Maybe Barry should rather have withdrawn his horse in protest. I mean....what will the Internationals think..... selling at a Sale attended by Chris van Niekerk....who used to race with MJ.

Maybe Barry the virtuous should donate the proceeds to the HHCU ?

I think you should re-read his email :

1.) He stated that he would be disposing of his interests whilst causing as little disruption as possible. I can think of few ways of disposing of bloodstock transparently than at a public auction via a sales company IN WHICH HE HAS NO CONTROLLING INTEREST.
2.) I am not entirely clear why Mr Van Niekerk's presence at the sale is of any relevance to Mr Irwin. He clearly stated that he did not know the man personally.
3.) Withdrawing his lot would most certainly have been construed as disruptive; something he stated he was keen to avoid.
4.) Don't shoot the messenger - he merely passed on the perception that international interests were wary of dealing with an organisation headed up by an individual who was uncomfortably close to Jooste for many years in a wide variety of MANAGEMENT roles and therefore cannot escape being tainted by that association.

Example : If you believe Zuma was a corrupt 'CEO' of South Africa would you have been happy to see Finance Minister Gigaba retained in that position in the new cabinet as if he was blithely unaware of what had been going on?

Let's rather wait to see what the forthcoming court cases & commissions of enquiry reveal. I suspect (but don't know with absolute certainty) that a number of prominent individuals in racing close to Jooste might deem it prudent to head for the exits.

LMFAO

Some responses here don't surprise me at all. It's clear to which side their moral compass leans.

One also must not forget that a few years ago team valors horses were winning left right and centre, they had runners in big races all the time, a couple of months ago i made a coment to someone how easily things can change as these days thay have runners that are not doing well and must be running at a loss.How many top horses have they got at the moment? Compare with 5 years ago.Its a tough industry to try make a profit.

BATMAN wrote: One also must not forget that a few years ago team valors horses were winning left right and centre, they had runners in big races all the time, a couple of months ago i made a coment to someone how easily things can change as these days thay have runners that are not doing well and must be running at a loss.How many top horses have they got at the moment? Compare with 5 years ago.Its a tough industry to try make a profit.

Barry has bought quite a few good mares the last few years and shipped overseas, paying big money in the process...

He`s also been in partnership with Drakenstein on a few things.. He`s no doubt a big loss