August 30, 2002

TEAM VALOR ACQUIRES ALL-TIME TOP SOUTH AFRICAN 3YO FILLY
WINSTAR JOINS IN PURCHASE OF FILLY HEADED FOR WALDEN

Ipi Tombe winning the South African Guineas
In a most ambitious venture, Team Valor has put together a deal to acquire Ipi Tombe, arguably the most accomplished filly ever to grace the turf in South Africa. The scope of the transaction does not end with the purchase of the filly, but includes a bold invasion of the United Arab Emirates for the $2-million Dubai Duty Free stakes in March of 2003.

Barry Irwin put together a partnership in which the 22-man syndicate that raced her to 8 victories and 2 seconds from 10 career outings will own a quarter share, Versailles-based racing stable Team Valor will own a quarter share, and Versailles-based nursery WinStar Farm LLC will own half of the filly.

"It's quite a program Michael de Kock has lined up for her," said Team Valor president Barry Irwin. "But when this trainer says he believes the filly can be successful, he has the credibility to back up his bravado."

De Kock, who in Horse Chestnut and Spook Express developed the two best runners to invade America from South Africa in a quarter century, impressed a lot of East Coast horsemen when he won a Graded stakes on dirt at Gulfstream Park with former South African grass star Horse Chestnut in that colt's U. S. debut a few seasons ago.

Last season, de Kock saddled a horse to run third in the Dubai Duty Free. Based on this experience and his evaluation of Ipi Tombe, de Kock thinks he can win the important prize this season with the South African superstar.

Ipi Tombe, whose name means "where are the girls," ran out of competition facing members of her own sex in South Africa, where she gained Championship honors by winning the Group 1 Oaks and Group 1 Guineas.

Last month, in South Africa's equivalent of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Ipi Tombe took on the nation's best runners of all ages over 1 3/8 miles on grass. She employed a devastating turn of foot to become the first 3-year-old filly since 1957 to win the Group 1 Rothman's July Handicap.

Ipi Tombe passed a rigorous veterinary analysis by three different equine practitioners. Since it is now winter in South Africa, Ipi Tombe will be let down before being shipped to Dubai to prepare for her March objective. She will be flown to the United States barn of trainer Elliott Walden immediately after the Duty Free.

Irwin met with WinStar's connections last week at Saratoga. "They were interested," said Irwin. "Who wouldn't be? But they wanted a level of comfort before proceeding.

"Fortunately, Team Valor had bought Delta Form last year from Mike de Kock and the deal worked out splendidly, as the gelding won a stakes for us in his second start.

"I think that if de Kock did not have the reputation he does for success and pioneering that neither WinStar nor Team Valor would have concluded this transaction. We are placing a lot of faith in him."

Ipi Tombe, a well-grown Amazon of a filly, has a recognizable pedigree, as her Kentucky-bred sire Manshood is by Mr. Prospector out of Indian Skimmer, a 5-time Group 1 winner and Horse of the Year in Europe.

The dam is by Northern Dancer's one-time California-based son Dance in Time. There are Group 1 performers in each of the filly's first three dams. The family is French and English.