OFF THE RECORD #64

A legacy of speed
National Currency’s Journey of Triumphs, Challenges, and Heartbreak

Above: National Currency, the horse with the movie star looks (pic: JC Photos)

Ahead of Sunday’s Grade 3 National Currency Sprint over 1160m at Turffontein, we look back at the career of this exceptional sprinter, who raced in South Africa, Hong Kong and Dubai between January 2002 and February 2004.

National Currency’s connections, and racing fans around the world, had the pleasure of enjoying “the horse with the movie-star looks” for two short years, before his untimely death at the peak of his career in Dubai.

National Currency raced in the pre-digital age, which limits access to photographs and articles from the period. But Michael Azzie, who trained him for his 15 career outings, recalled some facts and anecdotes from his time with our Equus Champion Sprinter of 2002/3.

THE BUYING OF NATIONAL CURRENCY

In 2001, the Azzie stable was going through a quiet patch. There were no buyers lined up for the National Yearling Sale. With a tight budget, Azzie teamed up with a few of his golfing partners— his brother John, Craig Sehani, Kevin van Niekerk, Harry Haralambous, and Tasso Christoforou ­— and was entrusted with the task of finding an affordable horse at the sales.

Azzie came upon National Currency at the Highlands Farms barn, a dark bay colt by National Assembly out of Enchanted Dollar, by Spend A Buck. He remembered, “I was drawn to him right away. I visited his stable every day. Even as a yearling, he was already a striking figure—perfectly proportioned with a regal presence. I also liked that he was born on 9/9/1999, those numbers seemed to strike a nerve. I’d bought many young horses from this stud before and I was friendly with their head groom, whose name was Majohn. I said, ‘This one is mine, Majohn, keep him for me!’”

When the bidding began, Azzie reached R60,000 and thought he was close to landing a great deal. There were only a few more bids and the auctioneer gradually pushed the price up to R90,000. The ring went quiet.

“I turned to Craig Sehani and said, 'We’ve got him. He’s going for 90k!' But the words had barely left my mouth when, out of nowhere, trainer Dennis Drier raised his catalogue. Before I knew it, the bidding had soared to R160,000, and I was getting really frustrated. I thought, 'To hell with Dennis, that horse is ours!' and raised my hand once more as the price shot up into the 200,000s.”

Sehani and the others around the ring advised Azzie to back off, as the bidding had reached a level where National Currency was way beyond their budget. However, Drier’s competitive spirit only fuelled Azzie’s determination. With the rivalry burning, Azzie pressed on, ultimately securing the colt with the fall of the hammer at R320,000.

Anthony Beck of Highlands Farm was the first to congratulate Azzie with his acquisition. When he heard that they were scrambling for cash, he offered to take a 1/6 share himself.

Azzie recalled, “We all went for dinner in the old Triple Crown room when Anthony said, ‘You know what, you really liked that horse. I’ll take a third of him!’ Tasso Christoforou chimed in, ‘What the heck, I’ll take a third too.’ Then Corjan Hilt, who was at the table with us, threw his hat in the ring. ‘I’ll take the other third!’ And just like that, National Currency was syndicated, even though it wasn’t part of the original plan.”

A NEW PARTNER

Approaching National Currency’s first run, Anthony Beck announced that he was leaving for the USA and that he was putting his one-third share up for sale. At this point the colt was showing such good work at home that he was considered unbeatable in his first scheduled start on 22 January 2022 at Newmarket.

Anthony wanted R120,000 – the original amount paid for his share – and his father Graham Beck’s office was handling the deal. Azzie’s brother, John, excited about the colt’s prospects, was keen to take the offer – but, again, things took a turn.

Mike Azzie said: “It was only fair to tell Mr Beck that my brother had offered to buy the share. Knowing how good National Currency was, I didn’t want him to think I kept a good horse from him, in favour of a family member. I phoned him and said, ‘Mr Beck, this horse is a bomb. We are ready with the cash, we can bring it to your office. But I want you to know this is going to be a top horse.’ Mr Beck responded, ‘Well, if your brother is so keen, it must be a good colt. Thank you, I’ll keep the share for myself!’”

NATIONAL CURRENCY IN HONG KONG

Above: National Currency winning the 2002 Gr1 Gold Medallion

National Currency won his penultimate South African race – the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m at Clairwood, when still a three-year-old, by 5,25 lengths. Azzie told the media, “National Currency could have stopped for a cup of tea at the 400m and still beaten them!” He was believed good enough to take on the best in the world.

A decision was made to enter National Currency in the prestigious Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint over 1000m on Champions Day at Sha Tin, 14 December 2003. He travelled via Belgium from Cape Town and arrived on the island, 10 days before the contest.

National Currency was trained at Sha Tin for two days when cracks appeared in his hooves. He had thin hoof walls, which had separated from the rest of the hoof. Azzie had no option but to leave him standing in his stable. He missed four days of exercise and his competing in the race was in jeopardy.

Hong Kong’s leading trainer, John Size, offered his advice, and Azzie said: “Mr Size was most helpful and recommended a farrier who was an expert in dealing with hoof cracks. He used the Equilox hoof repair system – an adhesive, applied for reconstructing the hoof wall – and National Currency was able to go back into work with four hooves repaired.”

For his final workout, the colt was allocated a 07:30 slot on the main track. There was a lot of media hype around National Currency’s potential duel with Silent Witness, the unbeaten local start sprinter, and a big press contingent assembled trackside to file reports on the gallops.

“When we arrived to fill our slot, National Currency was turned back. The officials told us they weren’t ready. We were turned back again at 08:00 and 08:30. They said they were waiting for Silent Witness, who had to go first. I put National Currency in the horse walker to keep him moving, and we eventually got our chance to breeze up at 9am,” Azzie said.

National Currency wasn’t himself. He may have been upset by the commotions and just cantered slowly. Jockey Weichong Marwing reported that he refused to gallop. “I asked him, he just didn’t want to pick up the bit,” said a worried Weichong. Azzie gave it some thought and sent his horse back, asking Weichong to give him a 400m blowout on Sha-Tin’s all-weather track, with a few reminders to get him going.

The South China Morning Post wrote: “The gifted galloper gave a tantalising sample of what he has in store for Hong Kong's Silent Witness on Sunday. He fairly flew up 400 metres on the all-weather track under race rider Weichong Marwing, registering a brisk 22.4 seconds. Onlookers from many of the world's major racing countries turned their heads and raised their eyebrows as National Currency whooshed past, with Marwing giving him a couple of early backhanders that had the galloper in top gear instantly.”

At Sha Tin, there is a large grandstand overlooking the saddling enclosure. For race day, Azzie had booked a private saddling stable, away from the noise, which is allowed in Hong Kong. However, when National Currency entered the main paddock to be saddled, the private facility wasn’t available. As a result, Azzie had to saddle him in an open box close to the excited crowd.

To top this immediate aggravation, Azzie was cornered by Jamie Steer, the Chief Stipendiary Steward, who asked him to remove National Currency’s ‘shadow role’, or noseband. Azzie had fitted his runner with his customary dark blue noseband. “You did not declare the shadow role. This is not Africa, sir. You won’t be allowed to race if you keep it on,’ said the stipe.

Azzie explained that he had actually declared the noseband to the club’s equipment official earlier in the week. However, before the saddling process could proceed, the official had to be contacted for confirmation of the declaration. “You see, it was declared, we Africans know the rules,” said Azzie, to which the stipe just shrugged his shoulders and walked off.

National Currency made it to the track, he looked spectacular as always. He drew gasps from the 60,000-member crowd as he cantered down. The unbeaten champion, Silent Witness, as popular as ever, was loudly cheered in his own warm-up on the way to the gates.

From the South China Morning Post: “National Currency sprinted to the lead from the off to set a great pace. He was at cruising speed throughout the race until the 300m mark when he came under pressure from Silent Witness in what must rank as the match race of the year. With all the build and all the hype before this race, it lived up to all expectations. Marwing pressed the button on National Currency and he gave him a bit more but the game South African had had enough. On the outside came the champion of Hong Kong, Silent Witness, in a superb winning performance of the highest order.”

The time was a fast 56.5s on firm going, with National Currency clocking 56.60s. The South African sprinter was beaten only one length at the line in his run of a lifetime.

Above: National Currency finishes second to the great Silent Witness

Azzie noted: “We had the champion off the bit at the 400m-mark. Silent Witness had to work hard to get to National Currency, who didn’t give up without a fight. I believe that our horse would have won if he hadn’t missed four days of work.”

“He ran his heart out, very well," said Marwing.

Silent Witness remained unbeaten for a further 10 starts and became one of Hong Kong racing’s most revered thoroughbreds of all time. The strength of the HK Sprint field was further illustrated by the fifth horse, Acclamation, who became a renowned sire of sires and is in fact the sire of modern-day superstar, Romantic Warrior.

National Currency’s owners received a R12-million offer from an Australian contingent led by Wayne Aldridge, but Graham Beck wouldn’t have it. He bought Tasso Cristoforou and Corjan Hilt out for a reported R4-million apiece, and retained full ownership for the rest of the colt’s career.

THE DEATH OF NATIONAL CURRENCY

National Currency was shipped to Dubai just a few days after his run in the Hong Kong Sprint, and arrived at the Dubai Racing Club’s International Barn in the week before Christmas, 2003.

He enjoyed a faultless preparation for the Listed Al Shindaga Sprint over 1200m on dirt and, on 5 February 2004, led the race from pillar to post for a breathtaking 6.25-length win under Weichong Marwing.

Azzie recalled: “That night, Mike de Kock and I went out for dinner and drinks to celebrate. Afterward, I took a taxi directly from the restaurant to the airport, carrying the stunning Al Shindaga Trophy. It was the most beautiful trophy I had ever seen—gold-plated with diamond chips. They’d placed it in a large box lined with red velvet.”

Azzie flew from Dubai to Cape Town and, the following evening, presented the trophy to Graham and Mrs Rhona Beck at their Clifton home. They were on cloud nine and discussed their horse’s future. Sheikh Mohammed, the Ruler of Dubai, had made an offer of R21-million to buy National Currency for Godolphin before Dubai World Cup Night, where the Group 1 Golden Shaheen had become his Carnival mission. Mr Beck turned this offer down, too.

The next day, unexpected bad news came from Dubai. Azzie said: “I was about to fly to Johannesburg to see my family when Mike de Kock phoned to say that National Currency had developed a virus in his off-fore hoof. It looked serious and he’d been taken to the Dubai Veterinary Clinic for treatment. It felt like I was hit by a hammer and booked the soonest possible flight back to Dubai.”

National Currency’s condition improved soon after Azzie’s arrival, and there were hopes for a speedy recovery. After a few weeks by his side, Azzie felt that the colt had made significant progress and he decided to nip back to South Africa for a few days. Sadly, after a short time back home, Azzie was informed that National Currency had taken seriously ill again. “It’s almost like he relapsed the moment he realised you’d left,” the veterinarian in charge told Azzie.

National Currency had left the hospital, but then suffered a bout of bad diarrhoea and went downhill from there. He became very toxic, developed the hoof disease laminitis and a pedal-bone problem. The laminitis had spread aggressively to his other hooves and, on Thursday, 11 March 2004, a decision was made to put him down.

“This was a dark day, a terrible setback for a wonderful horse and we were absolutely devastated,” said Azzie, who is still overcome with emotion when he speaks about National Currency, 21 years after he was euthanised.

“We had big plans for him. We wanted to go to the UK for the Nunthorpe and to Royal Ascot for the July Cup before running in the Breeders' Cup and the Hong Kong Sprint again. He was the second-best sprinter in the world and one of the best South African sprinters in history.”

Azzie said that his memories of the great National Currency represent both the best and the worst times of his career. “He was the best horse I’ve ever trained and gave me the chance to prove myself on the international stage. His death was a massive blow to me, Mr. Beck, his groom Koos Semasi, my family, and everyone else associated with him.”