Archive for June, 2011
Wednesday, June 29th, 2011
By Sid Fernando
Dutch Art, Dark Angel, and Red Clubs lead a contentious group of freshman sires in the principal European nations of Great Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, and Italy with, respectively, 11, 10, and 10 winners through Tuesday, June 28. Click here to see the European leading sires list, courtesy of Alan Mosley at Weatherbys. The stats don’t reflect Dutch Art’s 12th winner today or Dark Angel’s Czech winner, No. 11, Alan noted.
Compared to five winners for US-based Hard Spun, who leads all sires here by winners, the Europeans are well ahead of us, especially in Great Britain and Ireland where two-year-old racing is a major part of the game and the offspring of precocious sires inevitably dominate the first part of the season.
Dutch Art stands at Cheveley Park in Great Britain while Dark Angel stands at Morristown Lattin in Ireland. Red Clubs died earlier this year but also stood in Ireland, at Tally Ho Stud. All three were top two-year-olds and sprinters.
Dutch Art is by the Machiavellian (by Mr. Prospector) horse Medicean, who won up to 10f in top company. Dutch Art, though, was best at 5-6f and at two, when he won the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes and the Group 1 Prix Morny.
Dark Angel, by Acclamation (descending to Northern Dancer through Try My Best), also won the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes over 6f and only raced at two, when he won four of nine starts. This branch of Northern Dancer has been speed oriented and precocious from Try My Best (champion at 2, winner of the G1 Dewhurst) down, and other notable sires in tail-male include G1 Middle park winner Royal Applause, the sire of Acclamation—winner of the G2 Diadem Stakes over 6f.
Deceased Red Clubs also won the G2 Diadem Stakes, as well as the G1 Sprint Cup at Haydock Park. Altogether he won six races from two to four at distances of 5-7f, including the G2 Coventry Stakes at two. A week ago Sunday, on June 19, Red Clubs was represented by his first Group winner when Vedelago won a G3 in Italy over 6f.
On Saturday, June 25, Dark Angel was represented by stakes winner Lily’s Angel, winner of the Listed Empress Stakes at Newmarket for her fourth win from six starts, while on Sunday his Tough as Nails was second in the G2 Railway Stakes at the Curragh.
Dutch Art is represented by the undefeated Listed winner Miss Work of Art and two other stakes-placed runners.
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Tuesday, June 28th, 2011
By Sid Fernando
Elaine Belval wrote about Flashy Bull, his sire line, and his first Graded stakes winner, Flashy Lassie, in the post below this. He is one of several freshman sires out of the box quick, with three individual winners to date.
Flashy Bull’s first winner was the filly Princesa Caramelo, who won in Mexico at the end of March. Flashy Lassie, his second winner, won the Grade 3 Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs Saturday. And the Airdrie sire’s third winner came Friday at Belmont in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special when Born Bullish, yet another filly, won impressively by nine lengths. She looks the part of a future stakes horse, as a reader of Elaine’s column commented.
Born Bullish was a $20,000 yearling but a $185,000 2-year-old—his most expensive—but the other two Flashy Bulls were cheap yearlings: Princesa Caramelo sold for only $2,500 and the Graded stakes winner Flashy Lassie sold for only $4,000. There are several more expensive and well thought of Flashy Bulls in the pipeline, including several for West Point Thoroughbreds, who are bullish on Holy Bull stallions, so Flashy Bull is sitting pretty at the moment. And at the moment he’s the leading freshman sire by progeny earnings, but it’s early days yet.
The leading freshman sire by winners through Monday is Darley’s Danzig horse Hard Spun, with five winners to date. Not surprisingly, three of his five winners have come on turf in Britain, where the Danzig branch of Northern Dancer through Green Desert and Danehill competes for supremacy with the Sadler’s Wells branch. To date, the leading sires of 2011 unrestricted stakes winners in Europe are Danehill’s Dansili (13 SWs), Danehill’s Danehill Dancer (8), Danehill’s Rock of Gibralter (8), and Sadler’s Wells’ Galileo (8) and Montjeu (8). The German-bred Monsun (8) ranks with this group, directly followed by Green Desert’s Oasis Dream (7).
Earlier this year I wrote a column in Thoroughbred Times picking freshman sires for the magazine’s annual freshman sire contest. The stallions were partitioned into groups, based on stud fee. Here’s part of what I wrote about the two young sires leading the way as of today:
I’m picking Hard Spun from Group 1 because he was a top runner, a Grade 1 winner at 7 furlongs at 3 and good enough to stay 10 furlongs on class when second in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby. Hard Spun also placed in the Preakness and altogether won 7 of 13 starts. He also was undefeated in three starts, two stakes, against moderate company at 2. His 142 registered 2-year-olds will give him every opportunity; he’s owned by Darley—on fire lately with young sires across the globe; and he’ll have opportunities in Europe, where his progeny, as a son of Danzig, will be extremely well suited. Mind you, the Danzig line has had a mini revival here lately on dirt as well through War Front and Pomeroy. Physically, he’s not in the mold of Danzig as War Front is, but neither was Nijinsky built like Northern Dancer.
From Group 2, the choice here is Holy Bull’s son Flashy Bull, who fits the profile of Congrats as better late than early. Flashy Bull did make 6 starts at 2, won only once though he was stakes-placed in the Grade 2 Remsen, but came into his own at 4 when he took the Grade 1 Stephen Foster. He was winless at 3 though he did place twice in Graded races. He’s an exceptionally attractive horse from Airdrie Stud, an outfit that has a knack for getting sires off the mark.
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Monday, June 27th, 2011
By Elaine Belval
Sires and sire lines ebb and flow in this game. The dominant sire of one generation can vanish in the next. But, every once in a while, a sire line continues through one son, and many times through the son no one expected. The great American sire line of Himyar fits that description. Once upon a time, this sire dominated American racing (a grandson of the great Eclipse out of a daughter of the great sire Lexington). He sired the great American racehorse Domino, for example. But, over time, the European branch of Cyllene through Phalaris came to dominate the breed, and Himyar found himself in the “hinterlands.”
But one son, Kentucky Derby winner Plaudit, survived, siring onwards the sequence of King James/Spur/Sting and Questionnaire, the sire of Free for All. That sire had Rough’n Tumble, one of the better two and three year olds of his generation and the sire of the racing great Dr. Fager—whose male line has all but disappeared. Rough’n Tumble, however, sired Minnesota Mac, who in turn sired Great Above out of Dr. Fager’s half-sister, the great sprint filly Ta Wee.
Great Above was a GSW and a leading perennial sire for High Mark Farm and others in Florida. But, it seemed that was all he was meant to be—a good regional sire. But he got one horse much better than the rest of his produce when he sired Horse of the Year Holy Bull, winner of 11 stakes including six G1 races. Holy Bull retired to then Jonabell Farm in Kentucky and has been a very useful sire for Jonabell and now Darley’s American branch. It is hard to knock Holy Bull, who stood the 2011 season for the very reasonable price of $10,000 and has Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo among other G1 winners to his credit. Again, it didn’t seem likely he would continue the great American sire line of Himyar, but Holy Bull somehow has so far. His Champion son Macho Uno (standing at Adena Springs Kentucky) has 14 SWs in his first four crops of racing age (not including two-year-olds of 2011). And now comes Holy Bull’s son Flashy Bull, with his first crop of two-year-olds in 2011.
It is still very early in the racing season for two-year-olds, but the two-year-old quality black-type races are starting and the first Graded stakes race for two-year-olds in the US was run at Churchill Downs last weekend.
The winner of that race was the filly Flashy Lassie, owned by Barry King, bred by Mr. and Mrs. Hugh King and trained by Garry Simms. She is, as her name indicates, by Flashy Bull.
Flashy Bull won a maiden race at Belmont as a two-year-old and finished second in the G2 Remsen to Bluegrass Cat. At three, he finished second in the G2 Fountain of Youth (to First Samurai, but defeating Corinthian and Jazil). At four, he won four of six races including the prestigious G1 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs. His dam is the winning Mt. Livermore mare Iridescence. This is the female family of the elite mare Queen Louie.
Flashy Bull proved popular when he retired to Airdrie Stud, as he has 90+ named two-year-olds in his first crop. He already has three winners. With Flashy Lassie’s victory in the G3 Debutante, he is now the current leading Freshman Sire.
Flashy Bull stood at Airdrie Stud in 2011, for a fee of $6,000. Can this line continue another generation? Stay tuned.
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Thursday, June 16th, 2011
By Elaine Belval
I had the privilege of working for Juddmonte Farms for several years and for that reason I am hesitant to write about Juddmonte stallions (bias, you know?). But, Tuesday, at Royal Ascot, was clearly Juddmonte’s day. First, Juddmonte’s outstanding three-year-old colt Frankel won the G1 St. James’s Palace S. Finishing an impressive second was Zoffany, by Juddmonte’s stallion Dansili.
But, it was Juddmonte’s supersire Oasis Dream that had the best day. First, Oasis Dream’s son Prohibit won the prestigious G1 King’s Stand S. at five furlongs. Later that day, his two-year-old Power won the G2 Coventry S.
A great deal was expected from Oasis Dream from the very beginning. After winning his maiden race, Oasis Dream won the G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket, setting a new course record for six furlongs. And while Europeans don’t obsess over time the way Americans do, most took notice of his 1:09.61 time for the race—the first horse to ever run six furlongs over that course in under 1:10. That shocking performance earned him champion two-year-old honors.
Early in his three-year-old season, the champion two-year-old was considered a classics contender. But trainer John Gosden decided that the major sprint races would better suit. Oasis Dream finished third to Australian superstar Choisir in his first race at three, the G2 King’s Stand S. Oasis Dream reversed that finish with an impressive victory in the G1 July Cup. He then put up an even more impressive performance in the five furlong G1 Nunthorpe S., running just 0.04 seconds off the track record. He finished second in the G1 Sprint Cup at Haydock, compromised by rain-softened ground. An unsuccessful trip in the Breeders’ Cup Mile did not deter British handicappers, who named him champion three-year-old and champion sprinter.
Oasis Dream is by Green Desert. This venerable son of Danzig is also the sire of Cape Cross (G1 winners Sea the Stars and Ouija Board) and leading young sire Invincible Spirit. Oasis Dream’s dam is a daughter of Dancing Brave named Hope. The year Oasis Dream was champion two-year-old, Hope’s daughter Zenda won the French 1,000 Guineas (Poule d’Essai des Pouliches).
Great things were expected of Oasis Dream when he retired to stud, and he has not disappointed. His first GSW was Visit, winner of the Princess Margaret S. in July of her two-year-old season. Oasis Dream would have another three GSWs with his first two-year-olds. His first G1 winner in that crop was Aqlaam (G1 Prix du Moulin at Longchamp).
One of the more surprising things about Oasis Dream is the versatility of his performers. His sire Green Desert is best known for siring milers. But Oasis Dream is proving capable of siring anything from Group-winning two-year-old sprinters to 12 furlong performers. This versatility no doubt stems from the fact that Oasis Dream’s first three dams were sired by the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. winners Dancing Brave, Mill Reef and Busted.
Prohibit is now Oasis Dream’s eighth G1 winner. And with Power’s impressive victory in the Coventry, a G1 victory seems certain in his future.
Oasis Dream stands at Juddmonte’s Banstead Manordivision in England and his 2011 fee was £85,000.
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Saturday, June 4th, 2011
By Elaine Belval
Tiznow was a gutsy performer, and it’s a hard individual who doesn’t admire this racehorse. Two Breeders’ Cup Classics, and the Santa Anita Handicap dominate his resume. In fact, in a 15-race career, he was off the board only once. And Tiznow has three full siblings that were almost as tough as he was, including Budroyale who finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and Tizbud who won the California Cup Classic.
Tiznow is a son of the great California sire Cee’s Tizzy. While Tiznow is clearly the best runner this sire had, Cee’s Tizzy also sired the G1 winners Gourmet Girl and Cost of Freedom in his long, successful career best known and appreciated in the West. He was pensioned in 2010, and he is a huge loss to California’s breeding industry. Cee’s Tizzy is a son of the great In Reality son Relaunch. While a leading sire himself, Relaunch had several solid sons at stud (including G1 winners Skywalker, Honour and Glory, and Waquoit), but he never sired anything who was in his league as a sire and with his passing it seemed yet another blow to the survival of the great Man O’ War sire line from which he descended.
Despite a pedigree that wasn’t particularly commercial or glittering by Kentucky standards, Tiznow was retired to WinStar Farm as a joint venture with Taylor Made Farm based on his race record and physique, as he is a large horse like his own sire. While Tiznow had a very West Coast pedigree, Kentucky breeders supported him as he had 89 named foals in his first crop. And Tiznow announced loud and clear in that first crop that he was going to be a serious sire: Champion two-year-old filly Folklore won the G1 Matron before a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile fillies, earning Tiznow leading first-crop sire honors in 2005. It took his second G1 winner a bit more time to show himself, but Well Armed added the G1 Dubai World Cup in 2009 when he was six. In between and since, however, there have been plenty of top-quality runners on all surfaces and ages and distances.
And that epitomizes Tiznow’s success. He has 35 SWs (6% SWs to foals, not including 2011 two-year-olds). Just over 20% are two-year-old SWs. Approximately 16% of his earners won on turf (average for the US) and 35% won on artificial surfaces. Just over 60% of his SWs are Graded stakes winners. His progeny have won stakes races from six to 12 furlongs. And his progeny have average earnings over $85,000. And despite this, his Comparable Index is still a fairly low 1.96 (of the 15 stallions in Kentucky in 2011 with stud fees $50,000 and over, only three had CIs lower than Tiznow).
On Monday, Tizway won the G1 Metropolitan H., winning the prestigious mile race by almost three lengths in the impressive time of 1:32.90. His jockey, Rajiv Maragh was quoted in racing publications as saying, “He’ll kill you with a high cruising speed, that’s what his weapon is.” The six-year-old is Tiznow’s second G1 winner of 2011 (following Morning Line’s victory in the G1 Carter) and his sixth SW overall. Tizway was bred by Whisper Hill Farm, is owned by William L. Clifton, Jr. and is trained by James Bond.
Tiznow has had more than $5 million in progeny earnings for the last several years, and is well on his way to passing that total again in 2011. Tiznow continues to stand at Winstar as part of a Winstar/Taylor Made Venture. His 2011 fee was $75,000.
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Jack Werk (1944-2010)
