By Elaine Belval
April heralds the opening of two of the best tracks in North America, both in racing quality and purse money—Keeneland and Woodbine. One of Woodbine’s first stakes races of 2012 was the Debut S., won by Gypsy Ring. Gypsy Ring is a rarity, in that Paul Buttigieg is the gelding’s breeder, owner, and trainer. And Gypsy Ring has done well for Mr. Buttigieg, winning seven of 23 starts with over $580,000 in earnings.
Gypsy Ring is by the leading Canadian sire Where’s the Ring, who was bred in Kentucky by Pin Oak Stud and raced for four years, winning the listed Chuck Taliaferro Memorial S. and placing in the G3 Count Fleet Sprint H. to Shake You Down. He is a son of leading sire Seeking the Gold out of SW and wonderful producer Wedding Picture. This is the family of leading sire Broken Vow (sire of 2012 Illinois Derby winner Done Talking) and leading Canadian sire Peaks and Valleys, along with Champion Forever Together. Seeking the Gold has a number of quality sons at stud, including Mutakddim, Petionville, Secret Savings (in Australia), and Cape Town.
Six-year-old Gypsy Ring is a member of Where’s the Ring’s first crop, which numbered over 60 foals including three SWs. With four crops of racing age (not including 2012 two-year-olds), Where’s the Ring has sired over 73% starters, 47% winners, 13% two-year-old winners and six SWs. His progeny average an impressive $65,000 in earnings. He was ranked sixth on the 2011 Leading Synthetic Sires and fifth on the 2011 Canadian General Sire lists with almost $2.3-million in earnings.
Where’s the Ring’s runners average just $1,700 per dirt start but $6,200 on synthetic and $7,800 on turf, so he is very much at home in Ontario, where his progeny have relished and benefitted from the synthetic and turf surfaces at Woodbine. The same weekend his Gypsy Ring won the Debut S., the sire’s daughter Where Oh Where won a $50,000 maiden special weight over the same course.
Where’s the Ring stands at Gardiner Farms in Ontario, and his 2012 fee is $6,000 (Canadian).