South Africa’s current crop of 4yo fillies surely ranks as one of the best produced in this country for many a year, suggests Sarah Whitelaw.
Met winner Smart Call (Ideal World)
Members of this illustrious crop, which include Carry On Alice (Captain Al), Inara (Trippi) and Smart Call (Ideal World), have won no fewer than seven Grade One races this past season, including the Gr1 J&B Met, Gr1 Computaform Sprint, Gr1 Paddock Stakes and Gr1 Garden Province Stakes.
This crop also includes Real Princess (Trippi) – winner of the recent Gr1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint and the high class performers Siren’s Call (Elusive Fort) and Trophy Wife (Tiger Ridge), to name a few.
Another outstanding member of this crop is the now retired Equus Champion 2YO Filly and Gr1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas winner, Majmu (Redoute’s Choice), who was set to visit champion sprinter, Muhaarar (Oasis Dream), in her first season at stud, while last season’s Equus Champion 3yo Filly Alboran Sea was another outstanding member of this crop.
Real Princess (Trippi)
So when previously has a single crop of females included so many talented performers?
Bold Ellinore (Kahal)
In 1991, South Africa’s foal crop included at least three fillies who won WFA Gr1 races –Shepherd’s Moon (Trigger Finger), Dancing Danzig (Shoe Danzig) and the ill-fated Dollar Fortune (Elliodor), while the 2002 foal crop included filly Horse Of The Year, National Colour (National Assembly), and champions, Bad Girl Runs (Western Winter) and Bold Ellinore (Kahal), and Gr2 November Handicap heroine, Soft Landing (Jet Master).
Both overseas and locally it is hard to remember another crop that has produced so many top class athletes.
In 1882, all five of the Epsom classic races were won by females – the filly, Shotover, landing both the 2000 Guineas and Epsom Derby, while another filly, Dutch Oven (Dutch Skater), won the St Leger. (The 1000 Guineas and Oaks that season went to St Marguerite (Hermit) and Geheimniss (Rosicrucian)).
In 1970, two of the greatest female equine athletes ever were born in North America, Allez France (Sea Bird) and Dahlia (Vaguely Noble). Allez France, the first filly to earn over $1 000 000 and Dahlia won a gross total of 17 Group/Grade One races, including the Prix De L’Arc de Triomphe and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Stakes (twice).
Allez France – a champion
While Dahlia won more Gr1 contests than her more lightly raced rival, it was Allez France who dominated the pair on the track, the daughter of Sea Bird winning on each of the six occasions the pair met. However, at stud, it was Dahlia who proved the more successful –she produced four individual Gr1 winners, while her celebrated rival failed to produce one!
Two other great fillies were born in 2005 –Zarkava (bred and owned by The Aga Khan), and the Wertheimer family bred and owned, Goldikova.
While the latter was a supreme champion (Goldikova won 14 Gr1 races, including three renewals of the Breeders’ Cup Mile), the daughter of Anabaa had no answer to Zarkava, who accounted for Goldikova decisively each time the pair met.
When Zarkava beat Goldikova (by two lengths) in the 2008 French 1000 Guineas, the third place finisher was triple Gr1 winner, Halfway To Heaven (dam of KZN’s exciting young sire, Flying The Flag).
Zarkava would retire to stud at the end of her three-year-old campaign, having won all seven of her career outings.
Her wins included both the French 1000 Guineas and the Oaks, as well as a smooth triumph in the 2008 Prix de L’Arc De Triomphe, and, while Goldikova is rightly hailed as a true modern day star, it should not be forgotten that Zarkava finished ahead of her each time they met!
Zarkava made further news this year when her Dubawi sired son, Zarak, finished second in the Gr1 Prix Du Jockey Club (French Derby).
Dubawi (Dubai Millennium – Zomaradah)
The 3yo is currently a 20-1 shot to repeat his dam’s win in the Prix de L’Arc De Triomphe.
Remarkably, another outstanding filly emerged from this 2008 vintage, in the form of Dar Re Mi.
The latter (a Singspiel half sister to 4 other Gr1 winners) would go on to win three Gr1 races (including a comprehensive triumph over males in the 2010 Gr1 Dubai Sheema Classic.
One of the best 3yo filly crops foaled in North America was that of 1966, which produced the outstanding racemares, Gallant Bloom (Gallant Man) and Shuvee (Nashua).
Gallant Bloom, an official champion at two and three, reeled off 12 wins in a row, with her victories including the Spinster Stakes, Gazelle Stakes, Monmouth Oaks and Santa Margarita Handicap. Shuvee, by comparison, was a Champion Older Female and won the US Fillies Triple Crown, and, most notably, twice beat colts when winning the (now) Gr1 Jockey Club Gold Cup.
The 1985 crop of fillies, who raced in Britain and Ireland, included the mighty Oh So Sharp (Kris), the last filly to win the British Triple Crown for fillies, Irish 1000 Guineas winner, Al Bahathri (dam of subsequent 2000 Guineas winner Haafhd), the legendary champion, Triptych (a daughter of Riverman who won nine Gr1 races) and Irish Oaks winner, Helen Street (Troy).
Street Cry
The latter was even more successful at stud – Helen Street is the dam of ill-fated Gr1 Dubai World Cup winner and outstanding sire, Street Cry, and second dam of another top class stallion in Shamardal (Giant’s Causeway).
With the exception of Triptych (who died before producing a foal), the above crop all enjoyed some success at stud, with Oh So Sharp (a truly exceptional racemare who won seven of nine outings –and who was favourite in each of her nine starts) herself dam of Gr1 Prix Saint-Alary winner, Rosefinch (Blushing Groom) and second dam of English St Leger winner, Shantou (Alleged).
