Australia
The mighty Australia, devastating winner of last week’s Group 1 Juddmonte International, is a colt with the bluest of blood coursing through his veins. Not only is the 3yo a son of Europe’s greatest ever sires (Galileo), Australia is out of a truly exceptional, and tough, race mare in Ouija Board.
However, Australia is more than just a nicely bred colt with the talent to match. His parents both were classic winners, with Galileo landing both the Epsom and Irish Derbies, and Ouija Board landing the Oaks equivalents. One would think that sending a classic winner to another classic winner is a sure-fire recipe for success. But is this the case?
Australia is not the first Derby winner sired by a Derby winner out of an Oaks winner. Here are a few more examples.
LAMMTARRA: The recently deceased Lammtarra was a classically bred colt who more than lived up to his pedigree. His sire, Nijinsky II, won the 1970 Epsom Derby while dam Snow Bride was awarded the 1989 Oaks following Aliysa’s disqualification. Lammtarra was never beaten on the track, winning all four starts, and added wins in the King George and Arc de Triomphe to his Epsom Derby victory in 1995.
Nijinsky II
NIJINSKY II: One of the greatest horses in history, Nijinsky II was a son of a North American classic winner (Northern Dancer) out of a Canadian classic winning mare (Flaming Page). The last horse to win the English Triple Crown (2000 Guineas, Derby, St Leger), Nijinsky II went on to become a truly great stallion and three of his sons, Golden Fleece, Shahrastani and Lammtarra, won the Epsom Derby.
CHARLOTTOWN: The 1966 Epsom Derby hero was a horse for the purists. He was by a classic winning sire (sire Charlottesville won the French Derby) out of one of the finest classic winning mares of the ages. His dam, Meld, is one of just nine fillies ever to win the English Triple Crown for fillies – a three race series consisting of the 1000 Guineas, Oaks and St Leger.
OWEN TUDOR: The only son of English Derby and legendary sire Hyperion to win the Epsom Derby, Owen Tudor was as well bred on his female side as on his top side. Both his sire and grandsire (Gainsborough) won the Derby, while Owen Tudor’s dam, Mary Tudor, won the 1934 French 1000 Guineas – the same race won by Mary Tudor’s dam, Anna Bolena, in 1923. While not a great sire, Owen Tudor nonetheless left a considerable mark on the thoroughbred. He left behind three exceptional sons in Abernant, Right Royal and Tudor Minstrel –all of whom enjoyed some success at stud.
Doyoun
DOYOUN: The winner of the 1985 2000 Guineas was a colt bred to please all pedigree gurus. His sire, Mill Reef, won the 1971 Derby and was second in the 2000 Guineas to Brigadier Gerard. Doyoun (who would go on to sire champions Kalanisi and Daylami) was out of Dumka, a French 1000 Guineas winning daughter of 2000 Guineas hero Kashmir.
PRINCESS PATI: Winner of the 1984 Irish Oaks, Princess Pati was bred to be a classic winner. She was by a classic winning son (Top Ville) out of a 2000 Guineas winner (High Top), out of a mare (Sarah Siddons) who won the Irish 1000 Guineas. At stud, Princess Pati proved disappointing, with her most notable offspring a Gr2 Yorkshire Cup runner up, Parthian Springs.
CAMBREMONT: Winner of the French 2000 Guineas back in 1965, Cambremont was yet another example of a classic winner being sired by a classic winner and produced by a classic winner. His sire Sicamre was a superb racehorse, who won eight of his nine starts including the French Derby. Dam, Djebellica, a daughter of 2000 Guineas winner Djebel, won the Irish Oaks.
BLAIR ATHOL: A great racehorse and sire, Blair Athol more than lived up to his pedigree on the racetrack and at stud. Winner of the British Triple Crown in 1864, Blair Athol was a son of St Leger winner Stockwell, who headed the Sires list on seven occasions. Blair Athol, who himself was Champion Sire four times, was produced by the great racemare, Blink Bonny – one of just six fillies ever to win the Epsom Derby.
APOLLONIA: The winner of the 1956 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) had a superb classic pedigree. A daughter of 2000 Guineas winner, and champion sire, Djebel, the French classic winner was produced by Irish oaks winner Corejada. At stud, Apollonia proved disappointing however.
Majmu wins Pretty Polly Stakes
MAJMU – A DESERVING CHAMPION
There has been plenty of debate around the decision to award Majmu the Equus Award as Champion 2YO Filly last season.
It is a little bit hard to understand quite why this decision has caused such a furore, given the fact that Majmu has the highest merit rating of all 2yo fillies to have raced last season, was unbeaten in her only three outings, and thoroughly demolished her nearest rival, Gr1 SA Nursery winner Carry On Alice, on the only occasion that the pair met.
While Majmu hasn’t won a Grade 1 contest, this is not a first for the awards. Last season’s Equus Champion Stayer, Hot Ticket, clearly the best in his division, likewise failed to win at the highest level, and yet the decision for him to be named best of his division met with acceptance.
A filly who wins three successive feature races, by an aggregate of 13 lengths, and who has never looked in danger of defeat, Majmu is clearly out of the top-drawer, and her merit should not be doubted simply because she has not competed in “championship” races!
There are other cases in history when a non Grade/Group 1 winner has been named Champion of his/her division. Remarkably, this was the case in Britain for three years in a row – 1998, 1999 and 2000. None of Bint Allayl (1998), Torgau (1999) or Superstar Leo (2000) ever prevailed at the highest level but all three were elected champions of their year.
