Split The Breeze breaks the ice for Brave Tin Soldier at Clairwood
The very exciting and goodlooking top class miler turned Summerhill Stud stallion Brave Tin Soldier sired an impressive debut winner at Clairwood on Tuesday when Split The Breeze won easily. It was a timeous arrival for the son of Storm Cat who has six progeny on the 2014 National Yearling Sale.
He is by the sire of Champion sires Giant’s Causeway, Tale of The Cat and Hennessy, out of a Mr Prospector own sister to one of the most famous winners in the history of the Kentucky Derby.
Brave Tin Soldier hails from a solid sire producing female line and is out of the Mr Prospector mare Bless, a sister to Kentucky Derby hero Fusaichi Pegasus, who was purchased as a broodmare prospect for $4m, from the family of Preakness Stakes winner Pine Bluff.
The advertising blurb says it all.
At US$3million he was bought by one of history’s best judges to become the world’s most expensive foal. Ever.
Brave Tin Soldier stretches his legs
He was a stakes winning juvenile at 6 furlongs. As a maiden.
He was a Group winning miler. In record time.
Throw in the blood, and surely that is enough said?
Brave Tin Soldier’s bay colt Split The Breeze showed a nice turn of foot in the hands of S’manga Khumalo to win the opener at Clairwood on Tuesday.
He won the R78 000 Maiden Juvenile Plate by 0,75 lengths beating Madiba’s Pride to register a winning time of 57,62 secs for the Clairwood 1000m. Turned out to the minute by Luiz Cunha, the 2yo proved too smart on his sparkling debut for a field that included the stakes placed Glinka.
Split The Breeze was sold for R200 000 as lot 213 on the 2013 National Yearling Sale. He was the second highest price of the three Brave Tin Soldier offspring sold at the sale. The top seller went for R225 000. He was bred by Rathmor Stud and is out of the four time winning Baroon mare, Time And Tide.
Brave Tin Soldier began his racing career with Aidan O’Brien and annihilated a line-up of Ireland’s best juveniles in the six furlong Listed Blenheim Stakes . He came back from a career-threatening injury for three more victories and Graded Stakes glory at five.
There will be some SA memories too! At three, he was switched to Mike De Kock, for whom he won a handicap and ran fourth to Archipenko in the Zabeel Mile at Nad Al Sheba at five.
The Soldier during his racing career
Transferred to be trained by Kiaran McLaughlin in America, he won the Grade 3 Cliff Hanger Stakes at Meadowlands in October. He thus won 4 races from 2 to 5 and his winning stats are impressive.
Brave Tin Soldier went to stud in 2010 and his first crop are current 2yo’s.
He stands at SA Champion breeders Summerhill Stud for a fee of R20 000.
(Ed note: Brave Tin Soldier sired another winner at Clairwood on Wednesday. Flying Cross won the opener for Robbie Hill)
Look out for his yearlings at the National Yearling Sale.
The lot no’s are: 13/24/317/347/402/520.
