Greatest winning margins
Recently, Chilean superstar, Amani (Morning Raider), put up a gobsmacking performance when she captured a G1 race, over 2000 metres, by no less than 29 lengths. This was a truly breath taking performance, especially considering that it came in a Grade One event.
But what are the greatest ever winning margins? Secretariat’s 31 length romp in the 1973 Belmont Stakes is widely considered one of, if not, the greatest performances of all time.
Another Triple Crown winner, Count Fleet, dashed off in the 1943 Belmont Stakes by 25 lengths.
Man O’War, famously known as “Big Red”, himself won the Lawrence Realization Stakes by no less than 100 lengths back in 1920.
There have been few classic races won by ten lengths of more. In South Africa, Horse Chestnut’s majestic 10 length romp in the SA Derby will long be remembered, as will Turtle Island’s 15 length demolition of the 1994 Irish 2000 Guineas field . In 1983, then maiden, Sun Princess, scored a 12 length victory in the Epsom Oaks.
The ill-fated, but oh-so-brilliant, Shergar (Great Nephew), won the Epsom Derby by ten lengths back in 1982 – this was the longest winning distance in the history of the race. Champion racefilly, Inside Information (Private Account) won the 1995 Breeders Cup Distaff by a staggering 13.5 lengths! (Remarkably the second filly home in the Distaff was another champion, Heavenly Prize).
More recently, Harbinger (Dansili) scored a blistering 11 length win in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes of 2010.
Two horses share the largest winning distance in the Kentucky Derby – both Assault and Whirlaway won the race by eight lengths. Interestingly, both went onto win the US Triple Crown.
Champion’s dam in foal
Zarinia, dam of South Africa’s current Horse of the Year Igugu (Galileo), has been tested in foal to High Chaparral. The latter is a son of Sadler’s Wells – also sire of Galileo. Thus the resulting foal will be a three parts sibling to the champion filly. Zarinia also has a filly foal at foot, by leading young sire Shamardal (Giant’s Causeway).
It has to be said that Zarinia has enjoyed a somewhat hit and miss career at stud. Her three foals to have reached the racetrack include just one winner – but that winner is Igugu!
Zarinia’s previous foals include: Gayika (Igugu’s own sister which never raced)
the once placed Lavish Lifestyle
Honorius (a Holy Roman Emperor filly which started twice)
Hopefully, Zarinia’s latest mating will provide her more success. It is also interesting to note that, to date, Igugu is the sole stakes winner produced by an Intikhab mare.
SA breds – how they have fared on International rankings
Since 2008, there have been a number of South African bred horses ranked on the International World Thoroughbred Rankings. A number of SA breds received different ratings in varying years, and thus are listed twice.
The former champions are listed below in descending (by year order:
2008
Pocket Power 121
J J The Jet Plane 120
Jay Peg 118
2009
Pocket Power 121
J J The Jet Plane 117
Russian Sage 115
Kapil 115
Jay Peg 115
Earl Of Surrey (ZIM) 115
2010
J J The Jet Plane 122
Lizard’s Desire 121
Bold Silvano 119
Pocket Power 117
Big City Life 116
Smart Banker 116
Blue Tiger 115
Kapil 115
Mr Brock 115
Rudra 115
2011
J J The Jet Plane 122
Bold Silvano 119
Igugu (AUS) 118
Variety Club 118
What A Winter 117
Pierre Jourdan 116
Dancewiththedevil 116
Bravura 115
Big City Life 115
Past Master 115
Shea Shea 115
The Apache 115
Apart from underling the class and courage shown by some of our top horses, the list also clearly shows, that as tough and classy as our best horses are, they not quite at the top of the tree as far as the very best international horses go. While it is a great achievement to produce horses as close to the top as South Africa has done, the objective rankings show that our very best are not quite the best.
Two rather strange omissions on the 2011 rankings were the South African bred females, River Jetez and Val De Ra.
Champion follows in sire’s footsteps
There was much expectation when the brilliant Japanese Triple Crown winner, Deep Impact, went to stud. One of the best horses bred in Japan, Deep Impact had the pedigree to match his race record. A son of the breed shaping sire Sunday Silence (sire of hot young US sire Hat Trick), Deep Impact is out of the G1 winning mare Wind In Her Hair, from the family of such stars as Nashwan, Unfuwain and Nayef (not to mention G1 winner and young SA sire Right Approach).
With his first crop having just turned four, it looks safe to say that Deep Impact is living up to expectations. Deep Impact colts were the first three home in the G3 Kisaragi Sho – giving the sire his first 1-2-3 finish in a graded feature.
His first crop of runners, to date, included two G1 winners. They include the classic winning filly Marcellina and Yasuda Kinen victor Real Impact. His current crop of 3yos include the sensational filly, Joie de Vivre – winner of the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies last year. She is a leading classic hopeful for 2012.
This year alone, Deep Impact has been represented by four individual graded stakes winners in Japan – up to February alone! He was champion juvenile sire in Japan in both 2011 and 2010.
Two sons of Sunday Silence, Agnes Tachyon and Manhattan Cafe, have already headed the Japanese general sires list, and the 12 year old Deep Impact could well end up in their ranks.
G1 second for Black Minnaloushe
Former champion 2yo, Hollinger, ran a cracking race in Saturday’s g1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap to finish second, beaten half a length, to multiple G1 winner Get Stormy (Stormy Atlantic). Interestingly, both are grandsons of Storm Cat – Hollinger being a son of Maine Chance Farms’ Black MInnaloushe.
GULFSTREAM PARK TURF H. (G1)
Gulfstream Park, February 11, $300,000, 4yo & up, 9fT, good, 1:52.78.
GET STORMY, 121, B. h. 6, Stormy Atlantic SD—Foolish Gal, by Kiri’s Clown. Owner, Sullimar Stable; breeder, Mary A. Sullivan (Ky.); trainer, Thomas M. Bush; jockey, Ramon A. Dominguez. $180,000. Lifetime: 27-11-4-3, $1,496,197.
Hollinger 117, Gr or Ro. g. 5, BLACK MINNALOUSHE—Dynamite Cocktail, by Dynaformer. Owner, Robert Harvey; breeder, R. Harvey & A. Wortzman (On.); trainer, Roger L. Attfield. $60,000.
Big Blue Kitten 116, B. c. 4, Kitten’s Joy SD—Spent Gold, by Unaccounted For. Owner, Ramsey, Kenneth L. and Sarah K.; breeder, Kenneth L. Ramsey & Sarah K. Ramsey (Ky.); trainer, Chad C. Brown. $30,000.
Margins: 1/2, 2, 1 3/4
Mare’s strong representation at Kenilworth
The outstanding broodmare, Mystic Spring, will have no fewer than three descendants making their respective debuts at Kenilworth on Sunday. In race one, the juvenile first timers, All Is Secret and Victorian Secret, are three parts sister – both are by Captain Al and both are out of graded stakes winning daughters of Mystic Spring!
In race three, the blue blooded Mystic Jet (3 c Jet Master – Mystic Spring) makes his debut. Mystic Spring (Royal Academy) is best known as the dam of ill-fated champion Rabiya, but she is also the dam of three other stakes winners (all fillies).
