South Africans make the presence felt at Easter Sale
Inglis has recently sent out its catalogue for the 2012 Australian Easter Yearling Sale. There are a number of yearlings on offer with strong ties to South Africa. Lot 501, is a Nadeem filly, whose granddam, Mythical Play, was the Equus Champion 3yo filly back in 2005.
A well bred colt on offer is lot 551, a son of the great sire Street Cry. He is a half-brother to the smart South African performer, Tawny Run. Another well bred filly is lot 574, a daughter of two Golden Slipper winners in Stratum (Danehill) and Burst (Marauding) respectively. This makes the filly a half-sister to useful SA sprinter First Burst – dam of G3 winner Winter Burst (Western Winter).
The first foal of the former SA champion Sun Classique (Fuji Kiseki – Elfenjer), an unbeaten G1 winner in Dubai, also comes up for sale. The colt is a bay son of champion sprinter and leading sire, Oasis Dream.
There is also a full sister to top-class SA two Exclaim’n’exclude up for sale, while former SA G1 winner, Trust Antonia, has her third foal on offer. The bay colt is an own brother (by top sire More Than Ready) to Australian G1 performer Huegill.
A colt with a superb pedigree is lot 342, a son of champion sire Encosta de Lago. The bay is a half-brother to former South African champion sprinter, Laisserfaire (Danehill), as well as three other stakes winners.
2YO Sensations
This current crop of 2yos looks one with an unusual amount of depth. With a number of the country’s best juveniles yet to grace the tracks, there have already been a number of high-class performances and there could be some very exciting times ahead.
The Black Rose
The likes of Agra (Trippi – The Taj), The Black Rose (Black Minnaloushe – Caramarta), Franny (Trippi – Scented Samantha) and Counter Poise (Tiger Ridge – Counterpoise) suggest the 2yo fillies are a strong bunch this season. Remarkably all four are unbeaten feature race winners! (Albeit’s Counter Ridge’s “feature race win” came in a non black type event).
While the colts have been somewhat overshone by the fillies thus far (a rather common event with juveniles), a number of males have put up promising performances, which bode well for the future.
Albert Mooney (Captain Al –Winning Eyes) looked like a 2yo worth watching when he slammed his rivals at Kenilworth on Saturday, while another Captain Al colt to catch the eye was Friday night winner, Istiqraar (Captain Al –Stella’s Journal).
Throw in the likes of Reign As Kings (King of Kings – Lee Danzig) and Soft Falling Rain (National Assembly – Gardener’s Delight), and the juvenile crop of 2011-2012 look providing plenty of excitement down the line.
What a loss!
The premature loss of Victory Moon (Al Mufti – Dancing Flower) was certainly a sad loss for South Africa. The sire of high-class international sprinter Nocturnal Affair as well as champion filly Princess Victoria has enjoyed an excellent season.
Currently, at the time of writing, Victory Moon is in the top ten list in all of: the general sires list, leading sires by AEPR, leading sires of 3yos, and leading 2yo sires. Captain Al and Var are the only other two sires in feature in the top ten of all the lists mentioned above.
Victory Moon is also responsible for the stakes performing juveniles War Horse and Straight Set , both of whom are members of their sire’s final crop. Both War Horse and Straight Set are nominated for Graded features on Classic Day, and there could well be further glory for Victory Moon and his progeny ahead.
Victory Moon’s final crop numbers no fewer than 113 juveniles, so he will continue to be well represented for the next couple of seasons.
Speedy 2yo second for pedigree pattern
Darlington Abbey
When the unbeaten 2yo filly Darlington Abbey (Stratum – Wynyard Hall, by Blackfriars) won the Listed Gimcrack Stakes at Flemington she became the fourth stakes winner inbred to the mighty sire Danehill. The other horses inbred to Danehill include Aussie G3 winner Psychologist (Choisir – Miss Conception, by Danzero) and British G3 winner Ladies Are Forever (Monsieur Bond – Forever Bond, by Danetime). What is interesting about these statistics is that all four inbred stakes winners are fillies. It is also worth commentating that from 322, and counting, foals inbred to Danehill there is yet to be an outstanding performer.
Be that as it may, it goes without saying that inbreeding to Danehill will become a more prominent part of the international scene for many years to come. With his sons Fastnet Rock, Redoute’s Choice, Commands and Exceed And Excel currently 1-2-3-5 on the Australian General Sires list, Danehill’s influence shows no sign of waning.
Potent nick to the good
When Cotillion (Silvano – Soho Society) finished second in Friday’s Listed East Cape Fillies Nursery, she became the latest stakes performer to represented the strong cross of Silvano and Al Mufti. From 14 runners, the mating of Silvano on Al Mufti mares has resulted in such august performers as former Equus Champions Kings Gambit and Bold Silvano. It has also resulted in the high-class stakes performers Galanthus and Kings Cross. In other words five of 14 runners bred on that nick are stakes performers. Ten of the 14 runners have won at least one race.
Champions at stud?
With recent US Horses of the Year Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra recently giving birth to their first foals, it is a good time to look back and see which recent US female stars maintained their success at the highest level on the track when retired.
Of the US champion 2yo fillies, dating back to 1980, three died before reaching the paddocks. Of the past 31 2yo champs, only two (Flanders, Althea) produced G1 winners at stud. Althea also became the granddam of leading US sire, Arch. Another champion 2yo filly, Epitome, failed to throw a G1 winner, but did produce leading NZ sire Faltaat (Mr Prospector) as well as US G2 winner Essence of Dubai (Pulpit).
Past 3yo champion fillies in the USA since 1980 include four exceptional broodmares in Serena’s Song, Heavenly Prize, Dance Smartly and Hollywood Wildcat. All four produced a number of stakes winners at stud, and all four threw winners at the highest level.
Champion Older Females from North America, dating back to the start of 80’s, include three superb broodmares in Personal Ensign (subsequent Broodmare of the Year), Relaxing (dam of 3 individual G1 winners) and Glorious Song (dam of Singspiel, Rakeen and Rahy).
Other former champion older females to leave a G1 winner behind was Inside Information – dam of US G1 winning filly, Smuggler, and Queena (dam of Brahms).
Past champion turf females have a very patchy record in the USA, with the real standout being Miesque (founder of a dynasty and dam of leading sire Kingmambo).
Both Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra will be given every chance to succeed at stud, but how their fate unfolds remains to be seen. Interesting both champions’ first foals have ALREADY been given quotes for the 2015 Kentucky Derby!
