Pluck another compliment to great sire
Team Valor’s Pluck, winner of the recent Gr2 Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf, is a son of former top sprinter miler More Than Ready and the smart racefilly Secret Heart.
It is worth noting, however, that Pluck is yet another top individual produced by a Fort Wood mare. Saturday’s Gr2 Charity Mile winner Alderry (Al Mufti) was produced by the Fort Wood mare Derry Wood.
Pluck joins the likes of Bouqet-Garni (SA Derby), Royal Fantasy (Thekwini Stakes), Royal Aproval (SA Oaks), Mokaro (Gold Cup), Shipmaster (Sagaro Stakes) and Alderry’s half-brother Royal Vintage as the latest international stakes winner produced by a Fort Wood mare.
Well bred mares for Klawervlei
Klawervlei purchased some beautifully bred mares at the recent Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.
Ebaraya, who cost$150,000, is by champion sire Sadler’s Wells out of the wonderful producer Ebaziya. Not only was Sadler’s Wells champion sire in the 14 times, but he has headed the broodmare sires list, in four different occasions, 15 times! The most recent champion produced by a Sadler’s Wells mare was Workforce, winner of the Investec Derby and Arc earlier this season.
Ebaziya, a stakes winning daughter of champion sire and broodmare sire Darshaan, is dam of three group one winners, including Gold Cup winner Enzeli.
Ebaraya, dam of three winners, is currently in foal to Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, a son of sire sensation Street Cry.
Ms. Blue Blood, a $190,000 purchase, is by A P Indy, broodmare sire of the 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, as well as leading young sire Bluegrass Cat. Ms. Blue Blood, herself, is a half-sister to the 2001 Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos. This is the wonderful Darby Dan family of such luminaries as Dynaformer, Brian’s Time and young SA sire Albert Hall.
Dive is a full sister to the top-class Japanese performer and young US sire Seeking The Dia. The pair are by Storm Cat out of the French Group One winner Seeking The Pearl, from the family of champion sire Lyphard. Dive, who is in foal to Mr Greeley, cost $150,000.
Rubicat, who was purchased for $200 000, is another by the world class broodmare sire Storm Cat. Her dam, Ruby Ransom is a stakes winning half-sister to Breeders Cup Turf winner Chief Bearhart. In foal to top sire Elusive Quality, Rubicat is a direct descendant of Gold Digger – dam of legendary sire Mr Prospector.
What is in a name
One of the best named horses racing in the world is the wittily named Trust Selebi. A stakes placed runner in Japan, the colt is by Commander in Chief out of Grab. It is certainly a name for the times! Grab herself, is a daughter of Danzig and Snitch. Clearly whoever named the colt was inspired (as hard as that is to imagine!) by South African politics.
International ratings
The latest international ratings were published by the IFA (International Federation of Horseracing Authorities) recently. The ratings cover the period between May 1st and November 7th 2010. Harbinger, winner of the King George and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes by 11 lengths, is the official highest rated horse in the world with a rating of 135. He is rated 6lbs clear of Breeders Cup Classic winner Blame. Three horses are rated next best, with a rating of 128lbs, namely 2000 Guineas winner Makfi, Derby and Arc hero Workforce and top US dirt performer Quality Road.
Mighty mares Goldikova and Zenyatta were rated equal at 125lbs, alongside Australian superstar So You Think and dual Champion Stakes victor Twice Over.
Highest rated South African bred is the retired Lizard’s Desire, winner of the Singapore International Cup. The gallant son of Lizard Island is rated 121. Other top horses rated 121 include champion sprinter Starspangledbanner, French Oaks winner Sarafina (third in the Arc), Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Haynesfield and US champ of last season Gio Ponti. Clearly, Lizard’s Desire is in some lofty company.
SA’s champion sprinter, JJ The Jet Plane, now in Hong Kong, is rated at 120 after winning both his starts last season. He is rated 1lb behind top European/Australian sprinter Starspangledbanner, and equal to the dual King’s Stand Stakes winner Equiano.
Equinox
Last week, I had the privilege of meeting the preeminent horse genomics researcher Dr Emmeline Hill, who was in Cape Town giving a series of talks at an International Conference at the Spier Hotel. Dr Hill is the co-founder of Equinome, the company responsible for producing the Speed Genetic Test. This test enables breeders, owners and trainers to discover the distance that their particular horse is best suited to. Most importantly, the test enables one to find out what variant will be passed on by stallions and mares to their respective progeny.
It is clear that the Speed Genetic Test has the potential to play a huge part in planning matings and buying yearlings. The test can also enable trainers to plan their training strategy for their unraced stock.
Whilst the results of the Speed Genetic Test are not yet available to the public, future tests will, in all likelihood, be made available at a later date. Equinome, foundered by Dr Hill and top Irish trainer Jim Bolger, already has top clients in most of the world’s major racing regions.
Dr Hill is planning to return to SA next year, for future discussions regarding the Equine Speed Genetic Test.
Goldikova vs Zenyatta
Whilst there has been much discussion as to whether Goldikova or Zenyatta is the superior racemare, it’s worth remembering the mighty Zarkava. Zarkava thrashed Goldikova on both occasions that they met, and whilst Goldikova has in all likelihood, improved with age, it is worth noting that after her defeats, in the French 1000 Guineas/ French Oaks, by Zarkava, “Goldi” reeled off four wins in a row, including her first Breeders Cup Mile win.
Another interesting fact in the Goldikova Vs Zenyatta debate, is that both mares have beaten champion male Gio Ponti. Goldikova defeated her male rival by 1.75 lengths in the Breeders Cup Mile this year, whilst Zenyatta beat him a length in the Classic of last year. (The distances are a little misleading as Zenyatta comes with a late run, leaving herself plenty to do, and still wins going away).
Nonetheless, whilst Goldikova and Zenyatta are two of the greatest racemares in racing’s history, the likes of Zarkava and Rachel Alexandra should not be forgotton. Both fillies achieved some remarkable feats, without showing the longevity of either Goldikova or Zenyatta.
