Sarah Whitelaw’s weekly take on SA bred connections around the world
Pluck
Pluck, the first Breeders Cup winner produced by a South African bred mare, is to run again on Friday. The 3yo colt, owned by Team Valor, is set to appear in the G3 Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland. Run over 1700 meters, the Transylvania will be Pluck’s second start this year. The colt had previously run fourth on his seasonal debut, beaten 2.5 lengths. His main aim remains the French 2000 Guineas next month. He is out of the G1 placed Fort Wood mare Secret Heart, a half-sister to champion Promisefrommyheart. The latter has a Jet Master colt on the Emperor’s Palace National Yearling Sale, which looks sure to be very popular.
Pluck’s pedigree continues to grow in value, especially with the ongoing success of his sire, More Than Ready. The latter, a champion sire in both Australia and the US, was represented by a pair of G1 winners down under this weekend. His daughter More Joyous, the best filly racing in Australia, won the G1 Queen of the Turf Stakes, whilst another daughter, Dreamaway completed the WA Oaks – WATC Derby double . More Than Ready is also the sire of yet another classy filly, Elite Falls – the third placed finisher in the G1AAMI Golden Slipper.
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Danehill dominance
Danehill has long been established as a hugely influential stallion. His influence reached new heights, however, in Saturday’s G1 AAMI Golden Slipper. The richest race for 2yo in the world, the Golden Slipper, run at Rosehill, attracted a field of 14 juveniles. Only one of the 14 runners, subsequent sixth place finisher Shared Reflections, has a pedigree free of Danehill blood. This is a truly phenomenal achievement, even for a stallion as great as Danehill undoubtedly was.
Danehill is the broodmare sire of the winner Sepoy (Elusive Quality), as well as the third place finisher Elite Falls (More Than Ready). Danehill’s son, the very promising young sire Fastnet Rock, was represented by five runners in the field (35% of the entire field!), including Slipper runner up Mosheen.
Although the mighty Star Kingdom sired the first five Slipper winners, it remains safe to say that Danehill has exerted an influence on the Golden Slipper superior to that of any other stallion. His blood is found in eight of the last ten Slipper winners, and he himself sired five Golden Slipper winners. Three of his sons, to date, have produced Slipper winners, and last year’s winner, Crystal Lily, was sired by Danehill’s grandson, Stratum.
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Leading first season sires
While the Aussies have already run their first two G1 races for juveniles, South Africa is yet to hold a top level race for their babies. This clearly underlines the different approach between the two countries as regarding early racing of juveniles. Australia, who had the G1 Blue Diamond run on 26th February, has long since placed high value of speed and precocity, while South Africa’s first G1 race for juveniles is only on 28th May! This approach maybe kinder to youngsters coming through the divisions, but doesn’t make the studying of first crop sires any easier.
Be that as it may, it is a good time to start examining the first season sires list. Whilst it is early days yet, the list is currently being headed by Black Minnaloushe. Represented by 13 juvenile runners to date, Black Minnaloushe has had juvenile winners and three other placed horses. This is a very commendable start for a horse who himself was at his best as a 3yo. Not only is Black Minnaloushe heading the first season sires list, but he is also fourth on the 2yos sires list.
What is noticeable about Black Minnaloushe is that of his five winners to date, three have won on debut.
Runner up on the first season sires list, thus far, is Miesque’s Approval. Sire of two individual winners and six placed horses from 15 runners to date, Miesque’s Approval has also made a useful start to his stud career. Remarkably, he achieved championship status as a 7yo, so it is a promising sign that he is getting 2yo winners.
The former high-class 2yo, Albert Hall, sits third in the first crop list at the time of writing. His 11 runners include two winners (one of which is unbeaten) and six placed horses. His early showing is no surprise, given that Albert Hall showed his best form as a 2yo (albeit a late season one).
To date, these three horses are well clear of the other first crop sires, but it remains to be seen who who tops the list at the end of the season.
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Former SA champ up for sale
Ruby Clipper, a mare who has really left her mark in South Africa, is one of a number of top-class mares coming up for sale at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. Now a 16yo, Ruby Clipper (Rubiton) was exported to South Africa, where she became a champion at 2. As a 2yo, she showed a tremendous amount of speed to win the Allan Robertston Fillies Futurity, a race over 1200m, by four lengths!
Later named champion sprinter, Ruby Clipper’s ten wins included six feature races. Returned to Australia as a broodmare prospect, Ruby Clipper became one of just a handful of champion racemares capable of producing a G1 winner. Her second foal, a handsome Rock of Gibraltar colt, was named Seventh Rock. He followed in his mothers’ footsteps by becoming a G1 winning juvenile, who captured his biggest race at Scottsville.
Winner of the G1 Gold Medallion at 2, Seventh Rock ran international champion J J The Jet Plane to a length, when third to him in the G1 Computaform Sprint. He was later retired to Klawervlei Stud, where he stood his first season last year.
Sadly, Ruby Clipper has been represented by just three live foals to date. She also missed three times, and clearly has not enjoyed the best of luck as a broodmare – what she may have achieved with better fortune can only be wondered at.
She is currently in foal to Kentucky Derby winner and champion Big Brown.
