Highlands stallion Pathfork provided a notable highlight on a low-key Durbanville programme on Saturday when producing his first winner. Glen Kotzen saddled the aptly named 2yo filly Corker, who came home powerfully over the 1000m at her second start.
Pathfork (Distorted Humor – Visions of Clarity)
Only eight runners lined up in the Maiden Juvenile Pate, with Donovan Dillon riding a peach of a race, settling R480 000 National Yearling Sale graduate Corker a few lengths off the heat and setting her alight late for an impressive victory.
Bred by Hallmark Thoroughbreds, she had run second on an unsupported debut over the Kenilworth 1000m. Her dam The Party’s On (by Muhtafal) is an unraced full sister to Gr1 sprinter, Let’s Rock ‘N Roll.
Pathfork in action
An Irish Champion Two-Year-Old, Pathfork brings the best of American pedigrees, strengthened through Sadler’s Wells’ influence in Europe and one of the best sire producing lines available, to mares in South Africa.
Pathfork was the highest rated 2yo in Ireland in 2010 and one of the top 5 in the world. He was undefeated in 3 races as a juvenile with an official Timeform Rating of 120.
He broke his maiden in July by 4 lengths easing up over 1400m.
His 2nd start In August took him to the Gr2 Galileo Futurity Stakes which he won by 1½ lengths (also over 1400m).
He went back to the Curragh a month later with yet another step up in class to win the Gr1 Vincent O’Brien Stakes.
After an unsuccessful tilt at the Guineas, he was sent to the USA to be prepared for the Breeders Cup. He didn’t suit the style of training or the racing surface in America and the decision was taken to retire him.
Pathfork hails from one of the top Niarchos families known for precocity and soundness.
He is by twice US Champion Sire Distorted Humour, a sire of Champions, including Mauritzfontein’s Flower Alley – sire of Kentucky Derby & Preakness Stakes winner.
His dam is a 3-part sister to Spinning World (TFR 130 – sire of Gr1’s in UK & Australasia) and Sagara (TFR 124).
This is the sire producing female line of Redoute’s Choice, El Gran Senor, Northern Guest, etc.
Pathfork stands at Highlands Stud for a 2015 fee of R10 000.
