Sons of the Claiborne Farm based War Front have made news in South Africa over the past ten days. His Gr3 Dixie Stakes winning son Fire Away came up with two eye catching first crop winners over the period, while another son, the late Lancaster Bomber, made his presence felt on Met day when his first-crop daughter Rascova captured the Listed City Of Cape Town Summer Juvenile Stakes on Saturday.
Fire Away got off the mark when his two-year-old son Fire ‘N Flames romped home to a four length maiden score at the Vaal last Tuesday and followed that up on Friday when his first crop daughter Luna Halo made a five and a quarter length winning debut at Fairview.
Fire Away’s first winner as Fire ‘N Flames charges home at Vaal last Tuesday (Pic – JC Photos)
Fire Away, who never won at two, has now been responsible for two winners from his first five runners.
A half-brother to Gr1 Belmont Derby winner Mr Speaker (sire of 2022 Gr1 Hollywood Derby winner Speaking Scout), Fire Away is out of Gr2 Demoiselle Stakes runner up Salute.
His paternal half-brother Lancaster Bomber looks a sad loss to the South African breeding industry if Rascova’s win on Saturday is anything to go by.
Christophe Soumillon steers Rascova to an eyecatching win (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Rascova was both her sire’s first winner and first stakes winner, with the Lancaster Bomber daughter having won on debut before finishing seventh next time out.
One of more than 20 Gr1 winners for his sire, Lancaster Bomber was a top-class performer whose victories included a triumph in the Gr1 Tattersalls Gold Cup of 2018. The bay also finished runner up in five Gr1 races, including the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Lancaster Bomber – sad loss
Among the top performers beaten by Lancaster Bomber during his career was Gr1 Qipco 2000 Guineas/Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas winner Churchill, whose first crop to race was headed by Gr1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club/Gr1 Coral Eclipse winner Vadeni.
Both Fire Away and Lancaster Bomber have some very well bred two-year-olds yet to grace the track, suggesting they could yet enjoy plenty more success this season.
There is a chance, thus, that War Front stallions could dominate the First Season Sires title in South Africa this season.
Sire of more than 100 stakes winners, War Front is a proven sire of sires with his sons Declaration Of War and The Factor both proven sources of Gr1 winners.
Declaration Of War’s total of near 50 stakes winners include French classic winner Olmedo, Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare and Breeders’ Cup victor Fire At Will, while The Factor has supplied such US Gr1 winners as Noted And Quoted and Cistron.
With his multiple Gr1 winning sons Omaha Beach and War Of Will (a half-brother to inform Cape sire Pathfork) yet to be represented on the racetrack, War Front’s impact as a sire of sires looks yet to grow further.
War Front is a son of Danzig – the unbeaten son of Northern Dancer having more than made his mark in South Africa.
Danzig
Danzig’s son National Assembly sired 16 Gr1 winners, including champions National Emblem, National Colour and National Currency, and ranks as broodmare sire of prominent local sires Rafeef and Vercingetorix.
Other sons of Danzig to leave behind Gr1 winners while standing at stud in South Africa include Allied Flag, Freedom Land, Lustra, Qui Danzig, and Shoe Danzig.
Danzig is also broodmare sire of outstanding sire Distorted Humor, whose sons Flower Alley and Pathfork have both enjoyed success while standing in SA.
