It's once again that time of the year when for the intrest of our loyal Global Mail readers and of my own journalistic curiosity I am priviledged to be able to penetrate the inner sanctum of some of worlds most prestigeous racing centres and investigate the up & comers of the thoroughbred industry. Hopefully, like the unflappable, multi-surface speedster we uncovered in Deux Francais last year, I can help shed light on the promising bundle of babies entering the ring this year.
YASHA (F) BY WEKIVA SPRINGS - CHERRY ON TOP
By undefeated 2yo Wekiva Springs, a winner of 5 Grade 1's during his juvenile year. While he still went on to win more as an older horse it was that blitz that remains the most memorable. He has produced 14 runners to date and 13 have been tried at 2. Of those 13, 3 have been winners and only 4 have not won prizemoney in their opening season.
Yasha will be the very first foal from the dam to grace the track but if her mum's taught her anything she will go a long way. Placed 6 of 10 and well over 300k in a short 2 season career she hit the ground running. Although unable to post a win at 2, she was narrowly behind after a tight stretch dual resulting in a G2 2nd to the infallable Lil Belle.
WAR DANCE (C) BY BELLBUSTER - LA LAGUNE
By legendary stallion Bellbuster who rarely fails to produce at least several multiple 2yo winners per season from a mare who has produced accomplished miler/classic performer Broken Dream a G1 winner at 2yo and far beyond and also Ur Wildest Dreams and Payback who were lightly tried at 2yo but still managed multiple placings. The only other two foals were Lucky Me who was not raced until 3 and Mantapike Hill who failed to earn money in 2 tries at 2 last year but was not at all disgraced either.
TWIN TOWERS (C) BY TROLL TOWER - MISS GOLD
Troll Tower is no stranger 2yo racing infact from 25 starters he has produced 10 individual 2yo winners, amazingly 3 have won at the highest level as a juvenile. Of 15 who couldn't win 7 were at least placed.
Miss Gold was not raced at 2 and Twin Towers will be her first to race.
SUNDANCE (C) BY KING MIDAS - BOLD ALANNA
Controversally, King Midas was kept from the track untill midway through his 3yo year possibly due to maturity issues but he did open with 2 World Record breaking G1 and G2 victories so we will never no what might have been had he been tried at 2. Nevertheless, whatever he missed out on he has made up for in spades as a stallion. His first 13 born all graced the track at 2 resulting in an amazing 6 winners and 4 money earners. The 3 horses remaining were only tried twice each. His stars Queen Street and King of the Sea are both remarkable horses, the former won 8 (3 at Grade 1) from 1200m - 1700m while the later won 3 times (1 at Grade 1) from 1200m to 2200m all these feats were in their 2yo years alone!
Bold Alanna, who was recognised more as a five time G1 winning older mare actually won a Grade 2 and placed above 4th in 2 Grade 1's at 2. Excitingly, Sundance will be the former great mares first to race.
CAPRO ESPIATORIO (C) BY FIELDS OF OMAGH - ISCA
By Fields of Omagh, the one who gave us Grade 1 winning juveniles the calibre of A Bus and Field of Dreams as well as last years bullet Borgata Romana.
The dam Isca can also throw a champion youngster having passed on her speed to Grade 1 winning 2yos Isca's Revenge, Laugh Out Loud & Naive. Suprisingly her only other foal could have made it 4 foals to race for 4 G1 winners with the 3 time winner Hepatic Flap, but it took gun colt Rocket to bring him to his knees in his bid for history.
RICH N MYSTERIOUS (F) BIG N RICH - MYSTIC LADY
Big N Rich is the sire of Big N Tough who started 6 times at 2 last year for 3 wins culminating in the G1 Breeders Cup Juvenile in track record time. He also had last years smart 2yo's Big Risk (placed 3 of 5), Camera Shy (won 2 and placed 3 of 7), Oprah (won a G2 and also placed 7) and G1 winning filly Road to Zion (won 3 of 10, placed 3).
The dam is Mystic Lady, who gave life to prolific 2yo War Machine winner of 3 Grade 1's in addition to 3 Group and Stks wins.
STORMY DESERT (C) STORMY WEDDING - DESERT FLOWER
He won over 2.8m in a career spaning 4 seasons. After opening with five G1 top 4 finshes from 6 at 2yo he went right on and helped himself to dual classics at 3. Finally he also added G1's to his resume at both 4 & 5yo. Only 2 foals to date. None raced.
Desert Flower has been a revelation despite not having ever seen a racetrack. Desert Bust is the winner of 7 and placed 8 of 19. He has won 3 G2's thus far but perhaps it was penultimate race last season that is so far his greatest effort. In the Breeders Cup Sprint he met a crack field that featured Grade 1 winners Blazing Risk, Ab-Dalegigaeth, Patchers, Bro' Town, Attack at Dawn and Morning After however the only horse capable of passing the still Grade 1 virgin was the then 3yo spinting sensation Run Missy Run. The other notable foal from Desert Flower is Dan's Desert a G1 victor on the dust adding to his previous 5 wins.
LIGHTER FLUID (F) REVENGE - ENLIGHTENMENT
By Revenge, the outstanding racehorse. He was unraced at 2 but made up for that with 2yo Grade 1 winners Isca's Revenge, Machete, Poseidon's Gift and Revenge.
While we all know Enlightenment as a triple Grade 1 winning 3yo, she signalled that with a promising 2yo campaign. The daughter of Sakhee opened her account by winning 2 of 11 one of which was a G2 and hitting the board another 6 times.
CASH ADVANCE (C) BY SMART MONEY - MISSMELODRAMATIC
Smart Money - The unpassable champion 2yo of 2005. Before last years Rocket appeared it is doubtful we had seen anything of the like from a 2yo colt. In 10 races, he was never headed - his average winning margin was 6 1/2 L. Seems the only thing that could beat him was the clock and even then, it only beat him half the time. He absolutely inhaled his 3 open aged Track Records and his 2 open aged World Records over distances from 1200m to 1600m. He even gave the older horses a galloping lesson in the open aged Stradbroke Handicap. Most horses struggle to do that in a lifetime. Smart Money did it just as easily as a 2yo. His first foals will debut this year.
Missmelodramatic won 15 races. Still not impressed? Well, I meant to say 15 Grade 1 races. This winner of over 9.3m actually won 25 races. She didn't break into a G1 goldmine untill 3, but she did win 1 race and placed in a G1 at 2yo. This is her first foal.
PRECIOUS STAR (F) BY STAR STUDDED - PRECIOUS ELEGANCE
By a Group 1 winning 2yo in Star Studded, all told he raced 6 times in G1 company where he only failed to earn money when 5th in one of the strongest Golden Slipper's in history won by the immortal Smart Money. His first runners will start this season.
Precious Elegance, who ultimately went on to bring in over 7.5m started her career with just 4 races that resulted in a G2 second in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile. She won a race over 9f on turf and at the same time placed twice under 6f on dust.
MONEY TO BURN (C) BY SMART MONEY - PLEASANT BALLET
Smart Money - The unpassable champion 2yo of 2005. Before last years Rocket appeared it is doubtful we had seen anything of the like from a 2yo colt. In 10 races, he was never headed - his average winning margin was 6 1/2 L. Seems the only thing that could beat him was the clock and even then, it only beat him half the time. He absolutely inhaled his 3 open aged Track Records and his 2 open aged World Records over distances from 1200m to 1600m. He even gave the older horses a galloping lesson in the open aged Stradbroke Handicap. Most horses struggle to do that in a lifetime. Smart Money did it just as easily as a 2yo. His first foals will debut this year.
Pleasant Ballet never raced, however she has produced three time 2yo winner Mental Edge who was also a dual G1 placed juvenile. Quarterview, won 5 and placed 4 of 10 as a 2yo. Her only "blotch" in her copybook was a 5 L 5th in the Golden Slipper behind Run Missy Run & Queen Street Champion 2yo Colt & Filly of that year, and Resounding a four time Grade 1 winning 2yo.
CHANDON (F) BY MOET - ATEATES
By one of 3 or 4 of the most elite, highly regarded 2yo's we've seen in Moet. Blessed with pure undiluted speed he was never passed in his 8 juvenile starts. He created 4 new Track Records and he also beat a field of mostly 4 & 5yo's in the Stradbroke Handicap. His first runners will debut this year.
Ateates has previously given us some nice horses, although her ability to produce 2yos is questionable at best. Although many have raced, only a minor winner and a handfull of placings have resulted from the 5 foals before. One exeption however is her Kilkenny Castle foal Poker Run who had 3 starts in his year for a G3 and G1 placing.
CHATEAU CHAMBORD (F) BY CIGAR - TOUT CHARMANT
Cigar, the stallion has proved hit and miss at the 2yo caper. His best 2yo was the Grade 1 winner Clever Critter and with the exception of the consistant Time Traveller (missed the board once in 12) the rest have failed brilliantly.
Tout Charmant the mare though has the kind of record needed to offset the stallions lack of 2yo prowess. Last year Blue Hawaii upset red hot favorite Deux Francais in the Magic Millions before claiming the G1 Fillies Mile. Sovereign Sword showed versatility when he missed landing in the first four just once in 6 tries and also putting his name on 2 new Track Records. Grade 1 winning 3yo Charming Lil was placed 3 of 5 at 2yo and her only other foal French Mask only had 3 runs but managed a G2 4th.
CONFEDERATE GIRL (F) BY TESTA ROSSA - INNOVATION GIRL
Sire only has one other foal who is unraced but reluctant to dismiss due to the dam.
Innovation Girl has 3 foals of racing age for 2 winners. The first is speedball filly Borgata Romana who last year lined up 10 times for 3 wins and 6 placings. The second is Patchers who took 2 G1's and 4 World Records away from his debut year. Additionally he missed just one placing from 11 when he finished 4th in the Magic Millions.
FIELDS OF MARSCAY (C) BY FIELDS OF OMAGH - BINT MARSCAY
Fields of Omagh is responsible for 6 Eclipse Awards and 2 Breeders Cup races. Amazingly, it was just one single animal who won them for him. The quirkily named A Bus, the evergreen stallion was so well known for his deeds as recently as 2009 that its hard to believe he and the champion 5 time Grade 1 winning juvenile of 2006 are one and the same. His other G1 winning 2yo was Field of Dreams helped herself to 7 on the board finishes from 8. The last horse to make an impact at 2 was last season's baby bullet Borgata Romana who lined up 10 times for 3 wins and 6 placings, showing off Fields of Omagh's trademark consistancy trait.
Bint Marscay is no stranger to a 2yo winner but for the purpose of this article we will focus on her star colts Moet & Machete. Both voted "The Champion 2yo's" of their years (07' & 08' respectively). First born Moet still remains one of 3 or 4 of the most elite, highly regarded 2yo's we've seen. Blessed with pure undiluted speed he was never passed in his 8 juvenile starts. He created 4 new Track Records and he also beat a field of mostly 4 & 5yo's in the Stradbroke Handicap. Machete won just one Grade 1 initially however was a much more stamina orientated galloper, and still he beaten only once in 8 runs at 2.
REVELATIONS (C) BY REVENGE - RAGING FEVER
By Revenge, the outstanding racehorse. He was unraced at 2 but made up for that with 2yo Grade 1 winners Isca's Revenge, Machete, Poseidon's Gift and Revenge.
The dam, a daughter of Storm Cat is called Raging Fever and she has left us with G1 2yo winner No More Lies who also made 10 top four finishes out of his 11 runs. Rave only missed the top 4 just twice in 8. Raging Wells won a G2 and was triple G1 placed, outside 4th just once from 9. The filly Nova won as well but it was her ultra high ratings that drew the most attention, 7 of 11 were above 100 and 3 were over 90.
THE CRYSTAL BALL 2010
Seeing as the series is on hiatus until the restart of the racing season The Global Mail this week looks into the crystal ball and forecasts that the babies profiled below could well be fighting out the places atop the ladder come the end of 2010.
Jedi Jazz
Bonai’s dark steel coloured son of Holy Bull is the epicentre of equine perfection, with a pedigree like that it’s no doubt that this brother to Quarterview could have pushed figures past the million mark in the auction ring this year - then again with the promise of all things to come from his big sister this season it’s obvious the decision weather or not to sell the yearling would have come easy.
He has been blessed with some ok figures to date including the 79 that gave him his only prizemoney when 4th over a dirt shortcourse. Has previously been backed into 7/1 which should have be an indication to his readiness though at his latest blew out to 25/1 in a G2 when 5th. Has the potential - way too early to write off yet.
Best Result
Established breeders Thunder Lodge must have been disappointed with this lass’ brother King Street because for the first time in Sea of Street’s 3 year broodmare career she was denied the chance meet with her favourite stallion King Midas. The result though was another small but sassy bay filly by little known stallion No Effects with each leg seemingly “dipped” in white paint. Of course being out of Sea of Street makes her a ½ sister to Queen Street who placed second in sprint last year. With No effects (a horse without another living foal on the ground), it remains to be seen if she can measure up to the deeds of stablemate Queen Street but she certainly will throw some intrigue into the bunch.
Not all together disgraced at first couple. Her 1/2 sister Queen Street was a revelation at 2, but perhaps this girl has thrown more to her father's side - No Effects who despite being a G3 winner at 2 was unable to register another victory untill his 5yo year. His record up to that win was 28 starts for 1-1-2. His record afterwards a remarkable 17 starts 6-2-1.
Deux Francais
This small but powerfully built chestnut looks to have the breeding to do it all, that alone suggests that much like his big brother Run Missy Run he too could be a pocket rocket. FDL has also really put thought into this pairing the mare Pharein up with outstanding sire Dawn Patrol who has many shining stars such as Peaken on Patrol, Redskyatdawn and the already enigmatic but very talented 2yo Castle Rock. Of course his honour would not be complete without adding former great race mare now broodmare Case Closed who amassed well over 2mil in a 14 start career that saw her only ever unplaced twice.
That perfect formula of speed x stamina could see another multi-surface all-star very much in the mould of his famous big brother.
Deux Francis's half yearly report card is sparkling. Yes, he has become the multi-surface all star we thought he would and yes, the similarities between he and Run Missy Run are striking. Both are G1 winners at 2 but it doesn't stop there.............Both were placed in the Dubai Juvi as well as suffering narrow defeats at the hands of fillies in the Magic Millions.
RMR has graduated into open company with honours taking both the Oakleigh Plate and Lightning Handicap in World Record time. He also set a new WR for 1200m against his own age in the Ascot Vale, so we can continue to expect more from Deux Francais next year.
Silver Sword
Ladies and gentleman if ever you set your eyes on a horse born to run this is him. It’s fair to say that Snowbank Farm have really outdone themselves again with this stunning mark of an animal. Nothing less than 16hh of pure bone and muscle already towering over much of the rising 2yo population. Here stands a liver chestnut tribute to his great sire the almost unmatchable Dansilver. This colt comes from a line of 2 outstanding sisters and one brother who is none other than Regal Son, placed equal 3rd in the sprint division of 2009. Already himself the earner of over ½ a million dollars from 10 starts and well on his way to eclipsing his world-beating big sisters Hell Hath No Fury and Diabla whose combined prize money earnings are quickly rising the 5 ½ million mark, that’s an average of $84,000+ earned every start! Best of luck to this mountain of a colt - not that he’ll need it.
Well beaten at only run however despite what he did at 2, his big brother Regal Son has done alot more at 3 taking 4 more G1's including the recent Visa Travers and a nose second in the Kentucky Derby.
Minstrel’s Song
This is the wall that could in the way of Silver Sword’s complete domination of the series. One of the only horses to match him physically he also boasts one of the best if not THE best pedigree in the world. The pedigree people at Long Island Hayburners need not have burned the midnight oil thinking up this partnership by Dansilver out of the all conquering Sobriety. With over 13 million won during her racing career she still stands up as the 7th record earner and above her only Perfect Song and Alytrain are females. Her only foal to race is Resounding, placed equal 4th in sprint who already has over 1.3 Million to her name and ran outside the place just twice from 10. We all know that great breeding doesn't equal success but it certainly helps!
Narrow winner on debut but not since.
State Tower
A little dabbled bay looks up from his feed bin as we approach and his big seal pup eyes tell a story. The colt looks out of his door across several acres of paddocks and suddenly fixates on a figure standing to attention, a trance like state all alone in a tree lined paddock far off in the distance. Then as if it could feel this onlooker's presence the figure burst off a standstill into blinding speed, each step whipping up the turf behind and eating each furlong like he owned it. A couple of metres before the post and rail fence the animal comes to a bounding halt before spinning off in another direction. The little colt lets out a whinny from the confines of his box, if only he could match this great stallion’s ability to cut and run.
As it turns out he'll have every possible chance because that amazing horse is his father - the immortal Troll Tower. The winner of $7.6 Million on the racetrack and now with progeny earnings of exactly $2,023,050, remarkable because his oldest are only 2yo’s and none have raced more than 10 times. Infact of his 11 2yo’s all have raced and 7 have earned more than 175,000 or higher. Not one Troll Tower 2yo has failed to win any prize money at all. And with 2 more 2yo’s on the ground this year than the last he may well improve on his achievement to place one horse inside the top 4 sprint table and an amazing 3 horses in the top 4 challenge table. This colt has an even better chance as his full brother is equal 4th placed sprinter Fashion Tower.
A charicter for sure. His highest PSR's have come in G2 races while his lowest (even down to -3) have come in the easiest company. Reluctant to dismiss because for some reason I think he has the spunk to make it through.
Millennium Tower
Suffice to say that this pretty youngster is by Troll Tower, and is a full sister to New Tower who placed 3rd in Challenge. This filly is also in the very capable hands of Goforwand Stables the owner of 3 of the 12 horses to have earned double figure points in 2009 and again has the weaponry capable of clean sweeping the series.
Nothing thus far.