It’s early, make that very early, to starting reviewing the progress of the 2012 freshman sires, but remarkably at least 40 of them have already been represented by a winner. The surprise leader is Magna Graduate, who has two winners from seven starters, including Blueeyesintherein, winner of the Debutante Stakes
CROSSING THE CHANNEL
With two major stakes winners in the space of ten days, Champion Turf Horse English Channel has zoomed up the second season sire charts. First Strait of Dover took the near $1,000,000 Queen’s Plate, the first leg of the Canadian Triple crown, and then Blueskiesnrainbows, who had already been third
A LETTER TO THE THOROUGHBRED DAILY NEWS
The following letter appeared in the Thoroughbred Daily News in response to a column by noted industry observer Bill Oppenheim. To the Editor In Bill Oppenheim column (Near Miss, 6/13/12) he raises a fundamental issue that for far too long has been ignored by the thoroughbred breeding industry. Since the time
ROYAL ASCOT – DAY FIVE: BLACK DAY
The Diamond Jubilee Stakes (gr. I) was probably the most eagerly awaited contest of the Royal meet, as it featured Australian wonder-mare Black Caviar – officially rated the World’s number one sprinter – trying to extend her undefeated record to 22. Starting for the first time outside her native land,
ROYAL ASCOT – DAY FOUR: FALLEN FOR DANSILI
The expression “pace makes the race” is a common one in the U.S., but it also sums up the feature race on the fourth day of Royal Ascot, the Coronation Stakes (gr. I), run over a mile for three-year-old fillies. On soft ground the 1,000 Guineas (gr. I) winner, Homecoming
ROYAL ASCOT – DAY THREE: VISION OF GOLD
Despite being run over 2½ miles, the Ascot Gold Cup (gr. I) resulted in a three way photo finish. In a Godolphin one-two, and after surviving a stewards’ inquiry, the verdict went to four-year-old Colour Vision, over Halling’s son, Opinion Poll, and Saddler’s Rock. The defending champion of the race,
ROYAL ASCOT: DAY 2 – RETHINK
New Zealand-bred So You Think came to the yard of Aiden O’Brien with a ranking as the official high-weight on the International Classifications in the long-distance category, as well being highly-rated at shorter distances. However, that long-distance rating, which was earned with a brave third under top-weight in Melbourne Cup
ROYAL ASCOT DAY 1: FRANKEL!
“He’s not a horse, he’s a bloomin’ steam engine…” We were reminded of that statement, made by the legendary jockey Fred Archer, after being run off with on Newmarket Heath by the mighty St. Simon. Frankel didn’t quite bolt off on Ascot Heath yesterday, although it did take Tom Queally
E DUBAI – A NORTH EAST STANDOUT
A couple of recent observations drew our attention to E Dubai, who we’ve noted before as a very good value-for-money sire. One was the upset victory last weekend of the progressive 3-year-old filly My Gi Gi in the Honeymoon Handicap (gr. II). The other was a look at the leading
UNION OF INFLUENCES
Although Union Rags went into winter quarters widely regarded as the leading prospect for the Triple Crown events, a superficial reading of his pedigree could have been interpreted to indicate than he’d struggle with the ten furlongs of the Derby, let alone the 1½ miles of the classic he did
Alan Porter
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alan@pedigreeconsultants.com