SECOND SEASON STARS

  • by Alan Porter  on July 28, 2012  -  
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The three-year-old crop of 2007 was one of the most contentious of recent years as Street Sense, Curlin, Hard Spun and Any Given Saturday fought it out for leadership of the division. Curlin would emerge with titles as Champion Three-Year-Old and Horse of the Year, and remained in training to

THE DEPARTED

Last week brought the news that ace sprinter/miler Caleb’s Posse would be retiring to stand at Three Chimneys Farm for the 2013 breeding season.  At the weekend, however, it was two Three Chimneys stallions that have departed for greener pastures, Rahy and Dynaformer that were in the spotlight. Like the

PLANETS ALIGNED

With the exception of a Grade/Group One winner over 4000m, which his sire did in the form of the brilliant Yeats, it would be reasonable to suggest that while time may prove him superior, the Coolmore stallion Galileo is right now as every bit a good a classic sire as his

FAST STARTING FRESHMAN

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

  • by Alan Porter  on July 7, 2012  -  
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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

  • by Alan Porter  on June 23, 2012  -  
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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

  • by Alan Porter  on June 22, 2012  -  
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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

  • by Alan Porter  on June 21, 2012  -  
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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