NEW APPROACH HEADS THE EUROPEAN FRESHMAN

The weekend saw New Approach, become the first European-based freshman sire of 2012 to be represented by a group one winner, his son Dawn Approach taking the Vincent O’Brien Stakes (formerly National Stakes) (gr. I) by 4¾ lengths. This was the fifth win in five starts for Dawn Approach, who

DREAM FULFILLED

  • by Alan Porter  on September 4, 2012  -  
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With Danedream flashing her credentials for a shot a back-to-back victories in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (gr. I), with a score in the Grosser-Preis Von Baden (gr. I) at the weekend, we thought it was worth a look back at her pedigree from this article we wrote for

KAUAI KATIE: REPEATING THE PATTERN

  • by Alan Porter  on August 16, 2012  -  
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It’s still very early in the season for serious juvenile competition, but there is no doubt that one of the most impressive 2-year-old fillies seen to date is Kauai Katie. Successful by 12 lengths on her debut, the Stonestreet Stable color-bearer returned to action at Saratoga in the Adirondack Stakes

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,