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

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

  • Posted: July 7, 2012  by Alan Porter   -  
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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

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

  • Posted: June 23, 2012  by Alan Porter   -  
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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

  • Posted: June 22, 2012  by Alan Porter   -  
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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

  • Posted: June 21, 2012  by Alan Porter   -  
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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

ROYAL ASCOT DAY 1: FRANKEL!

  • Posted: June 20, 2012  by Alan Porter   -  
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“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

  • Posted: June 15, 2012  by Alan Porter   -  
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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