When Tap O’ Noth landed Saturday’s Gr1 Cape Guineas, he ensured his late sire Captain Al joined an elite group of stallions responsible for at least two major Guineas winners in a single crop.
William Longsword wins the 2016 Cape Guineas
Not only did Tap O’ Noth become his sire’s second consecutive winner of the Cape Guineas but Captain Al is also sire of this season’s brilliant Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Snowdance. The latter is one of two daughters of her sire to have won the Cape Fillies Guineas with Captain’s Lover being the other.
With regional Guineas yet to be run this season in Gauteng and KZN, Captain Al’s impressive feat could well increase further.
Captain Al is one of two Cape classic winners produced by his Broodmare Of The Year dam Off To War, with Cape Fillies Guineas winner Shadow Dancing being the other.
Captain Al wins the 2000 Gr1 Cape Argus Guineas
Other local stallions to have enjoyed more than one guineas winner in a crop include Al Mufti, whose sons Captain Al and The Sheik won the Cape Guineas and SA Guineas respectively in 2000, Fort Wood, whose daughter Shadow Dancing captured the Cape Fillies Guineas in 2004-2005 and son Dunsinane won the SA Guineas of the same season and Dynasty. The latter’s Act Of War (Cape Guineas) and Alexis (KRA Fillies Guineas) both landed Guineas in the South African racing season of 2013-2014.
Safe to say the late Al Mufti has had an extraordinary influence on the Cape Guineas –not only is he responsible for Captain Al, but he is broodmare sire Guineas winners Elusive Gold (Sail From Seattle) and Jay Peg (Camden Park).
The late Fort Wood went close to enjoying a Guineas treble in 1998-1999, with sons Horse Chestnut and Fort Defiance taking the Cape and Newmarket Guineas respectively, and daughter Dog Wood running second in the Cape Fillies Guineas.
Fort Wood wins the 1993 Gr1 Grand Prix de Paris in record time
Throughout history, a handful of outstanding stallions have come up with more than one major Guineas winner in a crop.
In 2017, the world’s premier stallion Galileo achieved the remarkable feat of his stock landing both the 2000 and 1000 Guineas, with Churchill winning the English 2000 Guineas and daughter Winter –who beat paternal half-sister Rhododendron in the process -the 1000 Guineas .
Churchill and Winter would go on to lift the Irish 2000 and 1000 Guineas, respectively.
Galileo appears in the pedigrees of six of the past seven 2000 Guineas winners, and is sire of the last two winners – Minding and Winter – of the 1000 Guineas.
Even Galileo, however, is yet to achieve the remarkable feat of his progeny winning all the British classics in a single season –a feat the unbeaten St Simon accomplished in 1900. His son Diamond Jubilee won the 2000 Guineas, Derby and St Leger that year, while St Simon daughters Rhoda and Winifreda won the Oaks and 1000 Guineas respectively.
Prior to Galileo siring the double, the last stallion responsible for a same season 1000/2000 Guineas double was Fairway, whose son Pay Up won the 1936 2000 Guineas, with his daughter Tide-way lifting the 1000 Guineas that season.
Danehill
Danehill accomplished a remarkable feat in 2002, when his progeny won all of the 2000, Irish 2000, and French 2000 Guineas. Danehill’s champion Rock Of Gibraltar won both the English and Irish 2000 Guineas, while ill-fated Danehill colt Landseer lifted the French equivalent in the same year.
The son of Danzig enjoyed another major Guineas double in 2006, when his sons George Washington and Aussie Rules won the English and French 2000 Guineas respectively. Remarkably, Danehill had a total of 14 Guineas winners –with his tally including winners in all of Australia, Britain, Ireland, France, and New Zealand.
Captain Al is not the only current or previous Southern Hemisphere sire to enjoy a notable Guineas double this season. Champion New Zealand sire Savabeel is sire of both the New Zealand 2000 Guineas (Embellish) and 1000 Guineas winners (Hasahalo) this season respectively.
Tap O’Noth wins the Guineas (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
Tap O’ Noth, a half-brother to Saturday’s Gr3 Cape Summer Stayers Handicap winner Strathdon (Silvano), is a direct descendant of one of history’s greatest ever broodmares, Mumtaz Mahal (The Tetrarch).
The latter is ancestress of numerous high class performers the world over, with other Guineas winners descending from the ‘Flying Filly’ including On The House (1000 Guineas), Zarkava (French 1000 Guineas), Petite Etoile (1000 Guineas), Aussie Rules (French 2000 Guineas), Yesterday (Irish 1000 Guineas), and Nishapour (French 2000 Guineas). Local champion and Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Igugu is another descendant of this remarkable producer.
Mumtaz Mahal was also granddam of champion sire Nasrullah, sire of 1000 Guineas winner Belle Of All and 2000 Guineas winner Nearula.
Tap O’ Noth’s pedigree should create plenty of interest in him as a potential stallion.
