In what has been a sad spell for the racing and breeding fraternity, South Africa lost another outstanding broodmare recently, with the passing of Golden Apple.
Sean Tarry – ‘once in a lifetime mare’
The first graded winner for multiple champion trainer Sean Tarry, Golden Apple’s success both on the track and later at stud played a huge role in the emergence and ongoing success of the Tarry yard.
Sean recently paid tribute to his former classic winner, saying, “She was the first graded winner I trained, and both Golden Apple and her progeny have played a really big role in my career. Her progeny came in all shapes and sizes, with Pomodoro being one of the bigger ones. As a my first classic winner and a truly fantastic broodmare, Golden Apple was a once in a lifetime mare for me.”
A smart performer at two (when she was placed in both the Gr2 McIntosh Fillies Classic and Listed Debutante Stakes), Golden Apple won or placed in 11 of her 19 outings, and scored her biggest in the 1999 Gr2 Gosforth Park Fillies Guineas, where Golden Apple accounted for such high class fillies as La Deportista and Ruby Clipper, with all three going on to make their mark at stud.
She also went on finish second to My Squeeza (who later went onto produce the talented Tarry runner Trophy Wife) in the (now Gr1) Woolavington Stakes, with her beaten rivals including subsequent Equus Champion Donatella.
Retired to stud, Golden Apple quickly proved as capable in the paddocks as she was on the racetrack.
To date, Golden Apple’s eight winners (from as many runners) have won 34 races and amassed over R5.8 million in prize money.
South Africa’s Broodmare Of The Year in 2012, Golden Apple’s eight winners included four stakes horses, most notably the Tarry yard’s first July winner, Pomodoro.
Golden Apple’s son Pomodoro won the 2012 Vodacom Durban July
One of the best of his generation, the versatile Pomodoro won from 1160m to 2450m, with his victories including a score in the 2012 Gr1 Vodacom Durban July (beating eight G1 winners including champion Beach Beauty).
He also scored a notable win in the Gr1 SA Derby, and won or placed in a total of six Gr1 features.
The July winner now stands at Klawervlei Stud, where he has been well received by breeders.
Other notable winners out of Golden Apple include the talented Golden Chariot –who dead-heated for victory in the 2011 Gr2 Betting World 1900. Golden Chariot, who won eight times from 1400-2000m, also landed both the Listed Easter and Listed Drum Star Handicaps.
Remarkably, Golden Apple’s very first foal was a stakes winner – Quest For Gold won seven times including the Listed Spook Express Handicap.
Golden Apple’s daughter Autumn Gold was a very smart performer who won six and who was second in the Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes (narrowly shaded by classic winner Gibraltar Blue on that occasion, Autumn Gold had a number of smart performers behind her in the Tibouchina –notably Gr1 winner Captain’s Gal).
Golden Apple’s last two foals are daughters by Silvano and Twice Over respectively. A further tribute to Golden Apple’s quality as a broodmare can be seen in the fact that her four top performers were all sired by different stallions.
Her top class, and versatile son, Pomodoro, will be represented by his first yearlings this season –and hopefully he can continue the family legacy!
