Sail from Seattle
While a number of stallions impressed at the recent Emperors Palace National 2YO Sale (notably Silvano and Judpot), one young stallion whose offspring proved both profitable and popular was Ascot Stud’s young sire Sail From Seattle.
The son of Gone West was the fifth top sire, by aggregate, with 13 lots fetching R1.37 million, ahead of the likes of Jet Master, Var and Captain Al. His juveniles averaged over R130 000 – a handsome return on the R15 000 fee they were conceived at! A superbly bred horse, whose family includes a top US 3yo of 2013 in Moreno (Dwyer Stakes), Sail From Seattle has made a good start to his stud career.
To date, 18 of his first 29 runners have won or been placed, and they include the stakes horses Tommy Gun, Navistar, Savhara and Seattle Storm. Another son of Sail From Seattle is the impressive debut winner My Nephew Eric, who is bound for Hong Kong. Both Navistar and Seattle Storm are leading contenders to be named East Cape’s Champion 2yo colt/gelding for the 2012-2013 season.
More Honour For Ideal Family
Mauritzfontein Stud’s magnificently bred Ideal World, whose first crop are set to race this season, is from one of the hottest families in the stud book. Not only is Ideal World (Kingmambo) a half-brother to Sunday’s French Group One winner Romantica (Prix Jean Romanet) but his dam, champion Banks Hill, is an own sister to world leading sire Dansili, who has enjoyed an outstanding season in Europe this year. The sire of over 80 stakes winners (of whom there are over 50 Group/Graded stakes winners), Dansili has been represented by no fewer than five Group/Grade One winners in 2013 – including Saturday’s Beverly D Stakes heroine Dank. His offspring this year include 13 stakes winners, and Dansili is second only to Galileo on the leading European sires list by prize money.
This is also the family of Leroidesanimaux – sire of Dubai World Cup/Kentucky Derby champion Animal Kingdom. Ideal World’s first juveniles include colts out of Fillies Guineas winners Dog Rose and Remembrance, a colt out of the top-class racemare Prestic, and a colt out of former Gr2 SA Oaks victress Logetta.
Racing Excellence Underlined In Alabama Stakes
The importance of having a racemare with proven ability when she retires to stud, was underlined in Saturday’s Grade One Alabama Stakes, one of North America’s most important contests for three-year-old fillies. The first three fillies home are all out of black type mares. Winner, Princess of Sylmar (currently the top 3yo filly racing in the USA) is out of the stakes placed mare Storm of Dixie.
Runner up, the cleverly named Fiftyshadesofhay, is out of a mare, Quiet Kim, who finished runner up in the Gr1 Santa Anita Oaks, while third filly home, Carnival Court, is out of a Grade Three winning daughter of A P Indy.
A similar result was seen in the running of the Group One Prix Jean Romanet. Winner Romantica (Galileo) is a daughter of champion racemare Banks Hill, while third placed filly, Dalkala, is out of the French Group Three winner Daltaya.
First three home in North America’s Grade One Del Mar Oaks, have similar pedigree profiles. Winner (Discreet Marq), runner up (Wishing Gate) and third home (Emotional Kitten) are all out of stakes winning racemares.
This phenomenon can also be seen in the pedigrees of some of the world’s top sires. Galileo, Dansili, Dubawi, Street Cry and Bernardini are all out of high-class racemares.
Top SA Racemares Represented At Goffs
Two former top-class South African based racemares have yearlings on sale at the 2013 Goffs Orby Sale, which will be held in Ireland from October 2nd to October 3rd. Cover Look, who was one of 9 stakes winners from Fort Wood’s second crop, was a top-class racemare. She won 5 races including her first four starts, and her career culminated in a success in the now Gr1 SA Fillies Classic. Cover Look has also been successful at stud, with her two winners including Gp3 hero Shipmaster. She has a grey filly by successful sire Verglas on the Goffs Sale.
Igreja was an outstanding racemare. The daughter of Southern Halo won six times in South Africa, from just nine outings, and won her first three outings at two, while at three Igreja won the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas and finished fourth, to champion Jet Master, in the Gr1 Argus Bloodline Guineas.
Sadly, however, Igreja has proved somewhat disappointing at stud thus far. Despite being mated to some of the world’s top sires, Igreja’s ten foals to date include just four minor winners. Her yearling on sale is a bay colt by former champion sprinter Starspangledbanner (Choisir). Another of 425 lots with a strong tie to a top SA based filly is lot 369. A bay colt by champion Duke of Marmalade (Danehill), the colt is a three parts brother to former Gr2 KRA Fillies Guineas winner Gibraltar Blue (Rock of Gibraltar).
Star US Colt Emulates Ancestors
No Nay Never – Gp1 Prix Morny
When No Nay Never won Sunday’s Gp1 Prix Morny, he emulated his sire (Scat Daddy), grandsire (Johannesburg), great grandsire (Hennessy) great great grandsire (Storm Cat), great great grandsire (Storm Bird) and great great great grandsire (Northern Dancer) in winning at the highest level as a 2yo.
It is an amazing thought that seven horses in a direct male line could all win at the highest level as juveniles! The unbeaten No Nay Never, who has already won races in three different countries, may well emulate his relatives, Johannesburg, Storm Bird and Northern Dancer in becoming on official champion 2yo and thus maintain the remarkable precocious brilliance shown by his powerful male line.
In winning both the Morny and Gp2 Norfolk Stakes, No Nay Never emulated his grandsire Johannesburg, who won the same races back in 2001.
