Bloodstock Review

Tue, Aug 31, 2010

by Katherine Fidler

Racegoers at the Curragh on Sunday were treated to an impressive performance of 2010’s new sport, favourite bashing. Having just recovered from the shock of Sariska refusing to race and Starspangledbanner being beaten to the post by a 100-1 shot, it seemed order had been restored after a flurry of favourites hit the mark for punters on Saturday across the country. Events at the County Kildare course on Sunday were not so favourable however, as only the last race of the day saw the most backed beat the rest home.

First Group race glory for Dingle View
The first Group race of the day saw Jim Bolger’s hotly tipped Glor Na Mara beaten by the 22/1 shot Dingle View in the Group 3 Go And Go Round Tower Stakes, albeit with only a head between the pair. The victory marks a third win for Dingle View, who has finished in the frame for all but one of her seven starts to date, and is a first over the six furlong trip. The decision to continue running the Mujadil filly over short trips is likely in part due to her sprinter sire’s record on the track and at stud, having secured both his major wins over five furlongs as a juvenile, whilst many of his progeny have gone on to follow suit. Well known as the sire of precocious two year olds, connections will no doubt be hoping Dingle View will follow in the footsteps of many of Mujadil’s more prominent progeny, who have enjoyed considerable success after their juvenile campaign. Most notable of his produce is Kingsgate Native who, after a failed foray into stud, returned to the track this season to win the Group 2 Temple Stakes. Galeota, from Mujadil’s 2002 crop, enjoyed similar black-type success during a five year campaign, including victory in the Group 3 Mill Reef Stakes, a race won by the Mujadil gelding Bouncing Bowdler, who not only proved his reliability with sixty nine career starts, but also his versatility when switching codes to win over hurdles.

Relatives from the distaff line are of less notoriety; Vhujon, a full brother to Sunday’s victor has proven himself reliable, if not outstanding, in securing seven wins over five and six furlongs from four seasons. A runner-up spot in the Listed Totepool Two Year Old Trophy at Redcar ensured a first black-type performance for their dam Livius Lady (Titus Livius), but this has quickly been eclipsed by the efforts of his younger sibling. Livius Lady went to stud unraced, but with her own sire and damsire, Paris House, both having excelled over sprinting trips, obviously hopes were high for her produce. Her own dam Gitchee Gumee Rose had not proven a success on the track but this was rectified however when subsequent produce Signore Momento (Captain Rio) and Vraziliana Terz (Trans Island) both went on to win on the flat, the former over six and seven furlongs. Interestingly, the third dam, Lady Bennington (Hot Grove) ran on the flat and over hurdles, all at just three years of age. Neither foray returned any wins, but perhaps explains why her most successful foal, Queens Wharf (Ela-Mana-Mou) won, amongst others, the Listed Challenge Stakes over 14 furlongs. A half-brother to Queens Wharf, Valdempierre (Vision)placed several times over jumps, securing second place in the Listed Jacques d’Indy Hurdle. Seemingly, the transition from stayers to sprinters within the family has taken just a shade longer than it took Dingle View to clean up at the Curragh. A slight exaggeration that may be, but nevertheless, should Dingle View continue her sprinting success, it will represent a vast change in direction for this particular family.

Cherry Hinton just a Memory as Misty For Me powers home
The biggest shock of the day came in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes, as a much-anticipated return to the track for Richard Hannon’s Cherry Hinton winner Memory quickly turned into a day he’d no doubt rather forget. The evens favourite failed to fire during the seven furlong contest, and could only managed sixth place as Aiden O’Brien’s Misty For Me beat former conqueror Laughing Lashes to the post in a reversal of the places after their last clash in the Debutante Stakes. The result saw yet another shake-up in the ante-post market for the 1,000 Guineas, in a year which has seen favourite after favourite falter on their high-profile return to the track. Were Misty For Me to follow up her impressive victory on Sunday with a 2011 Classic win, it would add yet another title for her sire Galileo, who himself won both the Irish and English Derby, whilst his many Group-winning progeny include Epsom Derby winner New Approach, St Leger hero Sixties Icon and Italian Derby victor Cima De Triomphe. Although many of his notable offspring find their forte firmly within the middle distance bracket, there is no shortage of top-class milers amongst his prolific progeny, including Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Nightime.

Whilst there may not yet be any Classic winners within the immediate dam line, there is a host of black-type wins; perhaps all the more impressive when considering both first dam Butterfly Cove (Storm Cat) and second dam Mr P’s Princess (Mr Prospector) went to stud unraced. A full sister to Butterfly Cove, Kamarinskaya, won the Group 3 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown, whilst Fasliyev, a half-brother by Nureyev, was retired to stud after an exceptional juvenile career which saw him crowned Champion 2yo in Europe following wins in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes and Prix Morny, preceded by victory in the Group 3 Coventry Stakes and Listed Marble Hill Stakes. His third top-rated offspring, Amico Fritz, caused a similar upset to Misty For Me at Baden Baden earlier in the day when ending the unbeaten run of Overdose (see Bloodstock Bites below). The Pattern wins continue within the generation of Mr P’s Princess, as 1980 produce Desert Wine accrued a tally of juvenile wins to merit the third highest 2yo rating in the U.S.A. Success continued for a further two seasons, with victories in the Group 1 Californian Stakes, Charles H. Strub Stakes and Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap, with solid performances in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in which the son of Damascus finished second. This feat was repeated by Menifee, a half brother by Harlan, who alongside the runner-up spots in two of America’s Triple Crown races, won the Group 1 Blue Grass Stakes and Haskell Invitational Handicap. Anne Campbell (Never Bend), the dam of the pair and five other winners, won a handful of races during her own career, and placed twice at Stakes level. Her own accomplishments, combined with the victories of subsequent generations, suggest that Misty For Me may very well enjoy a fruitful career at stud following retirement from the track. Such a plan is no doubt far away in the minds of her Coolmore connections however, with a promising Classics season to contend first. Here’s hoping this Ballydoyle resident doesn’t suffer the same fate as last year’s much-hyped ‘next best thing’…

Bloodstock Bites

• The disappointment for punters continued as the unbeaten ‘Budapest Bullet’ Overdose failed in his bid for a fifteenth straight career win. The son of top-class miler Starborough left his record in tatters, thanks in no small part due to some bad behaviour prior to the race. Having delayed the start of the race by eight minutes, the European legend weakened as the race progressed, finishing only seventh of twelve. Ballyogan Stakes winner Gilt Edge Girl justified her trip across to the continent, putting in a strong performance to finish third behind Amico Fritz and Contat.

• The mood was buoyant at the Doncaster Bloodstock Sales Premier Yearling sale last week, as the re-branded event saw 461 lots pass through the ring. Seven lots reached a six-figure sum, with Sir Robert Ogden accounting for four of the sales toppers. The average price rose 3% to £26,826, whilst the aggregate was just 1% shy of last year’s figure at £9,577,000.

• Perennial Arc runner-up Youmzain is due to stand at Haras du Quesnay from 2011 it has been revealed. Although Europe’s richest race has yet eluded the son of Sinndar, a fourth attempt awaits before retiring to stud. Even if glory at Longchamp is denied again, the Jaber Adullah-owner colt will still be renowned for his wins in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and Preis von Europa, whilst his total prize money in excess of £3 million is likely to encourage mare owners, with or without a victory in the Arc.