The Pamplemousse: Not a Sale Star

re: The Pamplemousse: Not a Sale Star

For Big Red — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 20:18:31 GMT

TO ALFRED NUCKOLS: Sorry to be a few days late in responding. Thanks for sharing a bit of what Kafwain is like at the farm and in the breeding shed. He certainly is a handsome stallion with a lot to offer. I'm delighted that support for him has picked up. Hopefully, The Pamplemousse and Don't Forget Gil will help attract high-quality mares to Kafwain.

This year's class of 3-yr-old fillies is very tough, but wouldn't it be something if DFG jumps up and wins the Kentucky Oaks? I was impressed with her race in FL Oaks.

re: The Pamplemousse: Not a Sale Star

Alfred Nuckols, Jr. — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 22:17:45 GMT

To For Big Red,

Thank you for your comment and your compliment.

Kafwain is one of the nicest stallions that I have ever been around. He is a perfect gentleman and has the best demeanor. He certainly is deserving of the nice horses that are representing him out there and his support in the breeding shed has really picked up in the past couple of weeks.

From a mating standpoint, he is a lot of fun to work with because his pedigree works so well with so many of the really popular sire lines without overloading them with a lot of inbreeding. His stakes winners are coming from crossing to all of them and you can see the patterns that seem to make each one work with a different part of Kafwain's pedigree.

For me Kafwain represents one of those "horses of a lifetime".

re: The Pamplemousse: Not a Sale Star

amph44 — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:54:41 GMT

Perdict thats funny i just mentioned roger craig in a previous blog. The pamelmousse is the real deal I wish he had a start on dirt before the derby.

re: The Pamplemousse: Not a Sale Star

SLM — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:59:27 GMT

Whats impressive to me about the Horse is his length of stride.He really covers a lot of ground in what appears to be an effortless manner.His pedigree is suspect at a 1-1/4 under 126 though.

re: The Pamplemousse: Not a Sale Star

predict — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:14:31 GMT

The Pamplemousse(the Grapefruit) much like his namesake nobody thought he would be so popular, after all wasn't the grapefruit a sort of sour tasting fruit, how could they use grape in naming this fruit, very misleading if you ask me, nothing like a grape taste, but they sucked you in with the name (go ahead and admit it) the first time you tasted a grapefruit weren't you a little surprised, I mean I liked grapes, so I'm expecting I'll like grape fruit , but wait a minute this doesn't taste anything like a grape- yuck.

I have to admit though I have developed a taste for grapefruit and enjoy it now, much like I have developed an appreciation of The Pamplemousse. What's not to like in this egg beater like runner with his high knee action, heck he will probably scare any other horse who gets close to him- back off there unless you suffer the scourge of The Pamplemousse.

I'll bet nobody told him he has a high knee action , so he just runs along in ignorant bliss , enjoying every race winning stride with complete abandonment. What a great joy to watch such youthful pride.

I remember a great football player , who ran with a high knee action, by name of Roger Craig, he was something special to watch, and much like The Pamplemousse who I feel (I just get this feeling about him) is something special to watch , that great things are to come from him.

re: The Pamplemousse: Not a Sale Star

game player — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:37:30 GMT

I remember a bad moving,(high action) ill bred, gray by the name of Skip Away. Great race horse.

re: The Pamplemousse: Not a Sale Star

GinnieJ — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:45:12 GMT

April 4th can't come soon enough for this fan of The Pamplemousse! He's one to watch, for sure.

re: The Pamplemousse: Not a Sale Star

For Big Red — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:28:16 GMT

TO ALFRED NUCKOLS: I hope Kafwain's stud career gets a big boost from The Pamplemousse's career. The breed desperately needs outcrosses for the Northern Dancer and Raise A Native/Mr. Prospector lines that are so dominant these days.

The Pamplemousse is a really classy individual. I'm looking forward to his Santa Anita Derby race.

re: The Pamplemousse: Not a Sale Star

Alfred Nuckols, Jr. — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 02:33:55 GMT

I bet seven of my nicest mares on Kafwain and The Pamplemouse this spring. That's what I think of his chances for both the Santa Anita Derby and the Kentucky Derby. One of those mares is the granddam of Cry and Catch Me (G1) and another is the dam of Lt. Hopeful, who won his 1st lifetime start at Santa Anita this past Saturday.

I would welcome a few more late wagers like these in Kafwain's book for this spring. Are there any gambling breeders left out there that want to bet on The Pamplemousse? And "Don't Forget Gil" in the Oaks!

re: The Pamplemousse: Not a Sale Star

Karen in Indiana — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 02:11:31 GMT

It's a joy to watch him - he just seems to enjoy life. They were showing a video on tv of him working out and you could tell he was playing changing leads. It will be interesting to see how he will deal with other horses up close racing. Most of his races have looked like he was racing against himself.

re: The Pamplemousse: Not a Sale Star

Matthew W — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 01:30:23 GMT

I don't care how tired he was after The Sham...that just tells me he tries hard....This is a horse that runs fast on his own--then opens up on them!...I'm not expecting him to win SA Derby as it's just not a speed favoring track---I HOPE he goes to Kentucky cuz I want to see him alone on the lead/on dirt...Horses that run fast then open up on them are few and far between...I wouldn't trade places with anyone if I were Julio...although Freisan Fire looks like a nice colt as well....

re: The Pamplemousse: Not a Sale Star

ttimsan — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 22:40:48 GMT

The thing that struck me the first time I saw this horse was how effortless his stride looked. Despite the high-knee action, he has a huge stride and has a very efficient, methodical way of moving. Watching him up the backstretch in the Sham, he's just gliding along very comfortably while 2nd and 3rd looked like they were digging in and working really hard at that point just to keep up. The Pamplemousse is going to be a fun one to watch!

re: The Pamplemousse: Not a Sale Star

blackmamba — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:31:54 GMT

Yes. barbaro had a high knee action. That's why he started out on grass. As much as I like the pamplmousse. He was dead tired after the sham. He won't like going 1 1/4 in the derby. His sire never liked more than 1 1/16. So we'll see in 2 week.

re: The Pamplemousse: Not a Sale Star

RyanLane — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:52:36 GMT

I am headed out to LA for the Santa Anita Derby and unless he gets caught up in a speed duel from the get go, it will be the Mousse "down the stretch they come" and Pionneerof the Nile chasing him for all he's worth, with no luck in doing so......GO MOUSSE

re: The Pamplemousse: Not a Sale Star

SoCalAl — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:39:26 GMT

I agree with most of you here that The Pamplemousse is the true stakes speed. I am hoping that his connections try the rating game on SA Derby day and let him make one run at them.

Other than that, it seems that colts that win at 12 furlongs on Derby day, sure seem to be floating through the air with a high knee action. This only adds to my liking of the colt to win it all..

re: The Pamplemousse: Not a Sale Star

Dona — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:32:07 GMT

You are correst Adele, Barbaro did have very high knee action. In fact, that's why a lot of handicappers dismissed him. I recall watching his workouts and Tom Moss was very critical of his running style. Gary Stevens picked Barbaro to win the Derby and said that high leg action usually meant a good turf canidate but that the great horses can handle anything. He was right. The Pamplemousse just may be that caliber of horse.

The pamplemouse, I Want Revenge and Musket man are my top picks so far.

Thanks gor the information Mr Stephens, your opinion is very much respected here. Now, how's that new La Ville Rouge colt doing?

re: The Pamplemousse: Not a Sale Star

Karen2 — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:08:55 GMT

I agree with you Zarvona. I would like to see him draw an outside post. I think he has enough speed to handle an inside post but would hate to see him get caught up in the inner traffic. I think of Afleet Alex when I think of this. I truly believe had Alex not been caught in traffic and have such a rough trip in the Derby, we would have had a triple crown winner. I don't usually pick my horse yet. Far to early. In fact I still struggle on Derby day usually but I have settled in on the Pamp. Not that others have not been impressive, but I just really like this horse. Something about his energy and the way his ears flicker. He is quite the speciman and he just seems so smart. I hope he stays healthy and can handle the dirt.

re: The Pamplemousse: Not a Sale Star

Adele Maxon — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:58:32 GMT

As I recall, Barbaro had rather high knee action as well...some horses just rise above.

re: The Pamplemousse: Not a Sale Star

zarvona — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:48:50 GMT

Easily ranks among my top three. Even an unexpected defeat in the San Anita Derby won't change my perspecive. Don't forsee any problems with him running on dirt. I sure hope he stays healthy for the next 5 weeks. He looks among the rest as if he might be able to handle the Derby Day traffic jam from any inside post. If he can handle the distance without any problem, he may be the one they are all trying to catch down the Churchill stretch. Thusly, I am hoping he draws an outer outside post, say from 10-16 for best placement, and that so, so that he doesn't get caught up in the greater inner traffic.

re: The Pamplemousse: Not a Sale Star

Kiyoko — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:48:04 GMT

I love the way he moves as well, as well as the fact he is a beautiful looking horse. And if I remember correctly, I think that Skip Away had some high knee action as well. Here's to hoping Pamplemousse's career will be just as successful. :D

re: The Pamplemousse: Not a Sale Star

kyfl — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:35:27 GMT

kudos to mr. stephens for remarks/quotes on critique of horses, specifically efficiency, mechanics, etc... leave it to the horse to do his/her thing as a horse/race horse... class is class, regardless, some have this more than others as do the critics, skeptics, experts, etc...

re: The Pamplemousse: Not a Sale Star

Greg J. — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:29:36 GMT

Thank You for Article on "The Pamplemousse". I have loved this horse since the first time I laid my eyes on him. Both Him and "Friesan Fire" are My Favorites for the Derby...I know he has a tough race coming up in the Santa Anita Derby, but he will do fine....

Here he is the OBS Video of him running his 10 1/5, Enjoy:

www.youtube.com/watch

re: The Pamplemousse: Not a Sale Star

For Big Red — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:15:19 GMT

DEIRDRE: I like The Pamplemousse a lot, but also noticed that high knee action. Thanks for mentioning it in your article. Generally, the thinking is a horse with such action will do best on grass. I wonder if that's also true for poly surfaces.

re: The Pamplemousse: Not a Sale Star

Karen2 — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:45:53 GMT

I love his high knee action. Probably not what everyone wants to see in a racehorse but for some reason his knee action seems fluid and he doesn't seem to struggle with it at all. He eats up the ground with his remarkable stride and what a happy horse. I really like this horse. I'm looking forward to seeing what he is made of and what he can do. Solis says he has an amazing mind and will do anything that's asked of him. He is different....that's what makes him so cool.