Champion sprinter Speightstown (TrueNicks,SRO)
made only one start at 2 --
finishing off the board -- but this was due to him being sidelined by injury
rather than any inherent lack of precocity.
To underline that point,
Speightstown has rapidly established himself among the leading freshman sires.
To date he has eight 2-year-old winners, including Lord Shanakill, winner of
the Mill Reef Stakes (gr. II); the Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) third Munnings; the
Saratoga Special (gr. II) third, Reyneldothewizard; and the very promising
maiden winner Gemswick Park.
Lord Shanakill is not
only one of Europe's best 2-year-olds, he's also one of the toughest, as he's
also been second in the Vintage Stakes (gr. II) and third in the Prix Morny (gr.
I) and Coventry Stakes (gr. II). Out of the Theatrical mare Green Room, a
half-sister to grade I winner Spanish Fern, Lord Shanakill is rated A by TrueNicks.