Browse by Tags
In addition to the spectacular victory of Quality Road in the Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I), there was considerable other Memorial Day Weekend action of note. There is no doubt that Quality Road heads the older males, but the weekend also saw another older runner advance her claims to divisional leadership. This was Tuscan Evening (TrueNicks A++ ) who took her...
Read More...
Having supplied Apapane (by King Kamehameha), winner of this year’s Japanese 1,000 Guineas (gr. I) and Oaks (gr. I) – the latter in a dead heat – the Kingmambo line was represented by this weekend by Eishin Flash, who took the Tokyo Yushun, the Japanese Derby (gr. I). In fact the Kingmambo ( TrueNicks , SRO ) line took the first two places, Eishin Flash getting...
Read More...
The weekend provided the first ever dead heat in a Japanese grade I event as Champion Two-Year-Old Filly and Japan 1,000 Guineas (gr. I) victress Apapane could not be separated from Saint Emilion, who we had noted as one to watch here after her win in the Sankei Sports Sho Flora Stakes (gr. II). Apapane (TrueNicks A++ ) is one of four stakes winners who have...
Read More...
On a quiet weekend for U.S. racing, Treat Gently gave another example of just how versatile the excellent trio of sprinter/milers by Green Desert – Oasis Dream, Invincible Spirit, and Cape Cross – are as sires, with her win in the 11-furlong Sheepshead Bay Stakes (gr. II). Oasis Dream, who was a pure sprinter, and whose third crop are currently only three, has...
Read More...
After a spectacular win in the Coventry Stakes (gr. II) was followed by a third in the Prix Morny (gr. I) – his final outing at two – a second in the seven furlong Greenham Stakes (gr. III), and a third in the English 2,000 Guineas (gr. I), there were many who questioned Canford Cliffs’s ability to get a mile. However, his connections never wavered in their belief...
Read More...
A talented son of Smart Strike ( TrueNicks , SRO ) emerges as a leading Kentucky Derby (gr. I) hopeful; the race goes to a rival who benefits from a rail-hugging ride from Calvin Borel; but the Smart Strike son rebounds to prove his classic credentials in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I). If that sounds like "déjà vu all over again," it is, because the description...
Read More...
In the Dwyer Stakes (gr. II), Fly Down (TrueNicks A++ ) staked a claim to be considered a Belmont Stakes (gr. I) prospect, with a six lengths tally. He is from the third crop of Mineshaft ( TrueNicks , SRO ), as is this year’s Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) winner Discreetly Mine. Both of these horses are out of Damascus-line mares, Discreetly Mine from a daughter...
Read More...
The loss of the brilliant Dubai Millennium to grass sickness after just one year at stud was mitigated somewhat when his son Dubawi (IRE) ( TrueNicks , SRO ) turned out to be an outstanding performer. A winner of five of his eight starts, Dubawi took the Superlative Stakes (gr. III) and National Stakes (gr. I) at two, and won the Irish 2,000 Guineas (gr. I) and...
Read More...
It was clear at the time that the death of Maria’s Mon – at the early age of 14 – was a severe loss to the industry, and subsequent events have only emphasized that fact. Champion of what turned out to be an exceptional juvenile crop, Maria’s Mon won four of his five starts at two, including the Sanford Stakes (gr. III), Futurity Stakes (gr. I), and Champagne...
Read More...
TrueNicks ratings are based on all worldwide stakes winners from all worldwide starters. Each rating references the constantly-updated worldwide database of The Jockey Club Information Systems, and each report is generated in real time when requested by the user. Over the weekend there were additional starters and stakes winners for the crosses represented below...
Read More...
Back on the 1st of June 2009, as part of our study on the TrueNicks ratings and how they are calculated each year we ran the complete 2007 crops on a number of proven stallions - Giant's Causeway, Stormy Atlantic, Maria's Mon and Johannesburg, along with some then unproven sires with their first runners in Afleet Alex, Eurosilver and Roman Ruler. The goal of...
Read More...
The sterling efforts of Pivotal, and of Sadler’s Wells sons Galileo and Montjeu – who come to the fore as the distance increase – not withstanding, European racing often appears to be dominated by the Danzig line, particularly via Danehill and Green Desert. Those two branches were particuarly in evidence in the last week, through Dansili – who is vying with Danehill...
Read More...
The richest race of the weekend was actually not one of the graded events, but was the $1,000,000 Charles Town Classic. Last year local hero, Researcher, had defeated the formidable Commentator to take the prize, and he once again turned back the shippers to score by 1¾ lengths. Researcher (TrueNicks A ) is by the Two Punch stallion, Two Smart, out of a mare...
Read More...
It’s hard to believe, but we’ve already had the first U.S. juvenile stakes of the new season. Winner of the colt’s division of the Copper Top was Verny. His sire, Gold Case (by Forty Niner), was 3-for-3, all at two, including the Old Hickory Stakes and Sugar Bowl Handicap. He’s now in New Mexico, but has been a very useful stallion wherever he has stood, getting...
Read More...
While Ghostzapper ( TrueNicks , SRO ) was represented by his first grade I winner when Stately Victor upset the Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I), his older half-brother City Zip ( TrueNicks , SRO ) , continued his progress when his daughter Unzip Me captured the Las Cienegas Handicap (gr. III). City Zip – who’s advertised stud fee for 2010 is just $10,000 – currently...
Read More...
The rush to judgement that we mentioned last time with regard to Ghostzapper ( TrueNicks , SRO ), along with the current economic climate has led to opportunities for some countries to purchase stallions that would have been well-beyond reach a year or two ago. One such example is Lion Heart, who was exported to Turkey for the 2010 breeding season. The son of...
Read More...
Although he was relatively sparingly-raced – 11 starts in four seasons – and carefully-managed, both form book and speed-figures suggest that Ghostzapper ( TrueNicks , SRO ) is worthy of a place alongside the all-time greats. Indeed, a record that includes wins in the 6½ furlong Vosburgh Stakes (gr. I); the seven furlong Tom Fool Handicap (gr. II, in 1:20.42...
Read More...
While his brother Giant's Causeway ( TrueNicks , SRO ) has been ruling the roost – he was Leading Sire of 2009, and currently leads the table again this year – Freud ( TrueNicks , SRO ) has quietly been making his way towards the head of the stallion ranks in New York. He’s so far sired 17 stakes winners and 35 stakes horses (for a number approaching 20% stakes...
Read More...
In our last post we noted that the three sophomore grade I winners last weekend all had some form of Storm Cat and Blushing Groom on their pedigree pages. Storm Cat and Blushing Groom are also found in the pedigree of American Lion (TrueNicks B+ ) who punched his ticket to Churchill Downs with a 2¾ lengths win in the Illinois Derby (gr. III). The son of Tiznow...
Read More...
Sidney’s Candy took the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) and is by young sire sensation, Candy Ride (ARG) ( TrueNicks , SRO ). He follows Evita Argentina and Capt. Candyman Can as the third grade I winner by the sire from only ten starters out of mares by Storm Cat and his sons. Can we say “emerging nick” anyone? He’s from the second crop of Candy Ride (a grandson of...
Read More...
The beautifully-bred Battle Plan has taken a while to show that he has talent to match his pedigree. The five-year-old only ran twice before this year, having been sidelined after breaking his maiden in the January of his three-year-old season. Returning from that extended break, he kicked off the year with a pair of allowance wins at Gulfstream Park, and at...
Read More...
One nick that has a 100% strike-rate is that of Yankee Victor with mares by Woodman, which has produced stakes winner Timely Reflection, and Kinsale King (TrueNicks A++) , who took the Golden Shaheen (gr. I) in Dubai. The granddam, Flaming Leaves is a stakes winner and graded placed, and is a three-part-sister to Champion Two-Year-Old Colt Roving Boy (both by...
Read More...
Brazil is the country that gave us football legend Pele and is no stranger to domination in that sport. They are, however, less often at the top of the racing world, but Saturday at Medyan, Brazilian breeding prevailed in the shape of Gloria de Campeao. The much-traveled seven-year-old – runner-up last year to Well Armed – led virtually throughout and held on...
Read More...
Last year’s Frizette Stakes (gr. I) captress, Devil May Care re-established herself near the top of the division with a 2¾ lengths win in the Bonnie Miss Stakes (gr. III). She’s a Pedigree Consultants recommended mating (for Diamond A Racing Corp) and is by the A.P. Indy ( TrueNicks , SRO ) son [Malibu Moon] out of the Red Ransom mare, Kelli’s Ransom (rated A...
Read More...
Pulpit ( TrueNicks , SRO ) was one of the sensations of the early part of 1997, going undefeated through his first three starts at Gulfstream Park. In succession he took a seven furlong maiden by 7½ lengths, an allowance race by 6¼ lengths, and the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II). The triumphant progress was interrupted when, taken further off the pace than...
Read More...
More Posts
« Previous page -
Next page »