Chichicastenango's Never Bend Affinity

re: Chichicastenango's Never Bend Affinity

John T — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 03:05:31 GMT

I never got to see Park Top run but I had the greatest respect for her.In the 1969 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park

she was simply beaten by a superior ride by Lester Piggott

on Wolver Hollow.In her next race this time with Piggott in

the saddle she showed her class by winning the King George.

She went on that year to finish a good second to the Ascot

Gold Cup winner Levmoss in the Arc.

re: Chichicastenango's Never Bend Affinity

mz — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 16:00:21 GMT

Thanks, Alan.

As far as I can remember, she was a tough mare, running against males. I believe there was some controversy about a couple of her last races, that she didn't win because of something or other not her fault but still, nice to see that she lives on, even if remotely.

re: Chichicastenango's Never Bend Affinity

Alan Porter — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 14:21:41 GMT

I can just about remember Park Top racing. She never produced a stakes winner, and is granddam of only one (Belgian graded winner Levigatus, a son of the Al Hattab horse, Alias Smith).

However, through her granddaughter, Sing Willow (Sharpen Up - Willow Song by Tudor Melody, she is ancestress of stakes winners in the North and South America). Sing Willow is dam of Elderberry Drive (Strawberry Road), who equaled a track record for 5 1/2 furlongs at Woodbine, and won stakes there and in the U.S., and subsequently produced the Cowdin Stakes (gr. III) winner and sire, Fistfite. Sing Willow also produced The Best Sing (Runaway Groom), a multiple graded winner and grade one placed in Argentina.

Sing Willow's In Reality daughter, Wooden Whistle also went to Argentina, where she became dam of the Champion Sprinter Wooden Girl, and ggranddam of graded winner Whom. Another daughter, Helens Terms (Private Terms) is dam of the stakes winning Salt Lake filly, Salty Helen, and another Argentine graded winner Terms Parade.

re: Chichicastenango's Never Bend Affinity

mz — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 03:30:26 GMT

John T, you are a lucky man.

Did you get to see Park Top? (Steve Haskin's blog about the 60's brought her back to mind. Did she ever get to stud? )

re: Chichicastenango's Never Bend Affinity

John T — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 03:27:43 GMT

Yes Chichicastenango's dam does indeed have a lot of Northern Dancer, Sir Gaylord influence. I can remember standing in the paddock in 1967 at The Curragh in Ireland watching a young 2 year old son of Sir Gaylord walk by called Sir Ivor. He neither looked attractive or even resembled anything that should be a racehorse and he certainly ran like that finishing down the field. But after that a year later he won the 2000 Guineas and the Derby to show at times just how wrong we can be about a throughbred.

It's too bad Chichicastenango died when he did as this was a very interesting line.