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88.
Spectrum could have Europe's best horse
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29/07/2002 |
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Racing & Breeding News
Brian Russell Bloodstock Media Service
Phone (02) 6543 3051, Fax (02) 541 1022
It would be no surprise if hoots of glee could be heard from the headquarters of the Yarraman Park Stud at Scone in the middle of last week.They would have been expressed by the stud's owners, Arthur and Harry Mitchell, when the news filtered through that Golan had been the sensational winner of one of the jewels of northern hemisphere racing, the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes over a mile and a half at Royal Ascot.
The win was a tremendous training feat as Golan, a representatve of the first Ireland sired crop of the Yarraman Park visiting sire Spectrum, was appearing for the first time since narrowly missing a place in the Japan Cup the previous November.
In the King George, the fourth leg of the World Series Racing Championship,Golan produced an explosive burst of finishing speed to grab the honours on the post and lay claim to being the best older middle distance galloper in Europe.
After winning his only juvenile outing, this son of Spectrum aspired to be 'the next wonder of the age' at three, making a tremendous impact by taking out the classic English Two Thousand Guineas first up and following with a second as equal favourite to Galileo in the English Derby and then a third in the Irish Derby.
He subsequently added to his reputation with a convincing win over French Derby winner Anabaa Blue in the Group Two Prix Niel at Longchamp, covering the 2400 metres in 2:25.88, and, prior to his visit to Japan, a fourth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Golan has been able to out run his sire Spectrum, a winner of the Irish Two Thousand Guineas and Newmarket Champion Stakes and one of the more speedy sons of the influential Blushing Groom sire Rainbow Quest, as far as distance is concerned.
The King George winner gets added stamina through his dam Highland Gift. Although she was only a modest runner herself, this mare is bred on a cross of two celebrated English and Irish Derby winners, Generous (by the Nijinsky sire Caerleon) and Shirley Heights (by Mill Reef).
Sought Out, a half-sister by Rainbow Quest to the grandam of Golan, won France's longest staying race, the Prix du Cadran over 4000 metres.
Racing & Breeding News
Brian Russell Bloodstock Media Service
Phone (02) 6543 3051, Fax (02) 541 1022
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