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15.
On The
Stallion Lookout
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01/11/2002 |
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Several
recent retirees are likely to be on the shuttle stallion shortlist for next
season.
Leading the way is Sir Alex Ferguson’s and Sue Magnier’s seven times Group 1
winning Danehill colt Rock Of Gibraltar who enters Coolmore stud, Ireland in
2003.
Bred by his trainer Aidan O’Brien in partnership with his wife Anne-Marie and
father-in-law Joe Crowley Rock of Gibraltar boasted 10 wins and two seconds from
13 starts. His record equaling 7 consecutive Group 1 victories included the
Grand Criterium - Lucien Barriere, Darley Dewhurst Stakes, Sagitta 2000 Guineas,
Entenmann's Irish 2,000 Guineas, St James's Palace Stakes, Sussex Stakes, and
Netjets Prix du Moulin de Longchamp. At his final career start Rock of Gibraltar
came up 3/4-lengths short when second in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Arlington.
If being a son of Danehill isn’t enough Rock of Gibraltar has plenty to
recommend him on his female side. His dam Offshore Boom, a daughter of leading
sire Be My Guest, is from a winning half-sister to the former outstanding
racehorse and hugely influential stallion Riverman.
With the absence of Danehill and the tragic death of Mozart, Rock Of Gibralter
looks to be odd on in enjoying a spring in the Hunter valley next year.
The credibility of sire sons of the amazing Sadler’s Wells has never been
higher. While the perennial European champion is waltzing away to another sire
title his American based son El Prado looks like achieving what most breeding
pundits would have thought was impossible, winning the U.S Sires Title. In
Australia Scenic continues to churn out winners every week while Darley Stud’s
Carnegie is being promoted as Australia’s answer to Zabeel.
Which makes Juddmonte Farms’ Beat Hollow, look an attractive shuttle stallion
proposition. Boasting a career record of seven wins, two seconds, and two thirds
from 12 career starts for earnings of $1,814,481, Beat Hollow exited racing with
an out of character sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).
Under the care of Henry Cecil Beat Hollow won the Grand Prix de Paris and
finished third behind Sinndar and Sakhee in the 2000 Epsom Derby (G1).
Transferred to the United States under leading trainer Bobby Frankel, Beat
Hollow won three Grade 1 turf races in 2002, the Turf Classic Stakes (G1) at
Churchill Downs, the Manhattan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park, and the Arlington
Million (G1) at Arlington Park.
Beat Hollow is the second foal of the crackerjack racemare Wemyss Bight (Dancing
Brave), the winner of 5 of her 9 starts including the Group 1 Irish Oaks.
Two previous Juddmonte colour-bearers, Danehill and Quest For Fame have enjoyed
enormous success in Australia.
For breeders that are trying to get away from Northern Dancer blood, both Rock
Of Gibraltar’s and Beat Hollow’s sire and damsire are from the Northern
Dancer line, then Cent Home could be the answer to your prayers. A son of the
Mr. Prospector stallion Gone West, the sire of stud success stories Mr Greeley
and Elusive Quality, Came Home sustained a knee injury when finishing tenth in
the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and will be retired to William Farish’s
Lane’s End, Kentucky.
Came Home started 12 times with nine wins, eight of them in graded stakes, for
earnings of $1,835,940. he won his first three starts as a two-year including
the Hopeful Stakes (G1). This year the three-year old has won six of eight
starts, including the Pacific Classic (G1), Santa Anita Derby (G1) and the Swaps
Stakes (G2).
Came Home is a half-brother to the very smart A.P. Assay (A.P. Indy) the winner
of 5 of her 12 starts including the Group 2 A Gleam Handicap. Came Home’s dam,
the Clever Trick mare Nice Assay was also a first class racemare. A multiple
stakes winner Nice Assay won over US$409,000 with 7 wins from 24 starts.
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