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14.
First Group
1 Winner For Air Express
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05/10/2002 |
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If the smile on the face of Gai Waterhouse’s effervescent stable forewomen
Emma Candy was a little broader than usual at Randwick on Saturday it was not
just because the stable was celebrating two Group 1 winners on the day.
The previous day her father, leading English trainer Henry Candy, also led in a
Group 1 winner when Airwave was successful in the Cheveley Park Stakes at
Newmarket. Airwave became the first Group 1 winner for her sire the ill-fated
Air Express who shuttled to Eureka Stud, Queensland for only one season in 1999.
AIR EXPRESS
Henry Candy is enjoying a successful year having enjoyed Group 1 success with
the Pivotal colt Kyllachy (GB) in the Nunthorpe Stakes. It was the third win
from 5 starts for Airwave which is part owned by Candy who purchased the filly
for 12,000 guineas as a yearling. Airwave defeated Russian Rhythm, (Kingmambo--Balistroika,
by Nijinsky) a 440,000 guineas purchase by the stud that bares the same name as
the race with Danaskaya (Danehill-Majinskaya by Marignan) in third place.
At her previous start Airwave (Air Express--Kangra Valley by Indian Ridge) was
an impressive winner of the Listed Firth of Clyde Stakes. Candy left no one in
doubt what he thought of the filly after that race. "I've never had a
two-year-old like her, and that includes Wind And Wuthering, who won the
Dewhurst by seven lengths," he said.
Airwave comes from the first crop of Air Express who won four and placed in
eight of his 15 starts. Third in the Dewhurst Stakes (G1) at two, Air Express
went on to win thethe Italian and German Guineas before finishing second to
Starborough in a field that included Daylami and Desert King. Air Express went
on to win the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over Rebecca Sharp and Faithful
Son.
Air Express is a son of the Group 1 Prix de la Foret and Group 2 Challenge
Stakes winner Salse. A $190,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Sale, Salse
is a son of the Northern Dancer stallion Topsider out of Carnival Princess
(Prince John) a half-sister to Italian Oaks (G1) winner Carnauba, a daughter of
Todman’s brother Noholme, who claimed international attention when she was the
victim of a kidnapping in the 1980s.
The dam of Air Express Ibitsamm (Caucasus) is a half-sister to stakes winner Au
Printemps (Dancing Champ) the dam of Chatswood Stud’s top-class winner-getter
Success Express (Hold Your Peace), Champagne Stakes (G1) winner Greenwood Lake (Meadowlake)
and champion Canadian turf horse Charlie Barley (Affirmed).
Air Express has had such a wonderful start to his stud career it is a tragedy
that he died at the English National Stud after suffering a perforated duodenum
in 2000. He had only 23 foals in his first crop and just nine in his second
before his untimely death. Inbred 3x4 to Northern Dancer and 4x4 to Princequillo,
Air Express has had 5 winners from 6 starters in England. Besides Airwaves they
include Presto Vento, who earned 78,300 pounds first prize in the Weatherbys
Super Sprint at Newbury to add to his win in the National Stakes (LR) at Sandown
and victories at Salisbury and Bath.
By: Mark Smith
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