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12.
First Group
winner for Orpen
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25/8/2003 |
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Coolmore
Stud’s Orpen sired his first group winner and young trainer Sylvester Kirk was
credited with his most important successes when two-year old filly Gracefully
remained unbeaten in three starts with a 2-length triumph in the Prestige Stakes
at Goodwood on Sunday..
Settled well back in third place behind the tearaway leader Dubaian Duel
(Daggers Drawn - River’s Rising by Mendez) in the six horse field, Gracefully
overhauled the odds on favourite Ithaca (Distant View - Reams of Verse by
Nureyev) 300m from home for a comfortable win.
Kirk was formerly an assistant to his father-in-law Richard Hannon before
branching out on his own. "Our biggest problem now is where she will go
next, yet it is a nice problem to have, said Kirk. "I suppose we will have
to think about the 1,000 guineas now next year."
A 10,000 guineas purchase at the 2002 Doncaster St Leger Yearling Sales,
Gracefully is the sixth foal and first stakes winner for her dam Lady Taufan (Taufan)
who did not win in 15 starts but is a sister to Princess Taufan, winner of three
successive races at two including the Listed Charles Heidsieck National Stakes
at Sandown and later placed in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes. Granddam Guindilla (Artaius)
is a half sister to near million earner Gaily Gaily (Cure The Blues) whose 11
wins included the Flower Bowl Hcp (G1), the Italian 2000 Guineas (G1) winner Gay
Burslem (Burslem) and Crisos Il Monaco (Common Grounds) who also won the Italian
2000 Guineas when it was a Group 2 race.
While he has been overshadowed by his Coolmore stablemate Fasliyev, Orpen has
made a good impression with his first crop, producing at least 16 winners from
42 runners. He currently lies in fourth spot on the first season sires table
behind Fasliyev, Cape Cross and Stravinsky. A half brother to the ill-fated
stallion Jules (sire of Peace Rules) from the wonderful family of the great
broodmare Coup De Folie and closely related to Northern Dancer and Danehill,
orpen won the Group 1 Prix Morny at two. The son of two-time Breeders Cup Mile
(G1) winner Lure stands his fourth season at Coolmore Stud this spring at a fee
of $7,700 (inc GST)
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