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19.
Arazi And
Endless Summer To Stand In Victoria
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09/01/2003 |
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One
of the most memorable moments in racing, make that in all sports, occurred on
November 2 1991 at Churchill Downs.
The champion French-trained two-year old Arazi was making his U.S. debut and his
first start on dirt in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. After a slow start
Arazi, under very little urging from his rider Pat Valenzuela, proceeded to
round up the field with an amazing burst of acceleration. The little chestnut
was moving so fast rounding the turn that he threatened to run off the track yet
he coasted home a huge winner in a remarkable performance rated by many as one
of the greatest ever witnessed.
The memories of that day at Churchill Downs came flooding back after the
announcement that Arazi will take his place on the stallion roster of Mike
Becker’s Independent Stallion Station in the spring of 2003.
Arazi cut a swathe through the European juvenile ranks recording consecutive
victories in the Prix du Bois (G3), Prix Robert Papin (G2), Prix Morny (G1),
Prix de la Salamandre (G1), Grand Criterium (G1) before rounding out the year
with his amazing win at Churchill Downs. While nowhere near as dominant at three
Arazi added another two wins including the Prix du Rond-Point (G2).
Arazi (Blushing Groom- Danseur Fabuleux by Northern Dancer) stood for four
seasons at Sheikh Mohammed’s Dalham Hall, then stood one season at Three
Chimneys Farm, Kentucky before his sale to the Breeders Stallion Station, Japan.
The news of Arazi’s importation to Australia could not come at a better time
as his outstanding son Congaree may have booked himself a ticket to the World
Cup in Dubai with a six-lengths demolition of his hapless opponents in last
Saturday's US$150,000 San Pasqual Handicap (G2) at Santa Anita. It was the
eighth win in 15 career starts for Congaree who has earned US$1.72 million
After the race Cogaree’s gregarious trainer Bob Baffert waxed lyrical about
his star colt. “He was the best horse in the race coming off that big mile
(Cigar Mile victory), but I gave him plenty of time in between (Nov. 30 to Jan.
4). He ran really fast up in New York (1:33 flat). But he’s been relaxing.
Today, like I said, I told Jerry (Bailey) to just teach him something, get him
to relax, with a field like this. He could have gone a mile and half today. He
was so good as a 3-year-old, and I had to rush him for the Wood and the Derby.
This horse is just a phenomenal horse now, a pretty serious horse.”
In reference to the Dubai World Cup on March 29, Baffert said: “My passport is
good for 10 years, so I think I’m OK. I might go, I might not go. If the horse
is training like he was for this race then I would do it. That’s why I
wasn’t going to run him in this race, but I told Mr. and Mrs. (Robert) McNair
(owners of Stonerside Stables) that this year, I’m not really going to point
for anything. If he’s ready and there’s a race, we run. And so that’s what
we’re going to do. I’m not going to try and force it on him or anything like
that. If he’s not doing well or they tell me they don’t want to go there or
whatever, then we won’t run in there. We want him for the whole year, he loves
this track (three-for-three), the Breeders’ Cup is here . . . sure, the Santa
Anita Handicap (March 1) is still a possibility.
Arazi will be joined at the Independent Stallion Station in 2003 by the lightly
raced Zafonic colt Endless Summer, winner of the 2000 Group 2 Richmond Stakes. A
veteran of just four starts, all at two, Endless Summer won a maiden at Newbury
then two weeks later won the Richmond Stakes. He met defeat for the first time
when runner-up to Bad As I Wanna Be (Common Grounds) in the Group 1 Prix Morny
at Deauville. Interestingly the third placed horse that day was Noverre (Rahy)
who just happens to be a three-quarter brother to none other than Arazi. Endless
Summer rounded out his two-year old year with another second, behind Minardi,
with Bad As I Wanna Be unplaced, in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.
A son of the ill-fated Zafonic, Endless Summer will attract further Australian
interest through his female family. His dam Well Away (Sadler’s Wells) is a
winning full-sister to Dewhurst Stakes (G1) winner and outstanding Australian
stud success Scenic. This is the superior family of Rainbow Quest, Slightly
Dangerous, Warning and Commander In Chief.
By: Mark Smith
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