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31.
Sweet music for Widden
Valley paddocks
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21/7/2003 |
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New
history is to be made in the Widden Valley in August with the arrival of the
first foals by a young dual hemisphere sire who appeals as one of the best
prospects to become a leading winner getter in this part of the world.
A champion American grass track specialist by the name of King Cugat, a
combination of elements of his sire Kingmambo (by Mr Prospector) and legendary
latin-style band leader Xavier Cugat, he is the first sire whose southern
hemisphere ownership is shared by Widden and Gerry Harvey’s neighbouring
Baramul Stud.
Now owner of a quality band of some 200 mares, Harvey had nearly 40 mares among
103 which went to King Cugat last season. Among those due to have King Cugat
foals at Baramul are three mares by Danehill and others by Sir Tristram,
Rory’s Jester, Kenmare, Marauding, Luskin Star, Godswalk and Bluebird.
King Cugat, current fee at Widden $16,500, received patronage from all over
Australia in his first season with his book also including mares by Marscay,
Zeditave, Fairy King, Palace Music, Barathea, Zabeel, Rubiton, Quest for Fame,
Blushing John, Night Shift, Sir Ivor, Salieri and Danzero.
A good two-year-old who claimed American grass champion honours at three and who
was likely the best four-year-old on this surface in his final year of
competition, King Cugat was in the first three including seven wins in15 of16
career outings and earned US$1,293,782.
Very close to the track record on a number of occasions, he included among his
wins the $200,000 Jamaica Handicap, $150,000 Arlington Classic, $180,000 Crown
Royal American Turf Stakes, $287,000 Jefferson Cup and $150,000 Bowling Green
Handicap.
Five Group1 seconds were in the $750,000 Belmont Turf Classic Invitational,
$500,000 Saratoga Sword Dancer Invitational, $400,000 Arlington Secretariat
Stakes, $400,000 Belmont Manhattan Handicap and $349,000 Churchill Downs Turf
Classic.
Nearly a three-quarter brother to Seeking the Gold, the sire of the Emirates
Park Stud based boom sire Secret Savings, King Cugat is one of many offspring
which have made his sire Kingmambo a leading world sire because his stock revel
on grass surfaces.
His other top performers have included the Japanese owned world champion El
Condor Pasa - a major winner in Europe as well as at home, world class miler
King’s Best - a Darley shuttle sire - and North American champion Lemon Drop
Kid, a Group1 winner at two, three and four.
A queen among the three-year-olds in Europe this year is the Kingmambo filly
Russian Rhythm, the winner of two Group1 races, the English One Thousand Guineas
and Royal Ascot Coronation Stakes, at her only outings, and another daughter,
Voodoo Dancer, has won 10 of 19 starts in America and could be their best female
turf performer of the year.
Another Kingmambo product who did well on turf in America was American Odyssey,
a resident on a fee of $5500 at the Glenlogan Park Stud at Innisplain in
Queensland. Out of a half-sister to current champion Australian juvenile sire
Success Express, American Odyssey won races on grass in America by margins of up
to eight lengths.
Brian
Russell
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