CAPE BLANCO : FREQUENT FLYER

Click above to watch Cape Blanco winning the Arlington Million (G1)…
(Image : ESPN - Footage : Arlington)

ECLIPSE AWARDS
16 January 2012

The piece we penned on America’s Eclipse Awards earlier this week missed an important point. We pointed to the fact that two of the award winners had Summerhill connections, Champion Three-Year-Old Colt, Animal Kingdom, and the Champion Breeders, Adena Springs. The ink was scarcely dry, and we were reminded of the connection of our long-time supporters, Dr. Jim and Fitri Hay, who were major stakeholders in Cape Blanco, without question, the most extraordinary of those that stepped up to the podium Tuesday evening.

This son of Galileo did what no other thoroughbred has ever done: he crossed the Atlantic three times for three Group One victories, landing the July 9^th Man o’ War Stakes at Belmont, a month later he took the Arlington Million on August 13^th, then followed up as the 3-5 favourite in the Joe Hirsch Classic: Quite extraordinary and some tribute to the toughness this man, and to this fellow, let’s not forget, of Galileo, sire of our own Horse Of The Year, Igugu, a graduate of the Summerhill Ready To Run consignment in 2009.

ECLIPSE AWARDS : MEDAL FOR VALOR

Barry Irwin leads Animal Kingdom following victory in the Kentucky Derby
(Photo : Team Valor International)

ECLIPSE AWARDS
16 January 2012

Mick Goss
Summerhill Stud CEOWe got back from paradise this morning, no cellphones, no radio reception and no newspapers for a fortnight, and completely oblivious of America’s Eclipse Awards. In a year in which we attended our first Kentucky Derby (Gr1) since Affirmed beat Alydar in what remains the most-remembered renewal of America’s greatest horse race in 1978, it was like old hickory to find the statue for the Champion Three-Year-Old Male had gone to a client of Summerhill. Just a few weeks ago, we posted a piece on the most successful syndicate in racing, where Team Valor surpassed by more than double, anything any other assembly of owners could muster in 2011.

My arrival at the office was instantly gratifying : a heavyweight parcel from the champion American owners was ravenously set upon by the vultures at our management meeting. The reward was a paperweight bearing a photograph of this year’s Kentucky Derby hero, Animal Kingdom, and a couple of petals from the original garland that girds the shoulders of he who prevails in the “Run For The Roses”.

Next thing, we discovered (a little belatedly) that the statue named for one of the greatest progenitors of the breed, Eclipse, for Outstanding Three-Year-Old American Male had gone appropriately, to our man Animal Kingdom. He didn’t only win the biggest one, he was the most consistent of his age and sex in the States, and he must’ve been a serious candidate for Horse Of The Year. Yet he wasn’t the only Summerhill-connected Eclipse Award winner in 2011, as the Breeder Of The Year was Adena Springs for the umpteenth time, and who are also clients of the farm. Hats off to the Stronach family and their team; originally Canadians by trade, they’ve shown America a thing or two on their way to the top of the mountain.

(See Barry Irwin’s personal take below on Team Valor’s perspective - fascinating).

“Animal Kingdom is the result of a mating between the imported Brazilian-bred stallion Leroidesanimaux and the imported German mare Dalicia. I bought Leroi as a racehorse for Stonewall Farm, the same outfit which I sold Medaglia d’Oro and Lawyer Ron to. Leroi and Lawyer Ron both won Eclipse Awards for Stonewall. Medaglia d’Oro sired Rachel Alexandra, who was voted an Eclipse for Horse Of The Year. Dalicia was bought by me at a German public auction at the end of her racing career in Europe. At 400,000 euros, she became the highest-prized racemare ever sold at public auction in The Rhineland. She raced for us, winning in Southern California.

I mated Leroi with Dalicia and it was the mare’s first foal. We bred her back to Mr. Greeley twice, selling her the second time at Tattersalls December Sales in England, where she was bought by Shadai Stud in Japan, the same folks from whom I later bought Sunday Silence’s son Hat Trick, sire in his first crop of last season’s unbeaten, double Group 1-winning European juvenile Champion Dabirsim.

Animal Kingdom was raised at Denali Stud in Paris, Kentucky. As a yearling, he was offered at the Keeneland September Sale, where I bought him for $100,000 and resyndicated him as a racing prospect.

The tall chestnut colt raced twice at 2, both on Polytrack, running second in his debut to a smart colt named Wilxox Inn at Arlington Park in Chicago. He proceeded to win his second start over 1800m by more than 3 lengths at Keeneland in the manner of a colt with a future.

Over the winter the colt grew like the Incredible Hulk, gaining in physical stature to a remarkable degree. His hip broadened, as well as his chest. He flew home to miss in a conditions race in his debut at 3. In his next start, again on Polytrack, he overcame a lot of traffic to post an easy triumph in the $500,000, Grade 3 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park in Kentucky.

Making only his fifth lifetime start, his first in 6 weeks and his first on dirt, Animal Kingdom won the Classic, Grade 1, $2-million Kentucky Derby by 2 3/4 lengths. No horse without a previous dirt start had ever won the race. He became the first foal of an imported mare to win the race since Citation in 1948. One had to go back to 1956 to find a horse that had come off of a 6-week layoff to win the race.

In his next start, just 2 weeks later, he got off poorly, fell nearly 20 lengths off the pace, but flew home to miss by less than a length in the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of our Triple Crown. He was favored for the race, as he was for his final start at three in the early June renewal of the Belmont Stakes. In this race, he was forced down to his knees and nearly lost his rider after a chain-reaction bumping incident caused him a hock injury that sent him to the sidelines. The jockey that has caused the incident was suspended from riding for 10 days.

Although he was severely compromised at the start, AK made a lot of believers that day, as he put in a swooping move to reach contention in the 2400m race, but alas he couldn’t sustain the move.

In close balloting among 248 writers, racing officials and other media types, he was a narrow 3-point winner for the Eclipse Award as the top 3-year-old colt or gelding to race in the U.S. last season.

He has been training again since December 1. This week he breezed a half-mile on grass in Florida. Plans call for him to have a race next month at Gulfstream Park near Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, after which he will be flown to Dubai for the $10-million World Cup in Dubai, for which he has been favored with English bookies for the past couple of weeks.

He is an amazingly versatile horse that can run over any surface. He is unique among American horses in this regard. I think he has a chance to become the greatest money winning North American Thoroughbred of all-time, replacing Curlin, whose career earnings were $10,051,000. He will be campaigned internationally, with his only other likely U.S. start to come in the Breeders’ Cup. I wouldn’t put anything beyond the scope of this horse.

He is quite a character, sort of a testing teenager type. He is always looking for pranks to pull off. When he had his workouts for the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, trainer Graham Motion sometimes had to position as many as 9 or 10 other horses for him to pass and follow, because once he gets his nose in front, he goes to playing, bucking, ducking, diving and the like.

He stands just under 16 hands 3 inches and he weights a massive 1,200 pounds. He has a gorgeous, breedy head, his front limbs are correct and he fills the eye.

I couldn’t be prouder of a horse that I bred and named. Truly a gift from the Gods.”

For the record :

The Eclipse Award winners are:

Award	Winner
2-Year-Old Male	HANSEN Tapit - Stormy Sunday by Sir Cat
2-Year-Old-Female	MY MISS AURELIA Smart Strike - My Miss Storm Cat by Sea Of Secrets
3-Year-Old-Male	ANIMAL KINGDOM Leroidesanimaux - Dalicia by Acatenango
3-Year-Old-Female	ROYAL DELTA Empire Maker - Delta Princess by A.P. Indy
Older Male	ACCLAMATION Unusual Heat - Winning In Style by Silveyville
Older Female	HAVRE DE GRACE Saint Liam - Easter Bunnette by Carson City
Male Sprinter	AMAZOMBIE Northern Afleet - Wilshe Amaze by In Excess
Female Sprinter	MUSICAL ROMANCE Concordes Tune - Candlelight Dinner by Slew Gin Fizz
Male Turf Horse	CAPE BLANCO (IRE) (Galileo - Laurel Delight by Presidium
Female Turf Horse	STACELITA (FR) Monsun - Soignee by Dashing Blade
Steeplechase Horse	BLACK JACK BLUES (IRE) Definite Article - Melody Maid by Strong Gale
Owner	RAMSEY, KENNETH L. and SARAH K.
Breeder	ADENA SPRINGS
Trainer	WILLIAM I. MOTT
Jockey	RAMON DOMINGUEZ
Apprentice Jockey	KYLE FREY
Horse Of The Year	HAVRE DE GRACE Saint Liam - Easter Bunnette by Carson City

BOBBY FRANKEL : ONE OF THE ALL-TIME GREATS

Bobby Frankel and Ginger Punch
(Photo : The Florida Horse/Slam)

OF BOBBY FRANKEL, HAPPY AND GINGER PUNCH

Few people in South Africa will know the late Bobby Frankel, but Americans will tell you, he was one of the all-time greats, and a rare inductee to their Hall of Fame, as a fabled trainer.

He passed away recently, and Mike Rogers (whom we deal with for Champion U.S. Breeders, Adena Springs and their founder, Frank Stronach) posted this piece on a man who clearly understood his priorities.

Leading up to the 2007 Breeders’ Cup at Monmouth Park, all of us in the Stronach Stable camp were excited at the prospect of Ginger Punch’s participation in the Ladies’ Classic. Five days out, I received a call from Bobby Frankel. In typical Bobby fashion, there was minimal small talk before he cut to the chase. He informed me that he would be unable to attend the Breeders’ Cup, going into detail regarding his dog Happy’s unfortunate medical condition and his decision to remain in California with her. My initial reaction was a simple “really?” Bobby asked me to respectfully relay the information to Mr. and Mrs. Stronach. I assured him that I would pass along the circumstances surrounding his decision to Frank and Frieda.

I immediately called Frank and relayed Bobby’s message. Frank’s response was identical to my own: “really?” Frank then requested that I get Bobby on the line so he could speak to him directly. I was apprehensive - my gut reaction was that the conversation would not go over very well with either of them.

I reached Bobby and told him that I had Frank on the line. It was easy to sense Bobby’s own apprehension with his simple, “Hi, Frank.” Following a pregnant pause, Frank said in the most caring voice, “Bobby, how’s your dog?” I gave a strong sigh of relief, and I’m certain Bobby did as well. Bobby went on to explain that his dog was not doing very well, and he was uncomfortable leaving her in California. After the two of them talked about Happy, Frank asked Bobby how Ginger Punch was doing. Bobby replied that she was ready to run the race of her life, and there was nothing more he could do for her. Frank finished the call, saying, AOK Bobby, you look after Happy and we’ll look after Ginger.”

I will always remember the feeling I had when I hung up after listening to two immensely successful, yet very misunderstood men. They each managed to show great respect for what was important to the other man.

Ginger Punch went on to run exactly as Bobby predicted. Her Breeders’ Cup victory was her crowning achievement and ultimately led to a coveted Eclipse Award. Happy lived a little while longer with Bobby close to her side, but ultimately succumbed to her illness. Bobby eventually acquired two new dogs. His choice of names was a very fitting tribute to one of the many champions that he trained during his remarkable Hall of Fame career: Ginger and Punch.

We will all miss him.

Mike Rogers

ADENA SPRINGS SIRE EL PRADO DIES AT AGE 20

El Prado
Adena Springs

(Please click photo to enlarge…)

We were greeted this week with the news that America’s Champion Breeder and Summerhill client, Adena Springs, had sadly lost their resident and leading sire, El Prado, indeed one of the world’s elite.

The Thoroughbred Daily News reported yesterday that El Prado (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells - Lady Capulet, by Sir Ivor) died of a heart attack soon after being turned out into his paddock Monday morning. Still active at 20, the stallion stood for $75,000 in 2009. Although well accomplished on the racetrack, El Prado scaled new heights at stud, siring eight Grade I/Group 1 and 30 graded stakes winners, and a total of 74 horses who triumphed at the stakes level. The stallion’s leading earner is multiple Grade I winner Medaglia d’Oro.

On the track, the Darley stallion won the 2002 GI Travers Stakes, 2003 GI Whitney Handicap and 2004 GI Donn Handicap, and was runner-up in both the 2002 and 2003 GI Breeders’ Cup Classics, as well as the 2004 G1 Dubai World Cup. Medaglia d’Oro’s racing accomplishments helped El Prado earn leading sire honors in 2002, and saw the grey’s stud fee increase to $75,000 in 2003. Medaglia d’Oro quickly asserted himself as a leading sire in his own right with the likes of GI Preakness Stakes winner Rachel Alexandra in his first crop to race.

El Prado is also the sire of 2004 Champion Turf Horse Kitten’s Joy, a top Freshman sire; Puerto Rican Champion Mi Pradera; and Grade I winners Artie Schiller, Borrego, Asi Siempre and Spanish Moon. As a broodmare sire, he is represented by Grade I winners Bit of Whimsy (Distorted Humor) and Laragh (Tapit).

In the sales ring, El Prado was represented by his first seven-figure sales horse when This is That brought $1 million as a juvenile at the 2003 BESMAR Sale. In 2007, Asi Siempre sold for $3 million as a broodmare prospect at FTKNOV, and the following year, Flagship sold for $1 million at the 2008 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Earlier this season, a juvenile colt by the stallion topped the OBS March Sale with a $450,000 final bid.

Group 1 winner El Prado was bred in Ireland by Lyonstown Stud and was campaigned by Robert Sangster and legendary trainer Vincent O’Brien. Out of 1977 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Lady Capulet, the gray is a half brother to 1987 Irish champion three-year-old Entitled (Ire) (Mill Reef). As a two-year-old, El Prado won four of six starts, including the G1 National Stakes, G2 Beresford Stakes and G3 Railway Stakes, and was named Ireland’s champion juvenile of 1991. 

Off the board in three starts in 1992, El Prado was retired to Brereton Jones’s Airdrie Stud in Midway, Kentucky in 1993, standing for the partnership of Sangster, O’Brien, Coolmore and Frank Stronach. Initially offered at a fee of $7,500, he ranked eighth on the 1996 freshman sire list with progeny earnings of $398,925. In 1998, after renovations on the farm were completed, the stallion moved to Stronach’s Adena Springs.

MEDAGLIA D’ORO : A windfall for Sheikh Mohammed

Medaglia D’Oro
(Photo : Thoroughbred Times)

There’s been plenty of news of late of new property acquisitions by Dubai’s Ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and then on Friday we were greeted by the announcement that he had purchased the “hottest” young stallion in the United States, Medaglia D’Oro. Those that attended the 2007 version of the Dubai World Cup will recall Medaglia D’Oro’s stirring battle in the closing stages of the world’s richest race when he succumbed, only just, to the persistent urgings of Pleasantly Perfect, and we can attest, following a recent visit there, to the fact that Medaglia D’Oro has let down into one of the most spectacular specimens of a young stallion imaginable.

Besides having spawned the highest rated filly (of any age) in the world right now in the form of Rachel Alexandra, (20 ¼ winner of the Kentucky Oaks (Gr.1) just over a month ago, and vanquisher of the colts in the second leg of the American Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes (Gr.1), Medaglia D’Oro rewarded Sheikh Mohammed’s boldness within a day, with yet another Grade One winner from his first crop in the shape of Gabby’s Golden Gal, who walked off with the laurels in the Acorn Stakes (Gr.1) at the Belmont meeting in New York.

Medaglia D’ Oro’s sire, El Prado, is something of an aberration as a stallion. A son of the thirteen time European Champion, Sadler’s Wells, he raced exclusively in Ireland on turf, and was a Grade One winner of the National Stakes as a two-year-old before his acquisition by Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs (champion breeders of America and clients of Summerhill) where he was asked to embark on a career as a proven grass horse in a “dirty”country. El Prado warmed to his new career with relish, twice topping the American sires log, and it now looks as if he might make a third career for himself as a sire of sires. Everything about him suggested that success on the dirt tracks of the United States was an unlikely outcome to his career, yet it goes to show, there is little we can do to predict the future of stallions, besides educated guessing.