Z Z Dome Wins On New Mexico Cup Day

Z Z Dome, a 3yo Dome gelding, managed his 4th career win in the New Mexico Cup Classic Championship Colts & Geldings S, a 153k race for (surprise, surprise) New Mexico-bred colts and geldings at Zia Park last Saturday (11 Nov).

Back in January of this year he won the Pepsi Cola Handicap at Sunland Park by a neck and followed up with a 2nd place finish in the New Mexico Breeders Derby in March. After a spell on the sidelines he returned in an allowance race at Zia Park, but managed only 6th.

However, he bounced back to form in Saturday's race, winning the 6f race in 1:11.20. He was bred by Angel Parr, Frank Parr & W L Mooring. As a yearling he was sold at the August Ruidoso NM-bred Sale to Jimmy Howard for $23,000, his owner. He is trained by Todd Flincher.

He was a pretty good investment, having earned a whopping $224k. He ran 7 times, winning 4, placed 2nd once and 3rd once.

Well done Z Z Dome!

( Z Z Dome - dark bay or brown gelding - Dome x Zsa Zsa K, by Thirty Six Red)

Echo Of Light Retired To Stud

It is old news by now, but I wanted to put the spotlight on this horse.

Echo Of Light is my favourite out of the late Dubai Millennium's only crop, which were born in 2002. Has has been from the beginning. He is a beautiful individual and has a beautiful name to boot. He is also very much like his sire physically and in my mind he was his most brilliant son, but a quirky character did not help him to quite achieve his potential. He has done well enough, winning a few Group races, but to this day I maintain: He is better than his record suggests.

Quite a few Dubai Millenniums were taken up in my 2002 crop, including champion miler Dubawi, who was special from the start, but even Dubawi had his quirks, having a tendency to hang. It seems that most of Dubai Millennium's crop had temperament issues of one kind or another. A few of his fillies were rumoured to be divas, including the good filly Quickfire, also part of my 2002 crop.

However, Echo Of Light's quirks are probably a little more infamous than of the others, the most famous occasion was when he ran off the course at Windsor in his third outing. Needless to say, he never ran there again. He did win his next two starts, starting to show some of the promise that he had been showing at home. He was first tried in Group company in the G1 Champion Stakes at Newmarket. I was so angry when I was watching the race on telly. He was ridden like a pacemaker and I thought he was too good a horse for that. Needless to say, he tired and finished last in a race won by David Junior. Next time out was on the all-weather at Lingfield for the Summer Mile Stakes (G3), which he won without too much fuss, like a good horse should.
He plonked again though in his next race (Sussex Stakes G1), being too keen for his own good.

At 4 he started his season with another G3 win in the Strensall Stakes at York. He gave a nice front running performance. He was able to relax and won his race decisively.
Next came probably the finest performance of his career. At Longchamp (Paris) he ran a neat race and captured the Prix Daniel Wildenstein (G2), despite drifting left once more in the final stages. I was looking forward to the Breeders' Cup Mile, knowing that the horse had so much to give, but once more he plonked. Once again he was too keen for his own good and one must wonder whether the firm American turf would have suited him at all.
He returned to action as a five-year-old to contest the Summer Mile Stakes (G2) once more. This time he could not manage better than fourth, once again hanging violently left a furlong from home. He should have been involved in the finish.
He won a G3 at Deauville before capturing the Strensall Stakes (G3) again at York. He could manage only 5th when he attempted another Prix Daniel Wildenstein (G2) and bowed out in the Premio Vittorio Di Capua at San Siro race course in Italy.

He ran all races under the Godolphin banner trained by Saeed Bin Suroor.

Shortly after followed the announcement that he would be retired to stud at Darley, where he will stand for GBP 5,000 in 2008.

It is a good price and hopefully he will attract a decent sized book of mares.

Only one request to broodmare owners though: Please only send mares with a quiet relaxed disposition and preferably a sense of direction.

(Echo Of Light - 2002 bay horse - Dubai Millennium x Spirit Of Tara, by Sadler's Wells)

Outside ToF Report: RIP Gorgeous George

George Washington (bay colt, Danehill x Bordighera, by Alysheba)
1 March 2003 - 27 October 2007

I get quite annoyed when I hear people say that George Washington should not have been in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Even more annoyed when they tell me that he had not been performing at top class level this year and thus had no business being in the race. Where do they get their information from I wonder?

Let's look at his starts this year, shall we? After returning to training from stud duties due to fertility problems, his first competitive outing was at Ascot, in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes over 1m. Hef finished 4th in a blanket finish, only half a length behind the winner Ramonti, who would prove this year's top miler, and he was gaining in the final furlong. He followed up with 2 third place finishes. In the 1m2f Eclipse he finished 1 1/2 lengths behind Notnowcato and Authorized and Notnowcato, racing so far from the rest of the field, took everybody by surprise, but was only beaten by star 3yo Authorized by a head. In Paris at Longchamp, he was beaten 3 lengths by Dajina and Ramonti and was finishing fast. Both his mile races suggested he wanted further.

He ran 6th in the Breeders' Cup Classic last year and no doubt would have been closer up had he not been bumped. If he can be competitive against America's top dirt horses, surely that means he handles the dirt right? I don’t get it, I just don’t get it.

I did worry about the ground though, not just for George, but for all the horses’ safety. It looked like a swimming pool out there at Monmouth Park (NJ). It was beyond ‘sloppy’! On the Breeders’ Cup broadcast they mentioned that had it been any other meeting during the summer, the card would have been cancelled. As it was, it was the Breeders’ Cup and how can one cancel the Breeders’ Cup?

Curlin confirmed for me that he is the best horse the United States has got to offer at the moment, but his convincing win was overshadowed by the news that Gorgeous George, as he was lovingly known by us all, had suffered fatal injuries while being eased through the stretch and had to be put down. Several eye witness accounts report that they knew it was the end as soon as they saw the leg. There was no hope and the kindest thing to do was to put him to sleep before the adrenaline would wear off and the pain would kick in. The thought of George Washington, a majestic beautiful horse, lying in the Monmouth mud while his heart stops beating, seems so undignified. That it all ended there, in front of a foreign crowd and yet for the world to see, it does not seem right somehow.

Even though in most of his races I had cheered for different horses, just having him in the races added extra excitement. Wherever George went, he caused a stir. He had a mind of his own, was quirky and full of fire. He knew he was that good and I think that was what people loved about him.

Most of the times I love this sport, but sometimes it kills me inside. I know fatal injuries are unfortunately not uncommon in horse racing, but I will never get used to them. Every time I see a horse pulling up or falling during a race, my heart shrinks a little. Most get up again or sustain only minor injuries, but sometimes they never get up again.

The thoroughbred is a strange creature. Such a powerful body, such fragrile legs, such beauty and grace, such speed and determination, such is their nature that they will fall to the ground with their eyes still firmly fixed on the finish line.

Let me propose a toast to all those gallant horses that have given their lives running for our pleasure and to George Washington, who will always be our Gorgeous George:

Cheers!

Ibn Khaldun Gets The Job Done

What Breeders Cup? I have already watched the most important race of the day!

Ibn Khaldun's connections had travelled from all corners of the globe to be at Doncaster today. OK, that is a bit of an exaggeration, but close enough. Jockey Kerrin McEvoy travelled back from Australia to ride him. Frankie Dettori chose to go to the Breeders' Cup, which is fair enough, but his loss and Kerrin's gain. Trainer Saeed Bin Suroor and Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford travelled back from Monmouth Park to be there today. And boy, I bet they were glad they made the effort!

The Racing Post Trophy, the last G1 flat race in England, went exactly as I had hoped for Ibn Khaldun. Obviously people had been reading this blog (yeh right!) as he went off as the 11/4 favourite. He settled nicely in the middle of the pack and when Kerrin McEvoy asked him at the 2f pole he quickened very smoothly. In the end he won comfortably by a widening 3 to 4 lengths with City Leader in 2nd and Feared In Flight, a longshot, back in 3rd.

Kerrin McEvoy likes the Khaldun a lot and as was obvious in his previous G3 win, the chestnut colt is very easy to ride. He is a very genuine race horse, if you ask me, and will always do his best. I hope greater things are still to come for him! He is my out and out 2,000 Guineas horse for next year and I already placed an antepost bet on him on the day of the Autumn Stakes. Fingers crossed!

Frozen Fire finished 8th, but I know he is likely to improve over the winter and will benefit from extra distance as a three-year-old. 1 1/2 miles will probably suit him much better.

First Try at Group 1 for Ibn Khaldun and Frozen Fire

Ibn Khaldun is a beautifully bred colt from my crop of 2005. He is by Dubai Destination out of Gossamer, both of which were top class milers. I am counting on this guy to win the 2,000 Guineas for me next year!

He won his last three races, and won the Group 3 Autumn Stakes at Ascot a couple of weeks ago. He did it easily, with Frankie Dettori never even having to touch his whip Ibn Khaldun weaved his way to front and won beautifully. I was so proud. It was a delight to watch. He raced like a seasoned professional.

However, this afternoon he will be facing much tougher company in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.

Also in this race is another of my 2005 boys, Frozen Fire. He is by Montjeu out of Flamingo Sea. He won his maiden over 7f in August, so the jump of class for him is much bigger than for Ibn Khaldun. I am expecting for him to really come through next year. However, he has only raced once and it is hard to rate how good he is. He is very much an unknown entity.

I think that Ibn Khaldun is the better horse at this point of time and it should be his ideal distance.

Let's have a look at the competition. There are 12 horses in the race, 11 are winners:
- Art Master: winner over the All Weather of Kempton last time out over 8f. One must wonder whether he has the class to be very competitive. He will probably want a little further.
- City Leader: Won the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes last time out over soft ground, beating another of my crop horses (Alfathaa) in the process. Achill Island finished second in the race and that horse ran in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf yesterday at Monmouth Park (USA) finishing a close second to Nownownow. The form seems to be solid and he should be a big danger.
- Curtain Call: Sadler's Wells colt - won the Group 2 Beresford Stakes last time out at the Curragh. His win came over yielding ground and I do wonder whether slightly easier ground would suit him better. However, he is hard to look past and he is likely to be favourite at post time.
- Declaration of War: I saw Declaration Of War in person when he won the Woodcote Stakes (listed) at Epsom on Derby Day. He has not won since, but he has been trying tougher company and he finished 2nd in his last 2 (G1 & G2) races to Hatta Fort and Rio De La Plata respectively. I don't think he will win, but he should be thereabouts.
- Feared in Flight: his form is suspect and I think he has quite a bit to find on some of the other entrants
- Internationdebut: In over his head and will probably be one of the last to finish
- King Of Rome: Never discount an O'Brien runner. He won his last race by 5 1/2 lenghts over 7f on good ground at Tipperary. The mile is probably not his ideal distance, but a bit like Frozen Fire, he is hard to figure out.
- Ridge Dance: 4th behind 3 good horses in the Royal Lodge and finished strongly. I can see him reverse form with City Leader.
- River Proud: Looks like he will some to find against this level of competition despite a Group 3 win last time out at Newmarket.
- Tajaaweed: Another coming of a single maiden win. He is bred to go further, but should give a good show of himself in this race

The winner? I sincerely hope Ibn Khaldun is as good as I think he is.
Rio De La Plata is his stable's (Godolphin) star 2yo and Ibn Khaldun is rated below him by his connections, but I am not so sure. Though he seems to be a surprise for his stable, his pedrigree does not lie, and I have had my eye on him for a long time.

What questions will this afternoon answer? We will see...

(Ibn Khaldun (USA) - ch c - Dubai Destination x Gossamer, by Sadler's Wells)
(Frozen Fire (GER) - b c - Montjeu x Flamingo Sea, by Woodman)

Introduction: The Sport Of Kings and Queens

Such a cliché, but still true to this day. Royal Ascot is famous for having Queen Elizabeth II attend with various members of her family. It is a sight to behold when she comes down the course in her carriage. Horse racing would not be the same without it. She also owns a string of race horses , and I would love to visit her for a cup of tea and a bit of horse related chat. I think we'd get on.

For myself, my love affair with horse racing started when I was probably around eight or nine. I saw the movie “The Black Stallion”, in which a desert bred arab ends up in America and wins a match race against the best horses in the country. My mum later bought me a copy of the book 'The Black Stallion And Satan” by Walter Farley, which we found at a flea market for peanuts. I read it over and over again, collecting the rest of the series in the years to come.

In 1990 I saw my first horse race on TV. It was the Belmont Stakes of that year. In wonder I stared at the telly, so excited to watch my first live horse race. And the horse I fell in love with at that time was Thirty Six Red, a red streak that led the pack through the turns. That he lost to Go And Go did not matter, he was a horse I would always remember.

My second memory is seeing the Party Politics winning the Grand National in 1992. I watch the pre-race coverage and saw this giant of a horse and I was rooting for him through the race.

It took a few years for me to really start following racing. When I did I was drawn in and I have been a fervent racing enthusiast ever since. Unfortunately, by the time I started following racing again, I discovered that Thirty Six Red had died in 1996. He has however left various offspring and I do try to follow some of them.

I soon found a another hero. One Godolphin horse by the name of Dubai Millennium caught my imagination. By the time he ran in the Dubai World Cup I was deeply in love. And that night, in the desert oasis called Nad Al Sheba in Dubai, magic happened. A dark bay horse ran before the rest of the field, gleaming under the flood lights, so easily, not willing to let Dettori stop him. Thoughts of The Black Stallion inevitably came to mind. I knew I was watching true greatness. He followed up in the Prince of Wales' Stakes at Ascot, but unfortunately injury ruled out a race against the other superstar, Montjeu. To this day, I believe that over 10 furlongs, Dubai Millennium would have beaten him and would have forced his name into the record books as being the best race horse in a long long time...

Now I follow racing by picking around 100 race horses each year (mainly USA and Europe-based) that I follow throughout their careers. This way I have followed some amazing horses, such as G1 winners Lost In The Fog, Dubawi, Premium Tap, Friendly Michelle and Thor's Echo. I am sure I will put the spotlight on some of these horses and some of my other favourites in the future.

This blog will be documenting the current highlights from my crops in search of another superstar, but also some of my old top moments.

I hope you will enjoy!

K.