Stars Of The Turf

I am participating in a new online horse racing game called Stars Of The Turf, started by Alex. He has devised this idea for a horse racing game, that lets you choose 30 2yo race horses based on their sires' stud fees. 5 horses for each level of stud fee. You score via a points system as the horses run throughout the year. See the website for more details. This could be a really good game and I hope a lot of people will enter!

My picks are all either in my ToF Stable or foals by my ToF horses:

Tier A ($100k +)
1. Burgee (USA) : colt - Awesome Again ($150k) x Gold Streamer
2. Rotterdam (USA) : colt - Unbridled's Song ($150k) x Zoftig
3. Secret Wish (CAN) : filly - Street Cry ($100k) x Awesome Lass
4. Sunspear (IRE) : filly - Montjeu (EUR 125k) x Out West
5. unnamed (USA) : colt - Storm Cat ($300k) x Paiota Falls

Tier B ($50k - <$100k):
1. Ermine Slippers (USA) : filly - El Prado ($75k) x Sweet As Honey
2. Early Morning Rain (IRE) : filly - Rock Of Gibraltar (EUR 35k=$54k) x Honorine
3. unnamed (USA) : filly - Mineshaft ($75k) x Wildwood Flower
4. unnamed (USA) : filly - Mineshaft ($75k) x Whitewater
5. Seiun Knowledge (USA) : colt - Vindication ($60k) x Dossier

Tier C ($20k - <$50k):
1. Captain Captivated (USA) : filly - El Corredor ($30k) x Captivated
2. Barnstorming (USA) : colt - Thunder Gulch ($20k) x Soul Of The Cat
3. Race The Breeze (CAN) : filly - Theatrical ($40k) x Wedding Day Blues
4. unnamed (USA) : colt - Medaglia d'Oro ($40k) x Mizzen Lass
5. unnamed (USA) : filly - Lion Heart ($20k) x New Jersey

Tier D ($10k - <$20k):
1. Flashy Flyer (USA) : filly - Valid Expectations ($17.5k) x Wood Duck
2. Legendary Peace (USA) : filly - Peace Rules ($12.5k) x Red Mischief
3. unnamed (USA) : colt - Five Star Day ($15k) x Adventure
4. Flat Water (USA) : colt - Stephen Got Even ($12,5k) x Zirke Falls
5. unnamed (USA) : colt - Kafwain ($10k) x Unaltered

Tier E ($5k - <$10k):
1. Rightly So (USA) : filly - Read The Footnotes ($8.5k) x Fit Right In
2. Man Of Faith (USA) : colt - Essence Of Dubai x($5k) x River Of Faith
3. Bear Canyon (USA) : filly - Champali ($7.5k) x Miss Vesuvio
4. Oscar's Nominee (USA) : filly - Marino Marini ($5k) x Theatrical Doll
5. Hickory Nut (USA) : colt - Horse Chestnut ($5k) x Masked Ball

Tier F (<$5k):
1. Ancient Future (USA) : filly - Cat Dreams ($4k) x Ma Guerre
2. Certainly You (USA) : filly - Certain Storm ($2.5k) x Had To Be You
3. Marleau (USA) : colt - Cat Dreams ($4k) x Ascalon
4. Storm's Ransom (USA) : colt - Certain Storm ($2.5k) x Cushina
5. Cat Dreamer (USA) : colt - Cat Dreams ($4k) x Aunt Polly

Crop Of 2006... update 2

Acquiesced (IRE)	06F - Refuse To Bend x North East Bay (Prospect Bay) BAY
Adri's Emblem	06F - Our Emblem x ADRIATRICA
Amethyst Dawn (IRE)	06F - Act One x A L'Aube (Selkirk) GR
Ancient Future	06F - CAT DREAMS x Ma Guerre (Lord At War) CH
Artax Minstrel	06F - Artax x Coquina Bay (Cozzene) CH
Barnstorming	06M - Thunder Gulch x SOUL OF THE CAT
Bear Canyon	06F - Champali x Miss Vesuvio (Thirty Six Red)
Bonfire	06M - Runaway Groom x Tenacite (Seattle Slew) DKB
Burgee	06M - Awesome Again x Gold Streamer (Forty Niner) B
Captain Captivated	06F - El Corredor x CAPTIVATED
Certainly You	06F - CERTAIN STORM x Had To Be You (Horatius)
Curlew (IRE)	06M - Cape Cross x Billbill (Storm Cat) BAY
Damselfly (GB)	06F - Dr Fong x Mazarine Blue (Bellypha) BAY
Darcey (GB)	06F - Noverre x Firozi (Forzando) CH
Dark Echoes (GB)	06M - Diktat x Calamanco (Clantime) BLK
Early Morning Rain (IRE)	06F - Rock Of Gibraltar x Honorine (Mark Of Esteem) B
Emilia Plater	06F - Ascot Knight x Heavenly Glitter (Thirty Six Red) CH
Ermine Slippers	06F - El Prado x Sweet As Honey (Strike The Gold) GR
Firsaan (IRE)	06M - Haafhd x Walayef (Danzig) BAY
Flashy Flyer	06F - Valid Expectations x WOOD DUCK
Hickory Nut	06M - Horse Chestnut x MASKED BALL
Legendary Peace	06F - Peace Rules x Red Mischief (Thirty Six Red)
Man of Faith	06M - Essence Of Dubai x RIVER OF FAITH
Marleau	06M - CAT DREAMS x Ascalon (Two Punch)
Morning Mist	06F - Holy Bull x Go For Bail (Go For Gin) GR
Omega Wolf (IRE)	06M - Spartacus x Brave Cat (Catrail) BAY
Porcupine	06M - Housebuster x Loon Lake (Cryptoclearance) B
Premium Action	06F - Action This Day x Premium Red (Thirty Six Red) CH
Ptarmigan	06F - Unbridled Jet x Flaine (Chenin Blanc) GR
Qelaan	06F - Dynaformer x Irtahal (Swain) BAY
Race the Breeze	06F - Theatrical x Wedding Day Blues (El Prado) DBR
Rightly So	06F - Read The Footnotes x FIT RIGHT IN
Rotterdam	06M - Unbridled's Song x Zoftig (Cozzene) GR
Secret Wish	06F - Street Cry x Awesome Lass (Awesome Again) BAY
Shadows Lengthen (GB)	06M - Dansili x Bay Shade (Sharpen Up) B
Shetan (GB)	06M - Desert Prince x Seven Notes (Zafonic) CH
Shining Dawn	06F - Seeking The Gold x Easy 'n Gold (Slew O'Gold) CH
Snow Valley (FR)	06F - Choisir x Snow Lady (Vision) BAY
Storm's Ransom	06M - CERTAIN STORM x Cushina (Holy Bull)
Sunspear (IRE)	06F - Montjeu x Out West (Gone West) B
Valkyrie (IRE)	06F - Danehill Dancer x Ridotto (Salse) BAY

Lucky No 25 for Kaw Moe

Many things get written about G1 winners, about outstanding equines and champions, but few words are devoted to the unsung heroes, the bread and butter horses, the ones that are an integral part of racing; the claimers.

One such claimer is Kaw Moe, who I included in my 2004 crop, as he is a son of a Thirty Six Red daughter. The chestnut gelding by Rock And Roll out of True Compassion, had 24 runs behind him when he was fed and watered on Friday morning, 14 March. All his runs had come in maiden claiming raced and despite running second and third regularly during his career a win remained elusive.

He was entered in another maiden claiming on Friday afternoon at Mountaineer Racetrack in West Virginia, USA. The race carried a purse of $9,100 and a claiming tag of $5,000. The ten horses in the starting gate would have to cover 1 mile 70 yards over a sloppy dirt track. Kaw Moe went off second favourite, his record such that in company of other non-winners he sure would stand a chance. Lost At The Ritz went off favourite.

Finally he made it happen, finally he came good and how! He trounced the field, winning by almost twelve lengths under John Perez Jr.

Kaw Moe sat close up following Shocking Surprise into the far turn, challenged for the lead, powering clear into the upper stretch, winning much the best while kept to a drive (Equibase chart). He crossed the finish line in 1:52.87. Strike Two was second and Treasure's Joy back in third. The favourite finished fourth.

Kaw Moe was bred by Pine Manor Stable, is owned by Michelle Helms and trained by Edward Clouston. He was foaled on Valentine's Day 2004 in Pennsylvania. He has now earned $18,178 in 25 career starts.

Congrats to his connections and may he win again!

(Kaw Moe (USA) - 2004 chestnut gelding, Rock And Roll x True Compassion, by Thirty Six Red)

Premium Tap Manages Only Fourth

I have to say I am slightly dissapointed in the fourth place finish of Allam (Premium Tap) in the The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (G1), the biggest and most important race in Saudi Arabia's racing callendar. Kharimes (Joe Louis) won the 2400m race in 2:28.07, three quarters of a length in front of Shabel Almidaan, who beat Aloqhuwan (Omikron) by head back in third.

Yes the winning horse is quite accomplished, being an Argentinian G1 winner, but overall Premium Tap (Allam in Saudi Arabia) should have had the upper hand in this field. It is hard to determine exactly what happened or why he lost as the only information I have is the cold hard fact of the result. I sure hope he does not have a physical problem. Who knows, maybe he got boxed in, which is not impossible in a field of 18. I wish I knew. For now I will give him the definite benefit of doubt and expect him to be fit and ready to go for the Dubai World Cup, in which he is likely to face some big boys, including Curlin.

I love this horse and I hope he will bounce back to prove that he is a fantastic horse that is certainly capable of a top 3 in the Dubai World Cup, though I still want him to win it!

PS horses when racing in Saudi Arabia get different names, ie Premium Tap is Allam.

(Premium Tap - 2002 bay horse - Pleasant Tap x Premium Red, by Thirty Six Red)

The Weekend's ToF Stakes Action

Today (Saturday) Mr Golden Ruler, son of my 2001 mare Nature's Gold, is contesting the Borderland Derby at Sunland Park. He was not included in my 2005 crop, but nonetheless, being by one of my mares, I keep a close eye on him. Nature's Gold, a Valiant Nature mare, raced a few times without hitting the board, but her three-year-old son broke his maiden in his second start and placed in his last of three starts, an allowance race. The Arizona-bred Tribal Rule colt is likely to be the longest shot of the field. Poni Colada looks to go off a short-odds favourite. The Borderland Derby is over the trip of 1 1/16 miles and carries a purse of $100,000. It is an enormous step up for him, but who knows!

Sunday it is Sugar Swirl's turn, from my 2003 crop. She is taking her place in the $150,000 Hurricane Bertie Handicap (G3) at Gulfstream Park. Her biggest rival in the seven furlong race will be Lady Marlboro, who finished in a a dead heat in the Sabin Handicap (G3) back at the beginning of January. Of course Sugar Swirl is a G3 winner now and she has been quite consistent so far in her career. I give her a big chance of winning another one. She should be able to stretch out to 7f, as she seemed to have something left to give in her last race. She has actually won over 1 mile before, though that was 'only' an allowance race. Maybe the fact that Javier Castellano chose to ride her over Lady Marlboro is enough. Sugar Swirl is on a roll and I hope she keeps on rolling. I would love to see her in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at the end of the year. She could be my American flagbearer for 2008!

(Sugar Swirl - 2003 chestnut mare - Touch Gold x Astrapi, by Distinctive Pro)
(Mr Golden Ruler - 2005 dark bay colt - Tribal Rule x NATURE'S GOLD, by Valiant Nature)

Cloudburst Wins Mardi Gras

Cloudburst has done it! She won her first stakes in good fashion. After a good showing in her last race, a sprint over turf, she was saddled yesterday to go in the Mardi Gras S at the Fair Grounds.

This stakes, over five and a half furlongs on the grass, turned out to be just up her street. She led wire to wire to win by a convincing 2 1/2 lengths. She beat the good filly Sweepstake (IRE). Sweepstake is a Listed winner in the UK and was 3rd in her last outing, a G3 race at Ascot in July.

She is bred and owned by Overbrook Farm, who stand her sire Storm Cat, and trained by Dallas Stewart. She is unbeaten in two starts this year and with the $36k cheque she won yesterday she has career winnings of just over 70k.

Daily Racing Form article

I was going to call this post 'Cloudburst Burst Onto The Scene", but thought it a bit corny!

I am chuffed to bits that one of my 2005 Crop finally decided to step up to the plate and she did it well. I doubt she will be in the Oaks starting gates come May, but she is beautifully bred and I hope she will continue to improve. As she will likely be tried over two turns in her next start, I will just have sit tight and see what happens.

Isn't horse a wonderful sport?

(Cloudburst - 2005 Dark bay filly - Storm Cat x Harbor Springs, by Vice Regent)

Captain Captivated First To Work

It is always a thrill to get the first workout of a two-year-old of the season.

This year, Captain Captivated was the first to work. Only a furlong, mind you! She is the first produce of my 2001 crop mare Captivated, a Capote mare, by El Corredor. She worked one furlong in 12.40 over the Hollywood Park all-weather yesterday.

It does raise the question, as it does each year, should such young horses really be working at all yet? Their bones have so much growing to do, can they really take the strain of working out yet?

In Captain Captivated's case, she was foaled on 11 February, so she's not even two yet. I have often found that the youngsters that are the first to work, disappear halfway through their two-year-old season and are never heard from again, which is a great shame and I do wonder whether being asked to be race horse so early in life compromises their growth and strength.

In an ideal world, if I had the choice, I would rather not have races for horses under three years old, but I am afraid this is an idle wish and will never happen.

So, it is up to the trainers and owners to decide whether their two-year-old is ready to start working or not. If their youngster is precocious and has done most of their growing, maybe it won't hurt. But if the animal is still awkward and weak, isn't it better to wait until (s)he has grown into his or her frame. There are trainers out there that let their horses dictate their schedule, but others don't and race youngsters that are not ready yet and they get hurt.

Anyway, I hope in Captain Captivated's case that she is ready. I know, she only ran a furlong and how much harm can it do? Fingers crossed she will not be one of the ones to fall by the wayside.

(Captain Captivated - 2006 dark bay filly - El Corredor x Captivated, by Capote)

Sugar Swirl Lands The First Lady

My first Stakes winner of the year - Sugar Swirl, a sturdy chestnut mare, started the year in good form, finally landing her long over due Graded win. Her win came in the $100,000 First Lady Handicap (G3) on Sunday 14 January.

She was held up on the sloppy Gulfstream Park as Rgirldoesn'tbluff set the pace. Sugar Swirl was ridden by Javier Castellano, who angled her out on the turn as she found another gear. She gamely conquered her foes in good style and came home in 1.10.06 in the slop.

The pacesetter Rgirldoesn'tbluff held secon, comfortably clear of Bereba, who finished in third.

She is trained by Brian Lynch for Stronach Stables.

(Sugar Swirl - 2003 chestnut mare - Touch Gold x Astrapi, by Distinctive Pro)

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.

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.