The TDN has solicited the opinions of some prominent figures on the European bloodstock scene to answer three questions about the upcoming Flat season. Today's installment features the thoughts of Pat Downes, general manager at His Highness the Aga Khan's Studs:
1) Horse you are most looking forward to seeing this season?
PD: 'TDN Rising Star' Zarak (Dubawi ex Zarkava). A lovely colt with an outstanding pedigree. He won his only start as a 2-year-old, a maiden at Deauville in late October in eyecatching style and looks a colt to look forward to this year. I saw him a week ago and he is a most attractive individual and Alain de Royer-Dupre seems happy with him.
2). A stallion who could feature prominently (doesn't have to be first season)?
PD: I will go with Born To Sea. It is always exciting to see a horse have his first runners but when that horse has a pedigree like he has, it makes it all the more exciting. His yearlings looked very racey and they are well distributed amongst some of the best trainers in Europe. Urban Sea is one of the great matriarchs of all time and her influence, mixed with the excellent Invincible Spirit, gives Born To Sea a potentially very interesting mix of speed and class and I am looking forward to seeing what that will produce with his first runners this year.
3). Positive change you would like to see for the industry in 2016?
PD: A positive change I would like to see concerns Irish racecourses. There are those that make a great effort to provide the casual racegoer with an experience that will bring them back again and again and unfortunately there are others that do not. SIS revenue has made some racecourses lazy and I would like to see that addressed for the benefit of racegoers and, ultimately, Irish racing in general.
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