Bill Oppenheim on European Bargain Stallions
FOUR EUROPEAN BARGAINS
Last week we wrote about four Kentucky stallions we reckon are very good buys for 2015 which breeders might actually still be able to get to. Here are four in Europe. Happy New Year!
SO YOU THINK (NZ), 2006h. High Chaparral (Ire)–Triassic (NZ), by Tights
First Foals 2014, Coolmore (IR), €12,500
The unfortunate death of High Chaparral at only 15 earlier this month did at least serve to focus breeders’ attention a bit more on arguably his best son, So You Think, a winner of 14 of his 23 races with earnings over £5 million. Bred in New Zealand when High Chaparral was standing there and a NZ$110,000 yearling trained by the legendary Bart Cummings, So You Think burst into prominence when winning the 2009 G1 Cox Plate as a 3-year-old. But it was during his 4-year-old campaign, in the Australian spring (August–November) of 2010 that So You Think really blasted off. He won five of his six starts, four of them Group 1 races at 9-10 furlongs, including a second win in the Cox Plate. His only loss was in his first start beyond 10 1/2 furlongs, when third in the G1 Melbourne Cup. The Racing Post assigns Ratings (RPR) on major Australian races; in his last eight starts in Australia, So You Think ran RPRs every time between 124-129. Such high-level consistency is rare.
So You Think made 11 starts while trained in Europe as a ‘Northern’ five- and six-year-old in 2011-2012. The only two times he ran RPRs below 125 were at Churchill Downs, in the 2011 GI Breeders’ Cup Classic, on the dirt, and the 2012 G1 Dubai World Cup, on the all-weather. He ran a 125 when fourth to Danedream in the 2011 G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at 12 furlongs. In his eight starts at 10-10 1/2 furlongs on the Turf in Europe, he won six, of which five were Group 1s (the Tattersalls Gold Cup twice; the Eclipse; the Irish Champion S.; and the Prince of Wales’s), and was second twice. In all eight of those starts, he ran RPRs between 127-129; again, rare high-level consistency. In all, So You Think ran RPRs between 124-129 a total of 17 times. He’s standing his third season on 2015, meaning breeders would be selling yearlings by him the year his first 3-year-olds were running. That could be a really good bet.
Another very promising son of High Chaparral is Toronado, who makes his debut at the National Stud in Newmarket for £15,000. He was an unbeaten Group 2 winner as a 2-year-old, and at three and four won two Group 1s at a mile and ran second in three others. His best RPR was also 129.
ARCHIPENKO, 2004h. Kingmambo–Bound, by Nijinsky II
First Foals 2011, Lanwades Stud (GB), £10,000
THEWAYYOUARE, 2005h. Kingmambo–Maryinsky (Ire), by Sadler’s Wells
First Foals 2011, Coolmore (IR), €5,000
Two sons of Kingmambo with blockbuster pedigrees, both with their first 3-year-olds racing in 2014, look very attractive propositions at relative bargain prices for 2015.
More ‘expensive’ of the two is Lanwades Stud’s Archipenko, who absolutely has one of the best pedigrees of any horse at stud in Europe. He is out of Bound, by Nijinsky out of Special, so his dam is actually a 3/4-sister to Nureyev and a half-sister to Fairy Bridge, the dam of Sadler’s Wells. Bred by a Coolmore entity, Archipenko won the G2 Derrinstown Derby Trial in his first start at three, but finished no better than fifth in four subsequent starts that year, all in Group 1 company, and was sold to Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum to be trained by Mike de Kock as a 4-year-old. After a prep at Nad Al Sheba, he won the G2 Al Fahidi Fort at a mile, and ran third to Jay Peg in the G1 Dubai Duty Free at nine furlongs. He went on from Dubai to win a 10-furlong Group 1 in Hong Kong in April, then came back to Europe where he won the G2 Summer Mile at Ascot, and just failed to catch front-running Spirit One in the GI Arlington Million. He ran RPRs of 121 or 122 in those five consecutive races at four different racetracks on three continents. Globetrotter.
Early in the season, the Archipenko filly Madame Chiang (GB) won the G3 Musidora S. at York, and another 3-year-old filly from his first crop, Lady Penko (Ity), won a listed stakes in France and ran third in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary. But his stud career got a major boost when Madame Chiang won the G1 British Champions Day Filly & Mare Race (12 furlongs, heavy ground) in October. Without too much fanfare, though, Archipenko also had no fewer than five black-type 2-year-olds, all at seven furlongs or a mile, in September and October, and now has a total of nine black-type horses in all. He’s living up to his pedigree.
Thewayyouare was also bred by a Coolmore entity–and also has a great pedigree, being a half-brother to Peeping Fawn out of Maryinsky, a daughter of blue hen Blush With Pride–but was sold by them as a yearling to Irish builder Sean Mulrayn, through agent Herve Barjot. Trained by the legendary Andre Fabre, Thewayyouare misfired first time out, then won his next three, including the G3 Prix Thomas Bryon. Coolmore bought back into him before he won the one-mile G1 Criterium International in his final start at two. He only made four more starts over the next two years, two in each year and all in Group 1s, but never hit the board. He sired his first crop at Ashford in Kentucky, then moved to Ireland, where he has stood since.
The star of Thewayyouare’s first crop of 60 foals is Toast of New York, who has put his trainer, former jump jockey Jamie Osborne, firmly on the international map. Toast of New York sprang a surprise when winning the $2-million G2 UAE Derby on Dubai World Cup night, then followed up with bang-up seconds to top U.S. 3-year-olds Shared Belief (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GI Pacific Classic at Del Mar (synthetic) and Bayern (Offlee Wild) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita (dirt). His next target, not surprisingly, is the G1 Dubai World Cup next March (now dirt).
Coolmore partner Michael Tabor bred a few mares to Thewayyouare and sent some to Thewayyouare’s trainer Andre Fabre. Two 3-year-old fillies showed black-type form this spring, namely Hug And A Kiss (placed in two Group 3 races) and Secret Admirer (placed in two listed stakes races). The knockers want to say he’s a one-hit wonder, but I don’t think that’s true, and also very seriously underestimates how good Toast of New York actually is. After all, 3-year-olds ran 1-2-3-4 in this year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Classic: Bayern, Toast of New York, California Chrome, Shared Belief. That’s very hot company, which makes Thewayyouare at €5,000 a tremendous buy.
ANODIN (Ire), 2010 Anabaa–Born Gold, by Blushing Groom
Retires 2015, Haras du Quesnay (FR), €7,500
Goldikova (Ire)’s little brother developed into a seriously good miler this year as a 4-year-old. The bare facts say he only won two races in his career–neither of them this year–and his best win was in the G3 Paul de Moussac last year as a 3-year-old. But that’s not the whole story.
Anodin did not win this year, but here’s what he did do. He ran second to Cirrus des Aigles (Fr) in the 9 1/4-furlong G1 Prix d’Ispahan in May. Then he ran third, beaten two lengths by Toronado (Ire) and Verrazano, in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot in June. Then he ran second to Kingman (GB) in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois in August. Then he ran second to Karakontie (Jpn) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita. In all four 2014 Group 1 placings, he ran RPRs of 118-119.
He was well-fancied in the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile, and connections were left ruing what might have been as Karakontie, drawn widest of all in 14, benefited from a brilliant ride by Pasquier, while Anodin, with Peslier up and drawn nine, ended up not having that smooth a trip and closed late to be beaten a length. It was reminiscent of Dansili (GB)’s unlucky run at Churchill Downs in the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Mile, when he was beaten a neck a nose by War Chant and longshot North East Bound. That defeat didn’t stop Dansili making a sire, as we now know, so you could sure fancy Anodin for his new job at €7,500.
ECLIPSE AWARDS
We are as yet no further forward in having guidelines for the Eclipse Awards voters, except that, to be eligible for any category, a horse has to have started at least once in North America in 2014. We are required to list 1-2-3 selections in each category, though in a few of these cases there are two standouts with a distant third. So, in a chaotic universe in which anarchy very well could rule, here are this writer’s selections.
2-Year-Old Male: This is one of the categories with two standouts and a distant third. American Pharaoh (Pioneerof The Nile) won the GI Del Mar Futurity (Beyer 101) and GI FrontRunner (101), both with, well, front-running performances. He would have been heavily favoured in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, but was sidelined by injury. FrontRunner third Texas Red (Afleet Alex) ran off with the Juvenile (Beyer 104) in his absence and may get the nod, but I’m going 1 American Pharaoh, 2 Texas Red, with GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Hootenanny, from Quality Road’s first crop, completing the top three.
2-Year-Old Filly: After dropping four in a row, Wayne Lukas trainee Take Charge Brandi (Giant’s Causeway), led wire-to-wire at 61-1 to upset (I’ll say) the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. That wouldn’t have done it, but her trainer, who re-wrote the record books in his heyday, showed he still has the magic with two more runs and two more wins, so that tips the scales in her favor, even though her highest Beyer figure is an 87. GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Lady Eli (Divine Park) is three-for-three with a Beyer 96, but, again with two worthy winning possibilities, I’m going 1 Take Charge Brandi, 2 Lady Eli. Dual Grade I winner Condo Commando (Tiz Wonderful) for third.
3-Year-Old Male: By far the toughest category, especially when you consider the first four in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic were all 3-year-olds. California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) gets the nod for me: he won the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness; ran third, wide all the way from the 13 hole to be beaten a nose and a neck, in the Classic; and finished off the year by winning the GI Hollywood Derby (at Del Mar) on the turf. Bayern (Offlee Wild) will have plenty of supporters, too, having after all won the Classic, and defeated California Chrome two of the three times they met. But I am 1-California Chrome; 2-Bayern. Shared Belief (Candy Ride) has only lost once, when fourth in the Classic, having been knocked sideways at the start by the winner, and he’s my number three. Amazingly, all three are scheduled to remain in training, as well as Classic second Toast of New York (Thewayyouare), GI Belmont and GI Jockey Gold Cup winner Tonalist(Tapit), GI Wood Memorial winner Wicked Strong (Hard Spun), and GI Travers winner V. E. Day (English Channel). Excellent, very deep division.
3-Year-Old Filly: Untapable (Tapit) is a lock here, winner of four Grade Is including the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff, and six-for-six against fillies. My very distant two-three are Queen’s Plate winner Lexie Lou (Sligo Bay) and dual Grade I winner Sweet Reason (Street Sense).
Older Male: Here is a case where lack of guidance creates chaos. This category should probably be re-named “4-Year-Old & Up Dirt Male,” but the problem with that is the Turf Male category is for 3-year-olds and up. Anyway, I make GI Met Mile winner Palace Malice (Curlin) the champion here. He was four-for-five for the year until sidelined by injury in August, including three straight graded race wins with Beyers of 114-114-112. Further complicating the issue: is this really a “one mile-plus dirt” category? For this year, I think yes: 2-Itsmyluckyday (Lawyer Ron); 3-Lea (First Samurai).
Older Female: Similar problem, and a weak division this year. In spite of losing her last two races, Close Hatches (First Defence) gets the nod, off three Grade I wins, over GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff three-two Iotapa (Afleet Alex) and Don’t Tell Sophia (Congaree).
Male Sprinters: I know his big win was his repeat in the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, but Goldencents (Into Mischief) ran in only Grade I (four) and Grade II races (one) this year and was 2-3-0 in those five starts. He gets my vote, narrowly over GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Work All Week (City Zip), with dual 2014 Grade I winner and Breeders’ Cup Sprint third Private Zone (Macho Uno) in the show spot.
Female Sprinters: GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Judy The Beauty (Ghostzapper) is the deserving winner here. In another light division I have Midnight Lucky (Midnight Lute), one-for-one for the year, and the 3-year-old two-time 2014 Grade I winner Sweet Reason (Street Sense) two-three.
Turf Male: The last two years the Turf Male Champion and Horse of the Year has been the now 7-year-old gelding Wise Dan (Wiseman’s Ferry), and he should be a nearly unanimous runner-up in this category this year. But the champion is the 5-year-old gelding Main Sequence (Aldebaran), who became only the fourth horse to have an undefeated season including four Grade I wins, culminating in the Breeders’ Cup. The first three were: Personal Ensign 1989, Cigar 1995, and Zenyatta 2009. Graham Motion did a fantastic job with the horse, maybe an Eclipse-winning job himself, and Main Sequence kicked off a double for owner-breeders the Niarchos family’s Flaxman Holdings which has itself only been achieved three times before, and which should earn them consideration in both the Owners and Breeders category. I made their GI Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Karakontie (Bernstein), who completed the Niarchos Family’s 200-1 double, third in this category.
Turf Female: GI Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf one-two Dayatthespa (City Zip) and Stephanie’s Kitten (Kitten’s Joy) rank a clear one-two in this category. GI Beverly D. invader Euro Charline (Myboycharlie) for third.
SUMMARY:
2yo Colt: 1-American Pharaoh; 2-Texas Red; 3-Hootenanny
2yo Filly: 1-Take Charge Brandi; 2-Lady Eli; 3-Condo Commando
3yo Male: 1-California Chrome; 2-Bayern; 3-Shared Belief
3yo Filly: 1-Untapable; 2-Lexie Lou; 3-Sweet Reason
Older Male (1m+ Dirt): 1-Palace Malice; 2-Itsmyluckyday; 3-Lea
Older Female: (1m+ Dirt): 1-Close Hatches; 2-Iotapa; 3- Don’t Tell Sophia
Sprint Male: 1-Goldencents; 2-Work All Week; 3-Private Zone
Sprint Female: 1-Judy the Beauty; 2-Midnight Lucky; 3-Sweet Reason
Turf Male: 1-Main Sequence; 2-Wise Dan; 3-Karakontie
Turf Female: 1-Dayatthespa; 2-Stephanie’s Kitten; 3-Euro Charline
Horse of the Year: 1-Main Sequence; 2-California Chrome; 3-Untapable
Bill Oppenheim may be contacted at bopp@erb.com (please cc TDN management at suefinley@thoroughbreddailynews.com). Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/billoppenheim.