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I am not sure there has ever been a bigger year for Northern Dancer's descendants. Just when it looked like his bloodlines could be trailing off his descendants manage to win every major classic race from every corner of the globe. Here is a list of the classics they won that I covered on my blog. I am sure I missed a few but this list is pretty impressive.
Japan Cup
Japan's Arima Kinen
Hong Kong Cup
Hong Kong Mile
Hong Kong Sprint
Hong Kong Vase
US Breeders Cup Classic
US Breeders Cup Mile
US Breeders Cup Juvenile
US Breeders Cup Turf
and 11 other Breeders Cup races
Austrailia's Melbourne Cup
France's Prix De L'arc de Triomphe
England's St Leger
England's Epson Derby
England's 2000 Guineas
Canada's Queens Plate
US Belmont Stakes
US Preakness Stakes
US Kentucky Derby
Dubai World Cup
Dubai Shema Classic
Duby Duty Free
and 4 other Dubai Stakes
Barbados Cup
If I had to pick something for everyone to watch to try to explain my little Canadian hero it would probably be this CBC documentary on their Life and Times series. It was first aired on March 31, 2005 on CBC and instrumental along with Muriel Lennox's book in my desire to document more of his story. Muriel is interviewed throughout the film. You can see this brilliant biography in 4 parts on youtube. Here is part 1. You can link to the other 3 parts off my blog (on the right side down below).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2FrZY4mjL4
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Monday, December 26, 2011
Arima Kinen 2011 to Japan's Triple Crown Winner Orfevre
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It was a fantastic field in this year's Arima Kinen in front of 115,000 fans. I wanted to see how the great mare Buena Vista fared but she was not a factor. The winner Orfevre won Japan's Triple Crown earlier this year and was the favorite. The top 3 finishers were all bred in Japan and all descendants of our Dancer to cap off an incredible year for the grandkids.
1) Orfevre great great grandson x2
2) Eishin Flash great great great grandson x2
3) To The Glory great great grandson x3
images from Japan Racing Association
video of race
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRVmkFFIHuY
It was a fantastic field in this year's Arima Kinen in front of 115,000 fans. I wanted to see how the great mare Buena Vista fared but she was not a factor. The winner Orfevre won Japan's Triple Crown earlier this year and was the favorite. The top 3 finishers were all bred in Japan and all descendants of our Dancer to cap off an incredible year for the grandkids.
1) Orfevre great great grandson x2
2) Eishin Flash great great great grandson x2
3) To The Glory great great grandson x3
images from Japan Racing Association
video of race
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRVmkFFIHuY
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup 2011 Summary
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Wow, what an exciting day at Hong Kong's beautiful Sha Tin racecourse with 60,000 people in attendance. Four great finishes in the big races and a perfect 13 for 13 top 3 finishes for descendants of Northern Dancer (bred in 8 different countries on 4 different continents). With a total purse of 68 million HK$ the grandkids brought in another $8 Million US$. Just when it was looking like some other bloodlines were starting to take hold the Norhern Dancer genes had a dominant year in 2011.
That's a pic of Dunaden winning the Vase earlier today completing his big double of the Melbourne Cup and Hong Kong Vase and Lucky Nine edging out Entrapment in the Sprint. Some of the many great photos on the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup site (click on to enlarge them).
Added the pics from the CP site of Able One winiing the Mile and California Memory winning the Cup and fireworks after the Cup.
The individual race results are just below this post - exciting stuff.
Videos of all HK races and connection to website
http://www.cxhkir.com/english/hkir2011/hkircx11-multimedia.asp
Wow, what an exciting day at Hong Kong's beautiful Sha Tin racecourse with 60,000 people in attendance. Four great finishes in the big races and a perfect 13 for 13 top 3 finishes for descendants of Northern Dancer (bred in 8 different countries on 4 different continents). With a total purse of 68 million HK$ the grandkids brought in another $8 Million US$. Just when it was looking like some other bloodlines were starting to take hold the Norhern Dancer genes had a dominant year in 2011.
That's a pic of Dunaden winning the Vase earlier today completing his big double of the Melbourne Cup and Hong Kong Vase and Lucky Nine edging out Entrapment in the Sprint. Some of the many great photos on the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup site (click on to enlarge them).
Added the pics from the CP site of Able One winiing the Mile and California Memory winning the Cup and fireworks after the Cup.
The individual race results are just below this post - exciting stuff.
Videos of all HK races and connection to website
http://www.cxhkir.com/english/hkir2011/hkircx11-multimedia.asp
Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup 2011
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Wow, it was another exciting finsh as this year's Cup is a wrap. It was the beautiful grey American bred California Memory surging ahead at the finish to beat the German breds Irian and Zazou. All four races this year on Cup day were brilliant finishes and of course another 1-2-3 finish for the grandkids (yes even the grey).
1) California Memory (USA) great great grandson x3
2) Irian (GER) great great great grandson
3) Zazou (GER) great great grandson x3
Images from Getty
Race result and video of race
http://www.cxhkir.com/english/hkir2011/race-cup-result.asp
Wow, it was another exciting finsh as this year's Cup is a wrap. It was the beautiful grey American bred California Memory surging ahead at the finish to beat the German breds Irian and Zazou. All four races this year on Cup day were brilliant finishes and of course another 1-2-3 finish for the grandkids (yes even the grey).
1) California Memory (USA) great great grandson x3
2) Irian (GER) great great great grandson
3) Zazou (GER) great great grandson x3
Images from Getty
Race result and video of race
http://www.cxhkir.com/english/hkir2011/race-cup-result.asp
Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile 2011
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It was the nine year-old Able-One upsetting the Hong Kong Mile with City Scape second and the favorite Xtension third in yet another exciting finish. Another 1-2-3 finish for the grandkids bred in 3 different countries.
1) Able One (NZ) great great grandson x2
2) City Scape (JPN) Grandson
3) Xtension (IRE) great great great grandson
Images from Getty
Race result and video of race
http://www.cxhkir.com/english/hkir2011/race-mile-result.asp
It was the nine year-old Able-One upsetting the Hong Kong Mile with City Scape second and the favorite Xtension third in yet another exciting finish. Another 1-2-3 finish for the grandkids bred in 3 different countries.
1) Able One (NZ) great great grandson x2
2) City Scape (JPN) Grandson
3) Xtension (IRE) great great great grandson
Images from Getty
Race result and video of race
http://www.cxhkir.com/english/hkir2011/race-mile-result.asp
Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint 2011
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Another exciting finish and this time a dead heat for second with Lucky Nine coming out on top of Entrapment and Joy and Fun in the Sprint. This time it's a 1-2-2 finish for the grandkids.
1) Lucky Nine (IRE) great great grandson x4 (through Dubawi and Dubai Millennium)
2) Entrapment (AUS) great great grandson x3
3) Joy and Fun (NZ) great great grandson x2
images from Getty
Race results and video of race
http://www.cxhkir.com/english/hkir2011/race-sprint-result.asp
Another exciting finish and this time a dead heat for second with Lucky Nine coming out on top of Entrapment and Joy and Fun in the Sprint. This time it's a 1-2-2 finish for the grandkids.
1) Lucky Nine (IRE) great great grandson x4 (through Dubawi and Dubai Millennium)
2) Entrapment (AUS) great great grandson x3
3) Joy and Fun (NZ) great great grandson x2
images from Getty
Race results and video of race
http://www.cxhkir.com/english/hkir2011/race-sprint-result.asp
Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase 2011
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Wow, Dunaden becomes the first to win both the Melbourne Cup and the Hong Kong Vase in a great finish. It was a 1-2-3-3 finish for the grandkids of Northern Dancer as Thumbs Up finished second and it was a dead heat for third between Silver Pond and Red Cadeaux.
1) Dunadedn (FR) great great grandson
2) Thumbs Up (NZ) great grandson x2
3) Silver Pond (Fr) great great grandson x3
3) Red Cadeaux (GB) great great grandson x3
images from Getty
Video of race and results
http://www.cxhkir.com/english/hkir2011/race-vase-result.asp
Wow, Dunaden becomes the first to win both the Melbourne Cup and the Hong Kong Vase in a great finish. It was a 1-2-3-3 finish for the grandkids of Northern Dancer as Thumbs Up finished second and it was a dead heat for third between Silver Pond and Red Cadeaux.
1) Dunadedn (FR) great great grandson
2) Thumbs Up (NZ) great grandson x2
3) Silver Pond (Fr) great great grandson x3
3) Red Cadeaux (GB) great great grandson x3
images from Getty
Video of race and results
http://www.cxhkir.com/english/hkir2011/race-vase-result.asp
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup - Sunday early am EST
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The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup coverage is outstanding. The final 4 Gr 1 races including the Cup itself will start around 1:30 am EST from the beautiful Sha Tin racecourse. I will be following closely.
Here is their link where you can already catch up on a lot of the pre-race activities. Photo above of Breakfast with the Champions - a family day on Saturday at Sha Tin
http://www.cxhkir.com/english/hkir2011/main.asp
The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup coverage is outstanding. The final 4 Gr 1 races including the Cup itself will start around 1:30 am EST from the beautiful Sha Tin racecourse. I will be following closely.
Here is their link where you can already catch up on a lot of the pre-race activities. Photo above of Breakfast with the Champions - a family day on Saturday at Sha Tin
http://www.cxhkir.com/english/hkir2011/main.asp
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Japan Cup 2011 - Buena Vista wins it for the girls
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It was a 1-2-3 finish for the Japanese breds and a 1-2-3 finish for descendants of Northern Dancer in what is billed as the 3rd richest race in the world. The great mare Buena Vista outduelled Tosen Jordan down the stretch with Jaguar Mail finishing third to win over 250,000,000 yen (over $3M US) first place money. Danedream and Victoire Pisa winners of l'Arc and the Dubai World Cup finished well back. It was vindication for the 5 year-old mare who won the race last year but was demoted to second after the stewards ruled her jockey interfered with Rose Kingdom who was promoted for the win.
1) Buena Vista - great great grandaughter x2
2) Tosen Jordan - great grandson x2
3) Jaguar Mail - great great grandson x2
above images from Getty
great early video coverage of the race
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpxYVkrc_J8
quick link to my last year's post and video where Buena Vista won the race a little more convincingly but had her number taken down by the stewards
http://northerndancerblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/japan-cup-2010-1-2-or-2-1-finish-for.html
It was a 1-2-3 finish for the Japanese breds and a 1-2-3 finish for descendants of Northern Dancer in what is billed as the 3rd richest race in the world. The great mare Buena Vista outduelled Tosen Jordan down the stretch with Jaguar Mail finishing third to win over 250,000,000 yen (over $3M US) first place money. Danedream and Victoire Pisa winners of l'Arc and the Dubai World Cup finished well back. It was vindication for the 5 year-old mare who won the race last year but was demoted to second after the stewards ruled her jockey interfered with Rose Kingdom who was promoted for the win.
1) Buena Vista - great great grandaughter x2
2) Tosen Jordan - great grandson x2
3) Jaguar Mail - great great grandson x2
above images from Getty
great early video coverage of the race
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpxYVkrc_J8
quick link to my last year's post and video where Buena Vista won the race a little more convincingly but had her number taken down by the stewards
http://northerndancerblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/japan-cup-2010-1-2-or-2-1-finish-for.html
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Breeders Cup 2011 - Classic
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Wow, what a great day of racing and lots of surprises. Drosselmeyer came out of nowhere to overtake Game On Dude to win the Classic for Winstar Farms (my Facebook friends). Ruler On Ice finished third. The win tied jockey Mike Smith with Jerry Bailey with the most Breeders Cup wins all time (15). All top 3 were grandkids of the Dancer and Ruler On Ice is another descendant of Fanny through L'Enjoleur.
1) Drosselmeyer - great great grandson x3
2) Game On Dude - great great grandson
3) Ruler On Ice - great great great grandson (Fanny)
Great Images from Getty
Fantastic 2 days of racing. That is the most top 3 finishers on a Breeders Cup weekend for descendants of Northern Dancer - 44 0f the 45 top 3 finishers and over $20 Million earned. I was thinking of our friend and great writer Ted Beare today. I wish he could have been there like he was for so so many years of Breeders Cups. I felt like I was watching this for two. We miss you Ted.
video of the race
http://www.youtube.com/BCWorldChampionships#p/u/0/kZaELcMJ95s
Wow, what a great day of racing and lots of surprises. Drosselmeyer came out of nowhere to overtake Game On Dude to win the Classic for Winstar Farms (my Facebook friends). Ruler On Ice finished third. The win tied jockey Mike Smith with Jerry Bailey with the most Breeders Cup wins all time (15). All top 3 were grandkids of the Dancer and Ruler On Ice is another descendant of Fanny through L'Enjoleur.
1) Drosselmeyer - great great grandson x3
2) Game On Dude - great great grandson
3) Ruler On Ice - great great great grandson (Fanny)
Great Images from Getty
Fantastic 2 days of racing. That is the most top 3 finishers on a Breeders Cup weekend for descendants of Northern Dancer - 44 0f the 45 top 3 finishers and over $20 Million earned. I was thinking of our friend and great writer Ted Beare today. I wish he could have been there like he was for so so many years of Breeders Cups. I felt like I was watching this for two. We miss you Ted.
video of the race
http://www.youtube.com/BCWorldChampionships#p/u/0/kZaELcMJ95s
Breeders Cup 2011 - Mile
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Goldikova came up short in her bid to be the first 4 time Breeders Cup winner after a brilliant effort in the mile. She was hemmed in around the turn and had to bump her way out before taking the lead but she couldn't hang on as Court Vision edged out Turallure by a whisker at the wire. Goldikova could have been taken down for her obvious bump of Courageous Cat (and others) but the stewards left her number up for third. Again all 3 were descendants of the Dancer.
1) Court Vision - great great grandson
2) Turallure - great grandson
3) Goldikova - great granddaughter x2
Image from Getty
video of the race
http://www.youtube.com/BCWorldChampionships#p/u/1/7_JY35JjPt8
Goldikova came up short in her bid to be the first 4 time Breeders Cup winner after a brilliant effort in the mile. She was hemmed in around the turn and had to bump her way out before taking the lead but she couldn't hang on as Court Vision edged out Turallure by a whisker at the wire. Goldikova could have been taken down for her obvious bump of Courageous Cat (and others) but the stewards left her number up for third. Again all 3 were descendants of the Dancer.
1) Court Vision - great great grandson
2) Turallure - great grandson
3) Goldikova - great granddaughter x2
Image from Getty
video of the race
http://www.youtube.com/BCWorldChampionships#p/u/1/7_JY35JjPt8
Breeders Cup 2011 - Juvenile
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Speed burns as the obvious speed horse in the Juvenile - the grey Hansen hangs on to beat favorite Union Rags at the wire with Creative Cause third and another 1-2-3 finish for Northern Dancer descendants.
1) Hansen - great great great grandson x2
2) Union Rags - great grandson x2
3) Creative Cause - great great grandson
Images from Getty
video of race
http://www.youtube.com/BCWorldChampionships#p/u/5/lm6PTqsSi9w
Speed burns as the obvious speed horse in the Juvenile - the grey Hansen hangs on to beat favorite Union Rags at the wire with Creative Cause third and another 1-2-3 finish for Northern Dancer descendants.
1) Hansen - great great great grandson x2
2) Union Rags - great grandson x2
3) Creative Cause - great great grandson
Images from Getty
video of race
http://www.youtube.com/BCWorldChampionships#p/u/5/lm6PTqsSi9w
Breeders Cup 2011 - Turf
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Wow, highlight of the day for me. No surprise in that an Aidan O'Brien trained horse can win a classic race but the jock is his 18 year-old son Joseph Patrick O'Brien who becomes the youngest jockey to win a Breeders Cup race. What's maybe more interesting is that his career as a jockey could be over almost before it starts. Joey stands 5'11 and weighs 9 stone (126 lbs). He will probably end up following in his father's hoofprints as he already is a big part of the training regimen with his dad. Oh, by the way - another 1-2-3 finish for the grandsons.
St Nicholas Abbey (IRE) - great grandson
Sea Moon (GB) - great great grandson x2
Brilliant Speed - great great great grandson
Images from Getty
video of the race
http://www.youtube.com/BCWorldChampionships#p/u/2/TfwiZ1Dzz8U
Wow, highlight of the day for me. No surprise in that an Aidan O'Brien trained horse can win a classic race but the jock is his 18 year-old son Joseph Patrick O'Brien who becomes the youngest jockey to win a Breeders Cup race. What's maybe more interesting is that his career as a jockey could be over almost before it starts. Joey stands 5'11 and weighs 9 stone (126 lbs). He will probably end up following in his father's hoofprints as he already is a big part of the training regimen with his dad. Oh, by the way - another 1-2-3 finish for the grandsons.
St Nicholas Abbey (IRE) - great grandson
Sea Moon (GB) - great great grandson x2
Brilliant Speed - great great great grandson
Images from Getty
video of the race
http://www.youtube.com/BCWorldChampionships#p/u/2/TfwiZ1Dzz8U
Breeders Cup 2011 - Dirt Mile
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It was an exciting finish with Caleb's Posse coming from way back at the top of the stretch to run down Shackleford with Tres Borrachos finishing third and another 1-2-3 finish for the grandkids.
1) Caleb's Posse - great great grandson
2) Shackleford - great great grandson
3) Tres Borrachos - great great great grandson x3
Images from Getty
video of race
http://www.youtube.com/BCWorldChampionships#p/u/10/S-8-fZ0gSYY
It was an exciting finish with Caleb's Posse coming from way back at the top of the stretch to run down Shackleford with Tres Borrachos finishing third and another 1-2-3 finish for the grandkids.
1) Caleb's Posse - great great grandson
2) Shackleford - great great grandson
3) Tres Borrachos - great great great grandson x3
Images from Getty
video of race
http://www.youtube.com/BCWorldChampionships#p/u/10/S-8-fZ0gSYY
Breeders Cup 2011 - Turf Sprint
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It's another 1-2-3 finish for descendants of the Dancer in the Turf Sprint.
1) Regally Ready - great great grandson
2) Country Day - great great great grandson
3) Perfect Officer - great great great grandson x2
Image from Getty of Coey Nakatani aboard Regally Ready
video of race
http://www.youtube.com/BCWorldChampionships#p/u/9/vRj6_vQd35Y
It's another 1-2-3 finish for descendants of the Dancer in the Turf Sprint.
1) Regally Ready - great great grandson
2) Country Day - great great great grandson
3) Perfect Officer - great great great grandson x2
Image from Getty of Coey Nakatani aboard Regally Ready
video of race
http://www.youtube.com/BCWorldChampionships#p/u/9/vRj6_vQd35Y
Breeders Cup 2011 - Sprint
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You have to love his name and the fact that he was a throw in on a $5,000 purchase. Amazombie wins the $1.5 Million Sprint ahead of Force Freeze and Jackson Bend. Three more descendants of the Dancer so not only do they take the 14 furlong Marathon they also take the short 6 furlong Sprint. Amazombie is also the second champion of the day coming through the Dancer's granddaughter Nuryette from Nuryev, she was also the great grandma of Afleet Again (winner of the Marathon).
1) Amazombie - great great grandson (Nuryette)
2) Force Freeze - great great grandson
3) Jackson Bend - great great great grandson x3
Images from Getty
video of race
http://www.youtube.com/BCWorldChampionships#p/u/4/WIh_qe0w_a8
You have to love his name and the fact that he was a throw in on a $5,000 purchase. Amazombie wins the $1.5 Million Sprint ahead of Force Freeze and Jackson Bend. Three more descendants of the Dancer so not only do they take the 14 furlong Marathon they also take the short 6 furlong Sprint. Amazombie is also the second champion of the day coming through the Dancer's granddaughter Nuryette from Nuryev, she was also the great grandma of Afleet Again (winner of the Marathon).
1) Amazombie - great great grandson (Nuryette)
2) Force Freeze - great great grandson
3) Jackson Bend - great great great grandson x3
Images from Getty
video of race
http://www.youtube.com/BCWorldChampionships#p/u/4/WIh_qe0w_a8
Breeders Cup 2011 - Juvenile Turf
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It was 3 more great grandsons on top of the Juvenile Turf with the Irish bred Wrote winning going away. Excaper was 2nd and another Irish bred Faarraaj in third. Wrote's sire High Chaparral won 2 Breeders Cup Turfs and his sire Sadlers Wells (from the Dancer's 1981 crop) led England's sire list for 13 consecutive years.
1) Wrote (IRE) - great grandson x3
2) Excaper - great grandson x2
3) Farraaj (IRE) - great grandson x3
Images from Getty - look at the focus in Wrote's eye (click on photo to enlarge)
video of race
http://www.youtube.com/BCWorldChampionships#p/u/7/YP5bwEAEu28
It was 3 more great grandsons on top of the Juvenile Turf with the Irish bred Wrote winning going away. Excaper was 2nd and another Irish bred Faarraaj in third. Wrote's sire High Chaparral won 2 Breeders Cup Turfs and his sire Sadlers Wells (from the Dancer's 1981 crop) led England's sire list for 13 consecutive years.
1) Wrote (IRE) - great grandson x3
2) Excaper - great grandson x2
3) Farraaj (IRE) - great grandson x3
Images from Getty - look at the focus in Wrote's eye (click on photo to enlarge)
video of race
http://www.youtube.com/BCWorldChampionships#p/u/7/YP5bwEAEu28
Breeders Cup 2011 - Marathon
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Saturday races are underway. It was another longshot, the grey Afleet Again at 41-1 who wins the Marathon with Birdrun 2nd and Giant Oak 3rd. All 3 are descendants of Northern Dancer. Now, before someone says it - I will - you hear 80% of all thoroughbreds can now be traced back to Northern Dancer. I don't know if that stat can be supported but even if it can we still see more than 80% of the winners in the biggest races in the world (and I do mean the entire world) coming through our Canadian athlete of the year from 1964.
1) Afleet Again - great great great grandson (Nuryette)
2) Birdrun - great great grandson
3) Giant Oak - great great grandson x2
Before and after images from Getty
video of race
http://www.youtube.com/BCWorldChampionships#p/u/6/d-MjcDFNoWc
Saturday races are underway. It was another longshot, the grey Afleet Again at 41-1 who wins the Marathon with Birdrun 2nd and Giant Oak 3rd. All 3 are descendants of Northern Dancer. Now, before someone says it - I will - you hear 80% of all thoroughbreds can now be traced back to Northern Dancer. I don't know if that stat can be supported but even if it can we still see more than 80% of the winners in the biggest races in the world (and I do mean the entire world) coming through our Canadian athlete of the year from 1964.
1) Afleet Again - great great great grandson (Nuryette)
2) Birdrun - great great grandson
3) Giant Oak - great great grandson x2
Before and after images from Getty
video of race
http://www.youtube.com/BCWorldChampionships#p/u/6/d-MjcDFNoWc
Friday, November 4, 2011
Breeders Cup 2011 - Ladies' Classic
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The Friday races wrapped up with favorite Royal Delta winning the Ladies' Classic and another 1-2-3 for Northern Dancer great great granddaughters making it 17 out of 18 top 3 finishes for descendants of our little Canadian hero today and another $5 Million plus in earnings (remember nobody wanted that homely little yearling Northern Dancer for $25 thousand in 1962).
1) Royal Delta - great great granddaughter x2
2) It's Tricky - great great granddaughter x2
3) Pachattack - great great granddaughter x2
Image from Getty
video of race
http://www.breederscup.com/default.aspx
The Friday races wrapped up with favorite Royal Delta winning the Ladies' Classic and another 1-2-3 for Northern Dancer great great granddaughters making it 17 out of 18 top 3 finishes for descendants of our little Canadian hero today and another $5 Million plus in earnings (remember nobody wanted that homely little yearling Northern Dancer for $25 thousand in 1962).
1) Royal Delta - great great granddaughter x2
2) It's Tricky - great great granddaughter x2
3) Pachattack - great great granddaughter x2
Image from Getty
video of race
http://www.breederscup.com/default.aspx
Breeders Cup 2011 - Filly and Mare Turf
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It was another upset with 27-1 Canadian owned and trained Perfect Shirl winning the Filly and Mare Turf over the European breds Misty for Me and Nahrain. All 3 are descendants of the Dancer.
1) Perfect Shirl - great granddaughter
2) Misty For Me - great granddaughter x2
3) Nahrain - great great great granddaughter
Image from Getty
video of race - click on thumbnail or wait for it to show in screen
http://www.breederscup.com/default.aspx
It was another upset with 27-1 Canadian owned and trained Perfect Shirl winning the Filly and Mare Turf over the European breds Misty for Me and Nahrain. All 3 are descendants of the Dancer.
1) Perfect Shirl - great granddaughter
2) Misty For Me - great granddaughter x2
3) Nahrain - great great great granddaughter
Image from Getty
video of race - click on thumbnail or wait for it to show in screen
http://www.breederscup.com/default.aspx
Breeders Cup 2011 - Juvenile Fillies
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It was the undefeated My Miss Aurelia winning the Juvenile Fillies with Grace Hall a game second and pickles the goat's stallmate Weemissfrankie in third. All 3 impressive fillies are descendants of our little hero.
1) My Miss Aurelia - great great great granddaughter
2) Grace Hall - great great granddaughter x2
3) Weemissfrankie - great great granddaughter
Image from Getty
video of races - click on thumbnail or wait for it to show in screen
http://www.breederscup.com/default.aspx
It was the undefeated My Miss Aurelia winning the Juvenile Fillies with Grace Hall a game second and pickles the goat's stallmate Weemissfrankie in third. All 3 impressive fillies are descendants of our little hero.
1) My Miss Aurelia - great great great granddaughter
2) Grace Hall - great great granddaughter x2
3) Weemissfrankie - great great granddaughter
Image from Getty
video of races - click on thumbnail or wait for it to show in screen
http://www.breederscup.com/default.aspx
Breeders Cup 2011 - Filly and Mare Sprint
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It was a miss for descendants in the Filly and Mare Turf with the 20-1 longshot Musical Romance upsetting the field.
1) Musical Romance (no descendant)
2) Switch - great great granddaughter
3) Her Smile - great great great great granddaughter
Image from Getty
video of race - click on thumbnail or wait for it to show in screen
http://www.breederscup.com/default.aspx
It was a miss for descendants in the Filly and Mare Turf with the 20-1 longshot Musical Romance upsetting the field.
1) Musical Romance (no descendant)
2) Switch - great great granddaughter
3) Her Smile - great great great great granddaughter
Image from Getty
video of race - click on thumbnail or wait for it to show in screen
http://www.breederscup.com/default.aspx
Breeders Cup 2011 - Juvenile Fillies Turf
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It was another 1-2-3 finish for Dancer descendants in the Juvenile Fillies Turf with 2 of those descendants of the Dancer's amazing daughter Fanfreluche from his second crop of foals. Fanny had an impressive race record and an even more impressive breeding record but it was almost cut short when she was kidnapped in 1977 while in foal to Secretariat.
1) Stephanie's Kitten - great great granddaughter x3 (Fanny)
2) Stopsoppingmaria - great great granddaughter
3) Sweet Cat - great great granddaughter x3 (Fanny)
Images from Mathea Kelley and Getty Images
Link to blog post on Fanny - chapter 12 from book - both Stephanie's Kitten and Sweet Cat are descendants of the Dancer through Fanny and L'Enjoleur who are both mentioned here
http://northerndancerblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/chapter-12_2744.html
It was another 1-2-3 finish for Dancer descendants in the Juvenile Fillies Turf with 2 of those descendants of the Dancer's amazing daughter Fanfreluche from his second crop of foals. Fanny had an impressive race record and an even more impressive breeding record but it was almost cut short when she was kidnapped in 1977 while in foal to Secretariat.
1) Stephanie's Kitten - great great granddaughter x3 (Fanny)
2) Stopsoppingmaria - great great granddaughter
3) Sweet Cat - great great granddaughter x3 (Fanny)
Images from Mathea Kelley and Getty Images
Link to blog post on Fanny - chapter 12 from book - both Stephanie's Kitten and Sweet Cat are descendants of the Dancer through Fanny and L'Enjoleur who are both mentioned here
http://northerndancerblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/chapter-12_2744.html
Breeders Cup 2011 - Juvenile Sprint
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They're off at the Breeders Cup 2011. It was a 1-2-3 finish Northern Dancer grandkids in the first of this year's Breeders Cup races.
1) Secret Circle - great grandson x2
2) Shumoos - great great granddaughter x2
3) Holdin Bullets - great great great grandson
image from Getty
video of race - click on thumbnail or wait for it to show in screen
http://www.breederscup.com/default.aspx
They're off at the Breeders Cup 2011. It was a 1-2-3 finish Northern Dancer grandkids in the first of this year's Breeders Cup races.
1) Secret Circle - great grandson x2
2) Shumoos - great great granddaughter x2
3) Holdin Bullets - great great great grandson
image from Getty
video of race - click on thumbnail or wait for it to show in screen
http://www.breederscup.com/default.aspx
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
The Race that stops a Nation - Melbourne Cup 2011
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Wow, it looked like a dead heat but it was the French bred Dunaden winning the 101st running of the Melbourne Cup by a whisker over the British bred Red Cadeaux with the German bred Lucas Cranach finishing 3rd. All three international breds are descendants of our little Dancer. I couldn't sleep so I got up to find out post time and caught the live broadcast on radio. Turns out we had a friend in Australia at the time of this year's Cup. Our very own piano man Greg Gallello can attest to the fact that the race stops the nation and provides quite a celebration.
1) Dunaden (FR) great great great grandson (x2)
2) Red Cadeaux (GB) great great grandson (x2)
3) Lucas Cranach (GER) great great grandson (x2)
images from IllawaraMercury and Fox sports
fox sports article and photo finish pic - announcer said he won it by a pixel - good call
http://www.foxsports.com.au/other-sports/horse-racing/melbourne-cup-result/story-e6frf41l-1226182547697
Image gallery from Sydney Morning Herald of Cup and Carnival
http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/sport/horseracing/melbourne-cup-2011-20111101-1msvz.html
early video of finish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehUuvGYFn5g
here is my favoritr Melbourne Cup - Makybe Diva winning her 3rd Cup in 2005 - so emotional
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em-PsEhVlLU
Wow, it looked like a dead heat but it was the French bred Dunaden winning the 101st running of the Melbourne Cup by a whisker over the British bred Red Cadeaux with the German bred Lucas Cranach finishing 3rd. All three international breds are descendants of our little Dancer. I couldn't sleep so I got up to find out post time and caught the live broadcast on radio. Turns out we had a friend in Australia at the time of this year's Cup. Our very own piano man Greg Gallello can attest to the fact that the race stops the nation and provides quite a celebration.
1) Dunaden (FR) great great great grandson (x2)
2) Red Cadeaux (GB) great great grandson (x2)
3) Lucas Cranach (GER) great great grandson (x2)
images from IllawaraMercury and Fox sports
fox sports article and photo finish pic - announcer said he won it by a pixel - good call
http://www.foxsports.com.au/other-sports/horse-racing/melbourne-cup-result/story-e6frf41l-1226182547697
Image gallery from Sydney Morning Herald of Cup and Carnival
http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/sport/horseracing/melbourne-cup-2011-20111101-1msvz.html
early video of finish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehUuvGYFn5g
here is my favoritr Melbourne Cup - Makybe Diva winning her 3rd Cup in 2005 - so emotional
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em-PsEhVlLU
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Fillies Dominate Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe 2011
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It was a 1-2-3 finish for the girls and they were all descendants of Northern Dancer in this year's exciting Arc. It was an emotional win for the German connections of Danedream who won the classic her great grand sire Nijinsky could not.
1) Danedream (Ger) great great granddaughter x2
2) Shareta (IRE) great great granddaughter x3
3) Snow Fairy (IRE) great great great granddaughter x2
Image from Reuters
Below is a great video of the race.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb9K3oqp7FE
It was a 1-2-3 finish for the girls and they were all descendants of Northern Dancer in this year's exciting Arc. It was an emotional win for the German connections of Danedream who won the classic her great grand sire Nijinsky could not.
1) Danedream (Ger) great great granddaughter x2
2) Shareta (IRE) great great granddaughter x3
3) Snow Fairy (IRE) great great great granddaughter x2
Image from Reuters
Below is a great video of the race.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb9K3oqp7FE
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