Saturday, March 26, 2011

Dubai World Cup - Japan's spirit lifted

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It was an emotional 1-2 finish for Japan in the $10M Dubai World Cup. Italian jockey Mirco Demuro was crying after the race saying "I love you Japan" after his brilliant ride with a bold move early on the backstretch aboard Victoire Pisa and what do you know ... it was not a 1-2-3 finish for the grandkids. The winner Victoire Pisa is not a descendant of the Dancer but his grandsire Sunday Silence might not have made it to Japan if not for Northern Dancer's son Northern Taste who paved the way for some great Japanese imported sires. Transcend another Japanese bred was second and Monterosso was third (it was a 2-3 finish for the grandkids).

Once again sport (and horse racing in particular) can have a healing effect and raise the morale of an entire nation. There were many, many tears at the playing of the national anthem of Japan. I got the result I was hoping for even if it wasn't one of the grandkids to provide the shining moment.

Victoire Pisa (JPN) - no relationship to Northern Dancer
Transcend (JPN) - great great great grandson
Monterosso (GB) - great great grandson (X2)

Image above from gulf news

Video of race
http://www.dubaiworldcup.com/popups/video.php?id=ffdedd8f&width=640&height=512

Finish of race and beginning of interview with an emaotional Mirco - they cut it just before he says "I love you Japan" in tears.
http://www.dubaiworldcup.com/popups/video.php?id=d08be840&width=640&height=360

Brilliant article from Bill Christine
http://www.horseraceinsider.com/lines-in-the-sand/03272011-a-country-again/

Dubai World Cup - Sheema Classic

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A great ride from Frankie aboard Rewilding provides Godolphin with their third win on the night in the $5M Sheema Classic and of course another 1-2-3 for the grandkids.

Rewilding (GB) - great great grandson
Redwood (GB) - great great grandson (X2)
Calvados Blues (FR) - great great grandson

Image from gulf news

Video of race
http://www.dubaiworldcup.com/popups/video.php?id=c1cb03d3&width=640&height=480

Dubai World Cup - Duty Free

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Image from Time Out Dubai



It was a great ride from Ryan Moore to go from last to first to win the $5M Dubai Duty Free on board Presvis. Needless to say another 1-2-3 for Dancer descendants from different hemispheres.

Presvis (GB) - great great grandson (X2)
River Jetez (SAF) - great granddaughter
Wigmore Hall (IRE) - great grandson (X2)


Video of race
http://www.dubaiworldcup.com/popups/video.php?id=ded86f92&width=640&height=512

Dubai World Cup - Golden Shaheen

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The Australian bred, Singapore owned Rocket Man won the $2M Golden Shaheen making up for a tough loss last year. Another 1-2-3 for Northern Dancer grandkids.

Rocket Man (AUS) - great great great great grandson
Euroears (US) - great grandson (X2)
Sunny King (IRE) - great great grandson (X3)

Image from gulf news

Video of race
http://www.dubaiworldcup.com/popups/video.php?id=ca79936b&width=640&height=512

Dubai World Cup - UAE Derby

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It was back to back wins for Godolphin with the filly Khawlah winning the 2$M Derby and another 1-2-3 for Dancer descendants.

Khawlah (IRE) - great great granddaughter (X2)
Master of Hounds (US) great grandson (X3)
Mahbooba (Aus) great granddaughter

Image from Gulf news

Video of race
http://www.dubaiworldcup.com/popups/video.php?id=3a347d3d&width=640&height=512

Dubai World Cup - Godolphin Mile

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Frankie Dettori wins the $1M Godolphin Mile for the Godolphin stable on Skysurfers and it's another 1-2-3 finish for Northern Dancer grandkids.

Skysurfers (GB) - great great grandson
Mufarrh (IRE) - great great grandson (X3)
Red Jazz (US) - great great great grandson

Image from racing post

Video of race
http://www.dubaiworldcup.com/popups/video.php?id=ee8b19d1&width=640&height=512

Dubai World Cup - Al Quoz Sprint

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Favorite JJ The Jet Plane won the $1M Sprint for South Africa. It was a 1-2-3 finish for descendants of the Dancer.

JJ The Jet Plane (SAF) - great great grandson (X2)
War Artist (AUS) - great great grandson
Better Be The One (AUS) - great great great grandson (X2)

Image from Gulf News.

Video of race
http://www.dubaiworldcup.com/popups/video.php?id=6106ca1c&width=640&height=512

Dubai World Cup Day

I am really looking forward to live streaming from our CBC of this great day of racing from a spectacular racing facility - Meydan - in Dubai. They claim the grandstand at Meydan is the largest building on the planet (looks like it).

http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Sports/Live_Streaming/1248955900/ID=1842524903

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Commemorative Stamp Update

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I received a very nice reply from Canada Post today in regards to my submission to the Stamp Selection Committee. The Director will ensure my request is brought to the attention of the committee who sound like they examine all requests and based on their "track" record do a pretty good job. He was kind enough to point out me that the Dancer was already on a stamp in 1999 as part of the "Horses Series". I was not aware of that but thrilled to hear it. He did not say anything about that disqualifying the idea so let's see what happens going forward. Above is a pic of the 1999 stamp designed by Pierr-Yves Pelletier of Montreal.

Here is the link to the Canada Post Archives site

http://data4.collectionscanada.ca/netacgi/nph-brs?s1=1702&l=20&d=POST&p=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.collectionscanada.ca%2Farchivianet%2F020117%2F020117030415_e.html&r=1&f=G&SECT3=POST

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Sandy Lane Barbados Cup 2011

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It was a controversial finish to this year's Sandy Lane Barbados Cup. The apparent winner Show Me The Money was disqualified for interference in the stretch. It was a 1-2-3 finish for descendants of Northern Dancer regardless as another country is heard from.

1st Zoom great-great grandson
2nd Bird Watch great-great-great grandson
3rd Charge It great-great grandson

Show Me The Money was also a great-great grandson (x3)

Image from the Barbados Turf Club


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7ewmaXKYhM