Dubai World Cup 2014 - The Cup

Wow, another track record as African Story wins it for Godolphin and the Sheikh. Mukhadram had a gutsy performance to finish second and Cat O'Mountain finished third. The coverage from beautiful Meydan was magnificent and it was a great day for the grandkids of Northern Dancer taking 24 of 24 top three spots in the richest day of racing in the world earning another $25 million dollars. The 24 were bred in 7 different countries on 5 different continents to emphasize the international impact The Dancer had as a sire. In case you don't know the whole story - no one wanted our little Canadian hero for $25,000 as a yearling in 1962. He won the Kentucky Derby two years later (50 years ago this May) and the rest is history. Absolutely the greatest sire of all time.

1) African Story (GB) - great great grandson x2 through Nuryev and Danehill/Danzig
2) Mukhadram (GB) - great great great grandson x2 through Giant's Causeway/Storm Cat
3) Cat O'Mountain (USA) - great great grandson through Storm Cat/Storm Bird

video of race
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQWT2zIID8w#t=17

bottom photo from Pankaj Sharma - Gulf News

top photo from Andrew Watkins - Dubai Racing Club

Dubai World Cup 2014 - Dubai Sheema Classic

The Japan Cup winner Gentildonna showed her class and heart fighting through a crowd to win the $5M Sheema Classic. Cirrus Des Aigles was second and another mare Ambivalent was third. Of course all three are descendants of Northern Dancer.

1) Gentildonna (JPN) - great great granddaughter x3 through Danzig and Bertolini
2) Cirrus Des Aigles (FR) - great great great grandson through Nijinsky
3) Ambivalent (IRE) - great great great grandson x3 through Montjeu/Sadlers Wells and Dance Spell

The race was marred by tragedy as the Irish bred great grandson Mars died of a heart attack during the race. It is so hard to witness this aspect of the sport but it always looms.

Video of race
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9biB3QJYhAA&list=UUj3H-NEGJohQ6zJJc_330Gw

photo from Virendra Saklani - Gulf News

Dubai World Cup 2014 - Dubai Duty Free

It was a new country and continent heard from in the $5M Dubai Duty Free as the Japanese bred Just A Way blew away the field smashing the track record. Vercingetorix finished second and Dank third, of course all 3 are descendants of the Dancer and agian all 3 bred in three different countries on 3 different continents.

1) Just A Way (JPN) - great great great grandson through Lyphard
2) Vercingetorix (SAF) - great great grandson x3 through Nijinsky and Danzig
3) Dank (GB) - great great granddaughter x2 through Danehill/Danzig and Nijinsky

video of race
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGQeYYrKccA&list=UUj3H-NEGJohQ6zJJc_330Gw

photo from Virendra Saklani - Gulf News

Dubai World Cup 2014 - Dubai Golden Shaheen

They just finished the $2M Golden Shaheen and in addition to the top 3 all being descendants of Northern Dancer there are several other Canadian connections. Once again the three were bred in 3 different countries on three different continents with the winner the Aussie, Sterling City edging out the Irish bred Rich Tapestry.

You can catch the racing live on Bien Sports at 1 pm.

1) Sterling City (AUS) - great great grandson x2 through the Canadian mare Falefel and Danehill/Danzig
2) Rich Tapestry (IRE) - great grandson x3 Sadlers Wells, Danehill and the Canadian Hall of Fame daughter Fanfreleuche
3) United Color (USA) - great great grandson x2 through Danzig and another Canadian Hall of Famers in Deputy Minister/Vice Regent

video of race
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnlXDOC8a0A&list=UUj3H-NEGJohQ6zJJc_330Gw

bottom photo from Pankaj Sharma - Gulf News

top photo from Andrew Watkins - Dubai racing Club

Dubai World Cup 2014 - Al Quoz Sprint

A new country heard from as the Australian bred Amber Sky won the $1M Al Quoz Sprint over Ahtoug and Shea Shea. It was another 1-2-3 finish for descendants of Northern Dancer, this time bred in 3 different countries on 3 different continents.

1) Amber Sky (AUS) - great great grandson through Danehill/Danzig
2) Ahtoug (GB) - great great grandson x3 through Danzig and Lyphard
3) Shea Shea (SAF) - great great grandson x2 through Danzig and Northfields

video of race
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERv6QJtG0rc&list=UUj3H-NEGJohQ6zJJc_330Gw

photo from Virendra Saklani - Gulf News

Dubai World Cup 2014 - UAE Derby

The US bred Toast of New York won the $2M UAE Derby over Asmar and Emirates Flyer. All three internationals were descendants of our little hero.

1) Toast of New York (USA)- great great grandson x5 through Danzig and Sadlers Wells
2) Asmar (IRE) - great great grandson x3 through Danzig
3) Emirates Flyer (GB) - great great great grandson through Try My Best and Nijinsky


video of race
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZU8q66NRXA4&list=UUj3H-NEGJohQ6zJJc_330Gw

photo from Virendra Saklani - Gulf News

Dubai World Cup 2014 - Dubai Gold Cup

It was the Irish bred Certerach taking the $1M Dubai Gold Cup with Cavalryman finishing second and Star Empire finishing third. Once again all three were descendants of The Dancer and this time being bred in three different countries.

1) Certerach (IRE) - great great grandson x3 through Danehill/Danzig and Nijinsky
2) Cavalryman (GB) - great great great grandson through Nijinsky
3) Star Empire (SAF) - great grandson x2 through Fairy King and Danzig


video of race
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hglpAohgdEY&list=UUj3H-NEGJohQ6zJJc_330Gw

photo from Virendra Saklani - Gulf News

Dubai World Cup 2014 - Godolphin Mile

The South African bred Variety Club wins the $1M Godolphin Mile followed by another SAF bred Soft Falling Rain and the French bred Flotilla. All 3 internationals were descendants of Northern dancer.

1) Variety Club (SAF) - great great grandson x3 through Storm Bird/Storm Cat and Northern Guest
2) Soft Falling Rain (SAF) - great great great grandson x2 through Danzig and Giants Causeway/Storm Cat
3) Flotilla (FR) - great great great great granddaughter x2 through Danzig and Lyphard


video of race
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfOI1W7Eqt4&list=UUj3H-NEGJohQ6zJJc_330Gw

photo from Virendra Saklani - Gulf News

Dubai World Cup Day Today

World's richest day of racing goes today. That's Animal Kingdom winning last year's Dubai World Cup.

photo from Andrew Watkins Dubai Racing Club

New Zealand Derby 2014

The $750,000 New Zealand Derby is one of the earliest International G1's of the year. It was favourite Puccini taking the top prize with Rising Romance second and Glorious Lad third. All three New Zealand Breds were descendants of Northern Dancer.

1) Puccini - great grandson through Fairy King
2) Rising Romance - great great great granddaughter through Storm Bird
3) Glorious Lad - great great grandson x2 through Storm Bird and the Minstrel