King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2014

The classy Taghrooda became the first filly in 38 years to win the prestigious King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot yesterday. It was Telescope finishing second and Mukhadram third. All three are descendants of Northern Dancer.

1) Taghrooda (GB) great granddaughter x2 through the young Sadlers Wells mare Ezima
2) Telescope (IRE) great grandson x2 through Sadlers Wells/Galileo
3) Mukhadroom (GB) great great great grandson x2 through Giants Causeway

image from Getty Images

video of race
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q-VhZmP4uE

Hats and Horseshoes 2014 - Lexie Lou takes the 155th running of the Queen's Plate

What a great event to attend in person if you ever get a chance. It was the filly Lexie Lou dominating the boys in the big race. All 15 entries in the Plate were descendants of Northern Dancer. It was free parking and a free event if you did not want to sit in the grandstand. We spent most of our time around the walking ring area and on the apron of the track. We received one free wager each for registering as a guest and we were able to make that last for 10 out of 11 races. There was plenty of fashion to go along with the racing making it a very colourful day.

In the Plate
1) Lexie Lou - great granddaughter through Sadlers Wells/Sligo Bay
2) Ami's Holiday - great great great grandson x3 through Storm Bird/Storm Cat
3) Asserting Bear - great great grandson x3 through Nuryev/Be My Guest

video of race
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvAHPq6ywrM">

Two Continents - Two G1 Classics - Japan's Takarazuka Kinen and the Irish Derby

Heading into Queen's Plate weekend I am playing catch up from last weekend when two Group 1 classics were run on two continents. In the $3 Million Takarazuka Kinen from Japan it was the grey Gold Ship winning it for the second year in a row. The top 3 finishers all bred in Japan were descendants of Northern Dancer. In the $1.7 Million Irish Derby it was Australia completing the rare double winning the Epsom and Irish Derbies. Once again the top 3 finishers all bred in Europe were descendants of our little Canadian sire.

Images - Gold Ship on top Australia on bottom from BBC and JRA

Japan's Takarazuka Kinen

1) Gold Ship (JPN) - great great great grandson x2 through Northern Taste and The Minstrel
2) Curren Mirotic (JPN) - great great great grandson x2 through Lyphard and Nijinsky
3) Verxina (JPN) - great great granddaughter through Nuryev

video of race
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlZm7vrhEPU

Irish Derby

1) Australia (GB) grandson x2 through Sadlers Wells/Galileo
2) Kingfisher (IRE) grandson x3 through Sadlers Wells/Galileo
3) Orchestra (IRE) grandson x2 through Sadlers Wells/Galileo
video of race
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAQ-X964d1k