Hong Kong Cup 2015

The 25M HK$ 2015 Hong Kong Cup is in the books. It was the Japanese bred longshot A Shin Hikari going wire to wire to defeat the game filly Nuovo Record, Blazing Speed was third. All 3 were descendants of Northern Dancer.

1) A Shin Hikari (JPN) great great grandson x2 through Storm Bird/Lyphard
2) Nuovo Record (JPN) great great granddaughter x3 through Nuryev/Danzig/Lyphard
3) Blazing Speed (GB) great grandson x3 through Sadlers Wells/Danzig/Nijinsky


images from Sporting Life, Kyodo

video of race
http://racing.hkjc.com/racing/video/play.asp?type=replay-full&date=20151213&no=08&lang=eng

Japan Cup 2015

The 575,000,000 Yen ($5M) Japan Cup 2015 is in the books. It was the filly Shonan Pandora nosing out Last Impact with favorite Lovely Day third. All three were Japanese bred and all three were descendants of Northern Dancer.

1) Shonan Pandora - great great great granddaughter x3 through Vice Regent/Northern Taste/Lyphard
2) Last Impact - great grandson x2 through daughter Pacificus and Lyphard
3) Lovely Day - great great great grandson x5 through Nuryev/Nijinsky/Try My Best/Green Desert


image from Japan Racing Association

video of race - click replay on right bottom of screen
http://japanracing.jp/en/information/jai/japan-cup/

Melbourne Cup 2015

History was made today at Flemington in Australia as longshot Prince of Penzance (NZ) won the $3.6M Melbourne Cup ridden by Michelle Payne, the first female jockey to win the Classic. French bred Max Dynamite was second and Criterion (NZ) was third. All three were descendants of Northern Dancer.

1) Prince of Penzance (NZ) - great grandson x2 through Be My Guest/Nijinsky
2) Max Dynamite (FR) - great great great grandson through Nuryev
3) Criterion (NZ) - great great great grandson through Danzig/Northern Sea(mare)/Fanfreluche(mare)

images from getty/theage/theherald

video of race with call from Greg Miles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO6OzXxiNUA

Breeders Cup 2015 The Classic

Well, American Pharoah didn't disappoint winning the $5M Classic going away. It capped off a brilliant career as a runner winning the first Triple Crown since 1978 and then the Classic. They are calling it a grand slam as it's the first time that combination has been accomplished. Effinex was second and Honor Code was third. That made it a clean sweep for the descendants of Northern Dancer. Of the 13 races in this year's Breeders Cup Festival - 39 of the top 39 were all descended from the little Canadian pony nobody wanted as a yearling for $25,000. The 39 took home the bulk of the $25 Million in purses offered up over the past two days adding to the billions earned by Northern Dancer descendants since that first crop of foals in 1966. It will be interesting to follow Pharoah's career as a stallion. I think it's fair to say he established himself as another National hero.

1) American Pharoah - great great great grandson x2 through El Gran Senor/Storm Bird
2) Effinex - great great great grandson through Danzig
3) Honor Code - great great grandson through Storm Bird

images from breederscup.com

video of race and photo gallery
http://www.breederscup.com/results/2015/classic

Breeders Cup 2015 Turf

The Europeans finished 1-2 in the $3M Turf with the filly Found upsetting the very game l'Arc winner Golden Horn and Big Blue Kitten finishing third. Once again all three are descended from our little Canadian champion.

1) Found (IRE) - great granddaughter x3 through Sadlers Wells/Nordico/Danzig
2) Golden Horn (GB) - great great great grandson x2 through Danzig/Nuryev
3) Big Blue Kitten - great great grandson x3 through Sadlers Wells/The Minstrel/Fanfreluche(mare)


images from breederscup.com

video of race and photo gallery
http://www.breederscup.com/results/2015/longines-turf

Breeders Cup 2015 Juvenile

It was the undefeated Nyquist taking the $2M Juvenile with Swipe second and Brody's Cause third. All three are descendants of The Dancer.

1) Nyquist - great great great grandson x3 through Dixieland Band/Storm Bird/Danzig
2) Swipe - great great grandson x3 through Storm Bird/El Gran Senor/Canadian Gil
3) Brody's Cause - great great grandson x2 through Storm Bird/Sadlers Wells

images from breederscup.com

video of race and photo gallery
http://www.breederscup.com/results/2015/sentient-jet-juvenile

Breeders Cup 2015 Mile

In the $2M Mile it was the flying filly Tepin winning over the Woodbine Mile winner Mondialiste and Grand Arch third. All 3 are descendants of our little Dancer.

1) Tepin - great great granddaughter x2 through Storm Bird/Nuryev
2) Mondialiste (IRE) - great grandson x2 through Sadlers Wells/Lyphard
3) Grand Arch - great grandson x2 through El Gran Senor/Danzig


images from breederscup.com

video of race and photo gallery
http://www.breederscup.com/results/2015/mile

Breeders Cup 2015 Sprint

Run Happy set a new track record in winning the $1.5M Sprint. The Canadian bred Private Zone was second and Favorite Tale was third. Once again all 3 are descendants of Northern Dancer.

1) Run Happy - great great grandson x3 through Northern Jove/Nijinsky/Dance Number(mare)
2) Private Zone (CAN) - great great great grandson through Vice Regent
3) Favorite Tale - great great grandson x2 through Storm Bird/Nijinsky

images from breederscup.cm

video of race and photo gallery
http://www.breederscup.com/results/2015/twinspires-sprint

Breeders Cup 2015 Filly and Mare Turf

Stephanie's Kitten became a two time Breeders Cup winner in the $2M Filly and Mare Turf. The Irish bred Legatissimo was second and British bred Queen's Jewel was third. All 3 are descendants of Northern Dancer but both Stephanie's Kitten and Queen's Jewel are descendants through the Dancer's hall of fame daughter and kidnap victim Fanfreluche.

1) Stephanie's Kitten - great great granddaughter x3 through Sadlers Wells/Storm Bird/Fanfreluche(mare)
2) Legatissimo (IRE) - great great granddaughter x2 through Danzig/Sadlers Wells
3) Queen's Jewewl (GB) - great great granddaughter through Nuryev/Sadlers Wells/Fanfreluche(mare)


images from breederscup.com

video of race and photo gallery
http://www.breederscup.com/results/2015/filly-mare-turf

Breeders Cup 2015 Filly and Mare Sprint

It was a Canadian bred coming from way off the pace to win the $1M Filly and Mare Sprint. Northern Dancer's great great great granddaughter Wavell Avenue was 9th and 9 lengths back at the top of the stretch when she made her move, passing La Verdad at the wire. Taris was third. La Verdad and Taris were also descendants of our Dancer. You can see some of the Kentucky fall colours here, they were really impressive on our drive down to Florida this October.

1) Wavell Avenue (CAN) - great great great granddaughter x2 through Vice Regent/Northfields
2) La Verdad - great great granddaughter through Dixieland Band
3) Taris - great great granddaughter x2 through Nuryev/Wild Applause(mare)

images from breederscup.com

video of race and photo gallery
http://www.breederscup.com/results/2015/twinspires-filly-mare-sprint

Breeders Cup 2015 Turf Sprint

In the $1M Turf Sprint it was Mongolian Saturday hanging on to defeat Lady Shipman by a head and Green Mask finishing third. It was an International win with a French jockey and Mongolian owners. Mongolian Saturday is a gelding so we will not be able to add Mongolia to the long, long list of countries breeding Northern Dancer descendants just yet.

1) Mongolian Saturday - great great great grandson through Danzig
2) Lady Shipman - great great great granddaughter x2 through Lyphard/Dance Number(mare)
3) Green Mask - great great great granddaughter x2 through Storm Bird/Topsider

images from breederscup.com

video of race and photo gallery
http://www.breederscup.com/results/2015/twinspires-turf-sprint

Breeders Cup 2015 Juvenile Fillies

It was the battle of the undefeated as Songbird won going away over Rachel's Valentina with Dothraki Queen finishing third in the $2M Juvenile Fillies. It was another sweep for the Dancer's granddaughters.

1) Songbird - great great granddaughter x3 through Sadlers Wells/Vice Regent/Nijinsky
2) Rachel's Valentina - great great great granddaughter x2 through Sadlers Wells/Wild Applause(mare)
3) Dothraki Queen - great great granddaughter x3 through Storm Bird/Nijinsky

images from breederscup.com

video of race and photo gallery
http://www.breederscup.com/results/2015/14-hands-winery-juvenile-fillies

Breeders Cup 2015 Distaff

In the first of the $2M races, the Distaff, it was Stopchargingmaria over Stellar Wind and Curalina. All 3 are descendants of Northern Dancer.

1) Stopchargingmaria - great great granddaughter x2 through Storm Bird/Nijinsky
2) Stellar Wind - great great granddaughter x2 through Northern Fashion/Vice Regent(Curlin)
3) Curalina - great great great granddaughter through Vice Regent(Curlin)/Wild Applause(mare)

images from breederscup.com

video of race and photo gallery
http://www.breederscup.com/results/2015/distaff

Breeders Cup 2015 Juvenile Fillies Turf

In the $1M Juvenile Fillies Turf it was once again a clean sweep for the granddaughters of our little Canadian hero. Catch a Glimpse was the winner with the Irish bred Alice Springs second and Nemoralia third.

1) Catch A Glimpse - great great great granddaughter x2 through Nijinsky
2) Alice Springs (IRE) - great granddaughter x2 through Sadlers Wells/Danzig
3) Nemoralia - great great granddaughter x2 through the mare Northern Sea/Danzig


images from breederscup.com

video of race and photo gallery
http://www.breederscup.com/results/2015/juvenile-fillies-turf

Breeders Cup 2015 Dirt Mile

It was favourite Liam's Map overcoming a brutal trip to take the $1M Dirt Mile. Lea was second and Red Vine third. Of course all 3 are descendants of The Dancer.

1) Liam's Map - great great great great grandson through Dance Spell
2) Lea - great great grandson x3 through Storm Bird/Dixieland Band/Sadlers Wells
3) Red Vine - great great great grandson x2 through Storm Bird/Lyphard

images from breederscup.com

video of race and photo gallery
http://www.breederscup.com/results/2015/dirt-mile

Breeders Cup 2015 Juvenile Turf

It's another Breeders Cup weekend, this year from Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky. Here are the results from the $1M Juvenile Turf and here's to you the late Ted Beare from Brantford, Ontario wishing you could have been there. It was Hit It A Bomb over Airoforce and the Irish bred Birchwood. All 3 are descendants of Northern Dancer.

1) Hit It A Bomb - great grandson x3 through Danzig
2) Airoforce - great great great great grandson x2 through Lyphard
3) Birchwood (IRE) - great great great grandson x3 through Danzig/Night Shift/Try My Best

images from breederscup.com

video of race and photo gallery
http://www.breederscup.com/results/2015/juvenile-turf

Qipco British Championship Series (2015) - Fillies And Mares Stakes

In the 550,000 Fillies and Mares Stakes it was the Irish bred Simple Verse over Journey with Covert Love finishing third. All 3 are descendants of the great Northern Dancer. All these purses are in pound sterling.

1) Simple Verse (IRE) great granddaughter x3 through Danzig/Sadlers Wells
2) Journey (GB) great great granddaughter x2 through Sadlers Wells/Lyphard
3) Covert Love (IRE) great great granddaughter x2 through Night Shift/Nijinsky

images from sportinglife.com

Qipco British Championship Series 2015 - Long Distance Cup

It was the US bred Flying Officer in the Long Distance Cup with Clever Cookie second and Wicklow Brave finishing third and again all 3 are descendants of The Dancer.

1) Flying Officer (USA) great great grandson through Be My Guest
2) Clever Cookie (GB) great great great grandson through Lyphard
3) Wicklow Brave (GB) great grandson x2 through Sadlers Wells/Lyphard

images from sportinglife.com

Qipco British Championship Series 2015 - QEII Stakes (Mile)

In the 1,300,000 QEII Stakes it was the grey Solow winning with Berlardo second and Gabrial third. Of course they were all descendants of Northern Dancer.

1) Solow (GB) great great grandson x2 through Sadlers Wells and daughter Fabulous Dancer
2) Belardo (IRE) great great grandson x3 through Danzig
3) Gabrial (IRE) great great great grandson x2 through Try My Best

images from sportinglife.com

Qipco British Championship Series 2015 - Middle Distance

In the 1,300,000 Middle Distance it was the Irish bred Fascinating Rock followed by Found and Jack Hobbs in third. Once again all 3 were descendants of our little Dancer.

1) Fascinating Rock (IRE) great great grandson x2 through Danzig/Nuryev
2) Found (IRE) great granddaughter x2 through Sadlers Wells
3) Jack Hobbs (GB) great great grandson through Nijinsky

images from sportinglife.com

Qipco British Championship Series 2015 - Sprint

From Ascot today it was Qipco British Championships. In the 600,000 Sprint it was Muhaarar over Twilight Son and Danzeno. All 3 are descendants of Northern Dancer.

1) Muhaarar (GB) great great grandson x3 through Danzig/Lyphard
2) Twilight Son (GB) great great great grandson x3 through Nuryev
3) Danzeno (GB) great great grandson x2 through Danzig/Lyphard

images from sportinglife.com

Prix de l'Arc 2015

Golden Horn takes the 2015 l'Arc at Longchamp with Flintshire second and New Bay third. It was sweet revenge for Franki Dettori riding Golden Horn who was removed from Treve after winning back to back l'Arc's aboard Treve. Treve finished fourth this year. The top three were all bred in GB and all descendants of Northern Dancer.

1) Golden Horn (GB) great great grandson x2 through Danzig and Nuryev
2) Flintshire (GB) great grandson x3 through Sadlers Wells and Danzig
3) New Bay (GB) great great grandson x4 through Sadlers Wells and Dubai Millennium/Shareef Dancer
4) Treve (Fr) great great granddaughter x2 through Sadlers Wells and Danzig

image from Michel Euler/AP

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

Controversy in the 2015 St Leger Stakes

The 2015 St Leger was decided in the stewards room as the only filly in the race Simple Verse was taken down and favorite Bondi Beach was declared the winner. There was some bumping in the stretch. Fields of Athenry (one of my fav songs) finished third. All three are descendants of Northern Dancer. Simple Verse was the great great granddaughter of Nijinsky who won the St Leger in 1970 becoming the first Triple Crown winner in 35 years (there hasn't been another in the past 45 years). Nijinsky opened the International floodgates for his sire Northern Dancer. Thank you Sky Racing for providing a live audio feed.

Bondi Beach (IRE) - great grandson X2 through Sadlers Wells and Danzig
Simple Verse (IRE) - great granddaughter x4 through Sadlers Wells/Danzig/Nijinsky and Nureyev
Fields of Athenry (IRE) - great grandson x2 through Sadlers Wells and Danzig

video of race
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_39rwZr_MZs

Queen's Plate 2015 - 156th running

Sorry for the delay but better late than never. This was our 3rd Queen's Plate in a row and once again it was a great day. At the end of it favorite Shaman Ghost came from behind to take Danish Dynaformer at the wire with Conquest Boogaloo finishing third. The top three were all descendants of Northern Dancer (as were every horse in the field). Here are a few of my photos.

1) Shaman Ghost - great great great grandson through Vice Regal/Deputy Minister
2) Danish Dynaformer - great grteat grandson through Danzig/Danehill
3) Conquest Boogaloo - great great great grandson x3 through Storm Bird and Nijinsky

Golden Horn wins Epsom Derby

While we were getting ready for the Belmont Stakes, the second leg of the British Triple Crown was running at Epsom. Golden Horn came from 7th at mid stretch to win the Epsom Derby. Jack Hobbs was second and Storm The Stars was third. No surprise, all three are descendants of Northern Dancer.

Golden Horn (GB) - great great great grandson x3 through Danzig and Nureyev
Jack Hobbs (GB) - great great great grandson through Nijinsky
Storm The Stars (USA) - great grandson x2 through Sadlers Wells and Danzig


images from Alan Crowhurst/Getty

video link to race
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BHkwSlYw5E

American Pharoah does it - first Triple Crown in 37 years

American Pharoah did something his great great great grandfather couldn't do in 1964 winning the Triple Crown. It was still in doubt until the eighth poll when Pharoah started pulling away to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. Many horses have had a chance but it seemed like it may never happen again until American Pharoah proved that theory incorrect. Frosted finished six lengths back in second and Keen Ice third. All three are descendants of our Northern Dancer in fact so was every horse in the Belmont. Needless to say this was the first descendant of Northern Dancer to win the US Triple Crown. Nijinsky won the British Triple Crown in 1970 starting the International dominance of our incredible Canadian sire.

images from Getty