Windfields Farm Group on Facebook

-

There is a group on facebook that was set up originally for former employees of Windfields to stay in touch and discuss their experiences and how special of a place it was. Lately there has been a lot of discussion about the condition of my little hero's grave along with the other special horses buried there. Some media pressure resulted in some clean up but I think this group would like to see more happen (like a memorial). Have a look and join the group.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/2384512050/?id=10150311408187051¬if_t=group_activity

Masked Marvel takes 3rd leg of Triple Crown - St Leger

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


In the past 65 years there has only been one winner of Britain's Triple Crown and that was the amazing Nijinsky from Northern Dancer's second crop of foals. There was no winner again this year as all 3 races went to different winners. It was another 1-2-3 finish for Dancer descendants however with Masked Marvel winning the St Leger at Doncaster.

1) Masked Marvel - great great grandson x2
2) Brown Panther - great great grandson x2
3) Sea Moon - great great grandson x2

Image from racingfotos

Video of race
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IakkfNVgBKc

Pour Moi wins 2011 Epsom Derby

---------------------------------------------------------


It was a 1-2 finish for Northern Dancer descendants in this year's Epsom Derby. Pour Moi came from way back at the top of the stretch to nip Treasure Beach and the Queen's Carlton House at the wire. Have a look at the video as Pour Moi's teenage jockey celebrates early in the irons after getting a whisker in front just as they crossed the wire in a blanket finish - exciting stuff.

Pour Moi - great grandson x2
Treasure Beach - great grandson x2
Carlton House - no descendant

Image from Alan Crowhurst getty images europe

Video of race
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2FAcL6iLMQ

Undefeated Frankel destroys field in 2011 2000 Guineas

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


It's been a busy summer of 2011 for me and now it's time to catch up on the blog. It was a 1-2-3 finish for Northern Dancer descendants in the first of Britain's Triple Crown races in 2011. Favorite Frankel ran away with the 2000 Guineas to eventually win by 5 lengths. The second place finisher Dubawi Gold is a son of Dubawi from the only crop of foals of the incredible Dubai Millennium.

1) Frankel - great grandson x2
2) Dubawi Gold - great great grandson x2
3) Native Khan - great grandson

Image from Getty images

Video of 2000 Guineas 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQajCQ1_BSA

Link to post on Dubai Millennium
http://northerndancerblog.blogspot.com/search?q=dubai+millenium

Fantastic Filly Inglorious Wins 152nd Queen's Plate

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


It was a 1-2 finish for the grandkids in the 152nd running of the Queen's Plate at Woodbine. Inglorious was the only filly in the race and trained by Josie Carroll who was the first female trainer to win the Queen's Plate in 2006 with Edenwold (anothe descendant of our Dancer). Inglorious won the race with an explosive move at the top of the stretch. Sorry for the late post - had a busy week.

1) Inglorious - great great granddaughter X2
2) Hippolytus - great great grandson

photo from Mark O'Neill of Toronto Sun

video of race
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUhBVJElUt4

video tribute to this year's fillies and mares including Inglorious
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6W9f7DU8fc

Ruler On Ice Upsets in Belmont

-----------------------------------------------------------------


It was a 1-2-3 finish for descendants of our little Dancer in the Belmont. The great great grandmother of Ruler On Ice was Northern Dancer's daughter Fanfreleuche. Fanny was kidnapped when she was in foal from her farm in Kentucky. They found her being used as a saddle horse some time later. She, like the Dancer is in Canada's Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

1) Ruler On Ice - great great great grandson X3
2) Stay Thirsty - great grandson X2
3) Brilliant Speed - great great great grandson X3

That's jockey Jose Valdidivisia Jr celebrating in the Getty image above

Shackleford Wins 2011 Preakness

------------------------------------------------------------------------



A lathered up Shackleford managed to hang on to win the 2011 Preakness after a blistering first half. It was a 1-2 finish for the grandkids. Shackleford is a great great grandson through his sire Forestry a son of Storm Cat and of course Animal Kingdom winner of the Derby is a descendant through his Brazilian sire Leroidesanimaux - Candy Stripes - Bubble Company - Lyphard. The 3rd place finisher Astrology is not a descendant of Northern dancer.

Image above from Getty.

NBC video of race

http://bayarea.sbnation.com/2011/5/21/2183439/preakness-2011-results-video-youtube-shackleford-pimlico-winner-animal-kingdom-nbc

Animal Kingdon wins 137th Kentucky Derby

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------




It was a 1-3 finish for descendants of Northern Dancer in this year's Derby. You can read about Animal Kingdom's sire and his dam and granddam (the amazing Bubble Company) in my Chapter 14 post in 2009.

1) Animal Kingdom Great Great Great Grandson X2
2) Nehro - no relationship
3) Mucho Macho Man Great Great Great grandson

Images from AP.


Chapter 14 Post
http://northerndancerblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/chapter-14.html

Video of race
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQsMgu9rr1k

Dubai World Cup - Japan's spirit lifted

---------------------------------------------------------------------




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

---------------------------------------------------------




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