Nelly Retires - will start her new career as a mom

Nelly's groom (strapper) post below describes what it was like to be a groom to such a special horse



Black Caviar is retiring after her perfect racing record of 25 wins. Good Luck Nelly. Here she is with her mates Andy and Billy.

Link to video of the announcement
http://www.racingnetwork.com.au/black-caviar-retired/tabid/83/newsid/12700/default.aspx

Black Caviar bids farewell to her adoring fans at Caulfield
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wufPMgtywe0

Great Blog post by Nelly's groom Donna Fisher
http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/Analysis-and-Opinions/posts/Caviar-my-career-maker.aspx

Black Caviar makes it 25 straight to remain unbeaten

Spectators had to watch from outside the fence at the sold out track



The great great granddaughter of Northern Dancer has done it again, this time from a sold out Randwick track in Sydney. It was standing room only to see this brilliant mare annialate her competition again in yet another Group 1 race. It was another great ride by Luke Nolen.

Photos from the Daily Telegraph

Full video of race - might have to reload a couple of times http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ills6b5a8F8

Link to Herald Sun article http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/superracing/black-caviar-proves-her-critics-wrong-with-another-whirlwind-success-in-tj-smith/story-fn67tkww-1226619744317

Link to yahoo sports - first 24 wins of the wonder from down under - some great calls
http://au.sports.yahoo.com/videos/watch/80317d81-c89a-3caf-94bc-17ee63af8b45/all-of-black-caviars-24-wins/

Dubai World Cup 2013 - The Cup $10m

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Well it was my pre-race favorite Animal Kingdom dominating in the 2013 Dubai World Cup and what a day it was at beautiful Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, UAE. It was a perfect 24 for 24 top 3 finishes for descendants of Northern Dancer taking home over $25 Million in prize money on the day in the 8 featured races. Perhaps the most amazing part is not that they were all descendants of the little Canadian sire nobody wanted for $25,000 as a yearling in 1961 but they were bred in 8 different countries on 5 different continents.

Animal Kingdom (USA) - great great great grandson x2
Red Cadeaux (GB) - great great grandson x2
Planteur (IRE) - great great grandson x2

photos from Andrew Watkins Dubai Racing Club

videos of each race
http://www.dubaiworldcup.com/media/videos/videos

Dubai World Cup 2013 - Sheema Classic $5M

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In the second to last race of the day it was the relentless Irish bred St Nicholas Abbey showing his determination to hold off the Japanese bred Gentildonna to win the Dubai Sheema Classic for trainer Aidan O'brien and of course another 1-2-3 finish for the descendants of the Dancer.

St Nicholas Abbey (IRE) - great grandson
Gentildonna (JPN) - great great granddaughter x3
Very Nice Name (FR) - great great grandson x2

photo from Andrew Watkins Dubai Racing Club

Dubai World Cup 2013 - Dubai Duty Free $5M

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As the stakes rise it's the mare Sajjhaa sneaking through on the rail to win the Dubai Duty free for England's breeding and another 1-2-3 finish for descendants of Northern Dancer.

Sajjhaa (GB) - great great great granddaughter x2
The Apache (SAF) - great great grandson x2
Giofra (GB) - great great granddaughter x3

photo from Andrew Watkins Dubai Racing Club

Dubai World Cup 2013 - Golden Shaheen $2M

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The USA bred Reynaldothewizard winning the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen and another 1-2-3 finish for descendants of the Dancer. That's 15 for 15 on the day for the little sire nobody wanted for $25,000 in 1962.

Reynaldothewizard (USA) - great great grandson x2
Balmont Mast (IRE) - great great grandson
Krypton Factor (GB) - grteat great grandson x2

photo from Andrew Watkins Dubai Racing Club

Dubai World Cup 2013 - Al Quoz Sprint $1M

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It was all southern hemisphere in the Sprint with two new countries heard from - all 3 were descendants of our little hero.

Shea Shea (SAF) - great great grandson x2
Joy and Fun (NZ) - great great grandson x2
Eagle Regiment (AUS) - great great granson

photo from Andrew Watkins Dubai Racing Club

Dubai World Cup 2013 - UAE Derby $1M

It was the American bred Lines of Battle winning the UAE Derby over two European breds. We are 9 for 9 descendants of Northern Dancer.

Lines of Battle (USA) - great grandson x2
Elleval (IRE) - great great grandson x3
Secret Number (GB) - great great great grandson x2

photo from Andrew Watkins Dubai Racing Club

Dubai World Cup 2013 - Dubai Gold Cup $1M

It was Cavalryman winning the Gold Cup and two more countries heard from as far as the breeding went and of course the top 3 were all descendants of the Dancer.

Cavalryman (GB) - great great great grandson
Ahzeemah (IRE) - great great grandson x4 his grandsire was Dubai Millennium (see his post)
Verema (FR) great granddaughter

photo from Andrew Watkins Dubai Racing Club

link to my Dubai Millennium post - he left a legacy despite only covering 65 mares
http://northerndancerblog.blogspot.ca/search?q=dubai+millennium

Dubai World Cup 2013 - Godolphin Mile $1M

Bred in three different countries on three different continents the top 3 in the Godolphin Mile were all descendants of Northern Dancer.

Soft Falling Rain (SAF) - great grandson x2
Haatheq (USA) - great grandson x2
Moonwalk in Paris (FR) great great grandson x3

photo by Andrew Watkins Dubai Racing Club