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