The US to retain champions into 2009
February 21st 2009 01:52
This week news that both Montmartre (France) and Daiwa Scarlet (Japan) have been forced into early retirement comes as a blow to horseracing in general - as well as for their countries of origin.
(photo: winningpost.uk)
Connections of Daiwa Scarlet had an ambitious plan drawn up that would have seen her competing on the world stage, beginning with an attempt to win the Dubai World Cup. She was due to contest her first dirt track race in preparation for this when she succumbed to the career ending leg injury.
Montmartre was the stablemate to the sublime Zarkava. And surprising as it seems, a one-time favourite to defeat her in the 2008 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. But the grey son of Montjeu would never recover from his last race start in the Grand Prix de Paris - which he won in devastating style. I had hoped in particular that he would race on in 2009 seeing we were prematurely denied another year of brilliance from Zarkava. His future stud plans are yet to be finalised.
But - surprisingly this time - things in the US are decidedly better than many countries with the prospect of retaining (classification) champions to race again in 2009. Of course the US have lost the most high profile horses with the retirement of Curlin and Big Brown - but eight of the ten flat champions of 2008 (listed below) are scheduled to grace the racetrack again this year.
Two-Year-Old Male: Midshipman
Two-Year-Old Filly: Stardom Bound
Three-Year-Old Filly: Proud Spell
Older Female: Zenyatta
Female Sprinter: Indian Blessing
Male Sprinter: Benny the Bull
Male Turf Horse: Conduit (IRE)
Female Turf Horse: Forever Together
Conduit may be gracing the turf of Europe more so than the US - but he is likely to return at year’s end for another attempt at the Breeders’ Cup.
Benny The Bull was originally set to stand at stud this year after a bone chip was discovered in his right foreleg last August. But no stud deal was able to be reached. It was then announced at the Eclipse Awards ceremony that Benny The Bull would be returned to training.
“It was a combination of [economics] and the injury not being as severe as we originally thought.” Michael Iavarone of IEAH Stables, as reported to The Thoroughbred Times.
“I think it’s key that we do have horses sticking around. The more quality horses we have in training, the better the sport will be. I think if you look back over the last few years, if we had been able to keep Curlin, Street Sense, and Big Brown—all those monsters—together, God knows how good the racing could have been. But a lot of times it just doesn’t work out. With Big Brown, we made an agreement with [Three Chimneys Farm] pretty early to stand him as a four-year-old.”
Below are links to two previous articled I have written about Montmartre and Daiwa Scarlet. Both articles include a video of their best wins.
MONTMARTRE
DAIWA SCARLET
Montmartre
(photo: winningpost.uk)
Connections of Daiwa Scarlet had an ambitious plan drawn up that would have seen her competing on the world stage, beginning with an attempt to win the Dubai World Cup. She was due to contest her first dirt track race in preparation for this when she succumbed to the career ending leg injury.
Montmartre was the stablemate to the sublime Zarkava. And surprising as it seems, a one-time favourite to defeat her in the 2008 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. But the grey son of Montjeu would never recover from his last race start in the Grand Prix de Paris - which he won in devastating style. I had hoped in particular that he would race on in 2009 seeing we were prematurely denied another year of brilliance from Zarkava. His future stud plans are yet to be finalised.
But - surprisingly this time - things in the US are decidedly better than many countries with the prospect of retaining (classification) champions to race again in 2009. Of course the US have lost the most high profile horses with the retirement of Curlin and Big Brown - but eight of the ten flat champions of 2008 (listed below) are scheduled to grace the racetrack again this year.
Two-Year-Old Male: Midshipman
Two-Year-Old Filly: Stardom Bound
Three-Year-Old Filly: Proud Spell
Older Female: Zenyatta
Female Sprinter: Indian Blessing
Male Sprinter: Benny the Bull
Male Turf Horse: Conduit (IRE)
Female Turf Horse: Forever Together
Conduit may be gracing the turf of Europe more so than the US - but he is likely to return at year’s end for another attempt at the Breeders’ Cup.
Benny The Bull was originally set to stand at stud this year after a bone chip was discovered in his right foreleg last August. But no stud deal was able to be reached. It was then announced at the Eclipse Awards ceremony that Benny The Bull would be returned to training.
“It was a combination of [economics] and the injury not being as severe as we originally thought.” Michael Iavarone of IEAH Stables, as reported to The Thoroughbred Times.
“I think it’s key that we do have horses sticking around. The more quality horses we have in training, the better the sport will be. I think if you look back over the last few years, if we had been able to keep Curlin, Street Sense, and Big Brown—all those monsters—together, God knows how good the racing could have been. But a lot of times it just doesn’t work out. With Big Brown, we made an agreement with [Three Chimneys Farm] pretty early to stand him as a four-year-old.”
Below are links to two previous articled I have written about Montmartre and Daiwa Scarlet. Both articles include a video of their best wins.
MONTMARTRE
DAIWA SCARLET
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