Oldies, But Goodies

This has been a maintenance weekend for me, catching up on some things, as well as prepping for not only Monday night’s Melbourne Cup, but also this week’s Breeders’ Cup which I will be attending for the first time. Much more on those two events to come, but I wanted to make a brief comment on something I observed while looking back over this week’s European races and updating my spreadsheet over at FilliesFirst.

Last Sunday, a 3-year-old Monsun colt named Dawn Twister won the listed Preis Badener Steher Cup at Baden-Baden in Germany, going 14-furlongs over a Heavy turf. What struck me was his damsire: Bold Forbes (b. 1973). Now, there’s not a name you see often that close up in a young horse. His Canadian-bred dam Dawn Side (b. 1988), who last raced in 1992, has produced at least 13 progeny, including a host of German black-type horses (German and Italy Group 1-placed Dayano, G2-placed Diamante, and G3 victress Divisa).

That same day, in the listed 8-furlong Premio Nearco at Capannelle in Italy, the third-place finisher was a 7-year-old Repriced horse (yes, horse not gelding) named Miles Gloriosus—whose damsire happens to be Foolish Pleasure (b. 1972). His unraced dam Treasure Coast hasn’t been nearly the producer as Dawn Side, although she did produce Fanfreluche Stakes runner-up No. One Gem. For some odd reason, though, it pleases me to know that a horse so closely related to my favorite horse is still running.

However, if we’re talking about oldies but goodies up-close in a pedigree, recent G1 Nearctic victress Serious Attitude merits special notice. By Mtoto, how often do we view Blenheim (yes, the 1930 Epsom Derby winner) within the first five generations of a 4-year-old filly?

Pieces on the Melbourne Cup forthcoming for both Hello Race Fans! and Raceday360, a post on the Breeders' Cup Euro invaders for HRF, and a handicapping analysis of the BC Juvenile Fillies for Thorofan, in addition to coverage here. Stay tuned!