Famous Siblings.. another Group 1 win for All Too Hard

At Caulfield on Saturday 23 February 2013 there were two very special occasions.  One I have already written about, where the tiny filly from Adelaide, Miracles of Life, or "Barbie" as she's affectionately known, and her 29 year old apprentice jockey Lauren Stojakovic combined to win the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes.

The other special race and performance took place just 40 mins before Barbie's great triumph.  And it was the $25million colt, All Too Hard, half brother to the Famous Pony Black Caviar, winning the G1 Futurity Stakes.  This was the colt's 3rd Group 1 victory, adding to his Caulfield Guineas and CF Orr Stakes wins, along with a close 2nd to Ocean Park in the WS Cox Plate.  The handsome bay colt looked glossy and strong, and he's beginning to get his head around what's required of him.  There's a good friend of mine who believes the colt is as good as his Famous Sister.  I have enduring and strong loyalty to the Famous Pony though, and I think his 5 from 10 record is a long way from hers, but I do agree that he's enormously talented and appears to be very special.  What is apparent is the greatness of the broodmare Helsinge, dam of both horses.

All Too Hard (Casino Prince - Helsinge) and jockey Dwayne Dunn on their way to the barrier before the G1 Futurity Stakes on 23 February 2013



All Too Hard (Casino Prince - Helsinge) winning the G1 Futurity Stakes














All Too Hard with manager of Vinery Stud, and new owner, Peter Orton.
All Too Hard with new part owner and shareholder of Vinery Stud, Neil Werrett, who is the man with the golden touch.  He is also the majority owner of the Famous Pony Black Caviar.


The Famous Pony Black Caviar (Bel Esprit - Helsinge).  Unbeaten superstar and older half sister to All Too Hard.
Famous Mum..  Helsinge (Desert Sun - Scandinavia).





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Legacy of Eight Carat: From the Vault Volume I

Image
We have been back in lockdown here in Victoria. Lockdown 5.0 to be precise and as a result it made us go back to feeling like sad sacks.  After having seen off Lockdown 4.0 a teeny tiny bit triumphantly, where we saw off both Delta and Kappa variants (evil beasts that they are - curse you stinky COVID - curse you), we had literally only just gotten back to work before being very suddenly plunged back into Lockdown 5.0 after the visit of those very nice removalists.   'Thanks very much!!!!' we all shouted indignantly!!!!  A key difference with Lockdown 5.0 was that half the country also into lockdown at the same time which made us feel slightly less sad.  The Victorian Government doesn't muck about anymore when it comes to outbreaks.  Their reaction is swift and severe and not at all namby pamby.  I just wish the same logic would be applied to Sydney which continues to deteriorate, much to my dismay.  This week we took our first tentative steps out of Lockdown 5.0, hurrah f
Read more

Vale Sadler's Wells - champion stallion dies in Ireland.

Image
One of the most important racehorses, and later stallions of our time, the great Sadler's Wells died in Ireland on the evening of Tuesday 26 April 2011.  He died at Coolmore's Tipperary Stud in Ireland, his home since his retirement in 1984.  The stallion was retired from breeding in 2008. His legacy worldwide is immense.  He has left sons and daughters,  and three of his stallion sons, in Galileo, Montjeu and High Chaparral, are leading stallions in the Northern Hemisphere.  In Australia, Galileo and Montjeu had less success, however the impact of High Chaparral was immediate, and immense.  While the horse still has to repeat the success he achieved with his New Zealand bred runners, from which the Group 1 winners, and champion So You Think, were conceived, High Chaparral is still leading the Australian General Sires Title with only a couple of months of racing left. In Europe, Montjeu and Galileo have both sired Epsom Derby winners, in Authorized and New Approach respective
Read more

The physical drain of riding horses

Image
Most people agree that the life of a jockey is a difficult one.  There are a handful that rise to the top, and do extremely well out of the Sport of Kings.  The vast majority however struggle with their weights, and do their best to avoid and/or overcome injury.  Anyone who has ever been pelted off a horse would know that it doesn't tickle!  And of course the older you get, the more it hurts!  We used to fang around on our ponies, bareback, in headstalls and leadropes, never wearing a riding hat.  Completely fearless, and I am sure that on the odd occasion I parted company with my horse, I used to bounce.  In fact I rarely used to fall off, unless the horse came down as well, I guess all those years of galloping around bareback meant my balance and ability to swing my body with the horse was pretty good.  I'd like to say that I could still ride the same, but age and the maturing mind catches up, and you start thinking of the consequences of 'what if I come off', which
Read more