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Satuday, Thoroughbred Daily News January 26, 2002 TDN For information, call (732) 747-8060. HEADLINE NEWS IS THE SANTA MONICA A STRETCH? T.M. OPERA O TO EAST STUD Kalookan Queen (Lost Code) has won seven of her Japanese champion T.M. Opera O (Jpn) (Opera House 17 career starts, all sprints, but she is 0-for-four at {GB}--Once Wed, by Blushing Groom {Fr}), who made seven furlongs. The six-year-old mare will try to break his final career start when fifth in the Dec. 23 Arima that streak with a victory in today’s GI Santa Monica H. Kinen at Nakayama, will begin stallion duties at East at Santa Anita. The dark bay has run well at seven Stud on the island of Hokkaido this year. He goes to panels in the past, finishing third in the GI La Brea S. at the breeding shed as the all-time leading money winner the end of 1999 and second, beaten only a length by in Thoroughbred racing history with earnings of Honest Lady, in the 2000 edition of the Santa Monica. $16,200,337, more than $6.2 million ahead of Ameri- She has also taken three of her last four outings, win- can superstar Cigar. T.M. Opera O was named Japan’s ning the July 23 Fantastic Girl S. and the Aug. 19 GIII champion three-year-old colt after taking the Japanese Rancho Bernardo H., both going 6 1/2 furlongs at Del 2000 Guineas, then had a perfect season at four, win- Mar, before running third after a rough start in the GII ning all eight starts. The chestnut concluded that cam- First Flight H. going seven-eighths at Belmont Park Oct. paign with a victory in the G1 Japan Cup and was 26. In her most recent effort, Kalookan Queen cruised named Horse of the Year and champion older horse of to a six-length score in the six-furlong Corona H. at 2000. Just two-for-seven last year, he picked up his Hollywood Park Dec. 16. Spain (Thunder Gulch), on the final victory in the Oct. 7 Kyoto Daishoten. The six- other hand, is a two-turn specialist dropping back to a year-old missed defending his Japan Cup title by a sprint for her 2002 debut. The 2000 GI Breeders’ Cup neck, finishing second to Jungle Pocket (Jpn). He re- Distaff heroine, beaten a head when trying for a repeat tired with 14 wins (including 12 stakes wins), six sec- in that race, is also a Grade I winner at seven furlongs, onds and three thirds from his 26 starts. He will be however, taking the 2000 La Brea over this track. She joined at East Stud by the 2000 Japan Cup runner-up has tried the distance just once since, ending up fourth Meisho Doto (Ire) (Bigstone {Ire}--Princess Reema, by in the GI Ballerina H. at Saratoga last August. She will Affirmed). The six-year-old, a five-time stakes winner of crack the $3 million mark in earnings with a win or a $8,088,202, also made his final start in the Arima second in the Santa Monica. Golden Eagle homebred Kinen, running fourth. He retired with 10 wins, eight Favorite Funtime (Seeking the Gold) steps up after seconds and two thirds from 27 starts. taking the 7 1/2-furlong Cat’s Cradle H. for Cal-breds Nov. 23. The five-year-old mare has used gate-to-wire FEVERISH RETIRED tactics to post four of her five career victories. “This Mr. and Mrs. Marty Wygod’s Feverish (Pirate’s will be a big step up for her,” trainer Bob Baffert said. Bounty--Blonde Fever, by Flying Paster), a graded- “But if [owner/breeder John Mabee] can get her black stakes winner of $908,983, has been retired and will type in a Grade I race, being that she’s by Seeking the be bred to Bertrando. The seven-year-old Cal-bred made Gold, it would be really important.” her final start in the Dec. 15 GII Bayakoa H., finishing fifth. “The only benefit to running her again would be Saturday, Santa Anita, post time: 4:07 p.m. PST getting her over $1 million, but that would only benefit SANTA MONICA H.-GI, $200,000, 4yo/up, f/m, 7f us, not her,” trainer Dan Hendricks said. “We decided PP HORSE SIRE TRAINER ODDS she didn’t owe us anything.” The dark bay mare, who 1 Favorite Funtime Seeking the Gold Baffert 2-1 won eight stakes including the 2000 edition of the 2 Kalookan Queen Lost Code Headley 7-5 Bayakoa, has been sent to the Wygod’s River Edge 3 Spain Thunder Gulch Lukas 9-5 Farm in Buellton, California and Hendricks will have a 4 Warren’s Whistle Wolf Power (SAf) M Stute 10-1 hard time replacing her. “She wasn’t the best horse I 5 Leading Light Mr. Leader Cerin 15-1 ever had, but she was surely my favorite,” he said. www.coolmore.com TDN WORLDWIDE Saturday, January 26, 2002 DICK SAUNDERS DIES H B R I T A I N H Dick Saunders, made famous by his win on Grittar (GB) in the 1982 Grand National, died at his Northamp- QUALITY TATTS FEBRUARY SALE tonshire farm on Thursday night after a long illness. As Tattersalls February Sale kicks off the 2002 sales the oldest rider to win the famous steeplechase at season Feb. 7 with its 170-Lot catalogue, comprised of Aintree at 48, Saunders retired immediately afterward mares in foal, early season yearlings and horses and to work as the track administrator. Elected a member of fillies, in and out of training. The one-day sale has at- the Jockey Club in 1981, he was also chairman of the tracted many of the sport’s top consigners, including Licensing Committee and a Jockey Club steward from Darley, Juddmonte Farms, Newgate Stud, Plantation 1986-87. The 68-year-old also served as a racecourse Stud, the Royal Studs and Voute Sales. Proven Group steward for over 20 years at seven different tracks, sires Danzig Connection (USA), Deploy (GB), First including Aintree, Newmarket and Leicester. Christo- Trump (GB), Forzando (GB), Foxhound (USA), Most pher Spence, Senior Steward of the Jockey Club, said: Welcome (GB), Muhtarram (USA), Opening Verse “Dick Saunders was one of a kind. Universally re- (USA), Pursuit of Love (GB) and Royal Applause (GB) spected and liked by all within racing. He earned that are all represented by early season yearlings cata- respect through his skill as a horseman, his courage and logued, as are first crop sires Cape Cross (Ire), Dr Fong commitment to the sport, attributes matched only by (USA) and Great Dane (Ire). Among the broodmare- his warmth and kindness. His success on Grittar in the covering sires are Group 1 sires Inchinor (GB) and Polar Grand National has deservedly given him a place in Falcon (USA), alongside young prospects Almutawakel racing’s history, but he will be remembered for much more by all those who were lucky enough to know him. (Ire), Benny the Dip (USA), Diktat (GB), Josr Algarhoud He gave so much to racing, and to the Jockey Club in (Ire), Kayf Tara (GB), Lujain (USA), Monashee Mountain particular. The Club is very proud to have had Dick's (USA), Royal Applause (GB), Sagamix (Fr) and Xaar services for over 20 years, during which time he dem- (GB). A pair of notable Group 2 winners head the onstrated an unwavering commitment to integrity and horses in and out of training division, Alrassaam (GB) horse welfare.” (Zafonic {USA}) and Capri (GB) (Generous {Ire}), the half-brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Fiji (GB). The Yesterday’s Results: sale will be preceded at 10:30 a.m. by the National 2.50 Wolverhampton, Bernard & Vi’s Belated Golden Stud “Shuttle” Stallion Parade which will feature Gener- Wedding Anniversary Maiden S. (Class D), £4,656, ous (Ire). The on-line catalogue can be viewed at 3yo/up, 1m 100yds (AWT), 1:52.20, stn. www.tattersalls.com. FOOLS RUSH IN (IRE) (c, 3, Entrepreneur {GB}--Blinding {Ire}, by High Top {Ire}), the 8-11 favourite, broke best NICHOLS NAMED BHB CHIEF EXECUTIVE from the gate and was sent straight to the lead in ad- Greg Nichols, General Manager of Racing Victoria, vance of Wee Nel (GB) (Imp Society {USA}). The has been appointed Chief Executive of the British Rac- 220,000gns TATDEC weanling; and 200,000gns ing Board. The 44-year-old was the acting chief execu- TATHOU yearling purchase was three lengths clear at tive officer of the South Australian Thoroughbred Rac- the entrance to the straight, increased his advantage at ing Authority and Jockey Club before moving to Mel- the eighth pole and ran on well to easily account for bourne, Victoria in 1999. “I am tremendously excited Storm Shower (Ire) (Catrail {USA}) by 3 1/2 lengths. by the enormous challenges facing British Racing over Lifetime Record: 4-1-1-0, £12,935. the next few years and shall do my best to make a O/T-Terry Mills; B-Mrs Dare Wigan; J-Jimmy Fortune. major contribution to the changes which are well under way,” said Nichols. “I am greatly looking forward to working with the BHB board, the whole BHB team, and ALL-WEATHER TRAINERS STATS & am confident that my experiences in Australian racing ITALIAN RESULTS....................................................p2 will prove invaluable in my new role.” TDN P WORLDWIDE • 1/26/02 • PAGE 2 of 2 H I T A L Y H BET DIRECT ALL-WEATHER TRAINER CHAMPIONSHIPS IOVINE GOES HOME (Nov.