17 Sire War Chant

p Racing Post Thursday, September 17, 2009 17 Pedigree analysis TONY MORRIS Kingsfort CAROLINE NORRIS RELAND’S Group 1 races for may feel that he might have made a two-year-olds often provide stronger impression if he had stood meaningful clues to the on this side of the Atlantic, rather following season’s Classics, but it than in Kentucky. I remains to be seen whether the War Chant’s female line was 2009 editions, all contested on undistinguished, to put it mildly, until rain-softened ground, serve any his dam Hollywood Wildcat came on purpose in that regard. the scene. There had been several The Phoenix and the Moyglare were generations of nonentities in the both run on a Curragh surface family when the minor stakes-placed designated as heavy, and conditions Elizabeth K. was mated in Florida there were scarcely much better for with the (then) lightly regarded last Saturday’s National Stakes, when stallion Mr Prospector. the winner’s time for the 7f was more The product of that union, than ten seconds slower than Miss Wildcatter, never ran, but standard for the course. perhaps Mr Prospector provided the But until future events tell us spark that set the family alight; he otherwise, we must take the results at was apt to do that with cheap mares, face value, and as neither Termagant, and because of it earned his switch to who won the Moyglare, nor Kingsfort, Claiborne and eventual worldwide who triumphed in the National, is fame. In 1989 Miss Wildcatter went due to run again this term, we will to Kris S., another cheap stallion on need to exercise some patience. the rise, and the outcome was As things stand, it seems that Kevin Hollywood Wildcat, whose victory in Prendergast’s Friarstown stable is the 1993 Breeders’ Cup Distaff earned home to Ireland’s best of both sexes, her a championship and the right to and the pair are already recognisably visit any leading sire. bargains, bought at Goffs by veteran War Chant did not see a lot of agent Frank Barry for a total of action, but won his only start at two, E70,000 between them. progressed by way of a Grade 2 win in Both are unbeaten, Kingsfort the San Rafael Stakes to split The having emulated Termagant by Deputy and Captain Steve in the Grade winning his Group 1 after a single 1 Santa Anita Derby, then found winning run in maiden company. And himself in the field for the ‘real’ Derby each registered a first top-level victory at Churchill Downs. He made no show, for a relatively unfashionable finishing ninth behind his barn Kentucky-based sire. Kingsfort wins the National Stakes in soft to heavy going at the Curragh to underline his Classic potential companion Fusaichi Pegasus, came out In fact, Termagant was the first of the race with a shoulder injury, and Pattern or Graded winner at any level was sidelined for five months. for her sire, Powerscourt, whose initial crop reached the races only this HEN he resumed, it year, whereas Kingsfort comes from was on grass, and that War Chant’s sixth crop, making a National winner first was the making of breakthrough for his sire after a few him. He promptly won near misses. W the Oak Tree BC Turf Kingsfort won one of the hottest Handicap in impressive style, and maidens in Ireland this season, three weeks later started favourite for scoring impressively over 7f at the the Breeders’ Cup Mile back at Curragh in late June by daylight top scorer for his sire Churchill. A storming run from the margins over Stunning View and rear enabled him to catch long-time Viscount Nelson, who both went on leader North East Bound close home, to frank the form. Prendergast had War Chant sixth-crop juvenile has stamina in family for longer trips while the top European challenger, planned a break for the colt after his Dansili, encountered traffic problems debut, and that duly became a and narrowly missed second place. necessity when he was laid low with SIRE WAR CHANT KINGSFORT b c 20-3-2007 War Chant was not seen out again, a virus. retiring to Three Chimneys at a fee of Bred by Marjorie Cowan & Irving Cowan in Kentucky. Won 5 (6f-1m) of Nearco $75,000. Those last two runs proved Some ten weeks elapsed before 7 races, viz. 1 out of 1 at 2 years, 4 (inc. San Rafael S.-Gr3, Oak Tree BC Nearctic Lady Angela that he was America’s best Kingsfort’s return on Saturday, and Mile S.-Gr1, Breeders’ Cup Mile S.-Gr1) out of 6 at 3 years. Also 2nd in Northern Dancer while he was never going to be Santa Anita Derby. RPR: 124 at 3. Earned $689,245. Native Dancer three-year-old on grass by some Well-made individual, 16.2hh. Natalma margin, but that was not the sort of favourite with Phoenix winner Alfred Very well bred. By a leading sire and sire of sires. Half-brother to Ivan Almahmoud Nobel among his rivals, he was Denisovich (by Danehill; Gr2, also Gr1-placed), Double Cat (by Storm Danzig gift to carry much weight with Crafty Admiral everyone’s idea of the principal threat Cat; stakes-winner, Gr2-placed) and Ministers Wild Cat (by Deputy Admiral’s Voyage Kentucky breeders. He was never Minister; stakes-winner; Gr3-placed). Dam champion 3-y-o filly, Gr1 Olympia Lou going to get quality mares in to the leading Ballydoyle candidate. winner on turf and dirt. Granddam unraced, bred 3 winners. From Pas De Nom As it turned out, Alfred Nobel, who formerly modest family, now more conspicuous. abundance. Petitioner Petition had seemed very much at home on Stands at Three Chimneys Farm, Midway, Kentucky, at a fee of Steady Aim What War Chant needed was an $15,000. Sire of 6 crops of racing age, inc. notable winners: War Chant heavy ground before, was never a early runner with real class, Chattahoochee War (Gr3), El Roblar (Gr3), Karen’s Caper (Gr3), (b 1997) Hail To Reason Roberto preferably on dirt, and it did not threat to Kingsfort, coming back last Ballymore Lady (Gr3), Brilliant (Gr2), Asperity (Gr3), Chamberlain Bramalea of the sextet. It was left to Jim Bridge (Gr3), Norman Invader (Gr3), Sea Chanter (Gr3), War Kill (Gr2), Kris S. happen. He has had at least one Kingsfort (National S.-Gr1). Princequillo Graded or Pattern winner from each Bolger’s Chabal to make a race of it in Sharp Queen the closing stages, but Kingsfort Bridgework of his first six crops, but all 11 have stayed on stoutly under pressure to DAM PRINCESS KRIS Hollywood Wildcat done their winning on grass or Mr Prospector Raise A Native resist that challenger by a neck. Gold Digger synthetic; Kingsfort is the fourth to Was the going an excuse for any of Bred by Mrs Vera & Exors of the late Roger Hue-Williams in Britain. Won Miss Wildcatter have scored in Europe, after Karen’s 1 (1m) of 8 races, viz. 0 out of 1 at 2 years, 1 out of 7 at 3 years. RPR: Third Martini the beaten horses? It was impossible 69 at 2, 81 at 3. Earned £8,688. Elizabeth K. Caper, Asperity and Norman Invader, to say, but Kingsfort himself does not Leggy, quite useful handicap performer at 3. Appeared to stay 1m2f, Baked Apple and this year their sire was available but better at 7f-1m. Acted on good and faster ground, below par on soft. look like a colt who needs an easy Native Dancer at the knockdown price of $15,000. Very well bred. By a top-class miler, champion sire and good Atan surface. He may prove better still on broodmare sire. Half-sister to 8 other winners, inc. Intimate Guest Mixed Marriage Although Kingsfort was born in good ground, if that should ever (by Be My Guest; Gr3), Great Heights (by Shirley Heights; Gr3-placed), Sharpen Up Kentucky, and his half-brother Prince return to Ireland. and Reine D’Beaute (by Caerleon; granddam of Donativum), and to Rockefella Arch was a Grade 1 winner in Florida, Streetcar (by In The Wings; unplaced, dam of Gr1 winner Luas Line). Rocchetta Chambiges Of all the many successful sire sons he comes from a wholly European Dam dual Listed winner, Gr3-placed, half-sister to Classic Example. Kris of Northern Dancer, the thrice-raced, Granddam Gr3-calibre winner, sister to triple Classic winner Altesse family. His dam Princess Kris won a Reliance Tantieme Royale. Excellent family, tracing to Marchetta. Relance 1m maiden at Bath, and among a unbeaten and unsound Danzig To stud at 4 and dam of: March (1997 f by Boundary; unraced), probably ranks as the one who has Precinct (1998 c by Boundary; winner), Doin’ The Dip (2000 f by Benny Doubly Sure string of her successful siblings was had the most enduring influence. A The Dip; unraced), Prince Arch (2001 c by Arch; Gr1 winner), Prinquet Soft Angels Crepello Intimate Guest, winner of the May (2003 f by Marquetry; unplaced), Interest (2004 c by Banker’s Gold; Princess Kris Sweet Angel begetter chiefly of sprinters and unplaced), Arty Crafty (2006 f by Arch; unplaced), Kingsfort (2007 c by Hill Stakes in 1987. milers, he has been represented by (b 1990) Grey Sovereign Granddam As You Desire Me was War Chant; Gr1 winner). She has a yearling filly by Good Reward (lot Zeddaan plenty of so-so stallion sons himself, 418 at Goffs Orby Sale, September 30).

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