Supporting Lesser Lights Can Bring Its Rewards
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18 Thursday, July 26, 2007 racingpost.co.uk TONY MORRIS Pedigree analysis HERE was a time, not so exceeded what might have been long ago, when we came to expected from one with her pedigree think of the Arc de Triomphe background. as a fillies’ race. For five But what was that I said? All I did T years in a row, the colts had was to cite industry perceptions, to give best, as Three Troikas, Detroit, which rarely equate to reality. So the Gold River, Akiyda and All Along dam was no good on the racecourse. refuted the notion that theirs was the Did that necessarily make her a weaker sex. But the sequence ended useless broodmare? And the sire raced when Sagace thwarted Northern Trick five years in Japan without ever and All Along in 1984, and since then managing a win at Pattern level, or its only Galileo’s dam Urban Sea (1993) equivalent? Did that automatically has been successful. make him a failure at stud? The Prix Robert Papin presents an Fine, after nearly 300 years of altogether different picture, as the developing the thoroughbred, we Maisons-Laffitte midsummer test for know of no better system than that of juveniles has always been regarded as putting the best to the best and the happiest hunting ground for fillies hoping for the best. But that fails among major European open-sex more often than it succeeds. Where is contests. The race was instituted in success to be found? Nobody would 1901, and in the first four editions a have predicted that Edie Kelly, who female proved more deadly than the won only an apprentice race at the males. Since then it has provided the Curragh worth £133, would breed a launching pad to fame for numerous Derby and St Leger winner in fillies, including Pearl Cap, Mistress St Paddy. Aunt Clara, dam of the dual Ford and Coronation in its first half- Derby winner and Arc runner-up century. Santa Claus, was described by The Papin’s importance was Timeform as “apparently useless” and logically recognised by the award of given a rating of 48. Group 1 status on the inception of the The fact is, we are still regularly European Pattern in 1971, and for surprised by the way that matings many years it was regarded as the Natagora: sending her sire from Japan to stand in France now looks an inspired move turn out. Not only do bad racemares first jewel in France’s juvenile sometimes produce top performers, Quadruple Crown, a set completed by but undistinguished runners like the Morny, the Salamandre and the Night Shift (won only a maiden) and Grand Criterium. It took an Fairy King (broke down in his only outstanding colt, Blushing Groom, to start) sire Classic winners. I am land all four in 1976 – a feat only My postponing serious thought about the Swallow had accomplished before – in Supporting lesser lights antecedents of the astonishing Turbo the last year of the pre-Pattern era, Linn, who may yet rise higher than but fillies took four of the Papins in her already exalted rank. the 1970s, and their record in the race was about to improve further. HAT some of these Between 1982 and 1986, the colts can bring its rewards results suggest is that did not get a look-in, and the female there are probably winners – Ma Biche, Masarika, Seven many stallions who are Springs, Baiser Vole and Balbonella – W capable of getting were by no means mere fly-by-night high-class runners, but who in today’s performers utilising an advantage of Robert Papin winner’s unconventional background scenario are being deprived of the superior precocity. Nevertheless, opportunity by breeders’ slavish after the five-timer, the European following of fashion – all too easy Pattern Committee took the decision when there is a ready supply of to reduce the Papin to Group 2 status, SIRE DIVINE LIGHT NATAGORA gr f, 18-2-2005 nominations to almost any popular and since then the race has rarely horse. been contested by a genuinely Bred by Shadai Farm in Japan. Won 4 (7f-1m1f) of 26 races, viz. unraced Turn-To What did anybody know about at 2 years, 2 out of 7 at 3 years, 1 out of 3 at 4 years, 1 out of 4 at 5 Hail To Reason Nothirdchance top-class colt; the one notable years, 0 out of 5 at 6 years, 0 out of 7 at 7 years. Placed 2nd 6 times, Divine Light when he arrived in Halo exception was Arazi, who in 1991 3rd twice, 4th 4 times. Placed in Gr1 and Gr3 over 6f. Earned Cosmic Bomb France from Japan? Would any Y216,359,000. Cosmah emulated My Swallow and Blushing Plain, rather unprepossessing sort. Medium-sized. Seemed effective at Almahmoud breeder be prepared to express faith Groom before going one better by 1m2f as 3-y-o, but campaigned later as sprinter-miler, and generally Sunday Silence in such an obscure horse? Okay, he adding a victory in the Breeders’ Cup competitive with the best at 6f and 1m. Promised Land was by Sunday Silence, and nobody Well bred. By a champion racehorse, outstanding sire and major stud Understanding Pretty Ways Juvenile. needed telling what a great sire he influence. Brother to 3 winners, half-brother to 3 winners, inc. Cutting Wishing Well The Prix Robert Papin is now so Edge (by Faberge; Gr3). Dam, by multiple champion sire, unraced, sister Montparnasse had proved in Japan. But this filly-dominated that only one of the to 3 winners, inc. Shadai Cosmos (Gr3), and to dam of Dyna Cosmos (by Mountain Flower Edelweiss particular son was far from being one Huntercombe; Japanese 2,000 Guineas). Grand-dam won 6 races, half- Divine Light other sex has won this century. In (b 1995) of his principal achievers; no Pattern sister to grand-dams of Gr3 winners Hokuto Kimpai and Muguet Royal. Nearctic 2000 it went to Rolly Polly, and after Distantly related in the female line to Mill Reef, Blushing Groom, Gold Northern Dancer Natalma wins in five active seasons did not say the Zafonic colt Zipping’s success the River, etc. much for him, and it was easy to form Stands at Haras de Lonray, Colombiers, France, at a fee of €3,000. Northern Taste following year, Never A Doubt Victoria Park the view that the Japanese might now Sire of 1 European crop of racing age, inc. notable winner: Natagora Lady Victoria initiated a sequence of six female (Gr2). Lady Angela be off-loading their supposed inferiors Meld Sport on Europe, reversing the trend so victories, continued by Much Faster, Worden Divine Proportions, New Girlfriend Marino Buena Vista conspicuous 30-odd years ago. and Boccasini, and further extended DAM REINAMIXA Shadai Prima Unsurprisingly, Divine Light was last Sunday by Natagora. Ratification neglected in his first season at the Bred by Jean-Luc Lagardere in France. Ran only at 3 years, won 1 Night And Day Nightlight It seems that, more often than not, (1m2f) of 5 starts. Earned Ff72,600. Haras de Lonray; his 2005 crop the Papin is a race the colts are happy Very modest performer, winner of seller on heavy ground at amounted to no more than eight Saint-Cloud, placed 2nd and 3rd in similarly poor company. Lyphard to let the fillies have. It would Quite well bred. By a champion sire. Half-sister to 6 other winners, Bellypha Belga foals. But Natagora, shrewdly bought probably have been right up Winker inc. Reinstate (by Kaldoun; Listed) and Reine Lasty (by Last Tycoon; Mendez by Patrick Barbe for €30,000 at Watson’s street, but Group 2? He’s Listed-placed). Dam a 2-y-o winner, half-sister to Listed-placed winner Caro Deauville last October, was one of Rask and to the unraced dam of Resless Kara (Prix de Diane), and Miss Carina Miss Pia been there, done that twice; he won’t Restiver (Gr3). Linamix them. She now heads for the Prix get interested before the 6f Morny Grand-dam winner, placed 3 times at Gr3 level. Same family as Relko Morny, and any challenging colts had at Group 1 level. Britain did send Falbrav (sharing 4th dam). Also remotely related to Ile de Bourbon and Breton La Melba better be on their mettle. Quest For Fame. colts to this year’s Papin, but none Lunadix The importation of Divine Light To stud at 4 years and dam of: Smile Dream (2000 c by Lyphard’s Alcide Wish; winner), Sel Et Poivre (2001 f by Lyphard’s Wish; winner over might have seemed a strange move at were ever going to be serious Lutine Mona contenders. jumps), Queen Dream (2003 f by Spadoun; placed over jumps), Reinamixa the time, but it is beginning to look Natagora (2005 f by Divine Light; Gr2 winner). She has a yearling filly (gr 1994) Natagora has come through the by Agnes Kamikaze. Sicambre inspired. Dare we hope that other grades. She has won her last four, Diatome Dictaway European studmasters will act as progressing through Listed and Group Margouillat enterprisingly in an era when Tim Tam 3 (Prix du Bois) to Group 2, and CONCLUSION Tita Always Sunny pedigrees in these parts are tending to though she was given something to look so samey? Reine Margie A speedy and precocious filly, representing a boost for her little-known Relic do by the Italian Group 3 winner sire. Seems likely to prove best at sprint distances. And if they were to do that, could Magritte at the weekend, she was Mincio Merise we rely on breeders providing support Reine Des Sables never going to get caught.