A special look at the top stories from thoroughbredracing.com. April 2018 What are the secrets of this farm’s extraordinary success? Also inside: British trainers target France / View from the Rail: the Latex issue / The spectacular future of Woodbine / What They’re Thinking: Todd Pletcher /ThoroughbredRacingCommentary @TRCommentary TRC April 2018 / Glennwood Farm, Kentucky / British trainers target France / View from the Rail: the Latex issue / The spectacular future of Woodbine / What They’re Thinking: Todd Pletcher / P2 TB10498 GBRI TRC advert V3.indd 1 27/04/2018 16:05 They’re doing something very right at the farm that bred both Justify and Vino Rosso Nancy Sexton | April 23, 2018 Cover photo: glennwoodfarm.com photo: Cover Justify at Glennwood Farm. Photo: Tanya Gunther Several major outfits will head to Churchill Downs All of which makes the achievement of Glennwood Farm in on May 5 with a hand in multiple Kentucky Derby Kentucky, owned by John Gunther (pictured left) and his daughter Tanya, runners. Some won’t deny that such opportunity is all the more meritorious. A family run operation 15 miles the result of investment via the benefit of hindsight. southwest of Lexington in Versailles, Glennwood heads to Churchill as For various others, particularly the juggernauts of the breeder of two major Derby hopefuls in Justify and Vino Rosso, our sport, it comes as the result of substantial and both leading prospects in a renewal rated as one of the deepest in recent continued investment from grassroots level. history. TRC April 2018 / Glennwood Farm, Kentucky / British trainers target France / View from the Rail: the Latex issue / The spectacular future of Woodbine / What They’re Thinking: Todd Pletcher / P3 TB10498 GBRI TRC advert V3.indd 1 27/04/2018 16:05 Vino Rosso at Glennwood Farm. Photo: Tanya Gunther. The pair provided Glennwood debut victory at Newcastle last Only three years ago, the farm with a memorable afternoon on November that earned the colt entries enjoyed another major quickfire double Saturday, April 7, when striking in in the 2000 Guineas and Dante Stakes when Materiality and Tamarkuz swept their respective preps. First came from John Gosden. the G1 Florida Derby and G2 Godolphin Vino Rosso, who out-duelled Enticing “It was an exceptionally special Mile within hours of each other on a to take the G2 Wood Memorial at day, watching Vino Rosso’s gutsy Saturday in March, 2015. The difference Aqueduct, before Justify romped win in the Wood Memorial followed is, of course, is that Materiality and the over Bolt d’Oro in the G1 Santa Anita by Justify’s romp in the Santa Anita older Tamarkuz hailed from different Derby. Derby,” says Tanya Gunther. “It is crops, unlike paddock mates Justify One of the most exciting colts of hard to get my head around what and Vino Rosso, who were part of a the current season, the unbeaten it means to have these two colts 20-strong group of yearlings sold by the Justify has consistently vindicated among the leading 3yos right now farm in 2016. the high opinion held of him by Bob and the prospect of watching them The Gunthers have made a point Baffert this spring with a series of both compete in the Kentucky Derby. of developing various families. Take impressive front-running displays. Plainly speaking it means a great deal! that belonging to the Storm Bird mare Not since Apollo in 1882 has a colt “For my dad and I personally, Marozia as an example. Bought for who was unraced at two struck in the it underscores that we are doing $50,000 by John Gunther in 2003, Kentucky Derby, but such has been something right with our programme Marozia went on to foal G1 winner Stay the arrogance of Justify’s wins to and helps to motivate and encourage Thirsty as well as Without You Babe, date that he heads into the race vying us during the many moments in the dam of Tamarkuz and Without for favouritism with Mendelssohn this industry where you can feel Parole. As for Materiality and his G2- and Audible. discouraged.” winning half-sister, My Miss Sophia, Meanwhile in Europe, there are Remarkably, that April afternoon they descend from Dial A Trick, a 1991 hopes for Glennwood homebred wasn’t the first time that a pair of purchase whose son, Eye Of The Tiger, Without Parole, who reappears at Glennwood graduates had combined ran fifth behind Funny Cide in the 2003 Yarmouth tomorrow* after a taking to steal the show. Kentucky Derby. TRC April 2018 / Glennwood Farm, Kentucky / British trainers target France / View from the Rail: the Latex issue / The spectacular future of Woodbine / What They’re Thinking: Todd Pletcher / P4 Tanya Gunther: “I believe the ability to breed and raise young horses consistently well can be attributed … to a combination of many elements,” she says Justify’s family joined the fold with than anything limited how much she the time of this mating, which we the purchase of his granddam, the accomplished on the track. Her heart believed to represent good value (in G1 Coaching Club American Oaks and desire were never in question.” hindsight of course it turned out to be third Magical Illusion, for $450,000 at Justify is from the penultimate crop incredible value) and so we were keen Keeneland in January 2005. By Pulpit, of the much-missed Coolmore stallion to breed a few mares to him.” she foaled Stage Magic in her second Scat Daddy, bred when the son of In the case of Stage Magic, it year at Glennwood, a talented filly Johannesburg stood for $25,000. At was a cross that yielded several who was G3-placed under the care that stage, he was very much on an interesting patterns, not least of Helen Pitts after failing to sell for upward curve thanks to the exploits inbreeding to Narrate, the third dam $70,000 as a yearling. of No Nay Never and a string of high- of Johannesburg (sire of Scat Daddy) Justify, by Scat Daddy, is the third profile representatives in Chile, but his and granddam of Pulpit (sire of foal and second stakes runner out of star has really ascended since then, Magical Illusion). the Ghostzapper mare, following the especially - as fate would have it - in “When researching the possibility listed-placed colt The Lieutenant. the years following his death in late of mating Stage Magic to Scat “My dad purchased the dam of 2015. Daddy, the extended pedigree of Stage Magic at Keeneland and loved Justify is one of three colts by the the prospective mating was one her pedigree, physical attributes stallion en route to the Kentucky that made my pulse race that little and racing ability,” says Gunther. Derby, alongside the spectacular bit faster,” says Gunther. “The “Naturally, this strong belief UAE Derby winner Mendelssohn and opportunity to cross two full sisters sometimes passes along to the remarkably versatile Flameaway, who were highly accomplished daughters and this was the case with serving to further underline the extent broodmares [Yarn and Preach] Stage Magic. of his loss. and inbreed to Narrate was one of “Stage Magic showed ability on “We had identified Scat Daddy early the most interesting facets of the the track and was a gutsy runner. She on as a sire with significant momentum prospective pedigree. is not the most correct through her and upward potential,” says Tanya “Furthermore, it meant that front limbs and this probably more Gunther. “He stood for $25,000 at full brothers For The Moment and TRC April 2018 / Glennwood Farm, Kentucky / British trainers target France / View from the Rail: the Latex issue / The spectacular future of Woodbine / What They’re Thinking: Todd Pletcher / P5 The Storm Bird mare Marozia, one of the most important broodmares in the development of Glennwood Farm. Photo: glennwoodfarm.com Honest Pleasure would be inbred “Having identified Curlin as a the market,” says Gunther. 5x6x6. Nijinsky is also inbred in the potentially top stallion in the making, She adds: “Breeding Mythical Bride pedigree, adding further appeal from we were keen to get the mare on an to Curlin inbreeds both Mr. Prospector a quality and stamina perspective. upward trajectory as well. We thought and Deputy Minister relatively close Although Justify shows a great deal that Curlin offered the chance to do up in the pedigree. I typically like to of natural early speed, his pedigree just that and hopefully produce a see a combination of both stamina has a number of top-class, classic- talented racehorse to help ‘make’ the and speed elements in a pedigree distance influences, so hopefully this mare.” and this mating suited the purpose combination will serve him well in his Vino Rosso is the second foal quite well.” upcoming endeavours!” out of Mythical Bride, a winning The resulting colts were daughter of Street Cry. In turn, she is commercially rewarding, with Vino Upward trajectory a half-sister to Breeders’ Cup Sprint Rosso realising $410,000 to Mike It was at the same time that Vino runner-up Laugh Track and Belmont Repole and St. Elias Stable and Justify Rosso’s sire, Curlin, was on a similarly Stakes runner-up Commissioner; selling for $500,000 to the China upward curve. Then available for both emerged to enhance the family Horse Club and Maverick Racing. Both $25,000, the son of Smart Strike now following the mare’s $42,000 sale to were sold by Glennwood at the 2016 commands $150,000 at Hill ’n’ Dale Glennwood in November 2011. Keeneland September Sale. Farm off the back of a series of strong “Mythical Bride did not prove seasons.