KRYPTON FACTOR was very impressive when taking the $2 million GROUP 1 Golden Shaheen over 1,200m on the Tapeta at Meydan in Dubai on World Cup night. The time for the race was only just outside the track record and saw this Kyllachy gelding win with something in hand by 2.25 lengths from 2011 winner Rocket Man, with Gr.1 winners Sepoy, The Factor, Lucky Nine and Giant Ryan further back. Purchased for owner/trainer Fawzi Nass at the 2010 Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training sale for 100,000 Guineas, he became the first Gr.1 winner trained by a Bahraini. He is now rated 129 by Timeform and will be campaigned internationally, starting with the Gr.1 International Sprint at Kranji, Singapore in May before a tilt at the Gr.1 Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot in June. Grade 1 Golden Shaheen Stakes –
WENT THE DAY WELL destroyed the field when winning the Grade 3 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park. This was the race that his trainer, Graham Motion, and majority owners, Team Valor, won with Animal Kingdom on his way to Kentucky Derby victory in 2011. I bought him at Tattersalls October Yearling sale for Mark & Leigh Ford for 26,000 Guineas where he was rather ignored because of his typical American walk. They still retain a leg in the colt having sold the rest of him for a ‘Group race price’ after he finished second in a maiden at Haydock in September. Spiral Stakes –
BLACK SPIRIT started his 2012 campaign off with an honourable 4th in the Group 3 Winter Derby at Lingfield. I was delighted to see SOLE POWER finish second in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan as I purchased a half-sister in 2009 for only 6,000 Guineas in-foal to Pastoral Pursuits.
Future Sales –
Goffs – Breeze-Up Sale at Kempton – Breeze & Sale Tuesday 3rd April – 100 lots catalogued. In 2011 – 65 2yos sold for a median of £20,000.
Tattersalls – Craven Breeze-Up Sale – Breeze Tues 17th April; Sale Wed 18th & Thurs 19th April – 183 lots catalogued. In 2011 – 112 2yos sold for a median of 60,000 Guineas.
DBS – Breeze-Up Sale – Breeze Sun 22nd April; Sale Monday 23rd April – 192 lots catalogued. In 2011 – 109 2yos sold for a median of £20,000.
DBS April Horses-in-Training Sale – Tuesday 24th April – 105 lots catalogued. In 2011 – 108 HIT sold for a median of £4,500.
Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up & Horses-in-Training Sale – Thursday 3rd & Friday 4th May – 65 horses-in-training & 121 2yos catalogued – New sale for 2012.
Arqana Breeze-Up Sale at Saint-Cloud – Friday 11th & Saturday 12th May – 165 lots catalogued. In 2011 – 111 2yos sold for a median of €50,000.