The tough Van Nistelrooy filly Brown Eyed Grace became Cloughmore’s 17th individual stakeswinner with a courageous victory in yesterday’s Listed event for 3YO fillies. Despite her success in the CJC’s prep race a fortnight previously, she was largely ignored in the betting – especially in comparison with Te Akau Rose, last season’s Matamata Breeders Stakes (G2) winner.
Purchased by trainer Kevin Hughes at the 2008 NZB Select Sale, Brown Eyed Grace is out of Lycsis, a half-sister by Final Card to former Champion 2YO, Lycra. Kevin was much taken with her as an individual and phoned me from the salering as she had not been on my original list of likely value for money fillies. Some urgent work with the computer showed up some interesting facts about her pedigree, not least of which was the fact that Van Nistelrooy had already left smart Singapore galloper Onceuponatime from a daughter of Kingdom Bay, like Final Card a typical Biscay-line stallion. As Lycra’s sire, Tights, was by Nijinsky, a close genetic relative to Van Nistelrooy’s grandsire Storm Bird, it seemed that as the cross had worked spectacularly well once it could well be worth trying again.
From my perspective, the really interesting question relates as to how far Brown Eyed Grace will stay. Her style of racing might suggest that 1600m could be beyond her; however, Lycra ran third in the VATC One Thousand Guineas and fourth in the VRC Derby, and I would not be surprised if her close relative were to be competitive in the forthcoming Guineas races.
Another exciting recent development for Cloughmore has been the stunning debut of Hussonet gelding Honest Truth at Newcastle last week. After a 11 – length trial win, the Patinack owned 3YO romped to victory by nearly 6 lengths without being touched by jockey Peter Robl. Reports from over the Tasman indicate that the horse will be set for the G1 3YO 1200 event on VRC Derby Day. The Cloughmore connection is that Honest Truth’s dam, the USA mare Straight Lake, went through the NZB August Sale and was purchased by a Palmerston North client. I had rated her the best value for money mare in the catalogue and was thrilled at her quick increase in value.
On the subject of broodmare purchases, I recently put together a small partnership to purchase the Yamanin Vital mare Sakura Cluden at the South Island Sale. The sister to Wellington Cup winner Cluden Creek will visit Bachelor Duke this season.
Best wishes to all readers for the breeding season. If you’d like to get involved in breeding thoroughbreds and would like some advice, do get in touch. For once, I agree with the marketing messages out there; stud fees are, in general, very reasonable indeed.
