Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2012 7:19:05 GMT -5
June Edition
[/b][/center][/size]As usual, June was kicked off in style with the GHF's Next Top Racehorse series. This show of yearlings is intended to provide us with a glimpse of next years crop, as well as allowing stables to see their horse's potential. This month we had two entries into the show, the successful Sophie's Voice and Aquatic Addiction, who has also been showing himself to have quite the potential. When it came down to it, with ten entrants in the show in all, our two proved themselves to be the cream of the crop with a second and third place. When the standings were later announced we were proud to see that Soph is currently at the top of the leaderboard for the series. Also high on the leaderboard, which currently has sixteen horses on it, were Flyin' Out Loud, who took third place, and Aquatic Addiction in fourth. We will be striving to maintain our horses as the top in their age group.
Next up on the cards we had a disappointing run in the Fantasy Cup with our entrants, Prideful Limits and Ray Of Sunshine placing sixth and tenth in a field of twelve. However, we were due to be cheered up rather quickly as our horses, Wannabe Hero and Aztareal took second and third positions in the Comet Cup - proving themselves not only as strong racers but, in the case of Hero, as being more than able at running against older and more experienced horses. Out final race of June Week one came in the form of the major race, the Who's More Youthful Stakes, with our own star Moondance. Mona has been doing well so far this year, and seems to be fighting to prove herself worthy of the title she won at the end of last season. Incredibly, Mona took second in the race - beating Star Thoroughbred's Born To Soar.
With week one completed week two was quick to follow. Compared to usual weeks, week two was a very quiet week for us. However, the races we did enter were big races. The quieter of the races we were entered in this week was most definitely the June Turf Stakes, which proved to have a high level of competition. Our three entrants for this race were Beltane, who came in first - beating out White Chocolate - Seattle Sun, who came in third and Flawed Princess who placed 7th. Our second, and only other race in week two, was the Coaching Club American Oaks - the final leg of the triple Tiara. Despite running a strong race, and the race ending in a photo finish, our star Afterglow was unable to achieve the first place we had desired. Instead, she came in second.
Week three was a much busier week for us, however such was expected when the races included the Seaspray Cup. For us, the races began before the Seaspray Cup with the Charming Cup and Polkadot Stakes - races over six furlongs on turf for colts and fillies respectively. In the Charming Cup, Seattle Sun was able to bring us home a comfortable second against Grade One Pegasus Wings. In the Polkadot Stakes, Beltane came out in third. The turf sprint field is really hot this year, and we are glad to see our horses placing in the top three time and time again. With the normal races out of the way it was time to move on to the Seaspray Cup - a prestigious dirt series. Unfortunately, the maiden did not run as we had hoped and our entries, Candid Silver and Karnevil, ended up coming in seventh and ninth. Things were looking up, however, with our next race. The grade five race of the series was a tough one, and Paradise Island went against Instant Success, who originally raced for us. It was very close, and Sonja really fought against the colt and ended up second in a photo finish. We wish continues success to the Kacey Hill team. The grade three and four races were merged due to a lack of entries in the grade four race and so we saw Afterglow and Dark Charmer racing against one another in a field of five. Fuelled by her recent big races, Afterglow was in really good shape for this race and was able to take first place - making it into Grade 3 - with Dark Charmer ending in third. Our final race this week was the grade one, where Moondance placed third.
Week four kicked off with the Kindergarten Stakes, the first race on turf for our dual surfaced two-year-old, Paradise Island. The filly did well, finishing third against tough competition which made Jacob happy because he wants to see her having a successful career on both surfaces. The race was quickly followed up by the Magic Night Stakes where Tanya and Wannabe Hero finally got their second win! This dirt sprinting colt is highly consistent and really talented, so we are look forwards to their continued success. The Sweet Embrace Stakes, the third race, saw Prideful Limits finishing in third place while two-year-old Name The Prince finished in fifth. Aztarael took second place in the Auraria Stakes and this was quickly followed by a win for Dark Charmer in the Blue Stakes – this brings him up to five wins this year! It was a great end to the week, and Dark definitely seems to be on a good role. Jacob said he was going to aim for Grade Two by the end of the year.
Now, in other news, we’ve had some very exciting developments with the introduction of new horses to the stable. The older of the two horses, purchased from Stride Of Perfection Stables, is the beautiful filly No Wonder – a Merry Bay King foal, who had two wins in her two year old season before her stable closed down and she was left alone for a while. The other of the two newcomers is a yearling filly called Italian Ice – a daughter of Impressario, she is a very exciting prospect and will be entering the GHF’s Next Top Racehorse series. June Week 4 marked the end of breeding season, and while we have a large number of exciting weanlings we feel we will wait to allow them to introduce themselves in the prospect shows next year. We would also like to take this chance to inform you of some sad news. Forbidden Enchantment has fractured her leg during training and as such we have been forced to retire her. She will serve as a broodmare next year.
