Jan 1 Into Mischief was the leading sire in North America for the fourth year running in 2022 which makes him the first stallion since Bold Ruler to win that title more than three times. Bold Ruler was champion for seven consecutive years in the 1960s (1963-1969) and again in 1973.
Jan 6 Nevada Valiente, winner of a 1m2.5f handicap at Dundalk, was a first winner for his sire Kargali, an Aga Khan-bred son of Invincible Spirit who won the G3 Gladness Stakes at The Curragh in 2010.
Jan 6 A quick start for Dubawi at Meydan this year with a stakes-race double at their first meeting. Al Suhail won the G2 7f Al Fahidi Fort, while Lazuli won the listed 5f Dubai Dash.
Jan 10 Duramente, who died in 2021, left behind three winners at the 2022 JRA awards. The son of King Kamehameha who was himself named JRA champion 3yo colt in 2015 was responsible for best 2yo filly Liberty Island, best 3yo filly Stars On Earth and best older colt or horse Titleholder. Horse of The Year and best 3yo colt was Equinox, winner of the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and Arima Kinen, both races won by his sire Kitasan Black who was himself Horse of The Year in 2016 and 2017. The best older filly or mare, Geraldina, is a product of two former JRA Horses of The Year Maurice (2015) and Gentildonna (2012/2014).
Jan 11 Muhaarar was the sire of Politics, winner of the 7f handicap at Lingfield, while Muhaarar’s half-sister Rufoof is the dam of Rabaah, winner of the 6f novice on the same card.
Jan 12 No Saint, winner of the 7f maiden at Chelmsford, was a first winner for his sire Koropick, Kodiac’s son who won the G3 Chipchase Stakes in 2017. Koropick’s stud career was short-lived, however, as he was gelded and returned to racing again in 2020.
Jan 13 This time a treble for Dubawi at Meydan headed by a one-two in the G2 Al Rashidiya over 1m1f thanks to Valiant Prince and Dubai Future. His other winners were Suave Whisper in the 7f Ipi Tombe Stakes and Electrical Storm in the 1m handicap. Valiant Prince’s dam Chachamaidee, who was awarded the Matron Stakes, shares her fourth dam Sunbittern with Dubawi (Godolphin’s 2021 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Space Blues is bred on similar lines). Electrical Storm’s pedigree also features line-breeding; he’s a grandson of Tanaghum, a great granddaughter of Fall Aspen who’s also the grandam of Dubawi’s sire Dubai Millennium.
Jan 13 Interesting to see Magnentius winning a claiming handicap at Deauville at the age of ten. He got a mention here more than five years ago.
Jan 14 A one-two for Sea The Stars in the listed Jebel Ali Stakes over nearly 1m2f on the dirt. Both Daramethos and Lost Eden are also out of Dansili mares.
Jan 17 Dubawi was the sire with the most horses in the top hundred or so horses listed in the 2022 World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, with his runners headed by Breeders’ Cup Turf and dual German G1 winner Rebel’s Romance. Two broodmares had a couple of offspring in the rankings. Shadwell’s Kingmambo mare Aghareed was responsible for the world’s highest-rated turf horse Baaeed and his year-older brother Hukum, winner of the Coronation Cup (both by Sea The Stars). German mare Tijuana (by Toylsome) was represented by 5yo Torquator Tasso (by Adlerflug), winner of the G2 Grosser Hansa-Preis and placed in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes as well as the Grosser Preis von Baden and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, both of which he had won in 2021, and 3yo Tunnes (by Guiliani), winner of the G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern and G3 Deutsches St Leger.
Jan 17 No Nay Never was the most successful sire in the 2022 European 2yo classifications. He was responsible for top-rated Pequeño Big Bear (rated 124), winner of the Phoenix Stakes, and joint second-top Blackbeard (119), winner of the Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes, as well as Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Meditate (114) and the G2 winners Trillium (111, Flying Childers Stakes) and Aesop’s Fables (110, Futurity Stakes). Aesop’s Fables and Trillium are out of mares by Green Desert’s sons Shinko Forest and Invincible Spirit respectively, while Blackbeard is out of a mare by Invincible Spirit’s son Born To Sea.
Jan 20 For the second time at Dundalk this month (see Jan 6) owner/breeder/trainer Luke Comer is responsible for a sire’s first winner. Angel Above, winner of the 7f fillies’ maiden, is by Kodiac’s son Second Thought, a three-time listed winner over 7f/1m.
Jan 21 Lope de Vega had four of the eight runners in Lingfield’s valuable Winter Oaks Handicap over 1m2f, including the first two home Al Agaila and Morgan Fairy.
Jan 25 Three winners for Adaay, with a double at Newcastle from Silver Nightfall in the 7f novice and Northern Spirit in the 6f handicap, while at Kempton Dynakite won the 1m handicap.
Jan 26 Dual Horse of The Year Curlin was the most successful sire at the Eclipse Awards with three champions, namely Malathaat (older dirt female), Nest (3yo filly) and Elite Power (male sprinter).
Jan 28 A couple of G3 winners for Tapit, with Personal Best winning the La Prevoyante Stakes over 1m4f on turf at Gulfstream and Pauline’s Pearl winning the Houston Ladies Classic Stakes over 8.5f on dirt at Sam Houston. Both are out of G1-winning mares, Personal Best a daughter of Flower Bowl Stakes winner War Flag and Pauline’s Pearl out of Spinaway Stakes winner Hot Dixie Chick.
Jan 29 Both G3 winners in Japan are distantly from the same family, that of Northern Dancer. Namura Clair, winner of the Silk Road Stakes (Handicap) over 1200m/6f at Chukyo is a great granddaughter of French champion 2yo filly Coup de Genie, while Lemon Pop, winner of the Negishi Stakes over 1400m/7f on dirt at Tokyo is a grandson of a sister to Danehill. Coup de Genie and Danehill share the same great grandam in Northern Dancer’s dam Natalma.
Jan 29 Another G1 win at Sha Tin for Golden Sixty in the 1600m/1m Stewards’ Cup. He has set records in Hong Kong for number of wins (23) and prize money since thebreedingshed reviewed his pedigree here in December 2020.
thebreedingshed 