Jacqueline Quest Tops Third Day of December Sale at 600,000 Guineas >>Read —————--—————Will Ryan Moore soon be riding for Ballydoyle? >>Read
DUBAI WORLD CUP CARNIVAL 2012
Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News attracts 275 Nominees >>Read —————--—————Etisalat connects with Meydan’s Dubai World Cup Carnival this Thursday >>Read —————--—————Williams and Gamilati master Meydan >>Read —————--—————Maxime Guyon wants more of Dubai >>Read —————--—————Mahbooba takes Al Rashidiya Trial >>Read
TODAYS NEWS
Aga khan breds in goffs catalogue >>Read —————--—————Ambitious Dragon scorches to a stunning victory in the HKG1 Stewards’ Cup >>Read
When retiring to stud as the winner of nine of her 18 starts, champion filly Forest Fantasy (199x by Razeen [USA] – Lady Harriet [IRE]) had the distinction of being the highest earner on the Indian Turf, with total earnings of Rs.1,23,58,124. Sent to her owner’s Chettinad Stud in 1999, the well-made bay was covered by Predappio [GB] before a sudden mid-season sale saw her relocated to the Manjri Stud at Pune, where she was covered again, this time by Don’t Forget Me [IRE]. Although she conceived, she unfortunately slipped her foal later that year.
FOREST FANTASY
Another relocation, now literally across the road, to the Poonawalla Estates Stud followed a few months later, and on March 30th, 2001, Forest Fantasy foaled a bay colt by Placerville [USA], who certainly qualified as the best-bred foal of his crop. In keeping with his illustrious bloodlines, the colt – who was unfortunately gelded – has become perhaps the best four-year-old in the land at upto the metric mile. Named Spectacular Quest and racing for Dr. M.A.M. Ramaswamy, who also campaigned his dam, the gelding annexed the Maj. P.K. Mehra Memorial Super Mile at Guindy in March and most recently triumphed with ease in the 1,400 m. Daisy Appoo B.T.C. Anniversary Cup at Bangalore on July 9th.
The family entered India through Lady Harriet [IRE], acquired as a filly-out-of-training from the consignment of International Bloodstock at the Tattersalls December Sales of 1982. Although she had only placed, her attraction was obvious, as she was a daughter of the pre-eminent broodmare sire of the time, Habitat, and hailed from an illustrious family replete with ‘black-type’. Her dam, the stakes-placed Ladona (1972 by Don), was a half-sister to Monteverdi (1977 by Lyphard), the champion European 2-year-old colt of 1979. Yet to come was the late-blooming multiple Grade 1 winner Jade Hunter (1984 by Mr. Prospector), whose dam Jadana was another half - sister to this pair.
Their dam, Janina (1965 by Match) was also stakes-placed and was a half-sister to the grand middle-distance runner, Nagami (1955 by Nimbus), winner of the Coronation Cup at Epsom and placed third in all three open Classics of 1958, and to Pretty Polly Stakes victress, Young Empress (1957 by Petition). The last-named achieved her moment in the sun when throwing the very speedy Young Emperor (1963 by Grey Sovereign) another to secure champion 2-year-old honours in England. One more half-sister was Miss Moss (1962 by Mossborough), destined to become grandam of the flying Cramond (1974 by Porto Bello).
This admixture of speed and stamina is evident in Lady Harriet’s [IRE] descendants, some of which express one aptitude to the exclusion of another, while others demonstrate a fine blend.
For example, her sons Enrico (1984 by Everyday II*), a top-notcher who found only Cordon Bleu too good for him in the McDowell Indian Derby of 1988, and Our Minstrel (1993 by Common Land [GB]), winner of The Hindu Nilgiris Derby, were versatile performers, best at around 1,600 m. In contrast, her grandson, Southern Regent (2001 by Razeen [USA]), whose narrow victory in the Maharaja’s Cup was the fifth of his career, needs all the ground he can get while the latter’s own-sister, Razalin, could only sprint!
Taproot of this illustrious bunch was the famous Athasi, sold as a yearling in 1918 for a mere 270 guineas, and who spent her first night in new ownership in the lock-up, as her groom was arrested for being inebriated. One doesn’t know of his fate, but one is certain that Athasi’s tribe have displayed enough talent to ensure that rivals need to be quite sober to tackle them!
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