CROWN COLLECTION ANOTHER SPARKLING CROWN

Those who have been involved with racehorses long enough know that there is little room for sentiment in the game. If an offer comes along, and if the price is right, one must sell... Even before she had displayed her fabulous talent on the racecourse, Divine Light (1984 by Riyahi [IRE]), who had been purchased as a yearling by Dr. M.A.M. Ramaswamy, was sold as a just-turned three-year-old to Dr. Vijay Mallya.

Until her racing career was somewhat compromised by a lung infection picked up during shipping, Divine Light shone as the brightest star in the Indian racing firmament in 1987. Her ruthless demolition of the formidable Brave Dancer in the Bangalore Derby (Gr.1), was so impressive that it is deeply etched in memory today, despite almost 20 years having passed.

She was the initial offspring in India of Charenzaccio [FR] (Lorenzaccio-Chanel) who was acquired by Greenfield Farms as a barren mare. The well-made bay repeated with Ministrella (1986 by Malvado [CAN]), another heroine of the Kingfisher Bangalore Derby (Gr.1), and went one better with Divine Light's own-brother Ministerial, last-stride winner of the 1993 Classic Indian Turf Invitation Cup ( Gr.1). .

While in Holland, Charenzaccio [FR] had dropped a Sanhedrin filly which was also acquired by the Poonawallas as a yearling in late 1983. Named Schiaparelli, she too became a superb producer, her best being Adler (1989 by Riyahi [IRE]), unbeaten in India from 8 starts, and Vesuvius (1986 by Malvado [CAN]), winner of the Indian 2000 Guineas (Gr.1)

Divine Light was retired to the Poonawalla Estates Stud in a deal that envisaged sharing of the offspring between Dr. Mallya and the stud. She had five daughters during her innings there, the initial three being by Malvado [CAN] followed by a subsequent pair by Placerville [USA]. Her first, Mystic Memory, was simply outstanding with 10 wins, 8 seconds and Rs.55,47,420, from 20 starts, her successes including the Castrol Indian 1000 Guineas (Gr.1), and the McDowell Indian St. Leger (Gr.1).

At stud, she is the dam of one of the best runners of recent times, Mystical, whose record is too recent to need recounting. Mystic Memory's own-sister Divine Dreams, who raced for Dr. Mallya, was not quite as talented but was also victorious at Grade 1 level, her honours coming in the Classic Golconda Derby (Gr. 1).

Then came along another own-sister, Crown Collection, the subject of this piece, who never raced. However, in view of her breeding, she earned the right for a stint in the paddocks. Two of her first four offspring could not win a race and the others were not exceptional. Just when it appeared she might be a candidate for culling, along came her 2003-born Placerville [USA] daughter, Guest Connections, who sizzled down the outside in the Deutsche Bank Indian 1000 Guineas (Gr.1), last December to catch Haunting Memories flat-footed. Alas, Crown Collection is no more; but she has left a 2004 daughter who could add to the family laurels.

Guest Connections is thus a three-parts sister to Ascot Lass, winner of the Fillies & Mares Stakes (Gr.3), at Pune (incidentally, a race also won by the former), and herself dam of the Mysore Million (Gr.3), winner Green Bax. She is also a three-parts sister to Divine Lumiere, a non-winner, retired like the vast majority of females descending from Charenzaccio [FR] to the Poonawalla Estates stud last year. Given that merit in this classic taproot family tracing to Schiaparelli flows so easily in the genes, one must expect more bounty to emerge from this crowning collection of broodmares.