The new kids on the block – part one

THE first of the Nutrien Equine Yearling Sales is fast approaching with the Sydney Sale to be held on Sunday March 5, the day following the $1million Miracle Mile.

It is always an exciting time with owners all over the country seeking out the next harness racing champion of our sport.

You don’t have to spend megabucks either to find yourself that next superstar of harness racing – many of the best judges in North America are claiming that Bulldog Hanover might be the greatest Pacer in history and he was purchased for $28,000 at Harrisburg,Pa in 2019.

It is also exciting to inspect and then buy the first crops of the new stallions fresh off the racetrack.

There are seven pacing stallions with amazing racetrack credentials that will be represented with their debut yearlings at the Sydney Sale.

In this article lets have a look at the resumes of four of those stallions – two who raced in North America and two who were stars on our Australian racetracks in the 2016 to 2020 era.

Captain Crunch 1.47.4 – by Captaintreacherous out of Sweet Paprika by Artiscape

A big powerful son of the now leading sire of two and thee-year-olds in the world – Captaintreacherous.

Despite his size Captain Crunch was a ready made two-year-old in the hands of trainer Nancy Takter . He won six of his 10 starts at that age including the Breeders Crown and was Voted the 2018 USTA Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year.

He returned at three to win the $1million North America Cup at Mohawk in a stakes and Canadian record of 1.47.4.

He was bred to be a shining star on the track. His Dam has produced seven winners of over $2.7million whilst his Granddam is a Hall Of Fame broodmare. His dam is also a three-quarter sister to the $3million earner and now leading Sire Sweet Lou 1.47 and a half sister to the $2.7million earner Bettor Sweet 1.47.4.

There are 97 foals in the first Australian crop of Captain Crunch and 19 of those [11 colts and eight fillies ] will be offered for sale at the Wm Inglis Complex on March 5.

Lather Up 1.46 – by Im Gorgeous from Pocket Comb by In The Pocket

A mid-size horse whose most powerful weapon was speed, speed and speed.

He was trained throughout his three-season career by Delaware, USA horseman George Teague who has trained numerous millionaires over the past 20 years including Wiggle It Jiggleit, Rainbow Blue and Total Truth.

In an interview in February 2021 George declared without hesitation that Lather Up was the fastest by far of all the champion horses he had trained. He was not surprised that Lather Up paced a mile in 1.46 – in fact he expected it to happen one day when conditions were right.

Lather Up won 23 of his 37 career starts and prizemoney of $1,917,530. He set track records at seven different tracks throughout North America..

His sire Im Gorgeous is a son of Bettors Delight whilst his Dam Pocket Comb has excelled with not the greatest of opportunities – nine winners, all in 1.55 and combined earnings of over $3.8million.

There are 48 foals in the debut crop of Australian progeny and three of these [ two colts and one filly ] will be presented for sale on Miracle Mile weekend.

Poster Boy 1.49.1 – by Somebeachsomewhere from Aston Villa by Artsplace

He was named Poster Boy because of his “Hollywood “ good looks when he was a foal ….. and nothing has changed with time.

He was a ready made racehorse as soon as he was introduced to hopples. His assets were beautiful fluid gait and push button speed – speed which his regular driver, Chris Alford remarked you could use whenever you wanted in a race.

Poster Boy compiled an impeccable race record from two through to five when he was retired perfectly sound.  That record read  – 30 starts , 22 wins , 7 placings and stakes of $803,310.

He won five Group One races including the NSW Derby, two Vicbred Finals, the Chariots Of Fire and placed third in the 2019 Miracle Mile , timed in 1.48.4

His breeding is a perfect Ten – his sire Somebeachsomewhere is now the world’s greatest Sire of Sires whilst his Dam is an Artsplace Award winning broodmare.

The first crop of Poster Boy foals number 73 in Australia and of those five [three colts and two fillies] will be offered for Sale on Miracle Mile weekend.

Soho Tribeca 1.53.8 – by American Ideal from Pixel Perfect by Art Major

It is very appropriate to be writing about Soho Tribeca and a sale on Miracle Mile weekend as Soho Tribeca was responsible for one of the most amazing runs ever seen in a Miracle Mile.

It is a Miracle Mile [2018] that will be remembered for many years as the winner My Field Marshal crossed the line in 1.46.9. Soho Tribeca was parked in the breeze for that incredible mile – 53.6 to the half and 1.19.8 to the three quarters – before surging to the front half way up the Menangle straight only to be collared on the line by the Kiwi My Field Marshal. Back in the field that day were Tiger Tara, Lennytheshark and Lazarus, beaten by a combined margin of 48 metres.

Soho Tribeca won 21 races and over $1,103,000 in one of the strongest era’s of Cup Class horses this Century. He raced in 29 Group races from a three-year-old through to a five-year-old and in four different States.

He had a lovely laid back attitude which impressed his two trainers Michael Stanley and Kim Prentice and no doubt allowed him to perform at the highest level on so many tracks.

Soho Tribeca is arguably the best bred son of American Ideal at stud anywhere in the world. His first Australian crop of foals number 86 and three of those [one colt and two fillies] will be presented at the Sydney sales the day following the 2023 edition of the Miracle Mile .

To view the catalogue for the Sydney Sale, click here.

by John Coffey