Harry Knows success goes against his pedigree

He was given an unknown harness racing mare unseen, in foal to a stallion he didn’t choose. The story of Irish trotter Harry Knows (Amstrong Jet) is a fascinating one. Technically the story starts in France, though Harry Knows was born in Ireland. Patrick Kane and his family had the pleasure of raising, training and competing with Ireland’s best trotter.

“The Irish association had purchased 50 mares from France. They were distributed by lot and we got Aurore. She was already in foal, so I didn’t get to pick the mare or the stallion. But it really turned out quite well I’d say,” Kane smiled.

Growing up in Country Meath, just north-west of Dublin, Harry Knows didn’t take long to show the Kane family he was a bit special.

“He was talent from the get-go,” Kane said of Harry Knows. “And was shaping up really nice as a youngster. The issue was that he was choking himself and panicking. I heard him making a noise and put an anti-choke on. That settled him down and he then went on to win 12 of 12 at three.

“Then he needed a wind operation last summer,” Kane added. “And after that was 7-1 in 8 starts. He’s something special, clearly the most talented trotter we have had. His record in Ireland was 2:00, but that does not reflect his ability.

“Harry Knows is a fairly big horse,” Kane added. “Maybe 16.1 hands, and the tracks here in Ireland are half-mile track. I’d say small half-mile tracks. He just could not go any faster in Ireland, but the bigger tracks in the US are perfect for him.”

Eventually Harry became too big a fish in a small pond – a pond that has gotten even smaller with the closing of Portmarnock Raceway in Dublin in late 2022. The Irish association had leased the track but failed to obtain a new lease. As a result, there is a big void in the middle of the country and several people have reduced their operations, including Kane.

“We used to have 12-14 horses every year,” Kane explained. “This year we have cut it down to 7. It’s not as viable with the track in Dublin closed. Now it’s either going to Cork, which is two and a half hours to the south or traveling around the same distance up to Northern Ireland. We need a track in the Dublin-area, though. They are working on it, but I wish it was ready when Portmarnock closed down. I hope something is ready soon. There is little money in Irish harness racing, but there are many good horsepeople here.”

When that new track in the Dublin area is ready, that will be without Harry Knows, who is thriving in the US. Kane is delighted to see how the horse is doing in the US, and justifying the belief they had in him.

With three wins in five starts on US soil, several have taken notice. Not only in America, but also in Europe. In Sweden, Stefan Melander has already written a chronicle about how the Irish-born six-year-old is a possible invitee to the Elitloppet. Kane, though, pours cold water on the idea, at least for the time being.

“Shane [Tritton] makes the decisions,” Kane explained. “That being said, I don’t see Harry going elsewhere for a big race – not now anyway. I hadn’t heard any talk from Sweden, but it’s nice to hear his name mentioned. The Elitloppet is a big race, but we don’t want to be dreaming.

“For now, we want Harry to get fully used to his new surroundings,” Kane added. “Also, going 1:51 or 1:52 in every race is something he needs to get used to. He can do it, I am sure of that, but he is not used to it. Harry needs to learn that consistency and then next year, if he’s at that level, I think it could be a fun experience. But for this year, I don’t see it as an option.”

For those wondering if Harry has any younger siblings, there are none. Kane doesn’t even have the dam anymore.

“We just couldn’t get Aurore in foal again,” Kane said. “We tried but couldn’t get it done. After a while we gave up and gave her away as a pleasure horse. Had we known how good Harry would turn out I’m sure we would have kept her, tried again and looked for options. But that’s easy to say now with hindsight.”

But what is in Harry Knows’ genes?

Harry Knows is by French stallion Amstrong Jet (note the spelling: it’s “Amstrong”, not “Armstrong”). Not good enough to compete with the very best in his crop, Amstrong Jet was nonetheless 4-1-1 in 18 starts at 3 and 4. His personal best at a mile-rate of 1:55.3 was set at age four while finishing second at Vincennes. Health problems got in the way and he never won in 24 starts after that.

Amstrong Jet is a full brother to Quaker Jet. The latter was a real star 13 wins in 87 starts, three Group 1 wins, a second-place finish in the 2010 Prix d’Amerique, a best time of 1:52 and earnings of slightly more than 1.75m euros. Except for the color – Love You is a chestnut, the solidly built Amstrong Jet is quite similar to his sire, more than his famous brother.

Amstrong and Quaker Jet are sons of Love You, a son of Coktail Jet. Their dam Jenny Jet is by Dahir de Prelong out of Delmonica Jet, the latter by French-born Speedy Somolli-son Tarass Boulba and Armbro Glamour. The Canadian-born mare is also the dam of Coktail Jet. Thus, Amstrong Jet is 3×3 inbred to Armbro Glamour.

On the maternal side, Harry Knows’s dam Aurore is by Quaro out of Maitrise Vinoir. Aurore was nothing special as a trotter, notching up 3 wins in 47 career starts, all at age 3. Her sire Quaro is interesting, though, given that he’s a son of Kiwi, himself a son of Coktail Jet. This means Harry Knows is bred 3×4 on Coktail Jet.

Aurore’s dam Maitrise Vinoir only managed a single win in her short career, but the mare had talent: she was disqualified for going off-stride in 8 out her 13 starts, but when actually trotting she won once, was second three times and was fourth once. She is by Buvetier d’Aunou, a son of Royal Prestige. The latter, of course, is by Speedy Crown. This means that Aurore is bred 4×4 on Speed Crown.

Maitrise Vinoir is a sister to Group 1-winner Ojipey Vinoir, an early talent who won 7 and finished second in 2 out of his first 10 starts. His tenth start was his win in Criterium des Jeunes. After that he failed to follow-up. Ojipey Vinoir ended up as a stallion in Russia.

There are lots of American influences in this pedigree. Quaro’s damsire Workaholic is a son of Speedy Crown. Maitrise Vinoir is by Buvetier d’Aunou, a son of Royal Prestige. Hence, Harry Knows’ dam Aurore is 4×4 bred on Speedy Crown.

Further back it’s a maternal line without many stars, though one notable exception can be found. Fourth dam Herbageuse is a full sister to the excellent Feu Violet, a winner of Prix de Buenos-Aires and second in the group 1-races Criterium des 5 ans and Prix de Selection, losing the latter to the exceptional Hadol du Vivier.

Harry Knows has won three of his six starts since coming to the USA and he goes again on Saturday evening (May 6) in the 9th race at The Meadowlands.

For a free race program, click here.

It seems Harry Knows is just one of those highly unlikely stars, genetically speaking. Many would struggle to see this maternal family, as well as Amstrong Jet, producing a top trotter. Even more would surely not have expected a 1:52-trotter from Ireland, either.

And if you really want to understand what is happening, remember that Harry Knows.

by Lisa Harkema, for Harnesslink