Catbird Keeps Up Record of Slipper Winning Sires
28-12-2011
CATBIRD, the prematurely deceased Danehill sire represented by a stakes double on Saturday in the shape of Monton (AJC Villiers – 1600m) and Moonlight Bay (Western Australian St Leger – 2100m), is one of the18 of the 21 Golden Slipper winning colts who have had runners to have winners up to Group1 level.
They have not all been outstanding sires, but they have included the notablesTodman, Vain, Baguette, Luskin Star, Marscay, Rory’s Jester, Marauding, Canny Lad, Danzero, Flying Spur, Pago Pago (in Australia and America), Sky High (good winners in Australia and America, including Horse of the Year Autobiography) and up and coming Stratum.
The only three of the Slipper winning sires who failed to supply Group1 winners have been Sir Dapper (two successful at Group 2 level), Skyline (ordinary opportunity) and Eskimo Prince (disappeared into obscurity in Mexico).
Deceased at the Yarraman Park stud at Scone at only eleven in June 2007, Catbird has not reached the stature as a sire of Flying Spur (also by Danehill), Luskin Star, Vain or Marscay, to mention four, but he can be summed up as being a competent, versatile source of winners. So far his seven crops of foals, the youngest of which are four, have included 413 winners (24 SWs, 22 SPs) of just under 1200 races and over $35million. A significant feature of his contribution has been the ability of some of his progeny out of mares by staying sires to stick on. Two of these have been the Western Australian classic winners Cats Fun (dam by Zabeel; nine wins include their Derby and Perth Cup – 3200m) and Chartreux (Bonhomie - won 2400m England, won WATC Derby).
Also looking like a good prospect to stay at least 2400m successfully is Moonlight Bay, winner on Saturday of the Western Australian St Leger and at three fourth in the Western Australian Oaks. Another good horse bred and raced by Western Australian industry leader Bob Peters, the Grant Williams, Karnup, trained Moonlight Bay is a brother to Moonbound (six wins to1600m in Perth) and from Moonfire (also won1600m). Also bred by Peters, Moonfire is a half-sister by the Mr. Prospector sire Geiger Counter to two of his top performers,Old Money (seven wins, including the WA Derby and Oaks) and Old Cobber (14 wins, WATC C.B. Cox Plate -2400m, second Perth Cup). They were from Balmy Night, a daughter of noted New Zealand stayer Balmerino. After winning 19 races in this part of the world, including the New Zealand Derby, 2000 Guineas, STC Rawson Stakes and Brisbane, Balmerino closed off his racing with top performances in Europe. Nine outings included two wins at Goodwood and seconds in four Group1s, the Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe, Epsom Coronation Cup, Sandown Eclipse Stakes and Italy’s Gran Premio Del Jockey Club Coppa d’Oro.
Catbird has run out of yearlings, but five other Slipper winners are to be represented at 2012 sales. They are the Danehill sons Flying Spur and Danzero, grandson Stratum (Redoute’s Choice) and also Canny Lad (by Bletchingly) and newcomer Sebring. A son of More Than Ready and a Flying Spur mare from the same family as Baguette, Sebring had 190 mares in his first season and could have over 100 yearlings at the sales. To start with, there 34 listed for the Gold Coast in January, five for the Sydney Classic series and eight in New Zealand.
Sebring stands with Stratum at the Widden stud.They are two of five Slipper winners used at this historic stud, preceded by champion Australian sires Vain and Marscay and, in his twilight, Todman.
Courtesy of Brian Russell Bloodstock Media Service
