NZ Sprint Win Recalls American Mating of Exported Aussies
31-01-2012
BRIGAND, a handy middle distance stakes performer in France and America who, from his use at the Waikato stud in New Zealand, supplied champion Australian sprinter River Rough and Caulfield Cup winner Cole Diesel, has a close connection in blood with the maternal breeding of Avant, the grandam of Guiseppina, the 5-year-old Johar (USA) (by Gone West) mare who came with a barnstorming finish to take the Group1 Telegraph Handicap (1200m) at Trentham, Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday January 21.
Brigand had the unusual qualities of being bred in America using two exported Australian champions. He was by the Star Kingdom Australian Horse of the Year Noholme, a brother to Todman, and from Lady Sybil (by Count Rendered), a New Zealand bred leading 3-year-old whose exploits included wins in the Victoria Oaks, Caulfield Guineas, Sandown Guineas and Moonee Valley Stakes. The most illustrious of four winners produced in America by Lady Sybil was near champion Amerigo Lady, a winner of 13 races, including among eight majors the Hollywood Oaks. She produced Pass The Glass, a multiple Group winner and sire of the dam of Beautiful Crown (USA) (Patinack Farm, Hunter Valley), and also Virginia, dam of Virginia Rapids (a winner at Group1, 2 and 3 level).
The breeding association of Avant, Guiseppina’s grandam, is derived from her being a New Zealand product of the mating of the Todman sire Imposing with Devante, a Sobig New Zealand Oaks winner out Skylit, a half-sister by Wilkes (FR) to Lady Sybil. Never before successful above Listed and a failure in two tries in 1600m events at Group1 level,Telegraph Handicap winner Guiseppina now has six wins (two Listed) from12 outings to her credit.
Bred and raced by eminent New Zealand identities Peter and Philip Vela, principals of New Zealand Bloodstock, she is from Battocchi, a winner of the VRC Matriarch Stakes and Ballarat Cup who was from one of the two crops supplied by Success Express (USA) from use in New Zealand. Imported by Robert Holmes a Court, American Breeders’ Cup juvenile winner Success Express started his stud career in Victoria, moved to New Zealand, had two stints in New South Wales, Widden and Vinery studs, and one in Queensland.
Guiseppina’s sire Johar visited Highview stud, Hamilton, New Zealand from America in 2005 and 2006 and has had 50 winners and 12 others placed from 83 starters.Three others to succeed in stakes have been Folding Gear (won Caulfield Autumn Classic-Gr.2), Fazzle (Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes-Gr.2) and Veronica Franco (Manawatui Eulogy Stakes-Gr.3).
The sire of 87 winners from American use, headed by Keertana (five Group 3 wins, third Breeder’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf-Gr.1), Johar stands the 2012 season at Mill Ridge Farm, Kentucky, on $2,500. He was a top class racehorse, winning six races to a mile a half, including two Group1s, the Hollywood Derby and Breeders Cup Turf.
Courtesy of Brian Russell Bloodstock Media Service
