A big Autumn ahead of Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom has given notice of a big Autumn with a 3YO winning double, courtesy of Peaceful State in Melbourne on Wednesday and Raw Emotion at Kembla Grange on Tuesday.

Luke Sheehan at Racing.com summed up Peaceful State’s storming victory from near the back of the field, achieved in the style of a genuine Classic prospect and despite giving weight to older horses:

Peaceful State stamped himself on the scene with a huge win in the Mitavite Summer Challenge Heat 1 (1300m) for Japanese owner Katsumi Yoshida, punched out strongly by popular Irish hoop John Allen. He reeled in the likes of Call Me Handsome and Kaching in the shadows of the post, and is as short as $7.50 (Sportsbet), but as much as $15 (Bet365), for the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m).

Watch Peaceful State win at Sandown.

Bred by the partnership of Arrowfield and Mr Yoshida’s Northern Farm, Peaceful State is the last foal of Weekend Beauty (by Helissio), celebrated as the dam of 7-time Group 1 winner and 2008 Horse of the Year Weekend Hussler. The Darren Weir-trained colt has now won two of his four starts and was a close second to Villermont in last November’s Sandown Guineas G2.

Animal Kingdom’s daughter Raw Emotion confirmed her progress over three starts in the past month with success over 1600 metres at Kembla Grange. 

Watch Raw Emotion win at Kembla Grange.

The first foal of Lilac Garden (by Hussonet from stakeswinner Miss Bussell), Raw Emotion was bought for $135,000 by Star Thoroughbreds from Arrowfield’s 2016 Inglis Easter draft and is prepared by Chris Waller. Lilac Garden has a weanling colt by Olympic Glory and is in foal again to Animal Kingdom. 

Earth Angel (also an Australian Guineas contender and a pleasing second in her campaign debut at Caulfield last Saturday), Lord Cecil (a dual acceptor for Canterbury on Friday, and Saturday’s ATC Eskimo Prince S. G3), debut winner I Am Queen and New Zealand Oaks prospect Toy Kingdom are all set to keep the ball rolling for Animal Kingdom through the Autumn. 

Meanwhile, in the United States where Animal Kingdom finished 4th on the 2017 First Season Sires’ premiership, his Grade 2-winning son Untamed Domain remains on the Kentucky Derby trail after his season-opening third in last Saturday’s Dania Beach S. G3.

Animal Kingdom has 7 yearlings, including two fillies & two colts in Arrowfield’s draft for the Inglis Classic Sale which begins on Saturday evening at the new Riverside Stables in Sydney.