Animal Kingdom’s first stakes performer

First season sire Animal Kingdom posted his first stakes performer when 2YO Lord Cecil finished strongly for third in Saturday’s Gold Coast TC Ken Russell Memorial Classic 1200m G3.

Lord Cecil’s late surge took him within a length of the winner Taking Aim and runner-up Dissolution (by Snitzel), and under-lined the promise of his debut win at Muswellbrook on 21 April. Trained by Paul Messara for Arrowfield, Lord Cecil is nominated for the J.J. Atkins G1 on 10 June over what should be a very suitable 1600 metres.

The gelding was bred by Arrowfield in partnership with Klawervlei Stud and is a half-brother to the very good juvenile Time For War (by Snitzel). Their dam Lady Zabelia (by Zabeel), from the family of champion Might and Power, has a yearling filly by Snitzel bought for $170,000 by Darby Racing & De Burgh Equine at the Magic Millions Sale and a weanling colt, also by Snitzel. Lady Zabelia is in foal to Olympic Glory.

Animal Kingdom, whose second-crop yearlings have sold up to $340,000 in 2017, has three Australian winners (Earth Angel, Platinum & Lord Cecil) and six placegetters from 13 first-crop runners.