Big weekend for Arrowfield on international stage
Arrowfield sires past and present shone brightly in Dubai and Japan over the weekend.
Dubai World Cup Night saw champion colt MUSIR (Redoute’s Choice ex Dizzy de Lago, by Encosta de Lago) take out the USD$2 million G2 UAE Derby from RAIHANA – a filly whose dam, Esubooh (by Sunday Silence), was bred by Arrowfield.
Former Arrowfield shuttler Falbrav also sired second placegetter FRAVASHI (ex Angelic Smile, by Dehere) in the G3 Al Quoz Sprint.
Trainer Mike De Kock compared Guineas winner Musir with his previous winners of the race, including dual Dubai World Cup placegetter Asiatic Boy, saying he had always thought Musir “was more classy”.
“I think it was a really quality field and we target this race every year.
“Musir would have won the Guineas and the Derby back home [in South Africa], and of all the three-year-olds I’ve trained for this race he could be the best of them.”
“Musir and (UAE Oaks winner) Raihana will now be sent to race in Australia, de Kock said, confirming that Musir will be aimed at this year’s G1 George Main Stakes before heading to the G1 Cox Plate.
Like Raihana, Musir and Solid Choice (another Redoute’s Choice colt who competed on Saturday evening) are both homebreds for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, were foaled and raised in Australia, offered for sale and passed in, then sent to South Africa to be prepared by leading trainer Mike de Kock.
Musir won the G1 Golden Horseshoe in South Africa last season and arrived in Dubai at the start of this year’s International Racing Carnival with the record of two wins and a second from three starts and the title of Champion South African 2YO Col. He went on to win the UAE Guineas Trial (1400m) in February, the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas (1600m) by 1.75-lengths, and now the G2 UAE Derby (1900m on all-weather). The colt now has 5 wins and 1 second placing from 6 starts for earnings of US$1,427,301.
In Japan the winner of the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen was the Arrowfield bred 7YO entire KINSHASA NO KISEKI (ex Keltshaan, by Pleasant Colony) who was sold privately as a weanling to Mr Katsumi Yoshida. Kinshasa No Kiseki gained the judge’s decision in a 3-way photo-finish in the ¥185.96 million (A$2.26m) 1200m race. Earlier this month Kinshasa No Kiseki won the G3 Yukan Fuji Sho Ocean Stakes (1200m) and now has 10 wins – including the G2 Hanshin Cup (1400m), G2 Mainichi Broadcast Swan Stakes (1400m), G3 Hakodate Sprint Stakes (1200m)- and 5 placings (including the G1 Sprinters Stakes, G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen, G1 NKH Mile Cup, G2 Centaur Stakes, and Listed Keeneland Cup) from 26 starts for ¥560.448 million (A$6.8m) earnings.
The weekend’s international results cap off an exceptional season for Arrowfield Stud whose current stallions have sired 35 stakeswinners including G1 winners STAR WITNESS (Starcraf (NZ)), ALLEZ WONDER (Redoute’s Choic), HEADWAY (Charge Forwar), GOLD TRAIL (Hussone (USA)), ALVERTA (Flying Spu) and HAPPY ZERO (Danzer).
The only other Arrowfield stallions with runners but without G1 winners to date this season are Snitzel (oldest 2YO’S) and Not A Single Doubt (oldest 3YO’s) both of whom are well represented next Saturday with Chance Bye by Snitzel (Golden Slipper) and Absolute Faith by Not A Single Doubt (Vinery Storm Queen Stakes).
