Bloodstock & Breeding
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I hope I'm not being too self indulgent telling this story ...
I was 'into' my horseracing by the time Zafonic came on the scene - by 1992 i was 21 and loved it. But Zafonic took it a step further. After the Dewhurst everyone who knew me had been told that this was the Guineas winner. And I still can picture it, me and my friends watching Eddery come down the dip, pulling double behind Barathea.
I spent the next 10 years making a pilgrimage to Newmarket whenever I had the opportunity - 1994 I was there and backed Distant View as he was Prince Khaled's; 1996 I backed Royal Applause as he looked a beast in the parade (turned out he was, but over shorter); eventually me and my pal got it right in 1997 - followed the hype and backed Entrepreneur at 6/1 early morning on the High Street.
Anyway, my story is that every time I made the pilgrimage I would go into Tindalls newsagents in the High Street and would buy a collection of old Pacemaker and Thoroughbred Breeder magazines. These dated back to the early 70s through to the 90s, and I'd buy them for 50p each. I have about 70 of these now. (A collection?)
So I've kind of moved on - approaching 40, young kids and there's more to life than looking for the next good horse. However a few weeks ago (possibly through guilt that I don't take as much interest as I used to, and Frankel arousing the passion I used to have) I started looking at the magazines again.
So today I'm reading 'Pacemaker' dated May 1983 and I stumble upon the following little paragraph:
"At Fasig Tipton Kentucky's selected mixed sale, veterinarian William O Reed paid $1,150,000 for the filly Secretamme (Secretariate - Tamarett, by Tim Tam). The half sister to European Champion Miler Known Fact became a stakes winner early in 1983 when she captured the Shirley Jones Handicap at Gulfstream.
It wasn't long however before Dr Reed decided to retire the mare who is now five. She has subsequently been bred to Mr Prospector this spring."
Straight away it occurred to me that the result of that mating was Gone West. The sire of Zafonic.
Talk about a wheel (my wheel) turning full circle.
Ps - I've always understood the reason for sending Zafonic's dam Zaizafon to Gone West was on a suggestion from Jeremy Tree, when a couple of matings with Mr Prospector didn't succeed. But today was the first I'd realised that Gone West's mother was a half sister to the Prince's first champion !!
It spits you out, it drags you back in....
I was 'into' my horseracing by the time Zafonic came on the scene - by 1992 i was 21 and loved it. But Zafonic took it a step further. After the Dewhurst everyone who knew me had been told that this was the Guineas winner. And I still can picture it, me and my friends watching Eddery come down the dip, pulling double behind Barathea.
I spent the next 10 years making a pilgrimage to Newmarket whenever I had the opportunity - 1994 I was there and backed Distant View as he was Prince Khaled's; 1996 I backed Royal Applause as he looked a beast in the parade (turned out he was, but over shorter); eventually me and my pal got it right in 1997 - followed the hype and backed Entrepreneur at 6/1 early morning on the High Street.
Anyway, my story is that every time I made the pilgrimage I would go into Tindalls newsagents in the High Street and would buy a collection of old Pacemaker and Thoroughbred Breeder magazines. These dated back to the early 70s through to the 90s, and I'd buy them for 50p each. I have about 70 of these now. (A collection?)
So I've kind of moved on - approaching 40, young kids and there's more to life than looking for the next good horse. However a few weeks ago (possibly through guilt that I don't take as much interest as I used to, and Frankel arousing the passion I used to have) I started looking at the magazines again.
So today I'm reading 'Pacemaker' dated May 1983 and I stumble upon the following little paragraph:
"At Fasig Tipton Kentucky's selected mixed sale, veterinarian William O Reed paid $1,150,000 for the filly Secretamme (Secretariate - Tamarett, by Tim Tam). The half sister to European Champion Miler Known Fact became a stakes winner early in 1983 when she captured the Shirley Jones Handicap at Gulfstream.
It wasn't long however before Dr Reed decided to retire the mare who is now five. She has subsequently been bred to Mr Prospector this spring."
Straight away it occurred to me that the result of that mating was Gone West. The sire of Zafonic.
Talk about a wheel (my wheel) turning full circle.
Ps - I've always understood the reason for sending Zafonic's dam Zaizafon to Gone West was on a suggestion from Jeremy Tree, when a couple of matings with Mr Prospector didn't succeed. But today was the first I'd realised that Gone West's mother was a half sister to the Prince's first champion !!
It spits you out, it drags you back in....
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I can relate, I'm 21 and trying to finish a law degree, and all I want to do is back horses.
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