Never Say Die was sound, but I read somewhere that he sired a lot of stock with bone problems. Anyone elaborate on this? He seemed to start off as a really good stallion to tail off in the latter half of his stud career & he seemed to coarsen as a physical specimen.
An interesting runner for SEA THE STARS at Sandown this afternoon: MARAAYILL makes his debut for Marco Botti having cost €520,000 at the Arqana Breeze Up Sale. His pedigree is not stellar, his dam being a Listed winner and a full-sister to Irish Derby third ROOSEVELT, but he is installed as favourite for the race and it will be interesting to see whether he can justify his price tag.
Couple of entries to note: Today: 5.15 Chantilly RIP ROARING (out of Nebraska Tornado) Tomorrow: 2.00 Haydock ASTEROIDEA (out of Speciosa) There are several others with entries that can be seen HERE, but I am certainly intrigued by the entry made for CASUAL SMILE, who ran so takingly when second on debut for a stable who's two year olds are known for needing a first run. She is bypassing tomorrow's Quidhampton Maiden at Salisbury (always a hot race) apparently in favour of a Conditions event at Ascot on Saturday.
Updated Runners & Results AFTERNOON SUNLIGHT â 2 run, 0 win, 2 place - £3,085 ANIPA â 3 runs, 0 win, 2 place - £1,646 ASTEROIDEA - 1 run, 0 win, 0 place - £0 CALORIE â 3 runs, 0 win, 2 place - £2,415 CASUAL SMILE â 2 run, 0 win, 2 place - £2,598 DARENJANA â 1 run, 0 win, 1 place - â¬3,600 (in France) EL NAJMM - 1 run, 0 win, 1 place - £433 JUVENILE LEAD â 1 run, 0 win, 0 place - £0 (died at 2) KAMINARI - 1 run, 0 win, 0 place - £407 MARAAYILL - 1 run, 0 win, 0 place - £0 MUNJAZ - 1 run, 0 win, 1 place - £673 MY TITANIA - 2 runs, 1 win, 1 place - £11,402 PLACIDIA â 3 runs, 0 win, 1 place - £2,118 PSILOVEYOU - 1 run, 0 win, 0 place - £216 RIP ROARING - 1 run, 0 win, 1 place â¬12,000 (in France) SEA THE SKIES â 3 runs, 1 win, 2 place - £5,614 STARS OVER THE SEA â 5 runs, 2 win, 0 place - £15,206 TIME AND SPACE â 1 run, 0 win, 0 place - â¬0 (in France) VERBA STARS â 2 run, 0 win, 1 place - â¬2,250 (in France)
Sea The Stars finally gets his first first-time out winner with TAGHROODA obliging in the maiden at Newmarket. Another daughter, CASUAL SMILE, was second.
You can't write a sire off based on his first runners, particularly one who was never going to get precocious types. Next year will be when we see what his offspring are made of! Don't forget it took Galileo until his first crop were 3 to get a big name in NIGHTIME.
Updated Runners & Results A LEGACY OF LOVE - 1 run, 0 win, 0 place - £0 AFTERNOON SUNLIGHT – 2 run, 0 win, 2 place - £3,085 ANIPA – 4 runs, 0 win, 2 place - £1,862 ASTEROIDEA - 2 run, 0 win, 0 place - £0 BY JUPITER - 1 run, 0 win, 0 place - £0 CALORIE – 3 runs, 0 win, 2 place - £2,415 CASUAL SMILE – 3 run, 0 win, 3 place - £3,946 DARENJANA – 2 run, 0 win, 2 place - £6,463 (in France) EL NAJMM - 2 run, 0 win, 2 place - £1,299 JUVENILE LEAD – 1 run, 0 win, 0 place - £0 (died at 2) KAMINARI - 2 runs, 0 win, 0 place - £407 MARAAYILL - 2 runs, 0 win, 1 place - £866 MISTY SOLITUDE, 2 runs, 0 wins, 0 place - £2,764 (in France) MUNJAZ - 1 run, 0 win, 1 place - £673 MY TITANIA - 3 runs, 2 wins, 1 place - £43,110 PLACIDIA – 4 runs, 0 win, 1 place - £2,334 PSILOVEYOU - 1 run, 0 win, 0 place - £216 RIP ROARING - 1 run, 0 win, 1 place €12,000 (in France) SEAGULL STAR - 1 run, 1 win, 0 place - £4,528 SEA THE MOON - winner on debut in Germany SEA THE SKIES – 3 runs, 1 win, 2 place - £5,614 STARS OVER THE SEA – 5 runs, 2 win, 0 place - £15,206 SWEEPING UP - 2 runs, 0 wins, 2 place - £1,925 TAGHROODA - 1 run, 1 win, 0 place - £4,528 TALL SHIP - 1 run, 0 win, 0 place - £0 TIME AND SPACE – 1 run, 0 win, 0 place - €0 (in France) TOUCH THE SKY - 1 run, 0 win, 0 place - £337 VERBA STARS – 2 run, 0 win, 1 place - €2,250 (in France) He has also had a winner in Russia, though I can't track a name down yet. As of today he has 8 individual winners (5 in GB/IRE, putting him 9th on the first season sires list with a strike rate of 22.7%) bear in mind that Galileo only had 12 2yo winners in his first crop.
... and don't forget that STS was not exactly a 2yo sensation. So not too surprising if most turn out to be better as 3yos.
My Titania is a stunning filly. http://photos.racingpost.com/app/WebObjects/RPShop.woa/wa/p?p=cMGppdpaRGyb0xtsDSUgbg..a
Good looking, just like her father! In the STS v Galileo comparison, I'd also point out that Galileo only had 1 black type winner in his first crop of 2Yos: INNOCENT AIR, winner of the Washington Singer Listed Stakes.
When I saw this photo I though it was STS himself for a second! She has that same determine ears flat back look about her. Fingers crossed she trains on next year. http://photos.racingpost.com/app/WebObjects/RPShop.woa/wa/p?p=aW2okixaTDFeiahiUya5PA..a
The horse who I think could still be the star of his first crop, MUNJAZ, has entries again, I see. At Goodwood on Sunday over 9 Furlongs. Clearly old boy Gosden thinks there are no stamina worries re this one!
They're starting to fly now! Another winner, first time out, this afternoon in BOLD LASS for David Lanigan.
Just had 1st and 2nd in hot looking Newmarket maiden. 1st was Moontime owned by Godolphin and 2nd was Munjaz trained by John Gosden. Also Bold Lass runs again tonight at Kempton.
They're definitely hitting their stride now, but they were always going to be back-end of the season types.
