Linebacker adds to Redoute’s Choice Legacy
Redoute’s Choice registered his 20th Group 1 winner as a broodmare sire on Saturday when Linebacker (SAF) (Captain Of All {SAF}) won the G1 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby in South Africa.
Already Group 1-placed, Linebacker closed from last to first in the 2000 metre race when racing near the stands’ side of the track in the straight. He had the lead with 200 metres to go and pulled away by an easy 1.25l over Rascallion (SAF) (Vercingetorix {SAF}).
Out of the Group 3-placed Thin Red Line, who was purchased from Magic Millions in 2007 for $480,000, Linebacker had placed in four Group races before the Derby. The 3-year-old’s dam is a three-quarter sister to Group 1 winner Samadoubt (Not A Single Doubt) with their dam a half-sister to Group 2 winner Apollo Wonder (Rory’s Jester).
A family full of Australian black type, Linebacker’s page also includes Group 1 winners Paint (Raami {GB}), Akhenaton (Snippets), and Mr. Bureaucrat (Bureaucracy {NZ}) with three-time Group 1 winner Hay List (Statue Of Liberty {USA}) leading the family.
Doublemint adds to resume in Jet Master
A multiple Group winner, Doublemint (SAF) (Twice Over {GB}) added a win in the Listed New Turf Carriers Jet Master S. at Kenilworth to his record on Saturday.
Racing over 1600 metres, it wasn’t until Doublemint hit the final 450 metres that he threaded through the field to become a threat for the win in a competitive race. He took over the lead with 200 metres left to run but it wasn’t an easy victory for the entire. He had to battle to the wire for the victory, finishing a neck ahead of Capoeira (SAF) (Oratorio) with third-placed Azores (SAF) (Flower Alley {USA}) another neck back in third.
Doublemint’s dam Nepeta (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) was purchased at New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sale for NZ$75,000 and has produced two stakes winners among her four to race with each of her runners winning at least once. The mare is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Blimey O’Reilly (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) and Australian stakes winner Flag Officer (Excites) with her winning half-sister Fast Fleet (Fastnet Rock) also the dam of Champion Sprinter Santa Ana Lane (Lope De Vega {Ire}).
Tapit sons sweep Derby preps
It was the Tapit (USA) show in the two G1 Kentucky Derby prep races on Saturday when the stallion’s sons Greatest Honour (USA) and Essential Quality (USA) won the G2 Fountain of Youth and G3 Southwest S., respectively.
The first of the two runners, last year’s Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Essential Quality showed slop is no issue when he took over the lead at the top of the stretch in the 1700 metre race and pulled away from there. The Godolphin homebred won by 4.25l over Spielberg (USA) (Union Rags {USA}) to stay undefeated in his four starts.
Essential Quality’s Grade 3-placed dam is a half-sister to Champion 2-Year-Old Folklore (USA) (Tiznow {USA}). That mare did her part to enhance the family’s reputation last year when her grandson Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) won the Japanese Triple Crown.
Thirty minutes after Essential Quality’s romp, Greatest Honour left his backers worried in his 1700 metre race. Galloping in the back of the field, he had plenty of work to do with 600 metres left and it wasn’t until the final 100 metres that he took over the lead as the race favourite. The colt won by 1.5l over Drain The Clock (USA) (Maclean’s Music {USA}) to sweep the first two legs of Gulfstream’s Kentucky Derby prep series after his G3 Holy Bull win.
Greatest Honour is out of a half-sister to G1 Belmont S. winners Rags To Riches (USA) (A.P. Indy {USA}) and Jazil (USA) (Seeking The Gold {USA}) with his third dam the bluehen broodmare Blush With Pride (USA) (Blushing Groom {Fr}). That mare is the matriarch of a family that includes former Australian shuttler Can The Man (USA), New Zealand Group 3 winner Ticket To Ride (NZ) (Shocking) and New Zealand stakes-placed Asama Blue (Ire) (Fastnet Rock).
