ZAMINDAR EMERGES FROM BROTHER'S SHADOW
Taken from the Racing Post
Pedigree Analysis by Tony Morris
WHEN a brother to a proven outstanding performer comes to the
races, expectations are inevitably high. And the record shows that
more often than not they are too high.
That should not be surprising, because it is perfectly possible
that a pair of brothers may have little in common in terms of their
genetic heritage, aside from the Y chromosome donated by their
father. A top-class brother is a hard act to follow, and for every
pair like Persimmon and Diamond Jubilee there are hundreds who
differ widely in racing merit, but sometimes the inferior sibling
is able to make a significant mark at stud.
In the mid-1960s Ribot got an exceptionally fast son in
Graustark, who raced unbeaten until suffering a career-ending
injury while failing narrowly in a stakes race in the spring of his
second season. The impression he left ensured that he would be
strongly supported at stud, and in due course he did get his quota
of high-calibre runners.
When the mating that had produced him was tried again the
outcome was an inferior colt called His Majesty, who won only five
of his 22 races, showing none of his brother’s brilliance. He went
to stud, trusting to some reflected glory to bring him support, but
ultimately he was the one who earned a sires’ title, and, by virtue
of his being maternal grandsire of Danehill, a more conspicuous
presence in pedigrees.
The brothers to the tough and consistent Sadler’s Wells were by
contrast a motley crew, including Fairy King, who broke down
irreparably on his racecourse debut, and while he was never going
to emulate his illustrious sibling at stud, he nevertheless had a
worthwhile career, with a Derby winner (Oath) and an outstanding
sire in Australia (Encosta De Lago) among his progeny.
What are we to make now of ZAMINDAR, the inferior brother to
champion juvenile and Guineas hero Zafonic? As recently as a
couple of weeks ago we might have opined that, while he
clearly had some promising stock at the races, there was no
evidence to indicate that he might surpass his late brother
as a sire. Such evidence has suddenly arrived in
abundance.
The first hint came when the seemingly invincible Finsceal Beo
was collared close home by Darjina in the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des
Pouliches. Six days later Cinnamon Bay was an authoritative winner
of a Listed contest at Chantilly, routing her rivals by three
lengths and more. And on the following afternoon Coquerelle
preserved her unbeaten record with an all-the-way success in the
Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp. As things stand, it seems
possible that the three best three-year-old fillies in France are
all daughters of ZAMINDAR
.
These are remarkable developments in the career of a horse who
did not live up to expectations on the racecourse, and whose
innings at stud has been chequered. His merits are surely due for
re-assessment now.
ZAMINDAR’s introduction to the
racecourse proved somewhat inauspicious in that he had to be
withdrawn after banging his head in the stalls at the start of a
race at Chantilly, but that experience was soon forgotten, and
after he had won a newcomers’ race at Maisons-Laffitte and the
Group 3 Prix de Cabourg at Deauville, many were inclined to believe
that he would emulate Zafonic as the leader of his crop. Few would
have guessed he would not win again.
ZAMINDAR started at odds-on for
both the Prix Morny and the Prix de la Salamandre, races that his
brother had won convincingly. In the former he went under by
a short neck to Bahamian Bounty, and in the latter he ran himself
into the ground before winding up third to Revoque.
At three ZAMINDAR followed
in Zafonic’s footsteps again, challenging for the 2,000 Guineas,
but where the elder brother triumphed in style, the younger could
finish no nearer than fifth, albeit running on strongly under a
ride that was arguably injudicious.
There was still a chance that ZAMINDAR might
establish himself as one of the best of his crop, but it was not to
be. In June he was stated to be suffering from a minor skin
infection, but two subsequent races suggested that what was ailing
him was major.
He was decidedly below par when runner-up in the Prix de
Ris-Orangis, and when returned to the top level for the Prix
Jacques le Marois he beat only Spinning World’s pacemaker.
It was always Andre Fabre’s belief that ZAMINDAR was better than his
racecourse achievements indicated, and plenty of breeders
trusted his view, supplying him with 73 mares for his first
season alongside Zafonic at Banstead Manor in 1998, when his
fee was £7,000. But before that initial crop could be tested
on the racecourse, there were changes in Zamindar’s
circumstances.
In 1999 he had only 49 visitors, and the following year proved
disastrous when injury meant that he covered just four mares, his
third ‘crop’ consisting of a single foal. While demand for
Zafonic’s services remained strong, the tide seemed to have turned
against the younger brother, so when he had recovered he was leased
to a farm in Florida, where he covered low-quality mares for two
seasons at a fee of $5,000.
At the start of 2002 ZAMINDAR might have seemed on a
fast track to oblivion, but two crucial developments that
year changed his circumstances again. In May his first-crop
daughter Zenda won the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches; in
September Zafonic died as the result of a paddock accident in
Australia.
ZAMINDAR had to come home, and he
arrived to a warm welcome with a book of 101 mares and the support
of numerous important breeders. The three fillies currently
distinguishing themselves in France are products of that season’s
activity, and though subsequent books have fluctuated between a
respectable 67 and a disappointing 33, the results he is now
achieving will surely mean that he will be able to rely on a more
constant level of support.
Coquerelle is the fourth foal and third winner to the credit of
her dam Cracovie, who was modest herself, but a half-sister to
three who scored in Pattern or Graded company. Her halfbrother Roi
Normand transferred from France to America to become a Grade 1
winner in the Sunset Handicap, and switched from there to Brazil to
earn honours as champion sire.
Coquerelle comes from a strong female family, but the most
intriguing feature of her pedigree is the conjunction, in the third
generation, of the three-parts brothers Nijinsky and The Minstrel.
Her ability at 1m2f comes as no surprise, and that may not
represent the limit of her stamina.
COQUERELLE
SIRE ZAMINDAR
Bred by Juddmonte Farms in Kentucky.
Won 2 (51.2-6f) of 7 races, viz. 2 (inc. Prix de Cabourg-Gr3)
out of 4 at 2 years, 0 out of 3 at 3 years. Also 2nd twice (inc.
Prix Morny-Gr1), 3rd once (Prix de la Salamandre-Gr1).
Timeform 116 at 2 years, 116 at 3 years.
Earned £106,482.
Big (16.3hh), strong individual. High-class performer, stayed
1m, appeared unlucky in 2,000 Guineas, finishing 5th. Below form
last 2 starts.
Very well bred. Brother to champion 2-y-o and 2,000 Guineas
winner Zafonic, half-brother to Listed winner Choice Spirit (by
Danzig), and to 6 other winners, inc. grand-dam of Exhibit One
(Gr3).
Sire Gr1 winner and major stud influence, noted chiefly for
sprinters and milers, but also broodmare sire of Motivator. Dam Gr3
winner at 2 years, Gr2 placed. Grand-dam Listed winner, also
grand-dam of Reams Of Verse (Oaks) and Elmaamul (Eclipse S.)
Stands at Banstead Manor Stud, Cheveley, Newmarket, at a fee of
£7,000. Sire of 7 crops of racing age, inc. notable winners:
Jubilation (Gr3), Zenda (Poule d’Essai des Pouliches-Gr1),
Coquerelle (Prix Saint- Alary-Gr1), Darjina (Poule d’Essai des
Pouliches-Gr1).
DAM CRACOVIE
Bred by Haras du Mezeray in England.
Ran only at 3 years, placed twice from 5 starts. Earned
Ff26,500.
Modest performer, but well bred. By a champion sire, half-sister
to 9 winners, inc. Roi Normand (by Exclusive Native; Gr1 in US,
champion sire in Brazil), Luth Dancer (by Blushing Groom; Gr3 in
France, Gr2- placed), Trampoli (by Trempolino; Gr3 in France, Gr2
in US), and 3 others who were Listed-placed, by Topsider, Sadler’s
Wells and Zafonic.
Dam Gr2 winner, 4th in Prix de Diane, half-sister to Ziegfried
(Listedplaced) and to the dam of Ken De Saron (Gr3 in US) and to
the granddam of Omega Birth (Gr1 in Brazil).
To stud at 4 years and dam of: Acovia (2001 f by Barathea;
unraced), Winning Sequence (2002 f by Zafonic; winner), Colosseo
(2003 c by Nashwan; winner), Coquerelle (2004 f by Zamindar; Gr1
winner). She has a yearling filly by Daylami and a filly-foal by
Shamardal. No return to Daylami in 2005.
CONCLUSION
Remains unbeaten, and promises to be a leading contender for the
Prix de Diane, along with her sire’s other gifted daughters,
Darjina and Cinnamon Bay.
Date:
24 May 2007