Virtually everything accomplished at the 2019 Breeders' Cup World Championships was overshadowed by the tragic death of Mongolian Groom in the Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-I), but there were some remarkable feats performed that deserve to be remembered. Among those are Uni's and Got Stormy's 1-2 finish in the Breeders' Cup Mile (USA-IT), the first-ever female exacta in an event that has been noted for distaff successes against males.
Uni's victory was notable in more ways than one, as she provided a record-breaking seventh Breeders' Cup success for her sire More Than Ready. The 22-year-old Southern Halo stallion has already drawn the curtain on one of the most successful shuttle careers of modern times, as he will not return to Australia after 2019, but he is still going strong. Also the sire in 2019 of multiple Grade I winner Rushing Fall, he has a possible North American heir going to stud next year in Catholic Boy, a Grade I winner on both dirt and turf.
Uni is the first foal of Unaided, whose sire Dansili has been a credit as a stallion to both his sire Danehill and his dam, the fabulous broodmare Hasili. Although Unaided was unable to win or even place in seven tries, she is a half sister to an Italian Grade III winner and a listed stakes winner and is out of the Generous mare Wosaita, a half sister to 1990 Prix de Diane Hermes (French Oaks, FR-I) winner Rafha (by Kris). As a certain Eclipse Award nominee with a good chance of taking home the trophy, Uni has all the credentials of a top broodmare prospect, but in a sporting move in a sport desperately in need of stars, part-owner Sol Kumin has already announced that Uni will race again in 2020.
Got Stormy, too, will race again next year according to owner Gary Barber, setting up the possibility for some dynamite return matches next year. Hardly disgraced by her second-place finishes in the Woodbine Mile (CAN-IT) and the Breeders' Cup Mile (USA-IT) after defeating Uni in the Fourstardave Stakes (USA-IT), she has only reflected further credit on the family of Tiy (see "Mares on Monday: Tiy's Family Storms to New Heights," August 8, 2019), which is also responsible for Breeders' Cup Juvenile Filly Turf (USA-IT) winner Sharing.
Two sterling mares, both racing on when they could be retired to make expensive babies, will not be enough to save American horse racing from its current woes. Nonetheless, the thought of this rivalry continuing, and perhaps even creating a rematch in next year's Mile, is something to look forward to in the midst of racing's clouded future.
Uni's victory was notable in more ways than one, as she provided a record-breaking seventh Breeders' Cup success for her sire More Than Ready. The 22-year-old Southern Halo stallion has already drawn the curtain on one of the most successful shuttle careers of modern times, as he will not return to Australia after 2019, but he is still going strong. Also the sire in 2019 of multiple Grade I winner Rushing Fall, he has a possible North American heir going to stud next year in Catholic Boy, a Grade I winner on both dirt and turf.
Uni is the first foal of Unaided, whose sire Dansili has been a credit as a stallion to both his sire Danehill and his dam, the fabulous broodmare Hasili. Although Unaided was unable to win or even place in seven tries, she is a half sister to an Italian Grade III winner and a listed stakes winner and is out of the Generous mare Wosaita, a half sister to 1990 Prix de Diane Hermes (French Oaks, FR-I) winner Rafha (by Kris). As a certain Eclipse Award nominee with a good chance of taking home the trophy, Uni has all the credentials of a top broodmare prospect, but in a sporting move in a sport desperately in need of stars, part-owner Sol Kumin has already announced that Uni will race again in 2020.
Got Stormy, too, will race again next year according to owner Gary Barber, setting up the possibility for some dynamite return matches next year. Hardly disgraced by her second-place finishes in the Woodbine Mile (CAN-IT) and the Breeders' Cup Mile (USA-IT) after defeating Uni in the Fourstardave Stakes (USA-IT), she has only reflected further credit on the family of Tiy (see "Mares on Monday: Tiy's Family Storms to New Heights," August 8, 2019), which is also responsible for Breeders' Cup Juvenile Filly Turf (USA-IT) winner Sharing.
Two sterling mares, both racing on when they could be retired to make expensive babies, will not be enough to save American horse racing from its current woes. Nonetheless, the thought of this rivalry continuing, and perhaps even creating a rematch in next year's Mile, is something to look forward to in the midst of racing's clouded future.
RSS Feed