On March 12, Seventh Sense turned in a sharp performance in the fifth race at Santa Anita, a maiden special weight. That by itself wouldn't be too remarkable. He is, after all, a full brother to multiple graded stakes winner Reneesgotzip, a speedy filly whose five Grade I placings include a second in the 2013 GEICO Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (USA-IT). What is remarkable is the country code after his name: TUR.
Turkish-breds are still a long way from making regular appearances on American racetracks, but it was only a matter of time before the Turks turned out one capable of winning in good company in North America. Like Korea, Turkey has shown quite an appetite for American-bred bloodstock, especially stallions with high-class racing ability and at least some demonstrated ability to get winners. Both nations are on the same path to international racing success taken by other nations such as Argentina, Brazil and Japan: buy top racehorses if disappointing sires from countries already racing at the top level, leaven the stud pool with beautifully pedigreed animals that didn't quite come up to the mark on the track, and keep upgrading as improving success and finances permit. When you keep accumulating the best genes available in the breed however you can get them, sooner or later you're bound to come up with a horse capable of competing anywhere.
To be sure, Seventh Sense is only technically a Turkish-bred, having been conceived in the United States before his dam No Dress Code was exported to Turkey in 2012. He is not a top racehorse yet, either, though this maiden victory is certainly promising. He was a much more focused horse with blinkers added than in his first start, winning under a hand ride in the last 100 yards after peeling off opening quarters in 21.84 and 23 flat and then repelling a challenge by Giant Expectations. After that performance, he probably won't be going off at 7-1 in his next start. And if he continues to make progress, he just may make history by becoming Turkey's first North American stakes winner, marking another milestone for the Turkish breeding industry.
Turkish-breds are still a long way from making regular appearances on American racetracks, but it was only a matter of time before the Turks turned out one capable of winning in good company in North America. Like Korea, Turkey has shown quite an appetite for American-bred bloodstock, especially stallions with high-class racing ability and at least some demonstrated ability to get winners. Both nations are on the same path to international racing success taken by other nations such as Argentina, Brazil and Japan: buy top racehorses if disappointing sires from countries already racing at the top level, leaven the stud pool with beautifully pedigreed animals that didn't quite come up to the mark on the track, and keep upgrading as improving success and finances permit. When you keep accumulating the best genes available in the breed however you can get them, sooner or later you're bound to come up with a horse capable of competing anywhere.
To be sure, Seventh Sense is only technically a Turkish-bred, having been conceived in the United States before his dam No Dress Code was exported to Turkey in 2012. He is not a top racehorse yet, either, though this maiden victory is certainly promising. He was a much more focused horse with blinkers added than in his first start, winning under a hand ride in the last 100 yards after peeling off opening quarters in 21.84 and 23 flat and then repelling a challenge by Giant Expectations. After that performance, he probably won't be going off at 7-1 in his next start. And if he continues to make progress, he just may make history by becoming Turkey's first North American stakes winner, marking another milestone for the Turkish breeding industry.
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