| Spectrum’s Fabulous French Gr 1 Double |
The Gr 1 Prix de le Foret, run on the classic French race day which incorporates the Arc de Triomphe, turned out to be a spectacular one for Yellow Star’s resident sire Spectrum – who not only had the honour of being the broodmare sire of winner Moonlight Cloud – but also the broodmare sire of leading British stallion Dutch Art – the latter being the sire of third placed Garswood.
Moonlight Cloud unleashed an astounding burst of speed from last and wore down pacesetter Gordon Lord Byron to capture the Qatar Prix de la Foret by three lengths at Longchamp, with Garswood (Dutch Art) finishing third.
After guiding Treve to a five-length win over males in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe earlier on the card, jockey Thierry Jarnet pulled off another masterful performance over males with a 5-year-old mare as Moonlight Cloud swept past 10 overmatched rivals for the brilliant victory.
Gordon Lord Byron hung on for second, a short neck in front of Garswood.
The 4-5 favorite, Moonlight Cloud won for the fourth time in as many starts this season. She tallied her third Group 1 win of the year following back-to-back victories in the LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest in the beginning of August at Deauville and Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard – Jacques Le Marois.
Moonlight Cloud won in 1:14.08 for 1,400 meters (about seven furlongs) and took her overall record to 12 wins, including six group I racess, and two seconds from 19 career starts.
An Invincible Spirit filly, Moonlight Cloud qualified for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park. The Foret is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” event. She finished eighth behind Wise Dan in last year’s race.
Freddie Head trains Moonlight Cloud for Pennsylvania-based owner George Strawbridge Jr., who bred her in Great Britain out of the stakes-placed Spectrum mare Ventura.
Moonlight Cloud is a half sister to Hollywood Park course record-setter Cedar Mountain, who is Grade 2-placed.
Her second dam, Wedding Bouquet, a Group 3 winner in Ireland who was Group 1-placed, is a half sister to Irish champion, classic winner, and sire Generous and English classic winner Imagine.
Garswood, out of Penchant by Kyllachy (in turn by Pivotal), is a Gr 2 winner of the Lennox Stakes and two Listed races. He also placed second in the Gr 3 Cornwallis Stakes.
Spectrum has produced an outstanding number of Group performers from all over the world, including the likes of Winchester, Up, Dutch Art and sire Golan to name but a few.
Spectrum stands at Koos and Lorraine De Klerk’s Yellow Star Stud this season.
If you would like to contact Yellow Star Stud please contact Koos 083 390 3045 or Lorraine 082 897 7179 or alternatively email info@yellowstarstud.co.za or accounts@yellowstarstud.co.za
Website: www.yellowstarstud.co.za
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