Prominent English Mare Colorspin Dies
| Prominent English Mare Colorspin Dies |
The Bloodhorse.com reports that Colorspin, a major producer for Meon Valley Stud in England, died mid-August at age 29. The KZN connection with this great mare is sire Mullins Bay(GB), Colorspin is a half-sister to his dam named Bella Colora.
Bred in France by Meon Valley, Colorspin (High Top–Reprocolor, by Jimmy Reppin) was a two-time stakes winner, with her biggest score coming in the 1986 Gilltown Stud Irish Oaks (Ire-I) for Helena Springfield Ltd.
Colorspin produced a remarkable number of foals, 16, of which Opera House, Kayf Tara, and Zee Zee Top were Group I winners.
“She leaves an outstanding legacy, and we have lots more to look forward to with Zee Zee Top and her daughter Izzi Top,” Meon Valley owner Mark Weinfeld told the Racing Post. “Her son Kayf Tara has established himself as a leading National Hunt sire, and Opera House has also been a success at stud.”
Opera House, by Sadler’s Wells, was a European champion as well as a champion in England, Ireland, and France. His major win came in the 1993 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (Eng-I). Opera House contested the 1993 Breeders’ Cup Turf (Gr. IT), finishing sixth.
Kayf Tara, a long-distance specialist, also was a European champion and one in England and France. A full brother to Opera House, Kayf Tara won the Ascot Gold Cup (Eng-I) and the same race again when it was run as the Gold Cup.
Zee Zee Top, by Zafonic, scored her major win in the Prix de l’Opera Casino Barriere d’Enghien Les Bains (Fr-I). Izzi Top, by Pivotal, also was group I winner, capturing the Barclays Bank Ireland Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland July 1.
Another of Colorspin’s daughters, Spinning The Yarn, is the dam of Irish champion Necklace.
Mullins Bay stands at Champion breeders’ Summerhill Stud, he is by Machiavellian out of Bella Colora by Bellypha. He has had two winners and 10 places coming from his first crop to race at the track – his two winners being Croke Park (bred by Somerset Stud) and Gitiano (bred by Valjub CC).
Mullins Bay was the best racing son of sire of sires Machiavellian in the world in 2006, and earned a Timeform Rating of 121. A 525.000 guineas yearling, he raced in the UK and UAE, achieving 3 wins over distances of 1800-2000m from 3 to 4 years old.
He had 14 starts and took home 12 cheques, including a Gr 3 win at 3 years old, and placing in Group and Listed races seven times.
He is a half-brother to three Bold Black Type horses, Alkaadhem, Stage Craft and Hyabella.
Stage Craft (by Sadler’s Wells) was the highest weighted older Horse in Europe and is now a sire. Mullins Bay stands at Summerhill Stud and his fee is available upon application.
For more information about Mullins Bay, click the link for his extended pedigree and information (courtesy sportingpost.co.za) or click on the G1 Goldmine link on the right to match your mares.
Information source courtesy of Bloodhorse.com
