Swettenham Stud

In the US Hold That Tiger is fast establishing himself as one of the outstanding stallions in the country. He has had 50 winners in the US in the last three months, including 5 two year old winners that propelled him inside the top ten 2YO Sires List at one point. His latest 2YO debut winner was Red Bengal in a US$34k race at Penn National on July 23rd. The colt won the 1000m Special Weight 2YO easily after assuming the lead on the turn.

Today, Fast Tigress ran second in the Monmouth Park Desert Vixen Stakes after making a sustained run from last place. She went under a neck as the leading two drove away from the pack. The winner ran in considerably and inconvenienced Fast Tigress, however they did not bump, which may have made a stewards inquiry very interesting.

Fast Tigress second placing in Stakes company was the fourth stakes placed second for Hold That Tiger stock in the month of July, and all four horses are poised to become Stakeswinners in the not too distant future. While the fifth stakes place horse for the month was a 2YO who ran third, on the back of a stakesplaced second in June; the horse in question is Sweet Tigger who is also poised to strike at Stakes level in the next month. (IR)

The winner, one who had a son of Dash for Cash, another Swettenham sire, behind him in third place, is the Tony Vasil trained gelding Apprehend and he was following on a solid second at Sandown the previous Saturday and a win at Mornington in mid May.

In addition Apprehend had shown a lot of promise in his first three outings at two, a debut win by 1.75 lengths at Mornington, a third in the Listed Talindert Stakes at Flemington and then a second as a $1.70 favourite in the Listed Gold Sovereign Stakes at Launceston.

Also in the first Australian crop of Hold That Tiger, a sire of four stakes winners and seven other winners who have stakes placed from use in America, are Tigresque (five starts for wins at Sandown and Adelaide's Cheltenham, and two placings at Flemington, one of them a second in the $151,000 Listed Cadbury Roses Stakes), Detroit Tiger (second in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview at Caulfield on debut and a winner at Seymour at three), Hull City (ran four times, lost rider on debut and then won successive 1000m juvenile outings by 1.25 lengths each, appearances at Cranbourne and Sandown),Tiger Puss (winner Sale, placed Kilmore, Warrnambool, Wodonga), Pity the Fool (won Ballarat, second Cheltenham Park) and Dynamite Tiger (six starts include wins at Bendigo and Ballarat).

Like Hennessy, Tale of the Cat, Giant's Causeway, Statue of Liberty and over 130 other sires, by a giant of American breeding in Storm Cat, Hold That Tiger was France's best juvenile colt and equal eighth for the whole of Europe in 2002. It was a year he ran five times for three wins, including the Longchamp Grand Criterium-Gr.1 and the Curragh Railway Stakes-Gr.3, and a third in the American Breeders' Cup Juvenile-Gr.1.

His victory in the 14 runner Grand Criterium (1400m), a race in which he came from last in the straight, was described as electrifying. He made up ground hand over fist in astonishing fashion.

Hold That Tiger raced ten times all told with the other five outings being at three. He did not win in his second campaign, but showed up as a high class miler with a second at New York's Belmont in the Woodward Stakes-Gr.1 and a fourth at Royal Ascot in England on the same day Choisir won the King's Stand Stakes-Gr.1 in the St James's Palace Stakes-Gr.1. His connections obviously had a very high opinion of him as he wound up his career with a fifth in one world's greatest races, the American Breeders' Cup Classic.

An attractive 16.1 hands chestnut, Hold That Tiger is one of four stakes winners, two of them successful at Group1 level, among eight produced by Maryland Oaks winner Beware the Cat. She is a half-sister by Caveat, a winner of the classic Belmont Stakes and third in the Kentucky Derby, to the dam of Hennessy, a performer not much better, if any, at two to Hold That Tiger. Hennessy at this age in America won a Group 1 race and like Hold That Tiger finished third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Shuttled between the Coolmore studs in Kentucky and the Hunter Valley, Hennessy was a sad loss when he died at fourteen in 2007. He has supplied nearly 600 winners of over 1700 races and earners of $82 million around the world headed by the American bred Johannesburg (a world champion 2YO) and Henny Hughes (a world champion sprinter).

Among Hennessy's 215 Australian sired runners have been 15 stakes winners, including champion and multiple Group1 winner Grand Armee and Queensland Derby winner Half Hennessy.

Breeders looking to replicate Hennessy's success in this part of the world could attempt this by using mares by sires that have done well with him with his seven years younger three-quarter brother Hold That Tiger.Those sires include Marauding (sire of the dam of Grand Armee), Blazing Saddles (Half Hennessy), Rubiton, Mister C, Rory's Jester, Danzero, Luskin Star, Zeditave, Last Tycoon, Success Express, Bellotto and Geiger Counter.

Originally a shuttle sire, but now owned by Adam Sangster's Swettenham stud at Nagambie, Hold That Tiger could have many more runners over the next twelve months. He should also get a good kick along from the results of the 106 mares he served in 2007. He is standing the 2009 season on $9,900.

Also resident at Swettenham is two of Victoria's best sires of 2009, Bianconi (Danzig; fee $8,800) and Dash for Cash (Secret Savings; $17,600) and also Court of Jewels (Danehill relation of Commands; $4,400) and the yet to be represented Host (CHI) (Hussonet Group 1 winner in North and South America; second season, $15,950), Keep the Faith (Australian bred American1200m grass track record holder by Sunday Silence, first crop 2yo's of 2009-10, $8,800), Soldier's Tale (USA) (a leading European sprinter by Stravinsky, second season, $15,950) and newcomer Kaphero (Danzero dual stakes winner, $11,000).

TORONTO, July 19 - Reigning Horse of the Year Fatal Bullet made a brilliant return to the races, capturing Sunday's $151,350 Bold Venture Stakes at Woodbine. The 6 1/2-furlong event was the son of Red Bullet's first start since he finished second in last year's Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita.

In taking the Bold Venture for the second straight year, the Reade Baker trainee led from gate to wire, deploying his speed in his usual effortless manner. In the winner's circle, Baker affirmed that the top horse in Canada last year is a 'better horse' as a four-year-old. "He's really good right now. I knew it would have to be something really special to get close to him today. He's a horse of a lifetime."

The Bear Stables-owned Florida-bred finished 2 1/4 lengths in front of Jungle Wave, under the wire in 1:14.90 for 6 1/2 furlongs. True Vindication was third. In last year's Bold Venture, Fatal Bullet traveled the same distance in 1:14.54, establishing a new track record. Off an eight-month layoff, he was just 0.36 seconds off his own record.

Eurico Rosa da Silva commended Baker for the preparedness of the champion, who established fractions of :22.58 and :44.55. "The horse was ready and looking fabulous," said da Silva. "When he went to the gate he was a little anxious. When you move your hands a little bit, he's there. I just touched the horse once."

Fatal Bullet, who is now 8-for-12 with $861,510 in earnings, is the first horse since One Way Love to repeat in the Bold Venture. Fatal Bullet took last year’s Bold Venture S. by three lengths, then added victories in the Tom Ridge Labor Day S. at Presque Isle Sept. 1 and the GIII Kentucky Cup Sprint at Turfway Sept. 27. The gelding dueled for the lead in the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint Oct. 25, but could not hold off the rally of Midnight Lute (Real Quiet) and settled for second.

Second horse Jungle Wave by Hold That Tiger was game in defeat. He was bidding for his sixth win and coming off a strong Allowance win by 2.5L over the same distance on June 26th. Again he followed the pace being a length astern of Fatal Bullet at the 1000m mark and just over 2 lengths back at the 800m mark when racing in fourth place. While not taking any ground off the winner he managed to run gamely in the stretch for a clear second and has proved that he may be the emerging challenger, particularly if ridden just a touch more conservative in the early stages of their next clash.

NOTE:

1. Midnight Lute won back to back Breeders’ Cup Sprints last year in 2008. He was the top ranked sprinter on the World Sprint Rankings in 2007 and the second highest entire that year to him was Swettenham Stud’s Soldier’s Tale. So the form of Fatal Bullet should rightly be highly regarded.

2. Hold That Tiger 3YO filly Puddy De Luca also ran second in a stakes race on 18th July at Philadelphia Park when trying to lead throughout in the 7 furlongs (1400m) Caught In The Rain Stakes. She was stalked by the even money favourite Sky Haven and her run was very encouraging as the gap to third was a widening 9.25 lengths. Again she will benefit from a more conservative ride when they next meet. (IR).