DOWN in the breeding sheds of Batangas and elsewhere in Luzon, studly sires and well-pedigreed mares are getting it on to produce the next crop of Thoroughbreds for the racetracks.
One busy breeder is former Tarlac representative Jeci A. Lapus, whose Stormbred Farm in Lipa is home to stallion Retap, who carries the precious bloodline of Tapit, Bloodhorse magazine’s champion sire for 2014.
Tapit sired 2104 Kentucky Oaks winner Untapable, who posted a time of 1:46.68, the second fastest in the race’s history. Among his other champion offspring are Tonalist and Tapiture, both multiple graded stakes winners.
Tapit now holds the record for 2014 North American single-season stallion earnings. He has an impeccable pedigree, being by A. P. Indy’s best sire Pulpit out of stakes winner Tap Your Heels by Unbridled, from the family of Relaunch.
Retap, out of Free Spin, has Nasrullah and Buckpasser blood on his dam’s side, the mix I think bringing “balance to the Force.”
Going by the X-factor theory of racehorse breeding, a large heart is correlated with success on the track. The most successful runner of all time, Secretariat, had a heart that weighed 22 pounds, and his rival Sham’s was 18 pounds (both had large-hearted Princequillo in their pedigrees).
The large-hearted sires in Retap’s bloodline—Secretariat, Buckpasser, and A. P. Indy—passed the gene on to their daughters, and let’s hope Free Spin got some of that mojo and passes it to Retap, and from there to his offsprings.
Retap already has foals and 2YO at Stormbred – of the latter, there’s one by Serious Susie and another by Gotham City Girl who are undergoing light training in preparation for this year’s races.
Just recently Retap serviced Security Star, a former runner owned by Tonyboy Eleazar, and is open for booking to other broodmares.
We look forward to the exploits of Retap’s produce on Philippine tracks in the near future.
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Congratulations to horseowner Joseph Dyhengco, whose Cool Summer Farm Racing Festival last Sunday (Jan. 11) at Manila Jockey Club’s San Lazaro Leisure Park attracted many good entries, put on a good show for racing fans, and grossed healthy sales.
According to MJC racing manager Jose Ramon “Ding” Magboo, the total turnover for the event’s 13 races was P36.4 million, an auspicious and abundant start to the year.
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Stakes race season kicks off with the Philippine Racing Commission’s two offerings this weekend at the Philippine Racing Club’s Santa Ana Park.
On Saturday (Jan, 17), the 3YO Local Fillies Stakes has seven declared entries: Bungangera, Burbank, Dauntless, Hurricane Ridge, One-Eyed Jane, Princess Ella, and Princess Meili.
On Sunday (Jan. 18), the counterpart 3YO Local Colts Stakes has five: Breaking Bad, Jebel Ali, Showtime, Super Spicy, and Thunder Maxx.
Both are 1,300-meter races, and each has a total prize of P500,000.
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