3 minute read
War Front entire produces impressive display to win at Sandown.
American-bred entire Cadre Du Noir (4 h War Front - Dynamic Feature by Rahy) produced possibly the most impressive performance anywhere in Australia on Wednesday, as he chalked up his first win in the country when blowing his rivals into submission in the Ladbrokes Odds Boost Handicap (2400m) at Sandown-Hillside.
The win provided owners Phoenix Thoroughbreds with much needed boost as they were forced to retired their superstar filly Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible) on Tuesday after she was found to have picked up a career ending injury.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained four-year-old entire, who began his career in England with trainer Martyn Meade, pulled well clear in the closing stages to beat Austria (Redwood) by an emphatic five lengths, while Monmouth (Pendragon) was another length and a half away in third.
Lucy Yeomans, who was representing Maher and Eustace, said: "We were hoping he would be hard to beat today, but I don't think you ever expect them to win like that - he was incredible," said Yeomans. "I was surprised to see him over race, he is normally a very casual horse, but he proved me wrong, he was really up and about today and he just proved way too dominant in the end.
"The plan is Bendigo in a fortnight, there is a nice 2200 metre race for him there. We love him and full credit to the team, he is a stallion and they can be a handful and they are great with him.
"Thanks to the owners Phoenix Thoroughbreds, it is great to get a winner in those colours after the rough week we have had with them. He's maybe not going to be the next Gaby, but he will fill the shoes for now."
Purchased by Scott and Evan Dilworth for US$560,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, before selling to Kerri Radcliffe Bloodstock for US$1,100,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Cadre Du Noir is out of two-time winning Rahy (Blushing Groom) mare Dynamic Feature, making him a half-brother to Grade 2 winner Parranda (English Channel).
Dynamic Feature herself is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Sisterly Love (Bellamy Road), with the pair both being out of Odylic (Dixieland Band).
Odylic herself is a sister to Metropolitan Handicap (Gr 1, 8f) winner Dixie Brass (Dixieland Band) and Group 2 scorer Odyle (Alleged), further back this is the same family as Grade 3 winner Jackson (Kantharos).
The Claiborne Farm-based sire War Front stood for a fee of US$250,000 this year. His stakes winners are headed by 21 Group / Grade 1 winners. His leading earner in the US last year was Omaha Beach who will shuttle to Spendthrift Australia for the first time this year where his fee has been set at $22,000 (inc GST).
