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Stallion
Profile April 2003 Arazi (USA) Awesome Arazi was one of the great juveniles
I WAS lucky enough to be at Churchill Downs
on Breeders’ Cup Day in 1991 and regard Arazi’s explosive win in the
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile as the best big race performace I have ever seen. He did the impossible, making up so many lengths
in such a short space of time that it didn’t seem real - a horse couldn’t
do that or could they? You had to shake yourself to believe it. Now, many years later, the little champ (he’s
only 15.2 1/2 hands) is coming to Australia. He’s stood in England,
America, Japan and this year joined Brief Truce at Gestut Sohrenof in
Switzerland. This “Swiss connection” which sees Brief Truce
shuttle to The Independent Stallion Station in Victoria will also give
Australian breeders the chance to use Arazi and, perhaps like Brief
Truce (Diatribe, True Jewels), he will find the fame as a sire that
he deserves. It is now well established that some sires
work really well in Australia and not in the northern hemisphere (and
the reverse), and the Blushing Groom sireline of which Arazi is a member
has had noted success in the south with horses like Nassipour and Quest
for Fame. While he is out of a Northern Dancer mare,
Arazi’s best runners duplicate this horse - especially via Nijinsky
(something owners of Serheed mares should note as Arazi is from the
same family and inbreeding to this family features in Northerly’s pedigree). Arazi’s size counted for nought when he was
on the racetrack (something that also applied to Northern Dancer and
Star Kingdom) and breeders and yearling buyers should perhaps look at
the overall package before making their selection “by the pound”. I saw the horse close up in his stable at Allen
Paulson’s Brookside Farm just a few days after the Breeders’ Cup win
and you could see his balance and athleticism. A David, more than equal
to any Goliath he had come across. “We are obviously delighted to have the opportunity
to stand such a cracking horse as Arazi,” TISS principal Mike Becker
said. “He was one of the great racehorses. “I am sure he is going to be very successful
in Australia because he was a speed horse, who should be ideally suited
by our racing conditions. Besides, his success rate is extraordinary
when he is bred back to Northern Dancer-line mares, and there are plenty
of them about. “In addition Arazi has a very, very good horse
on the scene at present in Congaree, who is certainly making people
sit up and take notice.” Racehorses of 1991 devoted six pages to Arazi’s
exploits at two when he was awarded the huge Timeform (for a juvenile)
of 135. He had eight starts for the season for seven wins and a second
over 5f on debut. “It’s often said that moments of the greatest
sporting drama occur most frequently when they are expected least,”
read the Timeform report. “The Breeders’ Cup has already provided some
abiding memories . . . and at Churchill Downs in November it provided
perhaps the best of the lot. Arazi, Europe’s Champion Two Year Old,
and favourite at just over 2/1 but racing on dirt for the first time
and seemingly uncomfortable from the kickback, set off down the back
straight in the Juvenile with only one of the 13 other runners behind
him and at least 15 lengths to make up on his front-running rival market-rival
Bertrando. “But when Arazi found his stride he became
virtual poetry in motion, gliding past horse after horse with a surge
of speed that was devastating in its execution. By the top of the turn Arazi had cruised through
into second place; coming wide off the final bend he sailed past the
vigorously-ridden Bertrando (runner-up) and into the lead; and in the
411 yard stretch, where he drifted back to the inside rail, he was out
on his own. His winning margin of 6.5 lengths - it was
officially returned as 4.75 before being “corrected” to five - was the
longest in the eight year history of the Juvenile. “None of the previous winners had scored in
such style, or had to overcome the disadvantage of an unfamiliar surface
and an outside draw on a track where the distance to the first tight
bend is only 750 feet.” Arazi underwent surgery shortly after the Breeders’
Cup to remove chip fractures from the top joint of both knees where
bone spurs were forming and causing inflamation, and the operation was
reported to be a complete success. He was sent back to France to recuperate. Trainer Francois Boutin was never keen to take
his star colt to the United States and it was only at owner Allen Paulson’s
insistance - he desperately wanted the colt to run on dirt in preparation
for the Kentucky Derby the following season - that he ran on Breeders’
Cup Day. Paulson had sold a 50% share in Arazi to Sheikh
Mohammed (for a sum reported to be in excess of $US5m) before the Breeders’
Cup and the Sheikh would eventually purchase the remaining 50% at the
end of Arazi’s racing career the following season. Arazi had a magnificent juvenile season in
France, winning five Pattern races and became only the third two year-old
after My Swallow (in 1970) and Blushing Groom (1976) to land the Prix
Robert Papin-Gr.2, Prix Morny-Gr.1, Prix de la Salamandre-Gr.1 and Grand
Criterium-Gr.1 in one season. Timeform noted that he faced his sternest test
in the Grand Criterium, his final race of the season in Europe, where
his five opponents had won eight of their 14 races. Arazi was uncatchable, powering to an assailable
advantage with a furlong to run to and defeating Rainbow Corner and
subsequent Racing Post Trophy-Gr.1 winner Seattle Rhyme by 3.5 lengths
and a short-head. When Paulson was asked after the event if Arazi
was the best horse he had ever owned, he replied, “he’s the best anyone
has ever owned”. Beaten by Steinbeck in the Prix d’Oragnement
(5f) at Chantilly in May on debut, he then won the Listed Prix la Fleche
at Evry before gaining his revenge on Steinbeck in the Prix du Bois-Gr.3.
During July he won the Prix Robert Papin and then in August won the
Prix Morny by three lengths from Kenbu with Lion Cavern third. He stepped up to 7f in the Prix de la Salamandre
in September and showed a tremendous turn of foot to win by five lengths
from Made of Gold (subsequent winner of the Royal Lodge Stakes and in
2003 a companion of Arazi at TISS). Arazi would run six times in his three year-old
season and the quest for the Kentucky Derby was probably his undoing.
The operation on his knees kept him on the sidelines longer than his
trainer would have liked but he nevertheless resumed with a comprehensive
win in the Prix Omnium-LR at Saint-Cloud in early April. He stunned the racing world next start with
an eighth of 18 (when odds-on) behind Lil E Tee in the Kentucky Derby
with his jockey saying he didn’t stay the 10f (2000m) and Boutin blaming
a “hurried preparation”. Arazi wasn’t seen at the races again until
Royal Ascot where he started odds-on for the St James’s Palace Stakes-Gr.1
but managed only fifth, about 2.5 lengths behind Brief Truce. Three months later in September he was again
tried over 10f in the Prix du Prince d’Orange-Gr.3 finishing third,
and then came his final victory. This was in the Prix du Rond Pont-Gr.2
(8f), the opening race on the Arc program, when he raced clear to defeat
Calling Collect by four lengths. A disappointing run in the Breeders’ Cup Mile
saw Arazi retired to Sheikh Mohammed’s Dalham Hall Stud (£20,000 first
season fee in 1993) as the winner of nine of his 14 starts and £675,000.
He later moved to the USA, where he stood at Three Chimneys Farm, before
standing in Japan for the past five years and heading to Switzerland
in 2003. Now 14, Arazi’s progeny have won in excess
of $12m with his best runner being five year-old Congaree (ex Mari’s
Sheba by Mari’s Book), a winner of nine races and more than $US1.8m
featuring the Hollywood Park Swaps Stakes-Gr.1, Aqueduct Cigar Mile
Handicap-Gr.1, Aqueduct Wood Memorial Stakes-Gr.2, Del Mar Breeders’
Cup-Gr.2 and Lone Star Park Handicap-Gr.3. He also finished third to Monarchos and Invisible
Ink in the Kentucky Derby-Gr.1 and third behind Point Given and A P
Valentine in the Preakness Stakes-Gr.1 in 2001. Arazi’s 15 other stakes winners include First
Magnitude (a multiple Gr.2 winner in France), America (a Gr.2 winner
in France), Sailing (a Gr.3 winner in Italy), Cote d’Azur, Ocean of
Storms, Arabian King, Prairie Runner, Shibl, Tiger Groom (2000 Swiss
Derby) and Danzari. On March 1 Congaree was just nosed out of first
in the Santa Anita Handicap-Gr.1 by Milwaukee Brew (he also won the
previous year) after a great duel in the straight. Congaree was coming
off three wins in succession and it’s worth taking a moment to study
his pedigree. Congaree’s dam Mari’s Sheba is by Mari’s Book-Sheeba
Little (Known Fact). Mari’s Book is by Northern Dancer (making Congaree
3fx3m to that horse) and from Mari Her by Maribu. Maribu, a half-brother to Halo, is by Ribot
from Cosmah (Cosmic Bomb) and Cosmah is a half-sister to Natalma (Native
Dancer), dam of Northern Dancer. This gives Mari’s Book a 2x3 cross
to the half-sisters and of course means Congaree has even more reinforcement
to this family. (Danehill mares, he’s by a son of Northern Dancer and
from Northern Dancer’s family could be an ideal cross for Arazi). Arazi’s next two most successful runners America
(3fx4m) and First Magnitude (3fx3m) also duplicate Northern Dancer,
this time via Nijinsky. America’s dam is by Nijinsky’s son Green Dancer,
also sire of the dam of Quest for Fame (by Blushing Groom’s son Rainbow
Quest). Arazi’s sire Blushing Groom (Red God-Runaway
Bride by Wild Risk) was the Champion Two Year Old in France in 1976
and Champion Three Year Old Miler in Europe in 1977 with his seven wins
including four Gr.1 events at two and the French 2000 Guineas-Gr.1 at
three. He was also third to The Minstrel in the English Derby. His best runners among more than 70 stakes
winners include the Arc winner Rainbow Quest (sire of the English Derby
winner and sire Quest for Fame), English Derby winner Nashwan, champion
mare Sky Beauty, Sillery, Snow Bride, Blushing John, Groom Dancer, Blush
with Pride and Rothmans International Stakes-Gr.1 winner and champion
sire Nassipour (sire of Tie the Knot). Although Arazi’s dam Danseur Fabuleux (Northern
Dancer-Fabuleux Jane by Le Fabuleux) didn’t win, she placed eight times
in France including a second in the Prix Minerve-Gr.3 at Evry. Danseur Fabuleux’s six winners also include
Noverre (by Blushing Groom’s son Rahy), the Champion Three Year Old
Miler in Europe in 2001 and a three-quarter brother to Arazi. Winner
of five races including the Sussex Stakes-Gr.1, Noverre will also shuttle
to Australia (for Darley) in 2003. Next dam Fabuleux Jane has produced nine winners
including the Early Times Turf Classic-Gr.1 hero Joyeux Danseur. She
is a half-sister to Ajdal (Northern Dancer), Flying Partner (Hoist the
Flag) and Formidable (Forli) and they are all from the Raise a Native
mare Native Partner. Arazi’s fourth dam Dinner Partner (Tom Fool-Bluehaze
by Blue Larkspur) features 3fx5m in the pedigree of champion Northerly
and Northerly’s sire Serheed is out of Native Partner, Arazi’s third
dam. A Champion European Sprinter Ajdal’s seven
wins from nine starts were highlighted by successes in the William Hill
Dewhurst Stakes, William Hill Sprint Championship and Norcros July Cup
at Gr.1 level. A short-lived sire, his daughters are outstanding
producers with Gr.1 winners Dilshaan and Mark of Esteem among their
runners, while Formidable won the Middle Park Stakes-Gr.1 and left the
winners of more than 950 races including Forzando (sire), Efisio (sire)
and Chilibang (sire). A winner of four races including the Fantasy
Stakes-Gr.1, Flying Partner was also third in the CCA Oaks-Gr.1 and
Kentucky Oaks-Gr.1 and is the grandam of Champion Canadian Turf Horse
Hero’s Love. Native Partner is also the dam of Key Partner
(Key to the Mint), grandam of the Champion Japanese Three Year Olds
Dance Partner and Dance in the Dark (both by Sunday Silence). Native Partner is also a half-sister to Gr.1
winner and sire Jim French and Gr.3 winner Don’t Sulk (both by Graustark).
Ribot, Graustrak’s sire seems to have a particular affinity with this
family. It’s rare that Australian breeders have access
to a horse of Arazi’s calibre at an affordable fee. Who knows, maybe
we will be cheering a star two year-old on one day and maybe it will
be by Arazi? I for one, coudn’t think of a better scenario. |
