Thursday, March 18, 2010

Running at the speed of life

I was doing some surfing on the web and stumbled across these photos and articles.


A "Royale" Upset! by Stephanie Corum

published in The Inside Track, EARA May 2003. Stephanie Coram, editor (SJRuffian@aol.com), Royale Fanfare certainly picks her spots. She snuck up on her opponents last year to capture the Buzz Brauninger Distaff H. enroute to a Darley nomination for Older Mare. After two unplaced finishes this year, Royale Fanfare once again upset a field that included three Darley Champions when she narrowly captured the Delaware Season Opener Distaff on May 10.

The Monarch AH daughter broke slowly and was dropped back off the early leaders Tu For All, Murkanas Glory, and Staccata. In the final turn, she swung five wide and ran down Staccata, who had gained the lead. The latter looked to be the winner, even at the wire. It took a photo to show that Royale Fanfare stuck her nose in front. The final time for the one mile was 1:55.30. Staccata, a striking chestnut filly, grudgingly took second and Tornade Du Loup, making her first start in a year, closed well for third. Royale Fanfare paid $52.40 for a $2 win ticket.

This makes the second stakes victory for the Dan and Claudia Spears-owned mare. Her lifetime record now stands at 3/17(4-2-2)2-3, $95,933.



Royal Fanfare, pride of TABA,

wins the KA Czubathan/Mandolynn Hill Farm Handicap Stake
The following race story is from Hugh Mooney of "Arabian Racing Times” the online Arabian Racing Magazine. “ Depending on your sources of information you could get two completely different pictures of this race: 1) It was no contest; 2) It was won by a nose. We're going to go with the latter. Royale Fanfare and First Ladie are full sisters (Monarch AH x Fantos) and are owned by sisters (First Ladie is owned by Leslie Gicewicz) so I would imagine the yelling and screaming at the finish was quite interesting to say the least. Royale Fanfare now has four stakes victories with lifetime earnings of $158,186. Interestingly enough, as a comparision of the two mares, Royale Fanfare is 24(6-3-4) and First Ladie didn't start her career until this year, as an eight year old 6(1-2-0)! Hooray for the older girls.
Other finishers in order: First Ladie, Rodania Arbi, MW Scarlet Lady, Banders Naomi Ku, Miss Philly, Ritzy, Basalisk Okba, NS Starburst. Scratched: Monarchs Serenade.

(November 1, 2003 _Lone Star Park, Grand Prairie, Texas)- TABA is always proud to see Royal Fanfare win a stake, and she has done a lot of it making her a 2003 Darley nominee. This beautiful mare, a daughter of Monarch and out of Fantos by Bandos, was purchased at a previous TABA Racehorse sale and we never miss a chance to point that out! In the $15,000 KA Czubuthan/Mandolynn Hill Farm Handicap, a one mile race for fillies and mares 3 and up, Royal Fanfare finished in 1:50.34 under the guidance of jockey A.B. Ramos. Her trainer was Jernesto Torrez. Royal Fanfare is owned by Claudia and Dan Spears.

Texas Arabian Breeders Association, TABA


So what, you may ask? Well, this mare's mother, Fantos, is Annie's half sister. I always thought that Annie was bred to be a racehorse. Both her dam, Fantastka, and her sire, AH Gallant, were winning racehorses. Interestingly, her mother was bred back to the same stallion, AH Gallant, the year Annie was foaled and the filly born the following year was called Fantastk Girl. Annie's registered name is Fantastyk Gal. Crazy, huh? I haven't found any further information on her unfortunately. Fantastka has had 13 foals that I can find record of: 5 stallions, 2 geldings, and 6 mares.

Another interesting fact is that Annie's family seem to have long careers. Her sire, AH Gallant, raced to 6 or 7 years of age, retired to stud, was sold and successfully shown at halter at 16, and again retired to stud. Annie had her first foal at 16. The racehorse in the second article, First Ladie, was an eight year old starting her race career. BTW, she is also related to Annie.

Anyway, I thought it was an interesting read and because those photos and stories might have been Annie, if we had raced her.


Running at the speed of life - song: The Secret Life of Arabia, artist: David Bowie, album: Heroes

6 comments:

Laura said...

Cool story - your mare has some neat bloodlines! I almost bought a gelding with AH Gallant bloodlines - but since he was only a 3yr old, I knew that wasn't the best choice for me at the time. He sure was handsome though...

:-)

Unknown said...

I was going to say that mare has the same features in her face as your Annie.

Fantastyk Voyager said...

I thought Annie resembled her too. Those mares are even "better" bred than Annie however,with Bandos as grandsire. Bandos is a few generations back in Annie's pedigree. Arabian breeders swear by the "Diamond Cross" which means that when Palas and Negativ bred horses are mated, they produce excellent horses. Annie's grandfather is Palas, and Bandos, a Negativ son, is a great, great grandfather for her. Annie's mother, Fantastka was bred back to Bandos to get Fantos, these mares' dam. It can very confusing, I know.

Fantastyk Voyager said...

Actually, Fantastka wasn't bred back, just bred to Bandos. Bandos is on Annie's sires side through AH Gallant.

Laura- I don't know where she gets it, but Annie is one hot little mare. I got her as a four year old and although she's settled down a lot, she is still VERY spirited, even at sixteen years old. AH Gallant is absolutely gorgeous and looks to be very spirited. His father, El Paso is/was? a show stopper.

Dan and Betty said...

That's kind of neat.

Thanks for sharing.

Dan

Achieve1dream said...

That is so cool!!