While Animal Kingdom happily attends to his first book of mares at Arrowfield Stud, Group 1 results in the United States and Australia during the past 24 hours have underscored the quality of his race record.
Yesterday at Flemington Pearl Bloodstock’s Side Glance held off Dear Demi and Moriarty to win the $1 million VRC L.K.S. Mackinnon S. 2000m G1, a week after finishing sixth in Shamus Award’s Cox Plate G1.
Side Glance was fourth, beaten seven lengths, in Animal Kingdom’s Dubai World Cup G1 in March, and then finished third in the Arlington Million G1 before travelling to Australia. Yesterday’s win was his first Group 1 success in an eight-win, $1.8 million career that includes two Group 3 victories in England, and a third in the Royal Ascot Queen Anne S. G1, behind Frankel and Excelebration.
In the United States the two-day Breeders’ Cup meeting at Santa Anita concluded with outstanding performances from Wise Dan, winning his second Breeders’ Cup Mile G1, and Mucho Macho Man, narrowly claiming the Breeders’ Cup Classic G1 from Will Take Charge and Declaration of War.
Animal Kingdom was a fast-closing second to Wise Dan in last year’s record-breaking Breeders’ Cup Mile, and defeated Mucho Macho Man by 3 lengths in the 2011 Kentucky Derby G1. All three horses are currently rated among the world’s top 20 racehorses with ratings of 129 (Wise Dan), 125 (Animal Kingdom) and 123 (Mucho Macho Man).
Wise Dan, last year’s US Horse of the Year, has now won 19 of his 27 starts, including eight at Group 1 level, while Mucho Macho Man’s Breeders’ Cup win was his second Group 1 success.
Animal Kingdom won or placed in five Group 1 events from 1600m to 2000m among his 12 career starts, and retired with earnings of $US8.3 million.
Mares visiting Animal Kingdom this season include champion Miss Finland, Group 1 winners Brazilian Pulse, Paraca & Rockabubble, Group winners Aliyana Tilde, Cat By The Tale & Hurried Choice and stakeswinner Johan’s Toy, dam of dual Group 2 winner Toydini. The dams of yesterday’s Arrowfield-bred-&-sold 2YO debut winners Time for War and More Vino are also in foal to Animal Kingdom.