12/1/2003

Congaree must be tough as nails

Today's thoroughbreds are often critised as being soft, by comparison to heroes of days gone by, who raced hard and often and did not benefit from modern comforts and medicines.

So, when a horse like Congaree comes along, he should be appreciated: for he must have an iron constitution to have survived three arduous racing seasons in the barn of Bob Baffert.

Thus, when he goes to stud, his undoubted toughness looks likley to be a quality that will appeal to breeders' just as much as his considerable ability at distances from 7 furlongs to a mile and a quarter....although as a miler, the distance over which he won back-to-back Cigar Miles, he will be commercially valued the most.

By the mercurial Arazi, a son of the great Red God horse, Blushing Groom (one of the finest milers this scribbler has ever seen) Congaree represents a completely different bloodline to those of Mr. Prospector and Northern Dancer. And, in an ever-diminishing pool of new blood, he might just be one of the most exciting prospects to go to stud in a while.

Thought for the day. The NTRA have declined the opportunity to close the upcoming Racing (hot air) Symposium in Arizona because nobody on their staff wants to be pilloried for their pathetic performance over the past twelve months, and the fact that they now want breeders to put their hands in their pockets again.