Secretariat Stakes Hero Throws Spotlight on Bobby's Kitten

Mark Smith - Sunday August 13

One of the more intriguing first season stallions in Australia this spring is the Group I Breeders' Cup Turf winner Bobby's Kitten, a son of the El Prado stallion Kitten's Joy who has dominated turf racing in the US to the extent few have done before.

More evidence of this came at Arlington Park on Saturday when the aptly named Oscar Performance earned a third win at the highest level in the $US400,000 Secretariat Stakes.

The Brian Lynch-trained rig had won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf last season and was coming off a win the Belmont Derby Invitational.

Ridden by Jose Ortiz Oscar Performance stalked the early pace set by the More Than Ready colt Sonic Boom. Set alight on the home turn he easily held the challenges of the European shippers Taj Mahal (Ire) (Galileo) and Afandem (Fr) (Zoffany).


The most favoured of the Europeans, Permian (Ire) (Teofilo), passed the post in last place before stumbling and unseating William Buick.

Winner of the Group II King Edward VII Stakes and Group II Dante Stakes and a heartbreaking near miss in the Group I Grand Prix de Paris at his most recent start, Permian (Ire) had broken a left front cannon bone and was euthanized.  

The winner of six of his nine starts, Oscar Performance has banked $US1.7 million for breeders John and Jerry Amerman.

A brother to the Grade III winner and Grade I placed Oscar Nominated, Oscar Performance is out of the stakes winning Theatrical mare Devine Actress.

The Secretariat Stakes is also on the resume of Kitten's Joy who won the race 13 years ago.

Coincidently Twin Hills foundation stallion Bobby's Kitten (pictured) hails from the family of Theatrical.

His third dam North Eden (Northfield) is a half-sister to Theatrical and she covered herself in glory as a broodmare leaving the Group I winners Paradise Creek, Wild Event and Forbidden Apple.

Bobby's Kitten will stand his first season at Olly Tate's Twin Hills Stud at Cootamundra for a fee of $16,500. 

Advertisment
More Reading...
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.