SNOWTOP'S GLOBAL REACH
2nd April 2006
2000 GUINEAS ASPIRANT ASSET was impressive in the Easter Stakes (Listed) on the all weather track at Kempton. The Richard Hannon trained sophomore beat Royal Power (Xaar) by 3-1/2 lengths, with Dubai Typhoon (Thunder Gulch) in third. Third on yielding ground at his third start in the Solario Stakes (Gr 3) at Sandown last August at his final two-year-old appearance, Asset resumed here languidly, but made up ground impressively after his tardy beginning to sit off the pace before carving a path through the leaders with 300 yards remaining to win untroubled. We looked recently at Marju as the sire of Hong Kong Derby winner Viva Pataca and stakes winners such as Indigenous and Soviet Song. Asset is the first foal from Arazi mare Snow Peak, whose best effort came when second in the Prix de la Ville de Compiegne. His second dam Snowtop (Thatching) has had a far-reaching influence as she is a half-sister to Al Hareb and the dam of seven winners including Freeze Frame, the dam of stakes winner Grand Reporter and Flurry, the dam of stakes winner Fidelio�s Miracle. Many of her daughters have produced stakes winners, and none more interesting than Snowdrift, placed as a two-year-old in France and imported by Australian agent Kieran Moore to ultimately join the broodmare band at Stratheden Stud, where she foaled the outstanding sprinter Snowland (pictured). He retired with nine wins culminating with the Galaxy (Gr 1), a race won by his own sire Snippets, but sadly proved sub-fertile and after a frustrating season at Widden, the immensely popular horse has relocated to his owner Eduardo Cojuanco�s Gooree Stud where his duties are restricted to covering resident mares. Snowdrift has proven herself a superb producer, with stakes winner Snippetson and stakes placed Snowden and Freeze as well as Snowland. Hence Asset�s credentials for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 6 obviously have significant reverberations on the other side of the globe. The third placegetter in the Easter Stakes, Dubai Typhoon, also boasts a noteworthy pedigree as he is from High Line mare Dubian, and thus bred 2x4 to High Line. Dubain is the dam of five time Group 1 winner Sayyedati (Shadeed); herself the dam of Almushahar, winner of the Champagne Stakes (Gr 2); as well as the promising shuttle stallion Golden Snake (Danzig), a four time Group 1 winner in France, Italy and Germany.
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