America had not seen a two-year-old like him since the
mighty Secretariat. We all know what a champion he was! Few horses anywhere in the world
have the distinction of being crowned that country’s Horse of the Year as a
two-year-old.
When Favorite Trick was crowned the USA’s Horse of the
Year on February 10, 1998, he became the first horse since Secretariat in 1972 to take the
illustrious honour in his first season on the track. America had seen many champion
youngsters grace their turf and dirt tracks in the 25 seasons in between, but none came
close to the achievements of Favorite Trick.
During his first preparation on the track Favorite Trick
had eight starts and he won the lot! His best win at two came when he scored a
comprehensive win in the Group One Breeders’ Cup Juvenile over eight furlongs. His
versatility was clearly evident as the stunning looking horse won from distances from five
furlongs up to nine furlongs. He also won graded races on turf and dirt.
After a three-year-old season which netted another four top
class wins as well as a Derby placing, Favorite Trick was retired to stud with the
imposing record of 16 starts for 12 wins and a placing. His prizemoney tally was a bulging
US$1,726,793 – and all that from just 16, yes 16 starts!
Victoria’s Collingrove
Stud announced one of the coup’s of the 1999 breeding season when they announced
that Favorite Trick would be standing alongside stallions to the calibre of the colonial
siring star Rory’s Jester at their impressive Nagambie property.
Favorite Trick is certainly the real deal. Not only does he
have the best race two-year-old race record the north had seen in over 25 years, but his
pedigree is equally as impressive. He is by a Group winning and Champion Juvenile sire and
from a black type filled female family.
Evil Elaine, the stallion’s high class dam, was a
stakes winner of four races and she is also a sister to another stakes winner, Ravensmoor.
Evil Elaine has also produced the stakes winner Cold N Calculating, a winner of some 15
races and nearly US$500,000. A Medieval Man mare, Evil Elaine is also the dam of two other
stakes gallopers, the Group One placed Medieval Hero and the impressive performer Crafty
and Evil.
There’s no surprise that Favorite Trick is one of
Victoria’s most exciting young sire prospects and at such a top value fee of just
$22,000 (inc. GST), Collingrove give breeders
on most budgets the opportunity to breed a champion.
Already this year his two-year-olds in America have been
selling for up to $250,000, that’s about half a million in the Aussie currency!
During the 2001 season Favorite Trick served a quality
packed book of mares including So Gorgeous, Madam’s Way, Miss Jugah, Loving Cup,
Emerald Rain, My First Star, Halo Again, Love de Tor and Balcanny.
An imposing and stunning individual Favorite Trick is being
welcomed back to Collingrove for the 2002 breeding season further enhancing an already
superb line up stallions at Collingrove Victoria
and Euroa. |
