NEWS
Conduit wins champion turf male honor
Posted: Monday, January 26, 2009 8:27 PM
CONDUIT (IRE)
Benoit & Associates photo
by Ed DeRosa
When Conduit (Ire) won the first race on June 7 at Epsom Downs, Ballymacoll Stud thought it was the beginning of a banner day with the farm’s homebred Tartan Bearer still to race and among the leading contenders for the Vodafone Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) later on the card.
While the day did not turn out as hoped when Tartan Bearer finished a half-length behind New Approach in England’s premier classic race, Conduit’s win earlier on the card did provide the springboard to a fantastic year for the County Meath, Ireland, operation.
Conduit went on to finish second in the King Edward VII Stakes (Eng-G2) at Royal Ascot less than two weeks later before reeling off three consecutive victories to close out his three-year-old season, including wins in the Ladbrokes St. Leger (Eng-G1) and the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), the latter of which propelled the homebred Dalakhani (Ire) colt to the Eclipse Award as champion turf male, defeating finalists Einstein (Brz) and Grand Couturier (GB).
“It was just an ordinary handicap—that first race on Epsom Derby day—but he did it in an amazing way coming from last to be first, so when we were beaten in the Derby, it wasn’t the end of the world,” said Peter Reynolds, general manager of Ballymacoll, which the estate of the late Lord Arnold Weinstock controls. “Conduit has come from being bridesmaid that day to being a king.”
Ed DeRosa is Thoroughbred Times news editor
| 2008 record |
|
|
|
|
| Starts |
Wins |
Second |
Third |
Earnings |
| 6 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
$2,372,262 |
