FIRST GROUP 1 RUNNER FOR AMERICAIN

Swettenham Stud’s Americain has had his first Group 1 runner in America being well represented by the classy filly, Violet Blue in the New York, Belmont Oaks.

As part of the Stars and Stripes Festival, the US$1,000,000 Invitational saw a strong field assembled of three-year-old fillies, to race on turf over a distance of a mile and a quarter (2000 metres).

Trained by James Toner, in New York, Violet Blue was in very good company with high-class experienced fillies competing from all over the country.

Toner has always had a high opinion of the filly and believes she is ready to challenge the top races.

“She may have been a 30-1 shot, but she had already run twice going 1 1/4 miles or farther. She is particularly intriguing thanks to her impressive pedigree, which suggests that she won’t mind the distance or a bit of moisture in the turf.”

“She flew down the outside to break her maiden in a dead heat at Belmont Park on June 3 so it was a huge jump up in class, stepping into stakes company for the first time, but she had improved every time out.”

“With Manny Franco on board, they were against a very good field of talented fillies, and no doubt she gained a wealth of experience from the high-pressure outing,” Toner said.

Kentucky bred by Calumet Farm, Violet Blue is out of Strike The Light, by Smart Strike (Mr Prospector). Her second dam, Mexican Moonlight (El Prado) was Group 3 placed producing the Group 3 placed galloper O’Prado Ole.

Sold for US$47,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September sales by Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services to Ridgeway Stables as a yearling, to be trained by Toner.

The first Group 1 runner of many more to come for Americain, who is showing outstanding prospects to succeed as a sire in both hemispheres.

Americain will stand this season at Victoria’s premier nursery, Swettenham Stud for the competitive fee of $11,000 (Inc. GST)

Breeze up video – July 2nd 2017: http://www.xbtv.com/video/workout/violet-blue-worked-5-furlongs-outside-of-louisville-first-in-100-10-at-belmont-park-on-july-2nd-2017/

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