Between 1929 and 1931, Phar Lap, an oversized New Zealand-bred stayer with a pedigree noteworthy by only a double of the great galloper Carbine lifted the hearts of a nation. The ‘Red Terror’ instilled hope and a much needed distraction to the despair of a country hit hard by the economic downturn of the times. In great part, it was Phar Lap’s imposing presence and infectious enthusiasm that had tens of thousands of Australians flocking to racecourses in and around Melbourne to catch sight of the champ. But beyond the pageantry of the post parade was the true reality of the love affair; Australians could always rely on the ’big horse’ for his best.
It is in this same spirit that America is enjoying the charisma and unwavering determination of Jerry and Ann Moss’ unmatched distaffer Zenyatta. The charismatic amazon of a mare - gleaming in health and condition - electrified the Del Mar mass upon entering the paddock and brought smiles of amazement due to her grandstanding, playful Lipizzaner march and her eagle-like glare.
A month earlier, the strength of last season’s champion female was tested in the G1 Vanity Handicap when tacking as much as fourteen pounds above her rivals. She answered the challenge with another of her daylight victories.
However it was her most recent win in the G1 Clement L. Hirsch S. that a grander statement of her untapped abilities came to light. After dropping well behind a leisurely pace of 1:13.64 for three-quarters of a mile, jockey Mike Smith asked for her signature move. Momentum swung the pair six-wide off the final turn, and she flattened out in the stretch to power past two very strong closing fillies. Zenyatta’s final time of 1:43.24 for 8.5 furlongs was well off her record 1:41.48 set on the new polytrack course one year prior. But in one heart-pounding spectacle of perseverance to reach the wire first, Zenyatta hit a maximum speed of 40 m.p.h. in a final quarter estimated at 22.49 seconds with her giant strides covering 58.66 feet per second, all the while with her ears flickering.
“She was just kind of having fun down the stretch, with her ears pricked,” Smith told San Diego’s Union Tribune. “The incredible thing was that when I stood up (past the wire) she hit another gear and galloped out like a machine.
“That last quarter-mile was freaky. I felt like I was on a Quarter Horse coming out of the gate. Great horses always find a way no matter what is stacked up against them and that's what she did.”
With twelve wins and more than $2.5 million to her credit, the daughter of Street Cry now approaches the possibility of equaling Personal Ensign’s career total of a perfect thirteen.
When her owner Jerry Moss, Grammy Award winner and co-founder of A&M Records, was asked if he had taken anything from his achievements in the music industry to apply to his ventures in horse racing, he said that he really enjoyed discovering and nurturing new talent. Moss is well known for launching and furthering the careers of such artists as Burt Bacharach, the Carpenters, Sting, Bryan Adams, Carole King, Sergio Mendes, Sheryl Crow, Peter Frampton, Amy Grant, Janet Jackson, Joe Jackson, Quincy Jones, the Police, Iggy Pop, Billy Preston, Soundgarden, Cat Stevens, Styx, Supertramp and Barry White.
Zenyatta, from Street Cry’s first crop, was picked up at Keeneland four years ago for a bargain price of $60,000. She was spotted by bloodstock agent David Ingordo in the consignment of Winter Quarter Farm, who sold her on behalf of her breeder Maverick Productions, Ltd.
A leading sire right off, Street Cry now has 18 graded stakes winners to his credit. His first two crops alone yielded seven G1 winners including champion Street Sense and crack sprinter Street Boss. Meeting every need, Street Cry has established himself as a stallion for the times. His progeny have excelled over dirt, turf and synthetics. Both Keeneland graduates, Zenyatta and Seventh Street won on the red dirt at Oaklawn in consecutive runnings of the G1 Apple Blossom. Attained for a $1 million at two, Seventh Street ran out a clear lead in the G1 Go For Wand this month, just minutes after a seasonal rainstorm at Saratoga.
43 of Street Cry’s yearlings are listed for sale at Keeneland in September. 21 are out of stakes producers, another seven of the mares were stakes winners themselves. G1 Mother Goose and Ashland winner Fleet Renee, by Seattle Slew, has an early colt on offer by Gainesway Farm - Hip 343. In June, Street Cry’s four-year-old graded winner Globetrotter (out of Icy Slew, by Seattle Slew) came within a half length of winning theG1Charles Whittingham Memorial H and another who nicks through Seattle Slew, Princess Haya took on G2 status when second over a rain soaked Monmouth track in the Taylor Made Matchmaker S. Her full-brother sells on day three as Hip 449.
At Deauville on August 9, King’s Apostle landed his second group stakes win and his first at the highest level in the Prix Maurice de Gheest, entitling the five-year-old to an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Park as part of the “Win and You’re In” program.
The Irish-bred son of Europe’s leading Mr. Prospector-line stallion King's Best, King’s Apostle is the first foal from unraced Politesse – an English-bred daughter of Europe’s champion two-year-old filly, Embassy. Politesse is a half-sister to Storm Cat-sired Snow Kitten whose filly by Street Cry is to pass through the Keeneland sales ring bearing hip number 4155. Also from a Storm Cat female line, UAE 2000 Guineas winner Desert Party was a Keeneland/ Fasig-Tipton Florida Select pinhook who fetched $2,100,000 at two. Hip 4850, out of Razzi Cat (Storm Cat) has eight winning siblings setting her path - two are Argentinean-bred multiple G1 winners.
Currently serving stud duties at Darley Kelvinside in New South Wales, Street Cry has been every bit as effective influencing the Australian strips. His city winners include G1 Caulfield guineas winner Whobegotyou and G3 winner Predatory Pricer, a gelding who took a third in the G1 AJC Australian Derby. Shocking, out of a Danehill mare, finished up second in the mile-and-a half G1 Queensland Derby. Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Very Subtle is dam to a Danehill G2-placed Stakes winner, Dianehill. Her Street Cry colt sells in the sale opener at Hip 118.
