TOP DOG:
Storm Dog wins two titles in near-perfect season

By Topicount

A talented filly as a juvenile, with a 7-3-2-2 record, including a stakes win and two placings in graded stakes company, no one, except perhaps her closest connections, could have predicted the smashingly successful and dominating season Storm Dog would have at three. A beautifully bred filly, by star sire Storm Cat, and the blue-blooded classic influences of Fappiano and Roberto in her pedigree, Storm Dog was bred with dreams of glory. Unlike many high-priced hopefuls, she has been all that any sim trainer could ask. I had the opportunity to speak with owner/breeder/trainer amandas, who said, "She was bred with the aim of fulfilling my Sim goal - to win an English Classic. As she turned out a filly, her aim was the Grade 1 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. She showed potential in her first couple of starts over an inadequate trip and she broke her maiden at the third time of asking when stepped up to 7f. I didn't want her too exposed as a 2yo, so after a couple of promising runs in Grade 3 company she finished off the year with a first stakes win before enjoying a 9-week Winter break." When asked about Storm Dog's training, amandas commented, "She has always been difficult to get sharp for race day - both her Guineas and Breeders Cup wins have come when Ready To Go! Once I realised she had serious ability, I made a conscientious effort not to overrace her and to build her up for her big races. I didn't want her sweeping the board at two and declining at three. Now I hope to keep her going for as long as possible. My training strategy has proved successful so far although the next big question is about to be answered - has she retained her ability as a 4yo? She is due to reappear next week." [ed. note: at the time of this writing, she is entered in the Grade 1 Sexy Muffins Handicap at one mile on the turf - 1649.5415 and is the 3/1 favorite against a full field of older distaffers].

The filly began her campaign with an easy 2 ¾ length win in the Grade 3 Triangular Star Stakes at Hong Kong, covering the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43 4/5 (94 SF). Five weeks later, Storm Dog re-appeared, and again dominated her competition by three lengths (94 SF, 1 1/16m). Shortened back to a mile, the filly showed she was ready to take on the best in the Guineas, winning her prep, the Grade 3 Appalooza Stakes by more than five, and earning a 97 SF for the unpressured effort. Sent to England, Storm Dog took on a full field of fourteen, and again made her patented move in the stretch to storm home almost four lengths in front, winning the classic Grade 1 1000 Guineas with a scintillating 1:34 4/5 (112 SF) time for the mile. The Storm Cat filly was given a seven week breather after that effort, and returned to Grade 1 competition with a flourish, winning the one mile Cremation Stakes by two (103 SF). Amandas then sent her star filly to Taiwan to compete in the Grade 2 Pioneer Boulevard Cup at 1 1/16 miles, and the filly again responded with a win, this time an awesome 117 SF for the 8 ½ panels, setting a new track record in the process. With a perfect six for six record on the line for the season, Storm Dog again took on top competition in the Grade 1 Del Webb Stakes, but this time, she couldn't quite get there, flattening out in the stretch to finish second behind Shanrose Baby (who is herself a multiple graded stakes winner and was scoring her second Grade 1 victory in that race) . The sophomore filly was hardly disgraced in defeat, earning a 114 SF for the effort. Amandas later said, "it is unclear whether it was the trip that beat her or she just met a better horse on the day - I think the latter, as Shanrose Baby seemed to have my filly beaten 2f out - but that race determined which of the BC races she would go for and I decided to drop her back in trip for the Breeders' Bowl Mile." There was no ducking or finding a softer spot after that loss, as four weeks later, Storm Dog returned to the racing wars. The filly made it clear she had no intention of losing again, cutting through the field like a knife in the stretch to win by more than five lengths, and capturing her third Grade 1 of the season. The final time for the mile in the Sun State Cup was 1:35 1/5 (108 SF). [track records] Clearly the dominant three year old filly on the turf, amandas sent her champion to tackle the best in the world, of all ages, both horses and fillies alike, in the Grade 1 Breeders' Bowl Mile. Prior to the race, Storm Dog surveyed the scene like a queen, clearly unintimidated by the high class competition. She knew she was the best as she danced out of the paddock to the post parade. Jockey Haynes, aboard for the first time, rode her to perfection, letting her lag towards the last third of the pack early, keeping her on the outside - sacrificing ground for clear running room, and let her loose. Storm Dog steadily ground down the leaders to pull away by a length over Ray of Pye for a victory that confirmed her as one of the best in the game.

Trainers of the other nominees also thought highly of this distaffer, the connections of PGPG's Filly and Vision of a Dancer both candidly admitted that they expected to lose to her (and both those fillies are talented stars in their own right).

What is amazing about this filly is there are so many options that have yet to be tried. The filly has never raced on dirt, nor has she, despite her closing style of running, has she competed at more than 9 panels. While the 9 furlong effort was her only loss of the year, she was hardly disgraced. However, she is such a champion at this distance and surface, it is hard to experiment (although a clone breeding ran an 88 on the turf in his debut, then posted a 110 on the dirt). It will be a pleasure to see this champion's career continue to progress, and the best of luck to Storm Dog and her connections. Congratulations!