COMMENTARY
DECEMBER 20, 2005
Record-breaking Australian-bred colt wins American debut
by Kellie Reilly
Michael Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier’s OVERLORD (Aus) (Danehill), sold for a
then-record AUS$2.2 million as a yearling in 2004, registered a three-quarter
length victory in his first American start at Turfway Park on Sunday. Trained by
Patrick Biancone, the three-year-old completed the 6 1/2-furlong allowance in
1:20 2/5 on the fast Polytrack.
Overlord started his career earlier this year in Australia under the tutelage
of leading conditioner Lee Freedman, who also trained the amazing mare Makybe
Diva (Desert King) to her historic third Melbourne Cup success (Aus-G1) in
November.
According to reports in the Australian press, Overlord was described as lazy
and immature as a juvenile, but he was held in such regard that he nearly made
his debut in the Champagne Classic (Aus-G3). That plan was scrapped after he
drew an unfavorably wide post position. Freedman instead settled for a far
easier spot, a six-furlong maiden at the Sunshine Coast on May 27, which
Overlord won by a short neck as the even-money favorite. He did not race again
until August, verging on early spring of his three-year-old year on Southern
Hemisphere time, when he finished third in a handicap at Werribee.
Overlord commanded the record sum at the prestigious Australian Easter
Yearling Sale principally because of his mouthwatering pedigree. Not only is he
a son of the phenomenally successful sire Danehill, but he also hails from the
immediate family of world renowned stallion Storm Cat. Overlord’s dam, Prawn
Cocktail (Artichoke), is a half-sister to multiple Grade 2 winner Terlingua
(Secretariat), the dam of Storm Cat. Moreover, both mares are half-sisters to
1990 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) hero and prominent sire Royal Academy.
Prawn Cocktail has also produced two Group stakes-winning sisters to
Overlord. Langoustine (Danehill) claimed the 2000 Maribyrnong Plate (Aus-G2)
over five furlongs, and One World (Danehill) captured the six-furlong
Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. (Aus-G3) in 2004, both juvenile events at Flemington.
With his win at Turfway, Overlord now sports a record of two wins and a third
from three lifetime starts.