dubai world cup
Victory to Japan The Dubai World Cup winner Victoire Pisa is from the second crop of Neo Universe, the son Sunday Silence who could be the “one”, writes Alan Porter
pride. Not only did the four-year-old Japanesebred colt Victoire Pisa score a famous victory, but that triumph was achieved at the expense of his compatriot, the brave five-year-old mare Transcend. Remarkably, the pair were the only horses to lead the race: Transcend set out to make all with Victoire Pisa taking control a furlong and a half out, after a move down the backstretch that saw him sweep to the front from the rear of the field. Almost inevitably, Victoire Pisa is by a son of Sunday Silence, the US-raced son of Halo unwanted as a stallion in his own country, despite establishing himself as a truly great racehorse, but who has single-handedly raised the bar in Japan. In this case the son in question is Neo Universe, winner of the Japanese 2,000 Guineas and Japanese Derby. Now shaping as the potential heir to his sire, Neo Universe
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comes from the same Sobell/Weinstock (and before that Dorothy Paget) family that has produced two other current successful sires – Street Cry and Shamardal. Neo Universe’s third dam, Boulevard, is also third dam of Street Cry, and fourth dam of Shamardal. Victoire Pisa, who also won the Japanese 2,000 Guineas (G1) and Arima Kinen (G1), comes from his sire’s second crop. He is probably the best of Neo Universe’s runners, but the young stallion has already also sired Japanese Derby winner Logi Universe and Japanese 2,000 Guineas victor Unrivaled, both of whom were from his first crop. Victoire Pisa’s family is one that has risen to prominence from humble beginnings, aided by some clever inbreeding and linebreeding. If we follow the female line back to 1944 we come to Victoire Pisa’s sixth dam, Cherry Way. She was a daughter of the well-bred Airway (by the great runner Fairway out of the English Oaks winner Udaipur), a horse who was pretty insignificant as a racehorse or sire, outside of the handful of stakes winners he sired in New Zealand. Cherry Way was a minor winner in Ireland,
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apan may still be reeling from the consequences of the horrific natural disaster that hit that country, but the result of the Dubai World Cup (G1), the world’s richest race gave considerable cause for national
Victoire Pisa’s family is one that has risen to prominence from humble beginnings, aided by some clever inbreeding and linebreeding 6
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