Placerville, a champion of champions
Hall of Fame stallion Placerville (Mr Prospector – Classy Cathy) died at the famed Poonawalla Stud Farm on Saturday. The death of Placerville coming as it did within a week of legendary stallion Razeen’s death has been a big blow for Indian racing. Though both these veterans were in the twilight of their career, they had classic performers in each crop and were a great value addition to Indian breeding through their daughters. Placerville had lifted the profile of the Poonawalla Stud Farm for the consistency with which he produced classic winners. Like a true champion stallion, Placerville too died with his working boot on, having covered one mare during the on-going breeding season. Twenty-one year old Placerville died of cardiac arrest.
Placerville produced champions that are literally who is who of Indian racing. Smart Chieftain who won the Indian Triple Crown (Indian 2000 Guineas, Indian Derby and Indian St Leger), also won the Kingfisher Bangalore Derby and the Indian Turf Invitation Cup was a star performing son of Placerville. Continual who had smashed his way to the top with recording breaking performances unfortunately did not live long to realize his full potential as an injury just two weeks before the running of the Indian Derby ended what would have been a glorious career. The Pelican and Sweeping Success who won the Indian Invitation Cup and Noble Prince who won the Indian St Leger besides finishing a close third in the Indian Derby are among the many top notch horses sired by Placerville. The last classic winning son of Placerville was Business Tycoon who won the Golconda Derby on January 30. Placerville produced 157 black type performers in a career spanning two decades in the stud in India.
The produce of Placerville was known for speed. Her Excellency, Six Speed, Haunting Memories, Palazzio, Blue Horizon all set the tracks ablaze with their phenomenal performance. The countless number of classic winners that Placerville sired and the amazing quality of his daughters are sure to carry on the legacy of the great stalwart.
The last mare that Placerville covered before he had cardiac arrest was Memory Bay who is bred as full sister to the celebrated Mystical, the only Indian horse to have won back to back races at Dubai during the Racing Carnival. ``I hope the mare conceives and produces a champion which will be a horse to treasure for,’’ said Zavaray Poonawalla who had an emotional attachment with the stallion and he will miss seeing the pride of his stud farm every few days that he would visit the stallion station. ``I see a void now,’’ he added.
``I feel a great personal loss at the death of Placerville. I have immense gratitude towards Placerville for having done so well for us. He had a good racing record and excellent pedigree which made him the pride of Indian racing. Placerville and Razeen died within a few days of each other and both have done immensely well for Indian breeding. And both died in identical fashion, attending to the call of duty,’’ Zavaray added.
``Placerville was a very potent horse and he could cover any number of mares. Placerville has produced so many champions and it is hard to nominate who was my personal favourite though horses like Continual, Smart Chieftain, Southern Empire, Sweeping Success, Her Excellency, Simply Noble, The Pelican, Six Speed, Haunting Memories and Palazzio are close to my heart,’’ he added.
Ms Simone and Ms Delna Poonawalla said that ``Placerville had a great life and died in the best possible way. He was a great horse and his memory will always live in our hearts.’’
From 13 crops of 595 named foals, of 537 starters, 442 winners, 157 black type performers, 1118 winners, Placerville has sired countless number of champion of champions.
Placerville produced champions that are literally who is who of Indian racing. Smart Chieftain who won the Indian Triple Crown (Indian 2000 Guineas, Indian Derby and Indian St Leger), also won the Kingfisher Bangalore Derby and the Indian Turf Invitation Cup was a star performing son of Placerville. Continual who had smashed his way to the top with recording breaking performances unfortunately did not live long to realize his full potential as an injury just two weeks before the running of the Indian Derby ended what would have been a glorious career. The Pelican and Sweeping Success who won the Indian Invitation Cup and Noble Prince who won the Indian St Leger besides finishing a close third in the Indian Derby are among the many top notch horses sired by Placerville. The last classic winning son of Placerville was Business Tycoon who won the Golconda Derby on January 30. Placerville produced 157 black type performers in a career spanning two decades in the stud in India.
The produce of Placerville was known for speed. Her Excellency, Six Speed, Haunting Memories, Palazzio, Blue Horizon all set the tracks ablaze with their phenomenal performance. The countless number of classic winners that Placerville sired and the amazing quality of his daughters are sure to carry on the legacy of the great stalwart.
The last mare that Placerville covered before he had cardiac arrest was Memory Bay who is bred as full sister to the celebrated Mystical, the only Indian horse to have won back to back races at Dubai during the Racing Carnival. ``I hope the mare conceives and produces a champion which will be a horse to treasure for,’’ said Zavaray Poonawalla who had an emotional attachment with the stallion and he will miss seeing the pride of his stud farm every few days that he would visit the stallion station. ``I see a void now,’’ he added.
``I feel a great personal loss at the death of Placerville. I have immense gratitude towards Placerville for having done so well for us. He had a good racing record and excellent pedigree which made him the pride of Indian racing. Placerville and Razeen died within a few days of each other and both have done immensely well for Indian breeding. And both died in identical fashion, attending to the call of duty,’’ Zavaray added.
``Placerville was a very potent horse and he could cover any number of mares. Placerville has produced so many champions and it is hard to nominate who was my personal favourite though horses like Continual, Smart Chieftain, Southern Empire, Sweeping Success, Her Excellency, Simply Noble, The Pelican, Six Speed, Haunting Memories and Palazzio are close to my heart,’’ he added.
Ms Simone and Ms Delna Poonawalla said that ``Placerville had a great life and died in the best possible way. He was a great horse and his memory will always live in our hearts.’’
From 13 crops of 595 named foals, of 537 starters, 442 winners, 157 black type performers, 1118 winners, Placerville has sired countless number of champion of champions.
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