El Nino Stallions Merlo Downs Stud Breeding Thoroughbreds Horse Racing Industry Alton Downs Jeff Marlow Rockhampton Central Queensland Australia
El Nino (USA) - Storm Cat (USA) – Bay Harbor USA) by Forty Niner
Stallion Profile
EL NINO is a GRADE 2 Sprinter, son of THE CHAMPION SIRE OF SIRES, STORM CAT (highest ever service fee at US$500,000).
The STORM CAT dynasty is represented in Australia by these successful sons:
TALE OF THE CAT (REAL SAGA - $954,950)
HENNESSY (GRAND ARMEE - $3,780,167)
STATUE OF LIBERTY (HAY LIST - $1,656,325)
WHEN STORM CAT retired to stud in 1988, managers at his owner’s Overbrook Farm struggled to sell seasons at his advertised stud fee of $30,000. Fourteen years later, his official fee soared to $500,000, the highest advertised stud fee in Thoroughbred breeding history.
STORM CAT, a descendant of SECRETARIAT, commanded a $500,000 stud fee for six straight years, and has produced 178 Stakes Winners for over $114 Million.
The STORM CAT dynasty is represented in Australia by these successful sons:-
TALE OF THE CAT (78 SW), Sire of REAL SAGA, HENNESSY (71 SW inc.GRAND ARMEE), STATUE OF LIBERTY (HAY LIST), and Grand-son, SHAMARDAL by GIANT’S CAUSEWAY.
STORM CAT - Sire of CHAMPIONS:-
-GIANT’S CAUSEWAY (European Cartier Horse of the Year, Champion Colt in England and Ireland), winning 5 consecutive GROUP 1's.
- Daughters, STORM FLAG FLYING, SWEET CATOMINE, HEART SHAPED and DENEBOLA – all Champion 2 Year Old Fillies.
- ALJABR, HOLD THAT TIGER, ONE COOL CAT – all Champion 2 Year Old Colts in Europe, ..…..and the list is very long.
STORM CAT’S ability to produce good sires amongst his minor Stakes sons is a testimony to his potent gene pool, just one example, such as Listed Winner, STORMY ATLANTIC, Sire of 59 SW’rs. There are dozens more sons at stud that were less accomplished race performers, yet still prolific producers of winners and Stakes winners. Lion Hearted did not win at Stakes level, yet he has sired 15 SW'rs. Full brother to GIANT'S CAUSEWAY, Freud was only Stakes placed, yet he is amongst the Leading Sires in New York with 22 SW'rs.
STORM CAT'S broodmare daughters have produced 135 STAKES WINNERS including 5 CHAMPIONS.
The 2009 Keeneland September yearling sale featured his last full crop, and marked STORM CAT'S departure from the commercial scene. Even in a dreadful economy the big players turned out and snapped up his yearlings, starting with the sales-topper - a leggy, well-built colt at $2.05 million.
STORM CAT'S final three foals were born last year.
Race Career
EL NINO was a fast front runner, leading in all of his races. He was capable of a 21-second opening quarter-mile speed.
He led all the way to victory at Keenlands, Churchhill Downs and Oaklawn, posting just 0.26 outside the fastest 1300m time for the year at Churchill Downs – with a 3-length margin win.
He STAKES-placed at Saratoga (Gr2), Churchill Downs and Arlington (on turf).
Race Record
| Age | Starts | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Earnings |
| 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | $8,886 |
| 3 | 12 | 3 | 3(2) | 1(1) | $144,963 |
| Totals | 15 | 3 | 4(2) | 1(1) | $153,849 |
Won At 3: An allowance race at Churchhill Downs ($58,000, 6.5f in 1:15.74, by 3 lengths, dftg. Burrowing Owl, Court Folly, Menasha, Deputy G, British Attitude, Liquoreux, J Town).
An allowance race at Keenlands ($54,000, 7f in 1:23.27, by 33/4 lengths, dftg. Garibaldi, Regent Spirit, Stalwartly, Mt. Splendor, Regal Minister).
A maiden special weight race at Oaklawn Park ($33,700, 6f in 1:10.96, by 31/2 lengths, dftg. Elusive Josh, Iftheshoefits, Favorite Jazz, Glacier Cat, Smoke Chamber, On Common Ground, Wheel Man, Pure Thunder, The Bell Tolls, Border Agent, El Cyclone).
2nd Forestry H ( 8f, to Bright One, dftg. Hallowed Flag, Spotsgone, Doctor Decherd).
Awad S (8f, turf, to Equal Opportunity, dftg. High Adventure, Four Boy Sham, Devilofarush).
3rd Amsterdam S (GrII, 6.5f, to Court Folly, Songster, dftg. Noonmark).
Progeny
El Nino's first crop 2 Year Old are FLYING!!
EL NINO has sired his FIRST 2 YO WINNER when his son Senor Rain scored at Del Mar Aug 12th. 2011.
Senor Rain won by 3 1/2 lengths, eased down, in the 1200m Metropolitan race at Del Mar, USA.
STAKES placed on 12/09/2011 in the C B Afflerbaugh STAKES over 1400m.
SACRED ROMANCE has run three consectutive seconds from 4 race starts, leading all the way over the 1100m races to just get caught on the line, and beating the rest by 6 to 8 lengths, still proving she has the potent speed, and showing plenty of ability.
STATS: 7 INDIVIDUAL Runners : 2 Winner, 3 Placed
Senor Rain (09r, Marquetry, Slewpy). Winner at 2 in 2011.
Sacred Romance (09f, Holy Bull, Distinctive Pro). Placed at 2 in 2011.
Acallforjoe (09f, Great Above, Better Bee). Placed at 2 on 26/08/ 2011.
My Tee Time (09f, Northern Afleet, Bold Show). Winner at 2 in October 2011
Good Harbour (09c El Nino--Makewayforwendy) Placed at 2 in October 2011
Recent winners
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Recent starts for Progeny |
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BREAKING NEWS! El Nino's first winner!!!
SENOR RAIN on 12/08/11 at Del Mar over 1200m by 3 1/2 lengths.
EL NINO has sired his FIRST 2 YO WINNER when his son Senor Rain scored at Del Mar Aug 12th. 2011.
Senor Rain won by 3 1/2 lengths, eased down, in the 1200m Metropolitan race at Del Mar, USA.
He recently STAKES placed on 12/09/2011 in the C B Afflerbaugh STAKES over 1400m.
SACRED ROMANCE has run three consectutive seconds from 4 race starts, leading all the way over the 1100m races to just get caught on the line, and beating the rest by 6 to 8 lengths, still proving she has the potent speed, and showing plenty of ability.
STATS: 6 INDIVIDUAL Runners : 1 Winner, 1 STAKES placed, 3 Metro-Placed
Senor Rain (09r, Marquetry, Slewpy). Winner at 2 in 2011.
Sacred Romance (09f, Holy Bull, Distinctive Pro). Placed at 2 in 2011.
Acallforjoe (09f, Great Above, Better Bee). Placed at 2 on 26/08/ 2011.
My Tee Time (09f, Northern Afleet, Bold Show). Placed at 2 in September 2011
SACRED ROMANCE ($22,859) - led all the way each start, running VER FAST sectional times, and just caught on the line each time -
06/08/11 at Prairie Meadows placed 2nd over1100m beating the others by 8 lengths
23/07/11 at Prairie Meadows placed 2nd over 1100m, beating other runners by 6 lengths
08/07/11 at Prairie Meadows place 2nd over 1100m, beating other runners by 8 lengths
Sire-line
STORM CAT is one of the most influential stallions in the history of the breed and North America’s top stallion. He is the sire of over 178 Stakes Winners worldwide and his sons and daughters are proving to be excellent producers as well. At least 61 different sons of STORM CAT have sired stakes winners and his daughters have thrown the likes of SPEIGHTSTOWN, SKY MESA, Buddha, Sahara Gold and Jump Start.
Not surprisingly offspring of STORM CAT are in high demand at public auction. At the 2004 Keeneland September sale a STORM CAT yearling colt brought a final bid of $8 million. That figure is the highest ever for a September yearling and STORM CAT has now sired the more $1 million yearlings than any other stallion in history.
STORM CAT was especially popular at Keeneland's 2009 September sale, siring seven of the ten highest-priced horses in the sale's history. He has topped the sale seven times by average. His 2005 average, $1,766,731, remains a sale mark with three or more yearlings sold. That figure eclipsed the former mark, $1,756,538, one he set in 2001.
The 2009 Keeneland September yearling sale featured his last full crop, and marked STORM CAT'S departure from the commercial scene. Even in a dreadful economy the big players turned out and snapped up his yearlings, starting with the sales-topper - a leggy, well-built colt at $2.05 million. STORM CAT'S final three foals were born last year.
STORM CAT is also showing strength as a broodmare sire, currently ranking eighth in that department; to date, his daughters have produced 135 STAKES WINNERS. All four of his 2009 stakes winners are Graded (Group) winners, including Grade 1 winners LIFE IS SWEET and MR. SIDNEY.Considered North America's current premier sire of sires, STORM CAT is represented by such sons as GIANT'S CAUSEWAY, TALE OF THE CAT and STORMY ATLANTIC - all three rank in the top seven in 2009 by progeny earnings. Plus, this year's top two freshman sires, Roll Hennessy Roll and Lion Heart, are grandsons of STORM CAT.
In Australia, his successful sons include TALE OF THE CAT, HENNESSY and STATUE OF LIBERTY, Sire of HAY LIST and Grand-son, SHAMARDAL.
Dam-line
EL NINO is from a CHAMPION 2 Year Old FAMILY:
FIRST DAM: Bay Harbor (2 wins at 2), half-sister to ECLIPSE CHAMPION 2 YEAR OLD COLT, BOSTON HARBOR - 6 wins at 2 including BREEDERS CUP GR 1(US$1,934,605), Sire 21 SWs.
SECOND DAM: Half-sister to US CHAMPION SPRINTER, GROOVY (12 wins, 2–4yrs, US$1,346,956), Vosburgh S.-G1, Forego H (gr. II) twice, Tom Fool S (gr. II) twice, True North H (gr. II), Roseben H (gr. III), Finger Lakes Budweiser Breeders’ Cup S, Ancient Title H, Firecracker S, Spectacular Bid S, Forever Casting S, 2nd Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I), Champagne S (gr. I), Futurity S(gr. I), Bay Shore S (gr. II), 3rd Wood Memorial Invitational (gr. I).
WHO IS GROOVY?
Extract from Sports Illustrated. 19 October, 1997.
In the grand tradition of Domino, they were the fleetest horses of their day, and this year they are joined by another, a sleek-bodied chestnut colt by the name of Groovy. Last Saturday in the seven-furlong Vosburgh Stakes - G1 at Belmont Park, he raced, as usual, from the gate to the front, opened up a five-length lead 220 yards from home and then held on gamely over a dull, tiring track to win by three quarters of a length. It was Groovy's sixth victory in as many sprint stakes this year and made him a virtual lock to win the Eclipse Award as the nation's Champion Sprinter. For the past four months Groovy has been the fastest racehorse in the world and some say the fastest sprinter since 1968, when the legendary Dr. Fager blew around the track at Aqueduct like a malevolent wind. "He's the best pure sprinter I've seen in New York in about 20 years," says veteran trainer Philip Johnson.
"He's the Carl Lewis of racehorses," says trainer Leroy Jolley. "The only world-class sprinter in America."
"Groovy's the fastest thing I ever put my ass on," says his regular jockey, Angel Cordero Jr., who has plunked his derriere down on more than 32,000 mounts, including the phenomenally fast SEATLLE SLEW.
