PEDIGREE PROFILE -SEPTEMBER RUN

Sarah Whitelaw

Ascot Stud had a Friday to remember last week -not only did the Ascot bred Global Drummer capture the Listed East Cape Sprint Cup, but Ascot also played a part in the pedigree of Friday’s G1 3 Point Motors William Reid Stakes heroine September Run.

The latter, who doubled her G1 wins with Friday’s score having also captured the Coolmore Stud Stakes in 2020, is the second foal produced by Street Cry mare Pittsburgh Flyer. The latter, a daughter of the Ascot Stud bred champion Warning Zone, won 3 races including the G3 GH Mumm Stakes and Listed MSS Security Stakes.

South Africa’s Champion 2YO Filly of 2002-2003, Warning Zone raced successfully in both South Africa and North America, after being purchased by Team Valor. Her four South Africa wins included triumphs in the 2003 G2 Golden Slipper and 2003 G3 The Debutante, with Warning Zone also going on to capture the Marie G. Krantz Memorial Handicap in North America.

Hancock Quality Bloodstock purchased Warning Zone, in foal at the time to Rahy, for $450,000 on behalf of the Greg and Jenny White at the 2007 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

September Run, whose Merchant Navy half-sister made $700 000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, is a half-sister to the useful American Pharoah filly My Yankee Girl.

Directly descended in female line from arguably South Africa’s most famous broodmare Drohsky, Warning Zone was sired by the Lyphard horse Elliodor. The latter enjoyed consistent success as a sire and a broodmare sire, with Elliodor mares having also produced the likes of champions Aslan, Dog Wood, Donatella, French Navy and Val De Ra, as well as current successful sire Master Of My Fate. (Ironically, Master Of My Fate’s champion dam Promisefrommyheart proved far too strong for Warning Zone when the pair finished first and third in the 2004 G1 Triple Tiara, with the pair split by eventual Horse Of The Year Ilha Da Vitoria).

September Run is one of 194 stakes winners, and 16 G1 winners, for Darley’s veteran Danehill sire Exceed And Excel. One of his sire’s very best sire sons, Exceed And Excel’s most recent advertised stud fee was AUS $132 000, despite celebrating his 22nd birthday in 2022. Among the sire’s other notable performers are triple G1 winning miler Excelebration, G1 Caulfield Guineas hero Helmet (sire of dual G1 Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow) and dual G1 Paddock Stakes winner Queen Supreme.

(Interestingly, September Run is not the only high-profile runner by Exceed And Excel sporting a South African background, with the sire’s durable, multiple group/graded stakes winning son Heavy Metal a son of former Ascot bred champion Rock Opera!)

Dr Ashley Parker Of Ascot Stud (Pauline Herman). 

Top Picture: September Run ridden by Craig Williams wins the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley. (Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)