Alfred Nobel’s superb pedigree has again hit the UK racing headlines.
Two-year-old colt Douglas Macarthur, a 1.25 million guineas purchase by Coolmore at the 2015 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in England, won the mile maiden at Leopardstown in Ireland on Thursday by five lengths from World War, a 1.2 million guineas Chinese purchase at the same sale.
UK bookmakers responded immediately by installing Douglas Macarthur favourite for next year’s English Derby.
Douglas Macarthur is by Galileo from Alluring Park and is a full brother to the 2012 English Oaks winner Was. Alluring Park, a winning half-sister to the 2008 English Derby winner New Approach, is also a half-sister to Alfred Nobel’s grand-dam Dazzling Park, the 1999 champion European 3Y0 filly.
Alluring Park has had three other yearlings sell for more than a million guineas at Tattersalls. Al Naamah bought a filly world record of 5 million guineas, Al Jassasiyah sold for 1.5 million guineas and Was sold for 1.2 million guineas.
So it’s little wonder that Alfred Nobel, a Group 1 and 2 winning juvenile in Ireland, has quickly developed into WA’s most promising young sire. With just two relatively small crops to race here, Alfred Nobel is a close third on the WA 2Y0 Sires Premiership and is 10th on the Australian Second Season Sires Premiership.
His high national standing is quite remarkable. With 37 runners, Alfred Nobel is only headed by the likes of Hinchinbrook, with 89 runners, Star Witness, with 95 runners, Beneteau, with 69 runners, Rothesay, with 103 runners, and Reward For Effort with 99 runners.
Alfred Nobel stands at Lynward Park, Bullsbrook, for $4,500, plus GST.
. Alfred Nobel’s Chetan bought up his fifth career win by taking the Drifters Handicap (six furlongs) at Yarmouth in Englandon Thursday.