Belmont Oaks for Alfred Nobel’s Fontainebleau!

Lynward Park’s Fontainebleau proved a class above her rivals winning the $100,000 Listed Belmont Oaks (2000m) at Belmont Park last Saturday. (July 8)

Now, from a pure breeding perspective, this may have have come as a surprise to some.
Why?
Because her sire, Alfred Nobel, was a champion 2Y0 in Ireland winning both the six-furlong Group 1 Phoenix Stakes and Group 2 Railway Stakes.
But this was never going to stop Alfred Nobel siring winners over a distance.
Why?
Because he comes from one of the most distinguished maternal distance lines in Europe.
Alfred Nobel’s grand-dam, Dazzling Park, was the 1999 champion European 3Y0 filly winning from a mile to nine furlongs.
Then Dazzling Park’s dam, Park Express, was the joint champion Irish 2Y0 in 1985 and the  champion Irish 3Y0 the following season. She won from six furlongs to 1 1/2 miles headed by the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes.
And Park Express is also the dam of both New Approach and Alluring Park.
New Approach was the champion 2Y0 and 3Y0 European colt in 2007/08. His eight wins, from seven furlongs to 1 1/2 miles, included the Group 1 English Derby, Irish National Stakes, Irish Champion Stakes, English Champion Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes.
Alluring Park is the dam of Was, winner of the 2012 Group 1 English Oaks, and Douglas Macarthur, winner of this year’s Group 3 Derby Trial Stakes (1 1/4 miles) in Ireland.
So Alfred Nobel was clearly going to produce winners over a variety of distances.
And having served 200 mares over the past two seasons it’s a case of….watch this space.