Hong Kong success for Stratford Place Stud

Sunday: Sha Tin

Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic Cup (HK; Group 1), 4yo

ZAIDAN (4 g Street Cry - Element Of Truth by Atticus)

Bred by Stratford Place Stud in USA

ALTHOUGH bred in Kentucky, the narrow victory of Zaidan over Sweet Orange (by War Front) in Sunday's Hong Kong Classic Cup represented a fine result for British breeding in that he was bred by Chris Wright's Gloucestershire-based Stratford Place Stud.

The majority of Wright's mares are kept at his 250-acre stud, which is near Cheltenham and managed by John Wall. However, Wright also maintains a select group of mares in Kentucky, one of whom is Zaidan's dam Element Of Truth. The daughter of Atticus was smart for Wright and Luca Cumani, beating Echo Of Light when winning her debut at Newmarket before running third in the Listed Eternal Stakes at Warwick.

 

Element Of Truth, who is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Ramooz, is the only daughter of Atticus - the 1995 Poule d'Essai des Poulains runner-up who now stands in California after beginning his stud career at Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky - to produce a Group or Graded winner in the northern hemsiphere.

Element Of Truth is also the dam of minor American winner Sea Of Sea (by Fantastic Light) and has a yearling colt by Tapit.

Anthony Stroud purchased Zaidan at the 2009 Keeneland September Sale for $200,000 on behalf of Saeed Manana, who campaigned him with Clive Brittain to win the 2010 Chesham Stakes.

In addition to Zaidan, Street Cry is the sire of 13 other winners at the top level, among them the brilliant Zenyatta and Kentucky Derby hero Street Sense. The son of Machiavellian stands at Darley at Jonabell in Kentucky for $150,000.