Champagne winner Proud Accolade energizes Bold Ruler sire line

by Vicky Van Camp

When Proud Accolade kept his unbeaten skein alive with a victory in the Champagne Stakes (G1) on October 9, he not only boosted his value, but signaled the reemergence of the powerful Bold Ruler sire line. The stallion who once dominated the sire ranks in the manner of Storm Cat and Mr. Prospector today had only one highly successful line left‹through his great-grandson, Seattle Slew. With Proud Accolade, Grade 3 winner Chandtrue, and stakes winner B. B. Best in his first crop, Yes It's True has now joined Notebook in reviving the Bold Ruler dynasty through Raja Baba.

Ironically, Raja Baba was not considered the best Bold Ruler stallion prospect. Obviously, the immortal Secretariat carried those hopes, but although a brilliant broodmare sire like many Bold Rulers, Secretariat was unable to match his sire's success. Bold Ruler-line champions including Spectacular Bid, Bold Lad, Wajima, Risen Star, Foolish Pleasure, and Bold Forbes also failed to continue the dynasty.

Raja Baba, out of blue hen Missy Baba, had a long and successful career at Hermitage Farm. He was a source of high-class speed and precocious runners, including 1988 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Is It True. The best runner by the latter was Yes It's True,

Proud Accolade, dkbbr. c., 2002
Yes It's True 96
64 fls, 3 SWs
SI 5.89 DI=13.00		Is It True 86
5 wins, $819,999, SW
503 fls, 25 SWs
SI 1.08 DI=11.80		Raja Baba 68
572 fls, 63 SWs
SI 2.49 DI=4.09		Bold Ruler 54
Missy Baba 58
Roman Rockette 77
6 fls, 2 SWs
DI=7.00		Proudest Roman 68
Kitchen Window 70
Clever Monique 88
Unplaced
9 fls, 2 SWs
DI=2.50		Clever Trick 76
1015 fls, 69 SWs
SI 1.54 DI=3.92		Icecapade 69
Kankakee Miss 67
Monique Rene 78
10 fls, 1 SW
DI=3.67		Prince of Ascot 67
Party Date 65
Proud Ciel 96
2 fls, 1 SW
DI=2.20		Septieme Ciel 87
5 wins, $358,463, SW
504 fls, 28 SWs
SI 1.10 DI=1.86		Seattle Slew 74
1044 fls, 110 SWs
SI 4.86 DI=2.14		Bold Reasoning 68
My Charmer 69
Maximova (Fr) 80
11 fls, 5 SWs
DI=1.82		Green Dancer 72
Baracala 72
Proud Encore 86
Unplaced
10 fls, 1 SW
DI=3.89		Tri Jet 69
504 fls, 48 SWs
SI 1.68 DI=3.47		Jester 55
Haze 53
Forest Murmurs 73
10 fls, 2 SWs
DI=2.75		Proud Clarion 64
Reverie 65
who set a track record and equaled another, and earned $1,080,700, while winning eight graded stakes. A powerfully built and wellbalanced stallion in the mode of Raja Baba, Yes It's True has become a huge success through his first crop of runners this year, prompting his move from Padua Stables in Florida to Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky, where he will stand next year for $25,000.

Proud Accolade was bred in Florida by Marion G. Montanari, who bred and raced Proud Accolade's dam, Proud Ciel, and his second dam, Proud Encore. Proud Ciel is a daughter of the Seattle Slew stallion, Septieme Ciel, a

top miler in France who brings stamina to Proud Accolade's pedigree through both his sire and his dam Maximova (Fr), a Group 1- winning and Group 1-producing daughter of Green Dancer.

Stakes winner Forest Murmurs, a daughter of classic winner Proud Clarion, is Proud Accolade's third dam. She produced two stakes winners‹most notably Proud Clarioness, whose two graded stakes winners include Hesabull.

Vicky Van Camp is research and information director for Stonerside Stable, near Paris, Kentucky.

CHAMPION S. (Eng-G1)
NEWMARKET, England, October 16, $668,701, 3&up, 10fT, soft, 2:06.90.

1st‹=HAAFHD (GB), Ch. 123, c. 3, =Alhaarth (Ire)‹Al Bahathri, by Blushing Groom (Fr). Owner‹Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum; Breeder‹ Shadwell Estate Co. (GB); Trainer‹Barry W. Hills. $387,846.

2nd‹=CHORIST (GB), Ch. 125, m. 5, =Pivotal (GB)- =Choir Mistress (GB), by =Chief Singer (Ire). $147,114.

3rd‹=AZAMOUR (IRE), B. 123, c. 3, Night Shift- Asmara, by Lear Fan. $73,557.

Margins: 2 1/2, 1, 6. Also ran: =Norse Dancer (Ire) 128 ($33,435), Refuse To Bend (Ire) 128 ($16,718), =Salselon (GB) 128 ($10,031), =Doyen (Ire) 128, Mingun 128, Lucky Story 123, =Naheef (Ire) 128, =Mister Monet (Ire) 123.

After two straight losses in Group 1 company, Sheikh Hamdam bin Rashid al Maktoum's homebred Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) winner Haafhd resumed his winning ways with a 21Ž2-length tally over a stellar field in the Champion Stakes (Eng-G1) at Newmarket on Saturday, his first attempt at 11Ž4 miles.

Group 1 winner Chorist laid down a swift early pace, with Haafhd and Richard Hills rating close to the pace. Last year's Two Thousand

Guineas (Eng-G1) winner Refuse To Bend (Ire), with Kieran McEvoy in the irons, rated within striking distance, while Irish Champion Stakes (Ire-G1) winner and classic-placed Azamour and Group 1 winner Doyen were relaxed off the pace.

Haafhd raced into second over three furlongs out and came galloping alongside Chorist to make his bid. The three-year-old son of Alhaarth quickened his stride, and sailed past Chorist with ease to triumph.

Trainer Barry Hills was thrilled with Haafhd's return to form. "He might have idled a bit in front, but from halfway you could see he was always going to win," he said.

According to trainer William Haggas, Chorist will most likely retire to the breeding shed after her brave runner-up finish to Haafhd. "She has done us proud," he said.

Mister Monet was pulled up by Kevin Darley approximately six furlongs out after suffering a fractured hind leg. The three-year-old son of Peintre Celebre was euthanized.

Thoroughbred Times Today October 17, 2004 13 Adam Coglianese/NYRA photo