Meteor to Light Up North Sky

COLT BY YOUNG SIRE NORTHERN METEOR

The fifth living foal from Jewelmer, this lovely colt that's a runner according to respected breeder Andrew Baddock is by Northern Meteor, a track record-setting racehorse,  that retired to stud after just nine starts with more than $500,000 in earnings.

Earning a rating of 104 after his dashing half-length victory in the Group 1 Coolmore Stakes (registered name: Ascot Vale), Northern Meteor was always talked up by his trainer Gai Waterhouse, who was often quoted saying "he's a machine".

Baddock is Gooree Stud's Racing and Stud Manager said of Northern Meteor  "Gai would often say Northern Meteor was like a Ferrari!" 

Clearly, Baddock was referring to Northern Meteor's speed, not, his looks!

Covering just under 200 mares during his first spring, and, with that crop of foals being sold at various auction houses around the country, the story around the young son of Encosta de Lago, is making another turn.

Northern Meteor hails from a family whose luminaries include Nureyev, Sadler’s Wells and Fairy King, who just happens to be the sire of Encosta de Lago!   For those that are not breeding buffs this double up gives the young stallion a cross of a family matriarch Rough Shod, in the sixth-generation on the female side of his pedigree via her daughters Thong and Moccasin.

The racetrack performances of this young stallion, highlight his speed, but another influence in this young sires male line with double cross of Northern Dancer (via sons Fairy King and Danzatore) and Mr. Prospector via his daughter Rolls and son Fappiano (the sire of Northern Meteor’s stakes-placed dam Explosive), ensured the Ferrari tag.
The dam of Explosive, Scuff was a Listed winner and a sister-in-blood to Special, in-turn, the dam of Nureyev and grandam of Fairy King, Sadler’s Wells, Perugino and Tate Gallery, all successful sires and racehorses.

Explosive is by Fappiano, winner of four of his seven starts including the Grade 1Metropolitan Handicap and sire of 12 Group 1 winners among 46 stakes winners that includes Cryptoclearance, Unbridled, Defensive Play and Quiet American.  While, his daughters have produced six Group 1 winners from more than 90 stakes winners, two of those in Australia and for good measure Defensive Play, who stood in NZ, is the dam sire of Zarita, Efficient and Sirmione!

NOT ENOUGH?  The dam of this colt, Jewelmer, and although retiring to stud duties after just four racetrack appearances, the daughter of Marscay,  descends from a family that has produced many high-class runners over the generations.

A half-sister to the South African Listed winner, Belle Grise (by Kenmare), Jewelmer is already the dam of three winners.

While the grandam, Danzabelle (by Danzatore) another winner, is a three-quarter-sister to Almurtajaz (by Danzatore), winner of six races and more than $400,000 in the late 1980's and early 90's with victories in the G2 SAJC Sires' Produce Stakes (1600m) as a juvenile.

During his classic season Almurtajaz claimed the Group 2 Moonee Valley Stakes, runner-up to Vitalic in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas and rounded out the Spring with a fine effort in the Group 1 WS Cox Plate, behind Our Poetic Prince, when fifth.   As a four-year-old Almurtajaz claimed the G2 Memsie Stakes.

Danzabelle, is a half-sister to the Group 1 Lightning Stakes winner, Keltrice (by Kenmare) and the stakes placegetter, Vain Hill (by Danehill), who in-turn is the dam of the Group 1 Toorak Hcp winner, Red Dazzler (by Red Ransom).

Gary Portelli, trainer of the Group 1 winners' Rena's Lady and Gold Trail, finished off last season as one of Sydney's top-twenty premier trainers, with earnings of more than half-a-million dollars.

Portelli and his brother Troy, have continued to saddle up many winners with their winning formula working well in the satellite stable at their Flemington base.  Finding that the two-state approach working as it should, both, ensure every horse gets the attention they deserve on and off the track.

Placing each horse to advantage, and, committed to excellence, the Portelli's strive to build a stable with quality gallopers and continue client services' as their mother did.   The brothers' mother held her licence during the 1980's, when, Gary spent his youth riding track work and breaking in horses.  He took over training duties from her in 1990.

Troy holds the same passion for the sport, as Gary, and works very closely alongside him.

Together, they make a winning team.