John Shirreffs two best mares before Zenyatta

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

The name of a farm that owned A LOT of really nice horses in So. Cal - they broke up in like the year 2000 I think.

They gave Shirreffs his first big break and he trained a lot of VERY good horses for them. I believe they gave him Bertrando as a rookie trainer on his own after Frankel refused to train him any more.

Why did Frankel refuse to train him?

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Why did Frankel refuse to train him?

I could be wrong but I think this was after they unretired him.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Yeah - they bred him to a bunch of mares - and than put him back in training I think.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I could be wrong but I think this was after they unretired him.

Thanks!

[KirisClown]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Why did Frankel refuse to train him?

Probably because he had been bred, then they wanted to bring him back..

The bloodhorse has video about Bertrando, a few things are addressed in it... http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...E-C50B6D13FF8F

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by KirisClown

Probably because he had been bred, then they wanted to bring him back..

The bloodhorse has video about Bertrando, a few things are addressed in it... http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...E-C50B6D13FF8F

That video was interesting, thanks for posting it!

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by KirisClown

The bloodhorse has video about Bertrando, a few things are addressed in it... http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...E-C50B6D13FF8F

Here's an LA Times article that covers a lot of the comeback, especially the behind-the-scenes bit:

http://articles.latimes.com/1994-08-...6280_1_del-mar

[KirisClown]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Here's an LA Times article that covers a lot of the comeback, especially the behind-the-scenes bit:

http://articles.latimes.com/1994-08-...6280_1_del-mar

Good article, Ed Nahem must have been fun to train for.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by KirisClown

Good article, Ed Nahem must have been fun to train for.

Can you imagine him working with Shirreffs?

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by KirisClown

Good article, Ed Nahem must have been fun to train for.

You probably remember, he's the guy who owned the decent Cal-bred Hugh Hefner (by Bertrando actually). Ran in the Preakness following a win in the Snow Chief, and IIRC, Hef showed up at Pimlico with a stable of his own to parade around with.

[mbahadur]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Here's an LA Times article that covers a lot of the comeback, especially the behind-the-scenes bit:

http://articles.latimes.com/1994-08-...6280_1_del-mar

I remember an interview with Frankel around that time where he stated they don't run as well after they hit the breeding shed. He was probably right as Bertrando was not the same horse as he was the prior year when he finished second in the BC Classic giving up the lead to Arcangues.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by mbahadur

I remember an interview with Frankel around that time where he stated they don't run as well after they hit the breeding shed. He was probably right as Bertrando was not the same horse as he was the prior year when he finished second in the BC Classic giving up the lead to Arcangues.

He did recover enough of his previous form to win the Goodwood over then 3yo Dramatic Gold (who was 3rd in the BC Classic next out). IIRC, Bertrando got a decent Beyer in that race.

He was horrific after the '94 BC.