{"id":2397,"date":"2006-05-05T23:06:49","date_gmt":"2006-05-05T23:06:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blacktypebugler.com\/?p=2397"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","slug":"oldbtb_4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/?p=2397","title":{"rendered":"Derby Post #4: New Found Cyclone"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">The <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">ydrbargain<\/I><\/B> stable of the vast holdings of Yellow Dog Racing holds the hopes of an entire nation on their backs this weekend, when <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">New Found Cyclone<\/B> takes to the track for the $2,000,000 Bluegrass Derby.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = \"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office\" \/><o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">It\u2019s been a rocky couple of months for the Queensland-based Australian conglomerate.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>In March the state of <\/SPAN><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = \"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags\" \/><st1:State><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Queensland<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:State><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"> was rocked by the devastating effects of Tropical Cyclone Larry, and even though the area that Yellow Dog Racing calls home, <\/SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Cairns<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:City><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">, suffered only minor damage, the area is still coping with the aftermath.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>When Yellow Dog Racing moved their base of operations up to <\/SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Cairns<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:City><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"> from <\/SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Melbourne<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:City><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">, no one could have figured fate\u2019s role in the next couple of years.<o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">\u201cComing to the <\/SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Derby<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:City><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"> after the last several weeks has been a blessing,\u201d says Seumas, <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">New Found Cyclone<\/B>\u2019s primary care-giving groom for the last several months.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u201cEven as we kept an eye on the news, we\u2019ve all been glad that in times of trouble, our big horse could stand as something inspirational for the folks back home.\u201d<o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Though Yellow Dog himself has been paying attention to matters both here and there, he states emphatically that he had no idea that the real world would have an impact on his horse\u2019s life, although he acknowledges that when he started breeding for his <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">ydrbargain<\/I><\/B> entity in 2005, the names were definitely planned out with a specific intent.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u201cLast year, I decided to name all new breedings in the stable with \u2018Cyclone\u2019, as our home base of <\/SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Cairns<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:City><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"> is known as <\/SPAN><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Cyclone<\/SPAN><\/st1:PlaceName><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"> <\/SPAN><st1:PlaceType><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">City<\/SPAN><\/st1:PlaceType><\/st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">.\u201d<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>And, one Sunday morning, the stars aligned perfectly, to hear him tell it.<o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">\u201cI had a few hundred BP&#8217;s&#8212;all my breedings are done solely with BP&#8217;s&#8212;and I found ND (Northern Dancer) and Mr. P (Mr. Prospector) available on a Sunday<BR>morning together, and I just had to use them!<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I used (Grand High Exalted Mystic Ruler of the GSR residency and lovable lugnut) Barndog\u2019s Freshman Sire list and liked his write up on <\/SPAN><st1:State><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Newfoundland<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:State><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">.\u201d<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Newfoundland was a first-crop sire last year, and on the track, he exhibited stamina and versatility, as he won the Coronado\u2019s Quest Stakes at Belmont at 3 on dirt, and at 4 he won both the Canadian Turf Handicap on grass and the Skip Away Handicap on dirt, while being four times graded-placed on dirt against such top horses as Funny Cide, Peace Rules and The Cliff\u2019s Edge.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He\u2019s a half to stakes winner Full Mandate, and his dam\u2019s dam was Dream Deal, not only a Grade I winner but a half-sister to 1985 Belmont Stakes winner Cr\u00e8me Fraiche.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The sire has stakes-winning history and stamina all throughout his female family.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>This made him a rock-solid match for the lines of Northern Dancer and Mr. Prospector.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"><SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0<\/SPAN><o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">He also made it an easy name to come up with for the new foal: <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">New Found Cyclone<\/B>.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>And the new horse was sent out for a debut on <\/SPAN><st1:date Year=\"2005\" Day=\"20\" Month=\"8\" ls=\"trans\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">August 20, 2005<\/SPAN><\/st1:date><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">, in <\/SPAN><st1:State><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Florida<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:State><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Seumas remembers the day well.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u201cStifling hot, very humid, nasty.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I know my boss was sweating up a storm, because I think everyone else was.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>But The Cyclone remained calm and cool.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He seemed to be somewhere else that day\u2026wish I was wherever he was.\u201d<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He broke slightly awkwardly, but his jockey that day kept his calm, taking him back early in the six-and-a-half furlong dash to relax.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>By the top of the stretch, he was raring to go.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He started passing horses with a furious rally, but the wire came too soon.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">New Found Cyclone<\/B> had made up ground belatedly, but still fell a half-length short.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The debut gave him a speed figure of 81, an auspicious debut for the colt.<o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">A second maiden start over the <\/SPAN><st1:State><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Florida<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:State><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"> track was a disaster all the way around in late September.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">New Found Cyclone<\/B> broke slowly, was shuffled back by an inexperienced jockey, and found traffic troubles in the stretch, and he came back fifth after all the troubles.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It seemed to be a sidestep, instead of a big leap forward.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>But, undeterred, Yellow Dog himself decided to send him down to the tropics to escape the watchful eyes of the hardened <\/SPAN><st1:State><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Florida<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:State><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"> railbirds.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The trip paid immediate dividends.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>On October 15, <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">New Found Cyclone<\/B> broke his maiden in a mile race at <\/SPAN><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Jamaica<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He did so in style, too.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>A change in jockey, a change in scenery, and a rail post on a track that favors those who get a good inside trip all conspired for the effort.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Barbie, an associate trainer with the YDR group, was there in person, and she was impressed.<o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">\u201cHe broke well, and was even helped by the one next door going to his knees out of the gate.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He had room to move, and opted to lay in wait, and when they hit the stretch, he not only had the rail to himself, but he was passing all of them with relish.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I never thought he\u2019d hang for a second, because they were all standing still.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He made it look easy.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Don\u2019t tell the boss, but I kinda knew something was up right then.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I thought that he could be something to reckon with.\u201d<o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Yellow Dog was pleased with that win, but it was the next race that made him sit up and take notice.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It was mid-November, and <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">New Found Cyclone<\/B> hit the Bayou from the <\/SPAN><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Caribbean<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It was a mile allowance, a NW2L, and for the first half-mile, the colt got into his usual habit of settling down and sitting chilly off the pace.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He stalked the leader in second, and began to close ground with a half-mile remaining.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He took over easily at the top of the lane, and no one could gain much ground on him the last quarter-mile.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He crossed the wire a two-length winner, under a hand ride, and went from an 82 fig in his maiden win to an 86.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>YDR was a proud entity, none more so than the Alpha Dog himself, though in his usual, reserved fashion he kept the pleasure to a minimum:<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u201c(I had a) faint inkling of hope (that he had a possible Derby horse) after his first allowance win as a two-year-old.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He showed big improvement on his first two starts over sprint distances.\u201d<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Despite the cool exterior, his associates claim he was a little more enthusiastic in private.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u201cHe disclosed his pleasure to us, complimented us on the job we did,\u201d states Barbie with a big grin.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u201cHe always does that like a solemn father.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Then he walked into his office, shut the door, and let out a loud \u2018Wahoo!\u2019, as if he knew something we couldn\u2019t have.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Everyone looked at one another and grinned, but if he said anything he\u2019d ship us back towards <\/SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Brisbane<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:City><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"> on the next flight out.\u201d<o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">A plan was undertaken to send the colt into stakes action, and one week before Christmas, <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">New Found Cyclone<\/B> was sent down to Argentina, for the Ridge Trick Handicap.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Though there was a (working) holiday down there, no one was celebrating after what they witnessed.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The sprightly colt didn\u2019t show any enthusiasm for the track, the stables, or the race, and despite engaging a Ledwith to ride, the 2-1 favorite was washed out in the paddock, and spit the bit approaching the stretch, finishing a distant fourth, beaten almost twelve lengths.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>No one could understand what went wrong.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">According to Yellow Dog, \u201cOur hopes were dashed after that first stakes try.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u2018Here we go again, another allowance horse that can\u2019t make stakes,\u2019 I thought.\u201d<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It was a somber holiday, and over the New Year\u2019s training break, YDR held an internal meeting to plot out strategies for the new three-year-olds.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It was decided to try something new with The Cyclone.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Grass was the new dirt, and a training routine was entered into in order to prep the colt for the lawn.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u201cWe put him on the lawn in <\/SPAN><st1:State><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Louisiana<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:State><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">, to see if he would like it, and one Thursday morning, when we sent him out to breeze over the surface, he pricked his ears back, and ran energetically,\u201d Seumas claims.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u201cHe really liked the new conditions, and you could tell in the days leading up to that next race that here was a brand new horse.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Barb and I were impressed by his new spirit.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>We knew the boss has a lot riding on this next grass race, and we could tell something was going to explode.\u201d<o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">The next effort was a nine-furlong NW3L allowance over the <\/SPAN><st1:State><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Louisiana<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:State><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"> turf course on January 14.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>With their jock from the previous win over the course set down for a week for careless riding, a new jockey was given the mount, and it didn\u2019t matter.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>After breaking well, the rider kept The Cyclone in reserve.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>By the time they hit the lane, he was beginning to inch up on the stubborn leaders, and, because he had been wide throughout, there was some cause for concern that he was losing a ton of ground.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>But as they passed the eighth pole, the colt found his best stride, and just like that, the cause for concern turned into a cause to believe.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">New Found Cyclone<\/B> poked a head in front with a sixteenth to go, and quickly drew off to a two-length win.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Grass had eased their pain.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The YDR banner was waving high once more.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Yellow Dog only thought the race was \u201cImpressive\u201d, but on the backstretch, his associates knew that meant he was ecstatic that, at the very least, there was a future on the turf for The Cyclone.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">What worked once needed to work again.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>After the grass win earned <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">New Found Cyclone<\/B> a career-best 93 speed figure, plans were renewed for a stakes race.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>A race up in <\/SPAN><st1:State><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Michigan<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:State><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"> was selected, and for the first time, the colt was sent north on February 11.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The race was the Barely For Bold Challenge, and The Cyclone was sent off at 7-5 against a compact field of four other runners, including the formidable \u201csuper\u201d alliance.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>No one was fazed, though, after that initial allowance win, and here, their faith was justified when the colt stalked the early pace before taking his usual stretch kick at the top of the lane.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>By the three-sixteenths pole, The Cyclone took a lead he would never relinquish.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He went on to a two-length win, and received a 95 fig for this initial stakes win.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The conglomerate was thrilled about their reversal of fortune, and that\u2019s when Yellow Dog made the decision that would surprise everyone.<o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">\u201cWe moved (The Cyclone) to grass as a three-year-old, which was impressive, so I thought, \u201cLet\u2019s go back to dirt, but late in season, so our faint <\/SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Derby<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:City><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"> hopes could come back again.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>We went right to a Grade II with him&#8230;as they say, the rest is history.\u201d<o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">There was some skepticism, held privately by a few in the backstretch crew, but no one dared to say anything publicly on the matter.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>When the boss says \u201cDirt\u201d, you better say, \u201cGrade II\u201d.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>But Yellow Dog suspected the turf-to-dirt angle might serve his colt well.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>And the colt was sent to <\/SPAN><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">France<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"> for the Grade II Felipe Alou Handicap on March 11.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>There, he broke well from his outside post, a feat made easy by the fact that on that day, the outside of the track was the place to be.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Though it was his first time on an off-track that day, he handled it well without resistance.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He sat in stalking position no more that four lengths from the lead, and began to make his usual late move at the head of the stretch.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>In fact, the replay of the race will show that <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">New Found Cyclone<\/B> had the lead in deep stretch for about a nanosecond before <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Unamazingness<\/B>, who was the only horse outside of The Cyclone in the starting gate, came from <\/SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Versailles<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:City><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"> to charge past them all for the win.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>No one saw him coming, and The Cyclone, though he did his owners very proudly, was clearly second-best that day, beaten two lengths on the line.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It was a heartbreaking defeat, but the consolation that could be found was that the colt was back in good form on dirt.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Yellow Dog\u2019s decision to return to the dirt earned him a spot on the <\/SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Derby<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:City><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"> trail once more.<o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Next up: a trip to <\/SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Dubai<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:City><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The warmth of the March sun was comfortable for both horse and connections, and on just two weeks of rest, The Cyclone made a return in the Grade II Sand Castle Derby.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>And there was one member of the press already on the bandwagon of the plucky colt.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u201cI like the way he&#8217;s been handled thus far and suspect his connections have a plan,\u201d Bucksplash astutely observed when previewing the race in the Black Type Bugler.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>If there was a plan, Yellow Dog himself wasn\u2019t sharing; he declined all interviews leading up to the race.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The race itself was a dream from start to finish.<o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">The Cyclone broke well on the inside, and was quickly shuffled back to mid-pack.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He sat comfortably all alone in seventh, six lengths off the pace, and at the five-furlong pole, he started to roll.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He had plenty of room on the inside, and had only one horse in his sights, the runaway leader.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>By the time they hit the stretch, The Cyclone was whirling away, and taking aim on I Did My Time.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>At the eighth pole, <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">New Found Cyclone<\/B> took over, and then, he turned on the afterburners.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Not only did he draw away from the field, he did so under a vigorous hand ride, and crossed the wire a staggering five-length winner, in <\/SPAN><st1:time Hour=\"13\" Minute=\"50\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">1:50<\/SPAN><\/st1:time><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>His speed figure broke the century mark for the first time, and there wasn\u2019t a happier person on the backstretch than Yellow Dog himself, a most confident trainer who knew now that he could write his own ticket to the Bluegrass Derby, with six weeks left to go.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It was a highly emotional win, as earlier in the week was when Cyclone Larry hit <\/SPAN><st1:State><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Queensland<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:State><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">, turning a big win into something with a highly emotional charge.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>They did it for <\/SPAN><st1:State><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Queensland<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:State><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">, it was said.<o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">The crew decided that maybe it would be smart to make their way to Kentucky early, to give The Cyclone one last prep for the Derby and give him a race over the track.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The race was the Grade II Heat Less Stakes, and though he was a 6-1 second choice, he enjoyed the services of the circuit\u2019s leading jockey, the famed D Givins, who knows a thing or three about winning in <\/SPAN><st1:State><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Kentucky<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:State><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The race was intense, with <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">New Found Cyclone<\/B> sitting chilly in mid-pack, four lengths out, and making his usual middle move at the top of the stretch.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Race leader Sundays Rule was trying to gut it out on the lead, and while The Cyclone had begun to make his late dash to the wire, a horse by the name of Vuja Day blew by him on the outside.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The stretch drive was incredibly memorable, with The Cyclone trying to inch up to the front while Vuja Day and Sundays Rule were nose-to-nose for the final sixteenth.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>In the end, though he sure was a game colt, The Cyclone found himself outkicked by Sundays Rule, who won on a head-bob on the wire with Vuja Day.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It was a heartbreaking defeat for the colt\u2019s connections, but in the end, it elevated his ranking in the division into the Top 20, thus ensuring that a spot in the <\/SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Derby<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:City><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"> was theirs if they wanted it.<o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Which they did.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The heartbreak was eased by the knowledge that only a couple of unforeseen circumstances could remove <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">New Found Cyclone<\/B> from the field of 20.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>At #18, one might think they were one of the longest shots available compared to the cream of the crop.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>But instead, with a pair of speed figures of 100 in his back story to keep him competitive, it\u2019s the top flight of horses that\u2019s looking over their collective shoulders at a potent threat.<o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">The YDR family of stables isn\u2019t a cocky bunch. <SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0<\/SPAN>They realize that the field is fraught with tough customers who won\u2019t be pushovers, yet Team Cyclone remains cautiously optimistic about their chances Saturday:<o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Yellow Dog, representing stable <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">ydrbargain<\/I><\/B>: \u201cIf he can hold his form after a fairly hard run up to the <\/SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Derby<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:City><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">, he should at least be competitive. Luck&#8212;lots of luck&#8212;is needed to win.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>(The only game plan is to) enter him, and then let the jockey decide, as in all his starts.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I fear all of them; it\u2019s a very even field.\u201d<o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Barbie, associate trainer: \u201cHe\u2019s been working well for this, and we\u2019ve breezed him a couple of times just to get used to the track once again, particularly with his new jockey.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>We trust (P Munoz)\u2019s judgment implicitly, and expect that he won\u2019t be too far back early on, but he\u2019ll have enough late speed to keep him rolling in the lane.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He\u2019s a smart horse, and he\u2019s been walking every day with confidence.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I think he\u2019s prepared to really make some eyes pop from their sockets.\u201d<o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Seumas, chief groom: \u201cWe haven\u2019t had to do a whole helluva lot with him.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He works, he comes back none the worse for it, and he polishes off all the food we lay out for him.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He doesn\u2019t have any idea what he\u2019s in the middle of, and through all the media attention, the picture sessions, the whole thing he\u2019s not even fazed.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>We\u2019re just chuffed to be here, and he\u2019s got his eye on being in front on the wire.\u201d<o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">P Munoz, who\u2019ll be in the irons: \u201cBeing here is better than not being here.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I always like being where the action is, and getting the mount this time is a blessing from heaven.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>This is my first <\/SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Derby<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:City><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"> mount, and I\u2019m just blown away by the whole experience.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I think The Cyclone can blow \u2018em away, but I know exactly what needs to do.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I\u2019m not going to do anything different here, just keep him steady and comfortable, and try to get him going by three-eighths.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I know what the boss wants.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I\u2019m just going to be patient.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It\u2019s a lot different from <\/SPAN><st1:State><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Illinois<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:State><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"> racing, but I\u2019ve been a good jock for years, I know how to adapt.\u201d<o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">With just ten starts under his belt, The Cyclone is in the prime of his life.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He\u2019s back on track, and this could be the year that a truly versatile horse steals the show from the flashy colts.\u00a0 With the recent events facing the state of Queensland, this would be a sentimental victory for the area and the country, and it would be a welcome relief and diversion for all.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"><SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\"><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"><SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\"><\/SPAN>This\u00a0<B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">New Found Cyclone <\/B>is prepared to blow into <\/SPAN><st1:State><st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">Kentucky<\/SPAN><\/st1:place><\/st1:State><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\"> on <\/SPAN><st1:date Year=\"2006\" Day=\"6\" Month=\"5\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">May 6, 2006<\/SPAN><\/st1:date><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 11pt\">. <o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A New Found Glory<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":123,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2397","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-horses"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2397","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/123"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2397"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2397\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2397"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2397"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2397"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}