Mendelssohn And The Clarkland Mitchells
It's the perfect storm.The son of the successful late stallion Scat Daddy was one of the best-looking individuals entered in the 2016 Keeneland September yearling sale.
He is a half brother to multiple champion female Beholder and grade 1 winner and successful sire Into Mischief , and his dam, Leslie's Lady, was honored as Broodmare of the Year for 2016.
The colt was purchased for a sale-topping $3 million on behalf of a trio of partners associated with Coolmore Stud, which owns Ashford Stud where Scat Daddy stood until he died prematurely in December 2015.
Now, 1 1/2 years later the colt named Mendelssohn will head to Churchill Downs as one of the favorites for the Gr.1 Kentucky Derby after blowing away an international cast of 3-year-olds in the Gr.2 UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse.
In his first start on dirt and at a distance beyond a mile, the colt trained by Aidan O'Brien for Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, and Michael Tabor rolled to an 18 1/2-length victory in track-record time, earning 100 qualifying points in the Road to the Kentucky Derby points race and ensuring him a spot in the Churchill starting gate.
As the protracted bidding war dragged on, the colt stood in the sale ring with aplomb, undeterred by the commotion he created before being knocked down to M.V. Magnier for $3 million, which at the time was the sale's highest price in six years.
Mendelssohn also has shown he has the ability to handle international travel. After being sent from O'Brien's Ireland base to Del Mar in Southern California to win the 2017 Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, he then returned to Ireland, where he then won a March 9 race on a synthetic track before shipping to Dubai for Saturday's triumph.
Mitchell has said in an interview with Bloodhorse that there will likely be an opportunity to buy his half brother, a colt by Darley's top stallion Medaglia d'Oro, at this year's Keeneland September sale.
The Mitchells plan to sell any colts produced from Leslie's Lady and would probably retain any fillies the mare produces in the future.
By Ritesh jamkhedkar-Ritesh.jamkhedkar@secretariatsworld.com