Chef-de-Race:
In the Wings
b.
h. 1986 (Sadler's Wells-High Hawk, by Shirley Heights)
(January
21, 2004)
by
Steve Miller
Introduction: The following is
part of a continuing series of articles by
Mr. Steve Miller on the selection of European-based chefs-de-race. Mr. Miller is a Thoroughbred owner and correspondent from
the UK and an acknowledged pedigree authority. In the Wings is assigned as
the 202nd chef-de-race in the split Classic/Solid category.
Heir
Apparent In the Wings Takes Centre Stage
IN THE WINGS (GB)
is by champion racehorse and stallion Sadler’s Wells (Classic/Solid chef-de-race)
out of the Shirley Heights (Classic/Professional chef-de-race) mare High Hawk,
who won the Group 1 Premio Roma and Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes and Park Hill
Stakes.
In the Wings was the winner of
seven races from eleven career starts from two to four, including the Listed
Prix du Haras de la Huderie (Deauville) at two, the Group 3 Prix du Prince
d'Orange (Longchamp) at three, and three Group 1s in England, France and the
United States (Coronation Cup, Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and Breeders' Cup Turf)
and a Group 3 (Prix Foy), all at 12 furlongs, at four. In addition he was runner
up in the Prix Ganay and fourth in Saumarez’s Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He
received a Timeform rating of 128.
In the Wings stands at Darley’s
Kildangan Stud, in Ireland and has proved to be the leading stallion son of
Sadler’s Wells to date and one of the top stallions in Europe. Other stallion
sons of Sadler’s Wells include Galileo, Barathea, Carnegie, Montjeu, Kayf
Tara, King Of Kings and Milan. In the Wings boasts some 11% stakes
winners to runners and over 5% Group winners to total output. He is the sire of
eight Group 1 winners from much smaller crops than his own sire Sadler’s
Wells, due to the limit that Sheikh Mohammed imposes on his stallions. These
eight are:
Singspiel,
won nine of his 20 career starts, finishing runner-up in eight others. Winner of
Juddmonte International, Coronation Cup, Japan Cup, Eclipse Stakes, Grand Prix
de Paris, Canadian International, Dubai World Cup and other Group/Listed races.
Also runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Turf that his sire had won before him.
Singspiel is the best stallion son of In the Wings (who in turn is the best
stallion son of Sadler’s Wells) with better than one in four foals earning
black type from his first two racing crops.
Central Park,
winner of the Italian Derby and Group 1 Premio Presidente della Repubblica. Also
winner of other Group and Listed races and runner up in the Melbourne Cup
(giving the winner 17lbs). He stands at stud in Italy.
Act One,
won five races from six starts in a career cut short, in his Classic season, by
injury. Winner of the Criterium International, Prix Lupin, Prix Greffulhe and
Prix Thomas Bryon. He was also runner-up in the French Derby.
Kutub, winner of three Group 1s, the Preis Von Europa, G
Dallmayr-Preis Bayerisches Zuchtrennen, Gran Premio del Jockey Club. Also winner
of the Prix Noailles.
Mamool, winner
of the Grosser Bugatti Preis, Grosser Preis Von Baden, Preis Von Europa,
Yorkshire Cup and Queen’s Vase.
Winged Love,
winner of the Irish Derby and placed third in the French Derby.
Zanzibar, winner of the Italian Oaks.
Fidelite, winner of the Prix Saint-Alary.
In the Wings’s other Group and Listed
winners include:
Air Marshall,
winner of the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes and runner-up in the St Leger, Right
Wing, who won the Group 3 Earl of Sefton Stakes and two Listed races as a
seven-year-old, Irish Wings, Boreas, top-flight stayer and winner of the
Doncaster Cup, Nabhaan, Annaba, winner of the Prix de Royallieu and Prix
du Conseil de Paris, Earlene, winner of the Prix d’Harcourt, Weightless,
Tillerman, winner of the Celebration Mile, Davide Umbro, Saldenschwinge,
Cloud Castle, Just In Fun, Thief Of Hearts, Apprehension, Soldier Hollow,
Gallery God, Delimara, Stage Manner, Sadlers Wings, Kyle Rhea, Tailfeather, In
The Night, In Waiting, Mellow Park, Savannah Bay, Abunawwas, Swing Wing,
Trumbaka, New South Wales and Dream Power.
Let us look at the Dosage
readings for In the Wings’s eight Group 1 winners.
Central
Park
DP 2-0- 9-9-2 = 22, DI 0.42,
CD -0.41
Winged Love
DP 2-0-13-7-2 = 24, DI 0.55,
CD -0.29
Fidelite
DP 4-0-13-5-2 = 24, DI 0.78,
CD -0.04
Singspiel
DP 7-1-19-7-4 = 38, DI 0.85,
CD 0.00
Act One
DP 5-0-12-5-2 = 24, DI 0.85, CD
0.04
Zanzibar
DP 7-0-14-5-2 = 28, DI 1.00,
CD 0.18
Mamool
DP 7-2-14-5-2 = 30, DI 1.14, CD
0.23
Kutub
DP 13-3-11-5-2 = 34, DI 1.72, CD 0.59
These figures show that all could
be expected to thrive at trips from 10 furlongs up.
Indeed, In the Wings has an
average winning distance for his progeny of 11.1 furlongs. The distribution for
the following winning sample (Weatherbys’ winning distances of sires
progeny: three-year-old and above) of 149 is:
5f, 1; 6f 0; 7f, 8; 8f, 15; 9f,
16; 10f, 22; 11f, 18; 12f, 38; 13f, 3; 14f&14f+, 28
109 of these 149 wins have come
at 10 furlongs or more, with over 60% of the 109 (69) winning at 12 furlongs or
above. The concentration of wins peaks at 12 furlongs (38), sloping away at
either side to 22 wins at 10 furlongs and 28 wins at 14 furlongs and 14 furlongs
plus. In others words, In the Wings is excelling in producing 12-furlong winners
with an emphasis on stamina.
Consequently In the Wings is
augmenting and strengthening very similar prepotent characteristics shown by his
sire Sadler’s Wells. In The Wing’s influence stands out as prepotent when
compared to other stallion sons of Sadler’s Wells. Interestingly, Sadler’s
Wells is showing an identical average winning distance for his progeny of 11.1
furlongs, from a much bigger winning sample, and is showing a similar
proportional distribution of winning distances.
With a Classic/Solid influence
for In the Wings factored in, the profiles of his Group 1 winning progeny read:
Central
Park
DP 2-0-17-17-2 = 38, DI
0.38, CD -0.45
Winged Love
DP 2-0-21-15-2 = 40, DI
0.45, CD -0.37
Fidelite
DP 4-0-21-13-2 = 40, DI
0.57, CD -0.22
Singspiel
DP 7-1-27-15-4 = 54, DI
0.66, CD -0.15
Act One
DP 5-0-20-13-2 = 40, DI 0.60, CD -0.17
Zanzibar
DP 7-0-22-13-2 = 44, DI
0.69, CD -0.07
Mamool
DP 7-2-22-13-2 = 46, DI 0.77, CD -0.02
Kutub
DP 13-3-19-13-2 = 50, DI 1.04, CD 0.24
All but one (Kutub) of In the Wings’s
eight Group 1 winners now move to negative centres of distribution, meaning that
they ought to have needed at least 12 furlongs to bring out the best in them.
A Dosage Index of 1.00 and a
centre of distribution of zero (0.00) is often said to represent the ‘ideal’
blend of speed and stamina (given that the points total is high enough to give a
reliable reading) and is taken as a blueprint for a Derby (12-furlong)
contender. These profiles suggest a little more emphasis on stamina, meaning
that while they were all capable of winning at 12 furlongs they ought to have
been seen at their very best in stamina-sapping races at that distance, or at
further.
As the heir apparent to his sire
Sadler’s Wells, I have no hesitation in nominating In the Wings as a
Classic/Solid chef-de-race.
STEVE MILLER January 2004