Darley freshman stallion Hard Spun recorded his first Group winner on Saturday, July 9, when his son Red Duke impressively took the G2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket over seven furlongs. Making just his third career start, he tracked the pace before asserting himself inside the final furlong to win by a neck, with a gaping four lengths back to third.
Sold as a yearling at Keeneland for $15,000 to Cara Bloodstock, he was re-sold at Doncaster's Breeze-up sale this year for £140,000.
Bred in the U.S. by B.P. Walden Jr. & Hargus Sexton, he is out of the winning Gone West mare, Saudia, a daughter of multiple G1-winner Bint Pasha. Saudia also has a yearling colt by fellow freshman stallion Street Sense, who was represented by his first winner today in Japan when his son Street Hunter won impressively by eight lengths.
King's Bishop Stakes winner Hard Spun has sired five winners to date including today's victor. Other notable performers so far include Artest, an impressive debut winner at Belmont Park, Mabroor, who also has recorded two wins thus far in England and Questing, an unbeaten filly who recorded a Timeform figure of 88P when winning on her debut at Newbury by three-and-a-half lengths.
