Riverton Stud’s well performed sire Blue Tiger was represented by his first winner when his daughter Bia’s Blue Eye broke her maiden over 1600m on Monday.

The Alchemy bred Bia’s Blue Eye, one of just six registered three-year-olds representing her sire, had run third two starts back but was allowed to go off a 20-1 shot following a poor run at her previous outing.

Described by trainer Mike Bass (who also trained his sire), as the best horse he trained not to win a G1 race, Blue Tiger was a high-class sprinter-miler, who won or placed in 30 races. His victories included the G2 Diadem Stakes and the G3 Cape Classic, with Blue Tiger’s eight G1 placings including a runner up finish in the 2009 G1 Gold Challenge (where he accounted for stable mate and triple Horse Of The Year Pocket Power and fellow champion Mother Russia). He was also twice second in the G1 Cape Flying Championship and banked over R1.3 million in prize money.

Blue Tiger, who won from 1000-1450m, accounted for numerous top class performers during his career including the above mentioned pair of Pocket Power and Mother Russia, and G1 winners Smart Banker, Rebel King O Caesour, and Lady Windermere.

A son of dual G1 winner and Bold Ruler line sire Counter Action, also sire of G1 Daily News 2000 winner Fiery Fred, Blue Tiger is a half-brother to G1 Computaform Sprint winner Rodoille.

His other notable relatives include G1 Queen’s Plate winning filly Wainui, who shared her sire Complete Warrior with Blue Tiger’s sire Counter Action, and dual Met runner up Waitara.

This is also the family of champion Sledgehammer, whose 21 wins including two runnings of the G1 Queen’s Plate.