Highlands Farms Stud’s resident sire Pathfork had a weekend to remember over Easter, when the champion son of Distorted Humor was represented by a trio of winners.
First of the Pathforks’ to score was the impressive 2yo Twelve Oaks, who made an eye catching winning debut for owner-breeder-trainer St John Gray on Saturday.
Twelve Oaks simply romped home to score by four lengths over 1160m, and she looks destined for bigger and better things.
She is one of a number of high class 2yos to represent Pathfork this season, with the latter’s daughter Precious Pansy having captured the Listed East Cape Fillies Nursery on debut.
Pathfork’s second winner on Saturday came when the Riyo Stud bred St Joseph ran on smartly to score by two and a quarter lengths, while the final of Pathfork’s trio of winners on Saturday came when the Justin Snaith trained The Right Road gained reward for some decent previous efforts when breaking his maiden by two and a quarter lengths over 1400m at Kenilworth.
Bred by Highlands Farms Stud, the 3yo The Right Road is the 27th winner to have emerged from former Irish Champion 2YO Pathfork’s first crop, now three. This crop also includes G3 Godolphin Barb Stakes winner Red Chesnut Road, the smart stakes performer Turbo and R400 000 plus earner Elusive Path.
Pathfork, whose relatives include such leading sires as Redoute’s Choice, Manhattan Rain, El Gran Senor and Northern Guest, has five yearlings on this week’s Emperors Palace Select Yearling Sale, including a half-sister to G3 winning filly Fair Rosalind (Lot 111), a daughter of a six time stakes winning Danehill Dancer mare (Lot 126), and a filly from the same family as US champions Chief’s Crown, Chris Evert and Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors (Lot 127).
The former G1 National Stakes winner also has seven lots on next month’s National Yearling Sale, with Pathfork’s 2017 NYS draft including a colt from the family of G1 winners Nania and Red Ray, as well as Saturday’s winner Brutal Force (Lot 241), a filly out of a former stakes winning 2yo (Lot 308), and a half-brother to recent stakes winner Mambonick (Lot 438).