El Kabeir Off the Mark as Don Chicco Strikes in Rome
U.S. grade 2 winner stands at Yeomanstown Stud in Ireland.
El Kaiber became the latest first-season sire to get off the mark when Don Chicco struck at the Capannelle in Rome for trainer Agostino Affe May 9.
The 2-year-old, who was bred by Mickley, Harc Syndicate, and K. Whitehouse, was making his second start and was an £8,500 (US$11,376) purchase from Mickley Stud at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale.
He is out of the unraced Oasis Dream mare Otrooha, a half sister to three winners who is herself out of a half sister to the Shadwell-owned and -bred Maraahel , a dual winner of the Hardwicke Stakes (G2) and multiple group 1-placed.
Don Chicco finished three lengths in front Il Grande Gatsby, the son of another first-season sire in Churchill , with the Footstepsinthesand colt Ilgeng a further 3 1/2 lengths away in third.
Yeomanstown Stud's son of Scat Daddy has 122 first-crop juveniles to represent him this term and his Between The Sheets had already run respectably to finish fifth at Ascot May 7.
El Kabeir was bred in Florida by Rustlewood Farm and raced in the colors of Zayat Stables for trainers John Terranova II and Bill Mott, for whom he notched up five wins and six placings from 20 starts.
The winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at 2 and two grade 3 contests at 3, the attractive gray was also third to Frosted in the Twinspires.com Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) and was second in two further graded races during his career.
He also finished a respectable fourth in the Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) as a 4-year-old.
The first foal of the Unbridled's Song mare Great Venue—an unraced half sisterto grade 2 winner Too Much Bling —the 9-year-old retired to Yeomanstown for the 2018 breeding season at a fee of €8,000.