Cross of gold

PANSPACIFICFLIGHT has made a flying start to the 2015-2016 season, boosted by the emergence of Arden’s Concord, who extends a remarkable family connection between his sire and Artsplace.

Arden's Concord (centre) outstays Robyn's Bad Boy and Popular to notch his third win at Invercargill on Sunday.

Arden’s Concord (centre) outstays Robyn’s Bad Boy and Popular to post his third win at Invercargill on 20 September.

The four-year-old gelding notched his third win from just six starts when he scored again at Invercargill on 20 September. Unlike his two previous wins, when he blasted out of the one-one to outsprint his rivals, this time Arden’s Concord won from the front, covering the 2200 metres mobile in 2:46.6 with the last half in 58.5 and the final quarter in 27.9.

He’s the last foal out of the Artiscape mare Madam Maroussia, who has left other good performers in Sachin Arden, Ideal Arden and Arden Castle.

The Stivens of Arden Lodge were quick to cross a mare descending from Artsplace to Panspacificflight. The logic here is overwhelming.

  • Panspacificflight is a half-brother-in-blood to the Artsplace sires Art Major and Perfect Art.
  • He’s a half-brother-in-blood to Worldly Beauty, by Artsplace, one of North America’s best racemares.  We don’t think that’s an exaggeration for a horse that was the Two and Three Year Old Filly Of The Year, went 1:49.3 and earned nearly $US2 million in stakes.
  • And he’s also a half-brother in blood to Worldly Treasure, who left a reasonable sort to Somebeachsomewhere in Captaintreacherous (1:47.1, $US3 million). Oops, nearly forgot to say that Worldly Treasure’s also by Artsplace.
  • For good measure, his dam is a half-sister to top sire Real Artist, by Artsplace.
  •  And, to complete the picture, Panspacificflight  has a pretty useful half-brother by Artsplace called Theredandpanlines, who has won 50-odd races and nearly $US1 million in stakes in North America.

Of course, the Stivens have hit the jackpot with Panspacificflight’s outstanding two-year-old filly from last season Arden’s Choice but among the mares they booked into Pans in his second season here was the young Artsplace mare Ardensplace. She produced First Class Arden, who qualified for Grant Payne in 1:58.5 as a two-year-old and was good enough to make the Sires Stakes Final at Addington in 2015. Sadly he dropped dead on the training track when he was being prepared for his three-year-old campaign by Barry Purdon at Clevedon.

Finally, Panspacificflight’s biggest winner, Fridaynightflight (1:51.6, 21 wins, $US602,000) is out of a mare sired by Grinfromeartoear, a son of Artsplace.

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