THE NEW HORSES #10: DINNER BELL 

Courtesy Carrot Club

Based at the Kurita Stables at Miho Training Centre and progressing quickly, Dinner Bell is a filly with an interesting mix of blood, dominated by a heavyweight Lyphard cross (3Sx4Dx4D). There's even a touch of irony in it, with Dancing Brave as the sire's father and Bering as the damsire - both having Lyphard roots, but great rivals in their racing days, as witnessed by their classic clash in the L'Arc de Triomphe.

Dinner Bell was sired by King Halo (a horse full of promise that never really had a chance to show his full potential), thus bringing Dancing Brave, Hail To Reason and Sir Ivor into the frame. Between them, they won the L'Arc, the Epsom Derby, the 2000 Guineas twice, and the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, plus 20 other races. Add Northern Dancer into the equation, and we have a number of multiple big race winners on our hands. King Halo also has a strong female blood element in Goodbye Halo (11-5-4) and Navajo Princess (16-4-6).

As far as the dam line is concerned, Dinner Time was a strong French horse, with Bering as her sire. Bering won the French Derby and was second in the L'Arc de Triomphe to Dancing Brave, but he has also sired 77 Stakes race winners! This is probably Sea-Bird blood showing through, as he won both the Epsom Derby and L'Arc de Triomphe in his day. 

PS. The report from 19th June noted that Dinner Bell has passed her gate test. With luck, she'll be making her debut any minute...