Sportage becomes the latest winner for Vale Of York

Vale Of York has made an excellent start to his stud career, with unbeaten multiple Stakes winner heading up his ever-growing list of successful progeny. On 2 August, his son Sportage became his ninth individual winner when victorious at Naples.

He won the seven-and-a-half furlong contest by three full lengths from Lady Honria, with a further three lengths back to the third-placed horse.

Bred by Gerrardstown House Stud, Sportage is one of eight winners out of the Silver Hawk mare Virgin Hawk, also dam of Black type winner Metaphoric. The mare is herself a half-sister to G1 performer Island Jamboree, whose own daughter Fiji was crowned Champion Turf mare in the US following her victories in the G1 Yellow Ribbon Stakes and G1 Gamely Handicap.

Vale Of York is also sire of Royal Ascot juvenile and promising winner Haxby, last seen finishing second to the very useful Tiggy Wiggy in the valuable Weatherbys Super Sprint.

He was himself an outstanding two-year-old who beat five previous G1 winners to take the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.