Brown Panther victorious again

Son of Shirocco takes the Listed Pontefract Castle Stakes for the second consecutive year

Shirocco’s five-year-old son Brown Panther has been a great campaigner for his sire, winning every season he has raced and placing in G1 company on two occasions. On 23 June, he made a successful seasonal debut when running out the convincing winner of the Listed Pontefract Castle Stakes.

Settled in fourth position under Richard Kingscote, Brown Panther moved up to second place with around half a mile left to run and eased past long-time leader Souviens Toi, running on superbly to win the 12-furlong contest by three and a half lengths. This was the second year in a row that Tom Dascombe’s charge has landed this contest – winning by no fewer than seven lengths in 2012. He was second in the G1 St Leger in 2011 and was third by the narrowest of margins in a blanket finish in the G1 Irish St Leger last year.

Owned and bred by Michael Owen’s Owen Promotions Limited, Brown Panther is out of the Stakes winner and G2 performer Treble Heights (Unfuwain). The mare has a yearling full-brother to Brown Panther and has been scanned in foal to Shirocco again this year.

Four-time G1 winner and Champion three-year-old Shirocco is also sire of Oaks second Shirocco Star, plus last year’s G2 Park Hill Stakes winner Wild Coco. This year he is also sire of Listed Braveheart Stakes winner Mijhaar. He stands at Dalham Hall Stud at a fee of £7,000 October 1st SLF.