Den Man On Fire

A sire that often flies under the radar as a source of consistent, sound thoroughbreds is the Darley owned Denman, a son of former champion Lonhro that projected his sire into the limelight as a classy 3YO sprinter and was often considered by trainer Peter Snowden as one of the more natural gallopers to have been under the horseman’s care.

The handsome brown stallion was for many a disappointment as a sire with the absence of a superstar on his CV, yet a flourish of winners of late, and of course the success of our own Denmagic, has reminded breeders and trainers to have faith in the stallion that now stands for the relatively low fee of $11,000.

The latest winner came at Scone on Sunday, with the 4YO gelding Denzil powering away with the Shalaa at Arrowfield handicap over 1300m to justify his $2 favouritism for Tye Angland.

A winner over 1200m at Nowra in December of last year, Denzil has now won two from seven and was a close second at Goulburn the start prior to suggest he will only continue to improve through the grades.

“He’s certainly not one of the best in training but he’s consistent and on the way up” said Pfieffer.

Denzil is the first foal of the Commands mare Many Facets, who had just one start in Melbourne before being retired to stud; and highlights the hugely influential Lonhro/Danehill cross that has produced Group 1 winners Exosphere, Benfica, Bounding and the talented G2 winners Messene, Pinwheel, Obsequious and Wawail.

Denzil made easy work of the soft 6 track, having already ploughed through a heavy 8 surface when winning at Nowra.

“He handles the wet and is competitive on the good ground too, so when Tye (Angland) gave him a patient ride he was always going to be hard to beat”.

Denman’s sparkling daughter Denmagic will be the breakthrough both the sire and trainer have been waiting for should the mare taste victory in the G1 Coolmore Classic this Saturday.

There isn’t much left to say about Denmagic, the mare who rarely misses the board and is yet to run below par in 20 career starts.

“She gives 120% every run and her trials and work at home is just the same - she is a professional racehorse with a brilliant attitude” said Pfieffer.

The mare is without a stakes win on her record but is surely one of the more talented mares of her generation and will be a popular broodmare prospect when the time comes for her to become a matron.

The mare’s long stride and stoic mentality made it easy for Pfieffer to join forces with Denmagic’s breeder Andrew Ferguson in securing their latest purchase from the Inglis Premier yearling sale.

A solid red bay colt prepared by Swettenham Stud and secured for just $60,000, the colt was an immediate standout on inspections as a physically impressive type that covers the ground with ease.

The dam is the talented Flying Spur mare Miss Provocative, a winner over 1280m in her short racing career who is off the mark with this stunning colt her first foal and a colt by emerging sire Rubick at foot ensuring she is given every chance as a matron. Flying Spur is one of Australasia’s most prolific broodmare sires, with his daughters producing Slipper winner and champion sire Sebring, G1 winners Preferment, Delago Deluxe, Headway and the stakes winners Ashokan, Military Rose, Wild and Proud and one of Pfieffer’s favourite mares in Gai’s Choice.

On the page of this impressive pedigree is the influence of broodmare Alizes, the daughter of Rory’s Jester who won the G2 Magic Night stakes as a 2YO before producing at stud, featuring in the family of the exceptional G1 Golden Rose winner Astern and the stakes-placed Lonhro colt Mogador who we are yet to see the best of.

With his third dam a winner of the G1 Galaxy, this colt traces back to the incomparable Triscay, the top filly of her generation who features in the pedigrees of contemporary champions Defier and and Majestically, proving her influence on Australian tracks is far from over.

It’s exciting times for Denman, and particularly so for Team Pfieffer, as Autumn transforms another racing season and the next generation of yearlings head to the breakers.