Group 1 winner Xtension is related to Harry Angel

XTENSION (IRE) - 2007 brown horse

A grandson of the juvenile star and brilliant Group 1 2000 Guineas winner Zafonic (by Gone West), Xtension is the best son of 1997's two-year-old champion Xaar and although he did not share their brilliance at two, he was Timeform 116-rated at that age having won the Group 2 Vintage Stakes and been placed in both the Group 2 Coventry Stakes and Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes.

He finished fourth to Makfi in the Group 1 2000 Guineas and then third to Dick Turpin in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat. He was sent out to Hong Kong a few months later and became a dual Group 1 star there, taking the BMW Champions' Mile at Sha Tin at both four and five years of age. Timeform rated him 123.

He was third to Able One in the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile and he was placed in several of the region's top non-pattern events, races such as the Hong Kong Derby, Stewards' Cup and Hong Kong Gold Cup, which carry only local top-level status, rather than international status, thereby counting only as listed events.

Xtension, who covered 31 mares in his first season at Rathbarry Stud, had only a handful of his first foals sold last year.

He is out of Great Joy (by Grand Lodge), the stakes-placed grandam of this year's Group 1 July Cup hero Harry Angel (by Dark Angel). She is a half-sister to listed scorer A La Carte (by Caerleon) and also to the dam of Group 1-placed juvenile stakes winner Wathab (by Cadeaux Genereux).

Cheese Soup (by Spectacular Bid), the unraced grandam of Xtension, was out of the prolific Avum (by Umbrella Fella), a blacktype scorer whose progeny included Grade 2 scorer Minneapple (by Riverman), pattern-placed stakes winner Lyphard's Princess (by Lyphard) and also the Grade 3 scorer and notable broodmare Baroness Direct (by Blushing Groom).

What makes that mare of interest is that her Grade 1-placed daughter Immerse (by Cox's Ridge) became the dam of Grade 1 star and somewhat successful sire Stephen Got Even (by A.P. Indy) and she is the grandam of the dual Grade 1-winning filly Artemis Agrotera (by Roman Ruler). Lyphard's Princess, on the other hand, was the dam of Grade 2 Ohio Derby scorer Private Man (by Private Account).

Small numbers will not help Xtension's prospects of getting noticed – although his relationship to Harry Angel may help – but given the record that Rathbarry Stud has in coming up with stallions who sire winners at all levels, it would not be a surprise to see him get the occasional high-class performer.

XTENSION (IRE) – br.2007 – Xaar – Great Joy, 4 wins inc Champions' Mile (Gr1-twice), Vintage Stakes (Gr2), 2nd Coventry Stakes (Gr2), Hong Kong Classic Mile (L), Hong Kong Derby (L), Hong Kong Gold Cup (L), Sha Tin Trophy (L), Stewards' Cup (L), 3rd Hong Kong Mile (Gr1), Prix Jean Prat (Gr1), Dewhurst Stakes (Gr1), Jockey Club Mile (Gr2), Hong Kong Gold Cup (L). Sire in Ireland. First foals in 2016.

YEARLINGS CATALOGUED:
bc - Brave Madam (by Invincible Spirit)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €6,500
grf - Bysshe (by Linamix)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €14,000
bf - Elevator Action (by Lord Shanakill)     Goffs     Oct     ​€2,800
brf - Intimate Secret (by Invincible Spirit)     Goffs     Oct     not sold
bc - Izola (by Beat Hollow)     Goffs     Sept     ​​withdrawn
bc - Lyca Ballerina (by Marju)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €58,000
bf - Meadow (by Green Desert)     Goffs     Oct     withdrawn
bc - Park Glen (by Tagula)     Goffs UK     Aug     £115,000
bc - Subtle Affair (by Barathea)     Goffs     Sept     €70,000
​bc - Too Close (by Danehill Dancer)     Goffs     Feb     not sold
bf - Unknowndestination (by Authorized)     Goffs     Oct     not sold
bf - Voom Voom (by Bahamian Bounty)     Goffs     Oct     €4,500 (p/s)