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 Robert Sangster, principal of Collingrove
shareholder Swettenham Stud, achieved a notable milestone with the win of Tap Dance City
in Sunday's Group 1 Japan Cup. Tap Dance City was the 150th Group 1 winner bred and/or
raced by Swettenham since commencing operations in 1967. He is also the 104th individual
Group 1 winner produced by one of the world's most prolific racing and breeding
operations.
Tap Dance City, a 6-year-old son of Pleasant Tap, was bred
by a partnership between Swettenham and Don Sucher's Echo Valley Farm in Kentucky. His
dam, All Dance, by Northern Dancer, was bought by Swettenham's US agent Mark Glyer in1979
as one of a package of 4 foals. Trained by Adrian Maxwell in Ireland, All Dance could only
win a modest 1600m Maiden in France, but she did manage to place in the Listed Atlantic
City Pageant when sent back to the USA. Another of the four, the mare Absentia, had more
racetrack success, winning a Group race in France.
After retiring to stud, All Dance's progeny were bred and
sold by the partnership between Swettenham and Echo Valley Farm. This has been a long
standing arrangement, dating back more than 20 years, where the partners breed 4 mares a
year and sell the progeny. All her progeny were sold, with the partnership having done
very well out of her over the years. All Dance died in 1998 and Tap Dance City was her
second last foal.
All Dance, is a half sister to 1988 Kentucky Derby (Group
1) winner Winning Colors, who like Tap Dance City won her big race by leading all the way.
Tap Dance City was purchased privately as a foal and races for the Yushun Racehorse Club,
a partnership with dozens of participants. Tap Dance City is one of eight winners produced
by All Dance, and is a half brother to stakes winner Carezza, the dam of the late Group 2
winner Freedom’s Daughter, and steeplechase stakes winner Ruling.
 Already a Group 2 winner in Japan, the Shozo Sasaki trained stallion, Tap
Dance City's most recent win was in the 2400m Grade 2 Kyoto Daishoten on Oct. 12. Heavy
rain on Saturday left the Tokyo race track yielding on Sunday and Tap Dance City relished
the conditions, breaking first from the barriers and leading throughout to win easily
under Tetsuzo Sato going the 2400m in 2:28.70.
© 2010 Published 02/12/03
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