War Front, the world’s leading active sire of 2-year-olds, notched his 50thstakes winner Aug. 28. The horse that provided that milestone was 2-year-old colt Intelligence Cross, who captured the G3 Round Tower Stakes in commanding fashion at the Curragh in Ireland.
Owned by Coolmore and partners, Intelligence Cross easily beat eight rivals in the Round Tower, prevailing by 4 1/4 lengths in 1:12.06 for six furlongs on turf rated as good.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien said Kentucky-bred Intelligence Cross could be pointed next toward the GI Juddmonte Middle Park Sept. 24 in England.
A full brother to top Hong Kong performer Warning Flag, Intelligence Cross has hit the board in all five of his starts, winning twice and placing second in the Arqana July Stakes (Eng-II) at Newmarket and third in the Qatar Richmond Stakes (Eng-II) at Goodwood prior to his victory in the Round Tower.
He was bred by Good Vibes Syndicate from the Unbridled’s Song mare Good Vibes, who also is the dam of 2014 Oklahoma Derby (gr. III) runner-up Bay of Biscay.
War Front, a son of Danzig, commanded a $200,000 fee in 2016. His 12 black-type winners this year also include English group-winning juveniles War Decree, Roly Poly, and Brave Anna. War Front’s older offspring with group or graded wins in 2016 are American Patriot, Royal Artillery and War Flag.
Overall, fourteen-year-old War Front has 50 offspring that have won black-type events. With 482 foals in seven racing crops, his stakes winners-to-foals strike rate is 10.4%. War Front was also ranked among the U.S. leading general sires by progeny earnings in 2013.
Ranked #1 sire of juveniles by Graded Stakes Winners and Graded Stakes Horses, War Front continues his dominance among the world’s best sires. On the General Sire list, he is currently ranked #2 by Graded Stakes Horses, #3 by Black-type winners, #3 by Black-type horses, and Top 5 by Graded Stakes winners.
On the year, War Front has 26 stakes horses, 12 stakes winners, 17 Graded Stakes Horses, 7 Graded Stakes winners, and 3 Grade 1 stakes horses.