Tartan Bearer

Tartan Bearer, remember the name of this colt. For those who may not know who Tartan Bearer is, he's the stablemate of recently retired Conduit. He's also a colt who's talent level is within just a whisker of being the talent level of Conduit. Starting his 5yr.old season, this colt has raced, and either beaten or more than held his own with some of the very best colts in the world. He has 8 starts, with 3 wins, 4 place, and 1 show to this point in his racing career. But those numbers are really a little misleading. In 2008, he was narrowly beaten by Frozen Fire in the Irish Derby. Then narrowly beaten by New Approach, a phenomenal colt, in the Vodafone Derby at Epsom. In 2009, he started his season by winning the Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown. Pipedreamer, an ultra fast colt, got first run on him in the race and looked like he would draw away. But just as quickly, Tartan Bearer kicked into high gear making up about 4 lengths on Pipedreamer to head him at the wire. Next, he raced in the Prince of Wales Stakes, where he ran an amazing 2nd to Vision D'Etat, the Prix Ganay and Hong Kong Cup winner. In that race, Tartan Bearer finished ahead of Twice Over, the 3rd place finisher of the 09' B.C. Classic, and the talented French colt Never On Sunday. Most recently, he was one of three entries for Sir Michael Stoute in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Again, Tartan Bearer finished 2nd, narrowly beaten by his stablemate Conduit and finishing ahead of the dynamic colt Ask. This is truly a talented colt for those who have never seen him race. With Conduit now in retirement, set to stand stud in Japan, it won't surprise me at all if when the 2010 Breeders Cup races roll around if Sir Michael Stoute will look to continue his dominance of the Breeders Cup Turf by sending Tartan Bearer to pick up where Conduit left off. If he does send Tartan Bearer over, any horses with visions of winning the Breeders Cup Turf would be looking at facing a colt that can be just as dominant as Conduit has been in the race in 2008 and 2009. For me, I think he would absolutely be the horse to have to beat should he race in the B.C. Turf. The only other potential rival that I can think of right now that's racing well enough to cause Tartan Bearer problems would be maybe Spanish Moon. This, of course, is all just my humble opinion.