FOOTPAD became one of the latest horses with the FR suffix to record a big-race success under National Hunt rules in Ireland when he sprang a 14/1 surprise in the Grade 1 GAIN Spring Juvenile Hurdle over two miles at Leopardstown on Sunday.
The gelding, who was bred by Louise and Camille Collet, ran twice over jumps in France before joining the all-conquering Willie Mullins team, and his first appearance here was an odds-on success over two miles at Gowran Park in November.
He was only third behind Apple’s Jade in a Grade 2 contest at Leopardstown a month later, easily beat two rivals back at Gowran Park, and then, wearing a hood for the first time, recorded that two and three-quarter length victory last week.
With such a record one might imagine that he is another representative of the powerful National Hunt breeding programme that the French have developed, but as a second-crop son of the Group 1-winning miler Creachadoir (by King’s Best) and out of the well-related Sadler’s Wells (by Northern Dancer) mare Willamina, his bloodlines could have seen him go in a different direction.
The mare won once as a four-year-old, she is the dam of the listed handicap hurdle scorer Wanaba (by Anabaa) and two blacktype-placed jumpers, and her star son is inbred 3 x 2 to Sadler’s Wells, which could be significant.
Her full-sister Sadler’s Flag won the Group 2 Prix de Royaumont, her half-sister Anysheba (by Alysheba) is the stakes-placed grandam of the Group 2-placed mile pattern winner Ladys First (by Dutch Art), and her dam is the classic-placed Group 2 Prix de Mallaret heroine Animatrice (by Alleged).
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That mare is, in turn, out of the Group 3 Prix Cleopatre winner Alexandrie (by Val De l’Orne), which makes her a half-sister to the Group 3 scorers Alexius (by Rainbow Quest) and King Alex (by Rainbow Quest), and to the classic-placed Group 1 star and leading international sire Poliglote (by Sadler’s Wells).
His record with hurdlers and chasers leads some to think of him as being a leading National Hunt sire, but in addition to a string of Grade 1 winners on the flat in South America, his list of European pattern scorers is headed by the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine Solemia.
His full-sister Star Begonia, who was runner-up in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes, has done her part for the family by being the dam of Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes winner Five Dynasties (by Danehill), although two of Alexandrie’s non-blacktype daughters have gone one better.
Ring Beaune (by Bering), who won twice, is the dam of the dual Grade 1 Eddie Read Handicap scorer Special Ring (by Nureyev), and Via Saleria (by Arazi), who won once, is responsible for the French-bred Australian Group 1 winner I’m Your Man (by Cape Cross).
There are various other listed and pattern scorers in the family, including Alexandrie’s Group 1-winning half-brother Antheus (by Northern Dancer), her classic-winning ‘aunt’ Aryenne (by Green Dancer), and that mare’s Derby-winning son and Group 1 sire Quest For Fame (by Rainbow Quest).
There are other talented horses closely connected to Footpad to demonstrate the strength of his pedigree.
His sire Creachadoir won the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes, is a half-brother to Group 1 star and successful stallion Youmzain (by Sinndar), spent five seasons at Haras du Logis before moving to Haras de Lonray, and his best runner on the flat is the 100-rated handicapper What About Carlo.
That gelding is available at around 25/1 for next month’s Betway Lincoln at Doncaster, a race in which he finished fourth in 2015, but Footpad is now one of the ante-post market leaders for the Grade 1 JCB Triumph Hurdle.