Tango Choreographed by Bearstone Wins Initial Stakes Race for Mattmu
The Dynamic Filly Argentine Tango Risks Up the Stakes
Get ready for a thrilling ride as the spirited filly Argentine Tango, lovingly nurtured by trainer Tim Easterby, scores her third win in as many attempts! With a recent triumph in the Hilary Needler Trophy, this firecracker not only secured personal glory, but also served as a significant milestone for her lineage.
The two-year-old sensation is the product of a little-used but mighty sire, Mattmu, who boasts an impressive pedigree even though he stepped into the world of stud quite recently. Mattmu, a descendant of Indesatchel, left his mark on the racing scene with victories in the Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte and Rockingham Stakes at a tender age of two, and later claimed the Phoenix Sprint Stakes at three. This powerhouse exhibited his stellar potential when he placed third in the Nunthorpe behind Mecca's Angel, further cementing his legacy.
After a brief retirement to stud in 2017, Mattmu found himself devoid of suitable mates and returned to race for a spectacular run in the Great St Wilfrid Handicap. He eventually moved to Norton Grove Stud and now commands a fee of £2,000, a bulletproof testament to his strength as a sire[1].
Commenting on Mattmu's roots, Terry Holdcroft from Bearstone Stud expresses, "Mattmu was bred on our very own land and the owner asked if we could stand him. We stood him for a season, but now he's at Norton Grove, we still own part of him with a few partners. He may not have had a lot of mares, but I reckon if he'd had more, he'd have been a star. He's got another one we bred called Favourite Child, who just missed out on a Listed race for Karl Burke in France[2]. She's got her first foal from Havana Grey at the moment."
Argentine Tango is the second offspring of the unremarkable Showcasing mare, Showdanse. Also hailing from the same lineage is the Group 1 Italian winner, Hearts Of Fire, as well as the Listed-placed Kenny Powers, giving this line a rich history in racing[3]. Spanish Fern, a Juddmonte-bred US Grade 1 winner, also finds her way in Argentine Tango's lineage.
Holdcroft adds, "The granddam was good and it's a stellar family, probably one of the best we've got if you look at it. It's a Juddmonte family we got into many years ago; the mares just go on forever at our place[3]. We've been in this [breeding racehorses] since 1979, and even though it isn't my main business, it takes up quite a bit of my time."
In an epic display of success catalyzed by Mattmu's progeny, Argentine Tango's latest win was finalized on the heels of American Affair's King Charles III Stakes victory, thanks to Bearstone Stud's respected stallion, Washington DC[4].
Sources:
[1] https://www.racingpost.com/horses2/profile.sd?id=14455[2] https://www.racingtv.com/racing-archive/raceday/august/August-19-2021/Argentine-Tango-lands-first-black-type-win-to-capture-Sandown-Listed-event/[3] https://www.racingpost.com/races/results/april/april-12-2022/[4] https://www.racingtv.com/racing-archive/raceday/august/August-19-2021/American-Affair-takes-King-Charles-III-Stakes-for-Washington-DC/
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Preparing for an electrifying race, Argentine Tango - a granddaughter of Mattmu and timely winner of the Hilary Needler Trophy - continues to raise the stakes in horse-racing, as she follows in the footsteps of her esteemed sire, who conquered sports races such as the Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte and Rockingham Stakes at a young age. This bloodstock line, rooted in the unremitting legacy of Juddmonte-bred horses, is a testament to the enduring potential of racing champions.
