He's been called the "Ghost of Barbaro". Already, people are clamoring to see him run his first race. His name is Nicanor -- and he might be the savior horse racing has been looking for.
Nicanor is by the sire Dynaformer, from the dam La Ville Rouge. Sound familiar? It should -- Nicanor is the full brother of national darling Barbaro, winner of the 2006 Kentucky Derby.
Nicanor has yet to run a single race. Sercretariat had a sister and Seattle Slew had a brother, neither of which turned out to be half as good as their famous siblings.
Who knows how good Nicanor will actually be. He can look and act exactly like his brother, which he does. Racing like his brother...now that's something entirely different.
But on the morning of June 7, the same day Big Brown failed to become horse racing's 12th Triple Crown winner, Nicanor posted his first official workout: Three furlongs in :39 seconds flat.
If the racing gods were against brash trainer Rick Dutrow and the IEAH owners of Big Brown, they have to be smiling at the sight of Nicanor.
His owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, earned the respect and admiration of every racing fan for their un-yeilding attempt to save Barbaro's life.
His probable trainer, Michael Matz, is an Olympic equestrian champion, and champion of a different sort after saving the lives of three children during a plane crash years ago.
Maybe it's too early to call Nicanor the "savior" of the sport. But here's to hoping Nicanor puts on a performance in the 2009 Kentucky Derby that is eerily similar to his brother's win in 2006.
If not... there's always 2010, when Barbaro's second full-brother, Lentenor, will be three years old.
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3 months ago
I remember reading about Nicanor on the internet about a year ago. I heard "rumors" that Barbaro now had a full brother. I didn't believe it at the time, but, I soon figured out that the sire and dam of Barbaro just had another foal - Nicanor.
What a beautiful animal - dark bay, with a beautiful flowing mane and tail. A striking heart shaped star on his forehead, just as his brother before him had, with a touch of white on his nose. He looks a little smaller than Barbaro was as a two year old, but, he seems to have rippling muscles in his legs and body. He is the spitting image of his heroic brother.
Let's hope that he is the savior the sport, for, we do need one very badly - very badly. After Big Brown's upset in the Belmont Stakes, racing fans have seem to have lost hope. Hopefully, Nicanor will restore our hopes and dreams of a Triple Crown winner. May God bless this dark bay colt, the brohter of America's Horse - Barbaro. Good luck to all his connections, his trainer, Michael Matz, his soon to be jockey, and his loving owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson. But, most of all, good luck to the Sport of Kings.
2 months ago
I am eager to see Nicanor race. I check the web frequently to try and found out if he is on a racing card anywhere. Is Michael training him at Fair Hill? That would put him racing at Pimlico or Belmont more than likely.
I still miss Barbaro terribly. I just finished reading, My Guy Barbaro, by Edgar Prado, and it is an excellent read. I have great respect for the Jacksons, Mr. Matz, and Mr. Prado, and all of the connections to Barbaro. Nicanor cannot replace him, but he can bring his owners, trainers, and fans great joy in living up to his full potential. Champion racehorse or not, Nicanor is a blessing and gives us all hope.
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