MALARKEY
Limited Edition x Shenanigans
[Gold Edition x Trust Limits] - [Bucephalus x Thanks For The Memories]
Y18 Chestnut Colt Standing 16.3 Hands High
Surface: Dual
Distance: 9-12
Grade: One
Record: 40-13-12-10
Ridden By: Hal Suhail
By the sire of Ivonette, Cynosure, Nuclear Fallout, and Indulgence.
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Half-brother to Jezebel and Shenandoah.
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PERSONALITY
If anyone expected the first foal of Valkyrie's star mare to live a pampered childhood, they would be quite mistaken. Ark is a big, strongly built colt with a deep chest and huge hindquarters, and he's all-over peppered with the small scrapes and scars that come from rough play with hooves and teeth. Like most other Valkyrie colts, Ark is allowed to play and romp and live in a group, even if it damages the cosmetics. He doesn't actually like to romp or play much, though, so he usually has outright scuffles and convinces the other horses to leave him alone for the most part. He's big enough to impose his will, but he's content to leave others alone if they leave him alone, and therefore doesn't push and shove for the best hay or at the gate. He picks his battles, and saves his energy for when it matters. For a horse of his size, Ark is surprisingly easy to handle. He can be a bit hot at times when he's got extra energy, but for the most part a pop of the nose chain will remind him that he needs to mind and he'll go quietly. It's the same when he's headed to the track for a work or being ridden out of the saddling paddock. He's very responsive under saddle, but until the real running begins he is prone to throwing in some bucks and other athletic feats in his excitement. It's not abnormal for him to get all four feet off the ground if he really gets in a mood. But for the most part he's a thrilling horse to work with, both because of his workmanlike drive and his insane talent. He doesn't have any quit in him, and his stamina with such a large body is truly impressive. With two Hall of Famer parents, what else could you really expect? But for all that he's a legacy horse, he's humble and unaware of the fact since he's only ever been treated like another horse. If Ark has any fault, it's that he can be reactive. It was very useful when gate training, but otherwise causes his riders to always be prepared for a sideways jump or spook on the track. For the most part it's not an issue during a race, and desensitization works wonders with him. As long as he gets proper schooling ahead of time and nothing dramatic happens, he manages to keep himself together. Ark is something special in a number of ways, and one can only hope we'll prove himself to be as much a champion as his parents.
LEG TYPE: CLOSER
Because Ark isn't a very pushy horse unless he really wants something, it's not surprising that he's content to drop to the back of a field at the beginning of a race. He'd be a terrible sprinter given he doesn't get moving for quite awhile, unable to find a comfortable stride with his big frame until midway through the race. When he finally settles in, he starts getting those long legs going and inches up from the rear. He's comfortable moving through gaps, so it's not uncommon for him to make a creeping charge up the rail. His slow acceleration doesn't stop, and coming around the final turn he's generally up among the leaders. One tap of the crop and Ark kicks into gear, digging in and pinning those ears to a dogfight to the finish.
CURRENT SEASON
Starter Points [+5] | Raced Previously [+5] | Raced 3+ Seasons [+5] | Turf Specialist [+3]
Y20: W/P/S 10+ HOTY [+5] | Won HOTY [+5] | Won 5+ HOTY [+5]
Y20: W/P/S 10+ HOTY [+5] | Won HOTY [+5] | Won 5+ HOTY [+5]
PAST PERFORMANCES
TWO YEAR OLD SEASON [Y20]
1st in TW Norman Hall Stakes* - Jan Wk 3 [9F/D/7] 1st in GHF Oak Island Derby* - June Wk 4 [11F/S/7] 1st in GHF Crow Cup* - Sep Wk 4 [11F/D/5] 1st in GHF Golden Slipper Stakes** - Oct Wk 3 [9F/T/6] 1st in TW Gorgeous George Stakes* - Dec Wk 2 [10F/T/7] 1st in TW Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf** - Dec Wk 4 [9F/T/5] 2nd in The Wire Finish Cup Juvenile Turf* - Mar Wk 2 [9F/T/6] 2nd in TW Close Racing Stakes* - Mar Wk 4 [11F/D/6] 2nd in TW Grand Silence Marathon Chall.* - Apr Wk 2 [12F/D/5] 2nd in GHF Horseshoe Futurity* - Apr Wk 4 [10F/D/5] 2nd in BSD Titre Memorial Stakes** - July Wk 2 [9F/S/6] 3rd in BSD War Front Stakes* - Aug Wk 4 [10F/D/7] 3rd in GHF AJC Sires Produce Stakes** - Nov Wk 1 [10F/T/6] 3rd in GHF Champagne Stakes** - Nov Wk 3 [11F/T/6] 4th in GHF Noble Indy Stakes* - Feb Wk 2 [10F/D/7] 4th in TW Firebird Marathon* - June Wk 2 [12F/T/7] |
THREE YEAR OLD SEASON [Y21]
1st in GHF Blue Grass Stakes* - Mar Wk 3 [9F/D/6] [+8] 1st in GHF Silk Road Stakes* - Apr Wk 2 [12F/T/6] [+8] 1st in BSD Delmarva Derby* - Apr Wk 3 [9F/T/5] [+8] 1st in BSD Frankel Stakes* - June Wk 1 [12F/T/5] [+8] 1st in TW Queen's Plate (CTC)** - June Wk 4 [10F/D/4] [+12] 1st in GHF True Enough Memo. Stakes* - Oct Wk 2 [12F/D/2] [+8] 1st in GHF Breeders' Cup Turf Marathon** - Dec Wk 4 [+12] 2nd in GHF Prince Cup* - Mar Wk 2 [9F/T/5] [+6] 2nd in TW Breeders' Stakes (CTC)** - Aug Wk 1 [12F/T/4] [+6] 2nd in TW Consumato Derby** - Sep Wk 3 [11F/D/3] [+9] 2nd in GHF Climax Cup* - Sep Wk 4 [12F/D/4] [+6] 2nd in GHF Merry Bay King Memo. Stakes* - Oct Wk 3 [12F/T/3] [+6] 3rd in BSD Ferriday Stakes* - Jan Wk 3 [11F/T/6] [+4] 3rd in BSD Oceanside Stakes* - Feb Wk 4 [11F/T/5] [+4] 3rd in BSD Will Take Charge Stakes* - May Wk 3 [11F/D/4] [+4] 3rd in TW Prince of Wales Stakes (CTC)** - Jul Wk 2 [9.5F/D/4] [+6] 3rd in BSD French Derby** - Aug Wk 4 [10.5F/T/4] [+6] 3rd in GHF Dubai Colt Cup* - Nov Wk 2 [10F/D/4] [+4] 4th in TW West Virginia Derby* - Feb Wk 2 [9.5F/T/7] [+2] 4th in TW Champion Stakes* - Nov Wk 3 [12F/T/5] [+2] 5th in GHF Dubai World Cup* - Dec Wk 1 [10F/D/5] [+3] |
Horse Pictured: Irish War Cry | Buybacks: Frosty | Other Reserves: None