Another Gr.1 winner by Tweenhills stallion

Harbour Watch might have been retired from stud duties in 2018 and put to sleep the following year aged 10, but he left an indelible mark on the breed. He is the sire of Waikuku, Pyledriver, Tis Marvellous and Baron Samedi, with the first-named adding another Gr.1 win to his CV on January 23.

Waikuku began his racing career with John Oxx, running once at two in 2018 and returning with a win the following July. He was then bought privately and switched to John Size in Hong Kong.

Waikuku won the Gr.1 Stewards’ Cup over a mile in January 2020 and the Gr.1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup over seven furlongs in February 2021. He completed a hat-trick of top-level wins with another Stewards’ Cup victory on Sunday, defeating fellow seven-year-old Golden Sixty, himself a multiple Gr.1 winner.

Waikuku was bred Shane Molan in Ireland and, incredibly, his father Thomas bred Harbour Watch.

The Molan’s Riversfield Stud had acquired Waikuku’s dam London Plane for just €13,500 in 2013. Waikuku was the first foal out of the Danehill Dancer mare, who was trained by Tommy Stack to finished placed in a pair of maidens before switching to France.

Harbour Watch’s daughters may also continue his legacy and he’s already the damsire of 2021 Listed-winning two-year-old Honey Sweet and Tacarib Bay, placed in the Gr.3 Horris Hill Stakes last October.