Alpha on top in G1 Travers Stakes

Bernardini sired his second consecutive G1 Travers winner August 25 as favoured Alpha shared the victory in what was certainly a memorable day at Saratoga.

It was a case of deja vu, as Alpha was entering the Travers having won the G2 Jim Dandy earlier in the Saratoga meet. The Travers-Jim Dandy double was completed last year by Bernardini's Stay Thirsty as well and Alpha emulating his sire as Bernardini was a winner of the G1 Travers.

The 2000 metre race is dubbed the 'Midsummer Derby' and Alpha showed plenty of courage to score. Forwardly placed just off the pace under a strong hold from jockey Ramon Dominguez, Alpha was turned loose by Dominguez approaching the home turn with Aplha chasing down Golden Ticket to get up late on and share the spoils.

A three-time Graded Stakes winner, Alpha's earnings now surpass the US$1 million mark. Bred by Darley, Alpha is out of the Stakes-winning mare Munnaya, by Nijinsky. The colt is a half-brother to Stakes winner and Graded-placed Mystic Melody, Graded-placed Lavender Sky, and two other Black type horses. Munnaya is a half-sister to Sheer Reason and Mall Queen, both Stakes winners and Graded-placed. Munnaya has a yearling full-brother to Alpha.

Alpha is one of five G1 winners for Bernardini and ranks alongside To Honor And Serve and Stay Thirsty, among others. The sire is represented by a remarkable nine G1 horses from his first two crops alone. In addition to Alpha, his best in 2012 include Graded winners Via Villaggio, Algorithms, and Le Bernardin. 

Bernardini's Australian offspring were to the fore on Saturday with three-year-olds Meidung and Toydini placing in their respective G3 races in Sydney.

Bernardini will stand at Darley Kelvinside for $55,000 (inc. GST) in 2012.