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FEATURE STALLION FEBRUARY 2, 2007 2006 Freshman Stallion of the Year - Johannesburg by Jordan Strickler Another year of racing has been completed and the verdict is in for last year's freshman sires. And the winner for my favorite freshman sire of 2006 is JOHANNESBURG (Hennessy). The eight-year-old stallion had more runners, winners, stakes winners and a higher yearling average last year than any of his counterparts. His runners' earnings exceeded $1.7 million, led by Scat Daddy, who captured the Champagne S. (G1) and Sanford S. (G2). Not bad for a first year's work. Johannesburg's runners have shown an affinity for both the dirt and turf. Scat Daddy and Teuflesberg, winner of the Sugar Bowl S. and second in the Sanford, showed their attraction for the main track while Johannesburg's turf runners were represented by the likes of Richmond S. (Eng-G2) hero Hamoody and Round Tower S. (Ire-G3) victor Rabatash. Standing for $65,000 at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Kentucky, Johannesburg is annually bred to 185-190 mares, with 69 of 141 two-year-olds last year hitting the track. Of those 69 runners, 26 found themselves in the winner's circle, tying Yonaguska with the most winners of all of the first-crop sires. Seven of his two-year-olds last season went on to add black-type to their resumes, with three of those earning graded wins. Johannesburg was equally impressive in the sales ring, with his yearlings bringing an average of $110,749. Johannesburg was a world-class two-year-old in 2001, winning his first seven consecutive races, including the Phoenix S. (Ire-G1), Prix Morny (Fr-G1) and Middle Park S. (Eng-G1) under the direction of trainer Aidan O'Brien. He made his North American debut in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), scoring by 1 1/4 lengths. His triumphs that season earned him champion two-year-old male honors in both Europe and America. However, the Breeders' Cup would be his final victory, as the best finish Johannesburg would record in three starts as a three-year-old would be a second in the Gladness S. (Ire-G3). If the bay stallion continues his current form of producing talented runners on the turf and dirt, Johannesburg could wind up like another versatile sire who stands alongside him at Ashford and is responsible for a number of quality dual-surface runners-- Giant's Causeway.
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