Street Cry puts the world on notice

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Street Cry was just as dominating with his victory in the Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs as he had been three months earlier with a smashing success in the Dubai World Cup. In each race, Street Cry kicked clear of his opposition with a big run in the stretch and won going away.

When last seen racing at Churchill Downs, Street Cry, a handsome son of Machiavellian, had been third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile behind Macho Uno, who was named the Eclipse champion juvenile colt of 2000, and Point Given, who lost only once after that race and was 2001 Horse of the Year. So Street Cry was keeping good company.

Street Cry's performance in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile had been the final start in a very good campaign by a colt who wasn't necessarily expected to find his top form at 2.

His sire, Machiavellian, was a champion colt at 2 in France, but his best stock have usually shown their form at a mile, sometimes more, at 3 and up. Moreover, Street Cry's dam, the Troy mare Helen Street, had won the Irish Oaks at 1 1/2 miles and was one of the best daughters of Troy, a truly grand classic winner in England.

To many readers of pedigrees, this would signal "late-maturing stamina. Maybe her foals will come 'round at 5." Helen Street, however, was no one-paced slug. Instead she was a very fast filly who won the Prix du Calvados at 2, when she also finished second in the Fillies Mile at Ascot, and she owed her victory in the Irish classic to superior finishing speed.

Notably, Helen Street is out of the Riverman mare Waterway, who also won the Prix du Calvados and finished third the next year in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas). So this family has quality, it has speed, and it imparts a good racing physique.

In the flesh, Helen Street was not built like a pure stayer. Although she has quality, Helen Street is more notable for size and strength, and when mated to Machiavellian, she has passed on these traits. Both her offspring by Machiavellian have shown good racing form, with their first product being the stakes-placed Helsinki.

Good-sized and good-looking, Street Cry, in particular, is very sturdy and has a strong top. Whereas Helen Street is a just a bit light behind and has a very straight hind leg, Street Cry has a hindquarter more typical of Mr. Prospector, the sire of Machiavellian.

Hindquarter power allows a horse more early speed, and Machiavellian was a top-class 2-year-old, winning the Prix Morny and Prix de la Salamandre, and Street Cry was not far off that level.

At 2, Street Cry ran a pair of exhilarating races with Flame Thrower. In both the Del Mar Futurity and the Norfolk Stakes, Street Cry and Flame Thrower had lengthy stretch battles. Although he lost both, Street Cry had affirmed his character, and he confirmed his class with a good placing in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile that now looks like very smart form indeed.

After the Juvenile, Street Cry was sent to winter in Dubai, and he made his classic preparation there. He won his first start last year, the UAE 2000 Guineas, by two lengths over Noverre. That colt went to race in Europe for Godolphin, where he finished first in the French 2000 Guineas, then was later disqualified, and afterward won the Sussex Stakes.

Street Cry was upset by a short head in his second start at 3, the UAE Derby, by his stablemate Express Tour. After coming to the States for his engagement in the Kentucky Derby, Street Cry injured an ankle in April and was away from the races until October, when he returned to finish second in the Discovery Handicap at Aqueduct.

After a second winter in Dubai, Street Cry has come back stronger than ever, winning all of his three starts this season.