It is rare indeed to be able to write about a Derby winner which is descended from a Derby winner however, current Indian star Black Pearl is an unbeaten example.
So far Black Pearl has won all six of his races from 1200 to 2200 metres including the Calcutta 2000 Guineas (video below), Calcutta Million, Indian Champagne Stakes and then the Calcutta Derby last time out on January 17, the race marred by the fatal breakdown of the filly Zoya leaving just two to finish.
A half-brother to Adjudicate (Multidimensional), India’s Horse of the Year in 2019 and a winner from 1200 to 2800m, Black Pearl’s dam Alvarita (Jade Robbery) won three races up to 1600m in India including the Bangalore Fillies Trial and finishing third in the Indian 1000 Guineas and Kingfisher Derby.
Bred by Sohna Stud, Black Pearl is from the first-crop of French Listed winner Planetaire (Galileo), bred by the Wertheimers and a brother to Gr1 winner Mondialiste and three-quarter brother to Prix du Jockey-Club winner and sire Intello.
Planetaire stands at Sultan Singh’s Sohna Stud in Haryana, not far from New Delhi, and got 40 live foals in his first-crop.
Black Pearl is 3×5 Sadler’s Wells and Alvarita is 2×3 Mr Prospector, her third-dam Shbakni (Mr Prospector) placed in France herself and a daughter of 1988 Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors.
Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, Winning Colors (Caro) sold for $575,000 as a Keeneland July yearling. In addition to the Kentucky Derby she won the Santa Anita Derby and Santa Anita Oaks.
She also finished third in the Preakness Stakes and was second to undefeated champion Personal Ensign in the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Distaff, retiring with eight wins from 19 starts for owner Eugene Klein.
Klein sold Winning Colors for $4.1 million to Gainesway Bloodstock Services at the 1989 Keeneland November mixed sale.
From 10 foals, Winning Colors was unable to leave one with a fraction of her own ability. Her best offspring Golden Colors, a filly by Mr. Prospector who was Gr3-placed in Japan. Golden Colors went on to produce Cheerful Smile (Sunday Silence), a Gr3 winner in Japan.
Winning Color’s last foal Silver Colors (Mr Greeley) failed to place on the track but left the Gr1 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga winner Eskimo Kisses (To Honor And Serve).