English Derby winner North Light sired his first winner when North Ballade won the Kuban Stakes at Rostov-on-Don racecourse in Russia on Sunday.

North Ballade (2f  North Light – Betty B by Devil’s Bag) was bred in Florida and was sold for $10,000 at the 2008 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

There is an Australian connection in the bottom-half of her pedigree through second dam Somebody Dear (Seattle Slew) who a half-sister to Regency Fair (Assert).  She won races at Bath and Pontefract for Robert Sangster before being imported to Australia in 1988.

Regency Fair won a Randwick welter over 2000m in March 1989 and was then beaten a nose by Tawrrific in the G2 AJC St Leger.

At stud, she foaled 7 winners.  The best of them was Kabila (Bellotto) who won four races at Moonee Valley in addition to a Moe Cup and R M Ansett Classic at Mornington.

North Light was a Goodwood juvenile winner before Sir Michael Stoute put him away with the 2004 classics in mind.  The Danehill colt won the G2 Dante Stakes and, on the strength of that performance, was dispatched as the 7-2 favourite in the English Derby (G1).  He stalked the pace at Epsom before seizing command for a convincing win.

North Light attempted to complete a classic double in the Irish Derby (G1) but was run down inside the final furlong by Grey Swallow at the Curragh.  He retired the following year to stand at Adena Springs in Kentucky.

ROYAL ASCOT winner Bronze Cannon has been sold to Russian owners and will run in this Saturday’s President’s Cup in Moscow.
Bronze Cannon (4c Lemon Drop Kid – Victoria Cross by Mark Of Esteem) won the G2 Hardwicke Stakes for trainer John Gosden and will remain in his care after the return trip to Moscow this weekend.