Group 1 winning sprinter Smiling Tiger has been catalogued for the Fasig-Tipton Sale in Kentucky on November 6.  

The son of former Swettenham Stud sire Hold That Tiger will change hands a day after lining up in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs.

“He’s as good as any Group winning sprinter in training right now and has only been unplaced once in 18 starts,” vendor Archie St. George said.  “He already has three Group 1 wins under his belt and has been a stakes-winner at two, three and four.

“The horse is tall and athletic and he has the right sire line to appeal as a stallion prospect.  And there are many more international racing opportunities ahead of him.”

Smiling Tiger (4c Hold That Tiger – Shandra Smiles by Cahill Road) defeated older horses in the 2010 G1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar.  He was also successful in the G1 Ancient Title Stakes last year and G1 Triple Bend Handicap at Hollywood Park this summer.

“Smiling Tiger is the best horse I’ve ever prepared,” trainer Jeff Bonde predicted.  “When he does finally retire to stud, I will be breeding to him – that’s a guarantee.

Hold That Tiger (Storm Cat) began reverse shuttling from Swettenham to France in 2008 but is now based there full time after Haras de la Haie Neuve studmaster Alain Regnier bought him outright earlier this year.

Regnie instigated the sale on the promise shown by his first crop.  The Freddy Head trained colt Vasco Bere leads his first two year-olds which includes four winners to date.

Hold That Tiger’s final southern foals are arriving at Swettenham and among the latest is a filly from NZ bred mare Divine Spirit.  The dam is by Cape Cross and hails from the Group 1 family of Denise’s Joy.