HENRY Wadsworth Longfellow was one of the most widely-known and best-loved American poets of the 19th century.

He achieved a level of national and international prominence previously unequalled in the literary history of the United States, and is one of the few American writers honoured in Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey. In fact, Longfellow is believed to be the first, as his bust was installed there in 1884. Poems such as Paul Revere’s Ride, Evangeline, A Tale of Acadie and A Psalm of Life, are long remembered by generations who studied them as children.

Will the same be said in due course of the two-year-old named in his honour? The Dubawi (Dubai Millennium) colt Henry Longfellow won for the second time at the Curragh within a month when he landed the spoils in the Group 2 Coolmore Stud Wootton Bassett Irish EBF Futurity Stakes, and no wonder the Tipperary farm sponsors a race that has been beneficial to the careers of many of their star runners.

I could end this piece now by just saying that Henry Longfellow is the second foal, first runner and first winner for Minding (Galileo), and that would be enough for most. He combines the hugely successful sire lines of Dubawi and Galileo (Sadler’s Wells), has some Danehill (Danzig) too, and his third dam is by Darshaan (Shirley Heights). Could it be any better?

In any case, for those newcomers to breeding or this column, here is a synopsis of the female line, with a few additional Group 1 winners last year. In November, Tuesday (Galileo) crowned her classic season with victory in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. She won the Group 1 Oaks at Epsom and was placed in the English and Irish 1000 Guineas, as well as being runner-up in the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks.

Classic heroines

Tuesday is one of three Group 1 winners, all classic heroines, out of the dual Group 1 winner Lillie Langtry (Danehill Dancer), preceded by her full-sisters Minding (Galileo) and Empress Josephine (Galileo), the former winning seven times at the highest level and now being the dam of Henry Longfellow.

Empress Josephine won the Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas, while yet another of Lillie Langtry’s daughters, Kissed by Angels (Galileo), was a Group 3 winner from four runs.

Minding was a European champion in each of the three seasons she raced. Seven of her nine wins, from 13 starts, were at Group 1 level, and comprised the Moyglare Stud Stakes and the Dubai Fillies’ Mile at two, and at three she added the 1000 Guineas, Oaks, Pretty Polly Stakes, Nassau Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. She never finished out of the first three.

After her racing career ended, she made a short visit to Japan to be covered by Deep Impact (Sunday Silence), resulting in an unraced three-year-old filly, Victorium. Minding foaled a full-sister to Henry Longfellow last year.

Very smart

Lillie Langtry, a 70,000gns foal and 230,000gns yearling, was a very smart racemare. Thirteen years ago she won the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, later adding the Group 1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown. All of her six winners are by Galileo. Lillie Langtry was bred by Kevin Lynch, father of bloodstock agent Barry, from the unraced Hoity Toity (Darshaan), a 15,000gns purchase as a two-year-old through Sean O’Sullivan’s Corrin Stud.

Hoity Toity was later sold to Bjorn Nielsen, breeder of Stradivarius, after she foaled Count Of Limonade (Duke Of Marmalade). He was a listed winner at the Curragh. Hoity Toity’s third stakes winner, Danilovna (Dansili) was successful in the USA, while her once-raced daughter Lady Hawkfield (Hawk Wing) bred the Group 3 Sandown classic trial winner Master Apprentice (Mastercraftsman).

Two of Hoity Toity’s siblings worth mentioning are Sweet Emotion (Bering), and the unraced Elisium (Proclamation). The latter went to South Africa where her winners are headed by Russian Rock (Pomodoro), successful in the Group 1 Cape Guineas. Sweet Emotion won and was stakes-placed from four starts, bred the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy runner-up Winged Cupid (In The Wings), and is the third dam of last year’s Group 1 Prix de l’Opera heroine Place Du Carrousel (Lope De Vega).