There are probably as many factors in the making of a good horse as there are ways a horse can find to lose a race. Whether picking a horse in the sale ring or the form guide, the task is formidable. Old-timers will quote breeding, conformation and temperament as the keys to selecting a yearling. […]

Written 2011 (updated 2022) The LADY SUSAN family (branch of Twine the Plaiden) The three best known modern members of the LADY SUSAN family (7-a) in Australasia are Danzig, Bletchingly and Rockefella. Despite the fact that Danzig has the quintessential ‘American’ pedigree; Rockefella appears in European pedigrees; and Bletchingly is a dyed-in-the-wool Aussie, these three […]

Written 2003 Thoroughbred breeders are a diverse lot. They range from the stud group which employs more administrative and hands-on staff than it has brood mares, through to the racehorse owner using the mare he has retired from the track (not necessarily covered in glory) to produce his next runner. Whereas the owner-breeder may be […]

Written 2001 It seems to be that every season, the Denise’s Joy family throws up another good horse.  That this alone is worth remarking upon is true, but there are inner workings that make the family worth further scrutiny. A grand daughter of the taproot mare Holiday Scene (family 16C), Denise’s Joy was by the […]

Written 2004 From (this) pedigree analyst’s point of view, there are two major reasons for the same sire and dam combination coming up with radically different racing talent in their offspring; parent compatibility and parent prepotency.  Other reasons why repeat matings may fail are: advancing age of one or both parents, affecting sperm quality or […]

Written 2008 It is generally accepted that the Thoroughbred inherits its racing ability, among other traits (physical features, temperament etc) via the sire and dam. Obviously, this is the reason we send our mares to well performed or well bred sires in preference to any old Tom, Dick or Neddy. To “breed the best to […]