An exciting group of 26 Australian-based sires who went to stud in 2015 have significant representation at the 2018 yearling sales. A short overview and examples of each sire’s predicted best nicks and crosses may be helpful for prospective buyers, both now and down the track.
This topic will be presented in alphabetical order in two articles – here is the first group of 13:
ADELAIDE (Galileo – Elletelle by Elnadim)
Roberto, Storm Cat and Blushing Groom are standouts for producing Group 1 winners with Adelaide’s sire, Galileo. Yearlings with dams carrying Red Ransom, Dr Fong, Silver Hawk, Dynaformer, Brocco and At Talaq offer Roberto, while Storm Cat is present in dams by Shamardal, Hennessy, Tale Of The Cat, Van Nistelrooy, Johannesburg, Mukaddamah, Giant’s Causeway and Black Minnaloushe.
Blushing Groom also nicks with Nijinsky II, who is present in Adelaide. Look for yearlings with Rainbow Quest (Quest For Fame, Spectrum ), Nassipour, Fantastic Light, Noverre, Redding, and War Pass via their dams.
A grandson of Sadler’s Wells, Adelaide’s yearlings carrying reinforcement of this family appeal. Fairy King (sire of Encosta De Lago, Falbrav and Helissio), Nureyev, Thatching, Tate Gallery, Geiger Counter, Yeats, Inflate, Perugino, Northern Meteor and Open Day are desirable. Zabeel mares not only carry Nureyev, they also have fellow family member Val De Loir.
Adelaide yearlings from mares carrying Umatilla, Bachelor Duke, Papal Power and Tough Speed carry a desirable sex balanced duplication of Miswaki.
Adelaide’s damsire Elnadim is from the Fall Aspen family. Yearlings out of mares by family members such as Bianconi, Fort Wood, Timber Country, Dubai Millennium and Charnwood Forest carry desirable linebreeding to this family.
BETTER THAN READY (More Than Ready – Sally’s World by Agnes World)
As a direct descendant of Almahmoud family member Halo, Better Than Ready is a shoe-in for mares carrying fellow family member, Danehill. Better Than Ready’s
sire More Than Ready has an affinity with mares from this line, having produced 8 Group 1 winners on this cross.
Another Almahmoud family member which should work is Machiavellian, whose sons Street Cry and Vettori are desirable in the dams of Better Than Ready yearlings.
Yearlings out of mares carrying Bletchingly reinforce the presence of Danzig up close in Better Than Ready’s pedigree, both tracing to Lady Susan and creating a recognised nick.
Better Than Ready is strong in the La Troienne family, carrying members More Than Ready, Woodman, Buckpasser, Poker and Jet Action. Further reinforcement in yearlings’ female families is another feature to look for. Dams by or carrying Congrats, Screen Hero, Forest Glow, Private Account and Noble Bijou are examples.
BRAZEN BEAU (I Am Invincible – Sansadee by Snaadee)
Brazen Beau is a strongly linebred horse, being 4m x 3m Danzig and 4m x 3f to fellow Lady Susan family member Bletchingly, as well as carrying Rockefella – the third of this family ‘trilogy’ – twice via his sire.
His dam Sansadee is also bred on a Rasmussen Factor pattern of Blue Hen mare Windy Answer 4f x 4f through different daughters.
Brazen Beau’s sire I Am Invincible has produced Group 1 winner I Am A Star, who is bred on a sex balanced duplication of Kris 4f x 4m. Broodmares carrying Kris’ sons such as Common Grounds and Creese, or Kris’ brothers Diesis and Keen, would therefore be appealing in Brazen Beau yearlings.
I Am Invincible’s Group 1 winner Viddora is out of a mare by Colombia, a brother to Octagonal and Mouawad. Other non-Danzig line broodmare sires which have produced Group winners by I Am Invincible include Zeditave, Reset, Southern Halo, Tale Of The Cat, Gilded Time, Peintre Celebre and Stravinsky (the latter two by Nureyev).
Yearlings out of mares from the Mr Prospector line look appealing, as not only does he provide a proven cross with Danzig, but Brazen Beau’s damsire Snaadee carries What A Pleasure, a relation of Mr Prospector’s grandsire Native Dancer, who also appears in Brazen Beau as damsire of Northern Dancer (twice).
CLUSTER (Fastnet Rock – Tarcoola Diamond by Last Tycoon)
If Cluster is to work in a similar fashion to his champion sire, his best performers will be from mares from a few dominant sire lines. Fastnet Rock has worked extremely well with the Sadler’s Wells line, producing 27 of his 125 stakes winners, with Sadler’s Wells’ son Galileo producing 14 of those. His three-quarter brother Nureyev has also done well, being present on this damsire lines of 15 stakes winners, including five by Zabeel.
Fusaichi Pegasus mares have produced two of Fastnet Rock’s 31 Group 1 winners, and also look good with Cluster.
Cluster is line bred to Torpenhow via Nijinsky II and Try My Best (sire of Last Tycoon). Other family members to look for in the dams of yearlings include Masterclass, Manhattan Rain, New Regent, Spinning World (who also contributes Nureyev), El Gran Senor, The Minstrel, Good Journey, Umatilla and Xaar.
Two Nasrullah / Princequillo crosses present in Cluster’s dam call for influences such as Secretariat, Riverman, Godswalk, First Consul, Kris S and Without Fear in the dams of his yearlings, to further reinforce this well known nick.
DEEP FIELD (Northern Meteor – Listen Here by Elusive Quality)
Deep Field and Shooting To Win are brothers by the ill-fated Northern Meteor, who showed enormous ability in the few short years he was a stud. Being from the Fairy King sire line, Northern Meteor proved a lovely outcross for the prolific Danehill line. Three of his six Group 1 winners were out of mares by Danehill or his sons Redoute’s Choice and Flying Spur.
Northern Meteor was no one-trick pony however. Line bred to Rough Shod via Fairy King and his tail female line – he responded well to reinforcement of this, the Goody Two Shoes family. Of his 24 stakes winners, four carried further reinforcement of this family. They were through Sadler’s Wells, Lorenzaccio, Nureyev, Yeats and Geiger Counter – the latter two present in the one horse. Yearlings with dams carrying these individuals as well as fellow family members such as Perugino, Val De Loir and Open Day also appeal. Zabeel carries both Nureyev and Val De Loir.
A member of the Eight Carat branch of the Lady Josephine family, Deep Field should respond well to mares reinforcing this line. Yearlings out of mares with such sires as Commands, Danewin, Octagonal, Kaapstad, Kempinsky and Mouawad in their pedigrees, create strong patterns.
Overall, Deep Field has very strong representation of the Lady Josephine family and mares carrying fellow family members Mossman, Nediym, Kalamoun, Nassipour and /or a strong background of Nasrullah, Mahmoud, Fair Trial and Royal Charger for instance, reinforce this strength.
DISSIDENT (Sebring – Diana’s Secret by Anabaa)
Dissident yearlings from mares by Encosta De Lago and his sons look particularly appealing. He has worked very well with his sire Sebring, producing four of his 21 Group winners. Bringing together Sebring’s damsire Flying Spur and his close relation Encosta De Lago is a successful combination.
La Troienne features in his pedigree, with More Than Ready, Woodman, Buckpasser (twice) and Cornish Prince present. Congrats, Screen Hero, Forest Glow, Private Account and Noble Bijou in the pedigrees of yearlings’ dams boost this important line.
While already inbred to Mr Prospector, Sebring has worked well with mares from this sire line, including King’s Best and Hussonet, who are damsires of Group 1 winners Egg Tart and Lucky Bubbles respectively.
Yearlings out of mares carrying Mill Reef look interesting with Dissident. He is a half brother to Western Symphony’s dam (Dissident ‘s second damsire). Mill Reef is most readily accessed via Last Tycoon, Shirley Heights, Doyoun and Marooned in the pedigrees of mares.
Dissident’s damsire Anabaa has also produced Group 1 winners out of mares by Mossman, Galileo (two), Authorized, Encosta De Lago, Giant’s Causeway, Motivator (Montjeu), Testa Rossa, Manhattan Café (Sunday Silence), Haradasun and Verglas, so yearlings carrying these influences are also of interest.
GOD HAS SPOKEN (Blackfriars – Dolly Will Do by Rubiton)
A son of recently deceased champion sire Blackfriars, this Group 2 winning WA based stallion is a full brother to dual Group 1 winner, Playing God.
He has a relatively ‘old fashioned’ dam line, being out of a mare by Rubiton (by Century), his second damsire being Taipan II (by Bold Ruler) and third damsire the great Vain.
The close presence of Bold Ruler, coupled with War Admiral twice further back, couples well with dams carrying Eight Thirty and Prince John. These four have a strong history of affinity. Eight Thirty and / or Prince John are present in such broodmare sires as Salieri (damsire of Magic Albert), Carnegie, Brief Truce, Success Express (and son Mossman), Rock Of Gibraltar, Brocco, Royal Academy, Zabaleta and Is It True.
Creation of sex balanced duplications is another positive pattern. Yearlings whose dams carry daughters of Century to sex balance Rubiton; sons of Todman such as Imposing, Jevington, Scarlet Man and Zvornik; and sons of Vain such as Sir Dapper, Vain Karioi, Proud Knight, County and Front Page, create these patterns.
Blackfriars’ best known product is four-time Group 1 winner Black Heart Bart – he is out of an At Talaq (Roberto line) mare. He has Group 2 winners out of Carry A Smile (Haulpak) and Last Tycoon mares. His Group 3 winners are out of mares by Metal Storm and Tribu (both by Kenmare), Scenic (two), Key Business (Success Express) and Aurealis (Kaoru Star).
HALLOWED CROWN (Street Sense – Crowned Glory by Danehill)
Hallowed Crown has a very interesting pedigree. Unusually, he carries key influences Danehill, Bletchingly and Nureyev through daughters rather than the much more common presences through sire sons.
Exploiting this pattern are yearlings by mares carrying sons of Danehill; sons of Bletchingly such as Canny Lad; and sons of Nureyev such as Peintre Celebre, Ashkalani, Soviet Lad, Spinning World and Stravinsky.
Dams carrying Nureyev’s close relations Sadler’s Wells and Fairy King also stand out.
Strong in the Almahoud family, Hallowed Crown carries Machiavellian, Danehill and four lines to Northern Dancer. Halo (via More Than Ready, Don’t Say Halo, Sunday Silence etc), El Moxie, Way Of Light and Orpen are other family members to look for in yearlings.
Another interesting feature is that Hallowed Crown’s second dam is a half sister to the great Zabeel. Yearlings out of mares carrying Zabeel create a Rasmussen Factor pattern, with Lady Giselle being represented by half siblings Significant Moment and Zabeel.
In the Southern Hemisphere, Hallowed Crown’s sire Street Sense has produced Group winners by Commands, Danehill Dancer (both by Danehill), Zabeel, Star Way, Cape Cross, Metal Storm and Personal Flag.
HAMPTON COURT (Redoute’s Choice – Roses ‘n’ Wine by Broken Vow)
Nijinsky II is duplicated in Hampton Court’s pedigree and boosted by fellow Torpenhow family member Redoute’s Choice. He would benefit from the addition of other members in broodmares, such as Masterclass, New Regent, Spinning World, El Gran Senor, Try My Best (sire of Last Tycoon), Far North, The Minstrel, Umatilla, Xaar, Hurricane Sky and Good Journey.
Of the above, Redoute’s Choice has had particular success with Try My Best via Last Tycoon, producing 3 of his 32 Group 1 winners.
Redoute’s Choice, a son of Danehill, has produced top class horses from a variety of outcross lines including Storm Cat, Mr Prospector, Sir Tristram, Star Way, Nureyev, Encosta De Lago, Snippets, Luskin Star and Halo – all of which look to also suit Hampton Court’s pedigree.
Hampton Court yearlings out of Dehere mares will carry a sex balanced duplication of Vice Regent.
A nick involving Nearco and Hyperion is repeated 8 times in Hampton Court’s pedigree via four presences of Nearctic, Canny Lad’s dam, Vaguely Noble and a duplication of Amerigo. This can be reinforced by the presence of such influences as Vain, Landau, Baguette, Taipan Ii, Graustark, Marshua’s Dancer, Thatch, Orgoglio, Delta Judge, Special (dam of Nureyev and second dam of Sadler’s Wells and Fairy King), Hornbeam, Hermes and Dignitas in the dams of yearlings by Hampton Court.
JIMMY CREED (Distorted Humor – Hookedonthefeelin by Citidancer)
By top US sire Distorted Humor, Jimmy Creed offers a daughter of Danzig in his pedigree to complement sons of Danzig, such as Danehill, Anabaa, Ad Valorem, Belong To Me, Perugino, Snaadee, Desert Sun, Golden Snake, and Bianconi. This opens up a world of opportunities in Australia for this young stallion.
The last of the abovementioned, Bianconi, is of particular interest in the dams of yearlings by Jimmy Creed. He is out of Fall Aspen, a half sister to Jimmy Creed’s second damsire, Allen’s Prospect. Other Fall Aspen descendants that will create desirable linebreeding to this desirable line are Timber Country, Dubai Millennium, Charnwood Forest, Elnadim, Fort Wood and Hamas.
Jimmy Creed’s grandsire Forty Niner is closely related to Haulpak, a champion sire and broodmare sire in WA. His presence in the dams of Jimmy Creed yearlings would be welcomed.
Going on to become a leading US sire, Jimmy Creed’s sire Distorted Humor stood in Australia for two seasons early in his career. He was not heavily patronised and his best issue here was Group 1 winner Rinky Dink (Southern Appeal). Distorted Humor has worked particularly well with mares carrying Storm Bird, A P Indy, Sadler’s Wells and Seattle Slew worldwide.
OLYMPIC GLORY (Choisir – Acidanthera by Alzao)
The best European son of Choisir, Olympic Glory has joined fellow son of Choisir, Starspangledbanner in the role of active sire.
We can’t ignore the compatibility patterns established by Choisir over the ten-plus years he has produced runners to-date. His 11 Group 1 winners include those out of mares by Made Of Gold, Sir Tristram (who also creates a sex balanced duplication of Sir Ivor with Olympic Glory), Palace Music, Encosta De Lago, Brief Truce, Redoute’s Choice, Carnegie and Montjeu (the latter two by Sadler’s Wells).
Olympic Glory is out of a mare by Alzao, who as damsire, has produced 13 Group 1 winners worldwide. Those include Japanese star Deep Impact, whose sire Sunday Silence has some representation in Australia (via Fuji Kiseki, Keep The Faith, Bubble Gum Fellow etc) and would be very welcome in the pedigrees of the dams of Olympic Glory yearlings.
Other sires that have worked at the highest level with Alzao and look good with Olympic Glory include Singspiel, Air De France and Encosta De Lago. Of particular note is that three of Alzao’s 13 Group 1 winners as broodmare sire are by Red Ransom or his sons.
Olympic Glory’s second damsire is Shirley Heights, who has a strong affinity with Sadler’s Wells, so dams of yearlings from this line have particular appeal.
PUISSANCE DE LUNE (Shamardal – Princess Serena by Unbridled’s Song)
The Danzig line is particularly successful with Puissance De Lune’s sire Shamardal. Yearlings out of mares carrying the prolific influence Danehill, plus Bianconi, Chief’s Crown, Ad Valorem, Astronomer Royal, Hard Spun, Desert Sun, Golden Snake, Mister C, Perugino and Snaadee are amongst those that appeal.
Close relations Sadler’s Wells, Fairy King and Nureyev also have had great success with Shamardal. Damsire representatives include Encosta De Lago, Barathea, Helissio, High Chaparral, Carnegie, King Of Kings, Scenic, Galileo, Soviet Lad, Spinning World and Stravinsky. Shamardal’s Gr1 winner Faint Perfume is from a mare by Zabeel, who is out of a Nureyev mare.
Blushing Groom (present twice) nicks with Nijinsky II. Yearlings out of mares carrying Royal Academy, Bletchley Park, Bel Esprit, Caerleon, Kala Dancer, Serheed, Western Symphony and Yeats provide this infuence.
An interesting cross for Puissance De Lune involves daughters or granddaughters of Street Cry. A full brother to Shamardal’s dam, he is by Machiavellian. Shamardal’s Gr 1 winning son Lope De Vega is a shining example of a successful Machiavellian duplication.
RUBICK (Encosta De Lago – Sliding Cube by Rock Of Gibraltar)
Rubick is a direct descendant of the very influential Torpenhow and also carries fellow family member Nijinsky II. He would benefit from the presence of other Torpenhow family members in mares, such as Al Maher, Try My Best (sire of Last Tycoon), Far North, The Minstrel, Hurricane Sky, Xaar, Umatilla, New Regent, El Gran Senor, Spinning World and Gielgud. Rubick’s dam is a three-quarter sister to Redoute’s Choice. Granddaughters of Redoute’s Choice by such sons as Snitzel, Stratum, Not A Single Doubt, Nadeem, Bradbury’s Luck and Beneteau should suit.
Yearling by mares such as Royal Academy, Western Symphony, Caerleon, Whiskey Road, Yeats and Serheed sex balance Nijinsky II.
Encosta De Lago is from the Fanfreluche family. Other members include Flying Spur, Holy Roman Emperor, Kheleyf, D’accord and L’enjoleur who appeal in the dams of Rubick yearlings.
Encosta De Lago’s sire Fairy King is a brother to Sadler’s Wells and Tate Gallery and a three-quarter brother to Nureyev. Look for these influences in the dams of yearlings by Rubick. Fairy King will also appreciate reinforcement from mares carrying other sires from this line, such as Thatch and his son Thatching, Yeats, Inflate, Topsider, Festival Hall and Open Day.
The presence of five lines to Northern Dancer suggests other Almahmoud family members such as Halo, Orpen, Way Of Light, Machiavellian, Catrail, El Moxie and Arctic Tern will suit.
Rubick carries two daughters of Sir Ivor, so introducing Sir Tristram, a son of Sir Ivor, sex balances this ancestor.
Mares from the Mr Prospector sire line are also attractive for Rubick, as several key elements in his pedigree are known to work well with him. Already carrying a daughter of this influence, yearlings out of mares by this sire line are also standouts.
olympic glory covering gods own country would be a good mateing ????????