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 is presented in alphabetical order over two issues, with the first Group of 13 published separately. Here is the second Group:
SAFEGUARD (Exceed and Excel – Preserve by Canny Lad)
By top class sire Exceed and Excel out of a half sister to Denman, Safeguard is a Darley speed product through and through. His dam Preserve is full of speed elements as she is inbred to Biscay 3m x 4m and also carries a duplication of Court Martial, whose sire Fair Trial also makes additional appearances throughout the pedigree.
Safeguard already carries two of the three Lady Susan ‘amigos’ Danzig and Bletchingly and yearlings from mares carrying the third sire, Rockefella, are appealing. Sources include mares carrying Star Way, Balmerino, Long Row, Gypsy Kingdom, Ideal Planet and Sharpen Up (via sons such as Diesis, Kris, Keen, Alvaro and Famous Star).
Based in WA, Safeguard should work well with mares by Citidancer (Ire), who stood in WA in later years. He is by Lomond, who also appears in Safeguard through daughter Patrona (dam of Exceed and Excel). Lomond is a half brother to Seattle Slew, who is desirable through the dam.
Based on the pedigrees of dams of Exceed and Excel’s Gr winning progeny, other influences to look for in his yearlings include Mill Reef (Marooned), Blushing Groom, Marauding, Rory’s Jester, Snippets, Rubiton, Quest for Fame, Zabeel, Hurricane Sky, Singspiel and Elusive Quality amongst many others.
SESSIONS (Lonhro – Seances by Canny Lad)
Another WA based stallion, Sessions has the great benefit of carrying a daughter of Danehill. Marrying with mares from the Danehill sire line will create a sex balanced cross which has enjoyed considerable success, the most recent example being the Magic Millions winner, Sunlight.
Being a grandson of Octagonal, Danehill sons which would be of particular interest in the dams of Sessions’ yearlings, are Commands, Danewin, Court of Jewels, Viking Ruler, Kempinsky and Dangerous, who are from the same family as Octagonal.
Kaoru Star is another with a daughter in Sessions’ pedigree. WA stood Old Spice and Pembroke from this line, while Tribu carried a half sister. Luskin Star, Karioi Star, Pag Asa, Hula Chief and Covetous are other sources.
The triplication of Relic in Sessions’ pedigree and presence of fellow Padua family member Raise a Native, would be reinforced by Blue Larkspur as well as the presence of more Raise a Native. The latter would also appeal, as Lonhro’s second damsire First Consul is from this family of Raise a Native’s sire, Native Dancer. This is also the family of Snippets’ second damsire, Misty Day, so Snippets mares and those carrying Raise a Native (most easily found via the Mr Prospector line) are desirable in Sessions yearlings.
SHOOTING TO WIN (Northern Meteor – Listen Here by Elusive Quality)
Shooting to Win and Deep Field are brothers by the ill-fated Northern Meteor, who showed enormous ability in the few short years he was at stud. Being from the Fairy King sire line, Northern Meteor proved a lovely outcross for the prolific Danehill line. Three of his six Gr 1 winners were out of mares by Danehill or his sons Redoute’s Choice and Flying Spur.
Northern Meteor is 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 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, yearlings out of mares with such sires as Commands, Danewin, Octagonal, Kaapstad, Kempinsky and Mouawad in their pedigrees, create strong patterns with Shooting to Win.
Overall, Shooting to Win 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 example, reinforce this strength.
SIDESTEP (Exceed and Excel – Dextrous by Quest for Fame)
Sidestep is out of a Quest for Fame mare. As damsire, Quest for Fame has not only worked with the Danehill line as per Sidestep, but has produced Gr 1 winners by Montjeu (Sadler’s Wells), Thorn Park (Spinning World – Nureyev), Authorized (Montjeu) and Observatory (Distant View – Mr Prospector). It is interesting to see that three of the above are from the sire lines of Sadler’s Wells and his three-quarter brother Nureyev.
Other influences to look for in Sidestep’s yearlings include Elusive Quality, Mill Reef, Marauding, Rory’s Jester, Snippets, Rubiton, Quest for Fame, Hurricane Sky, Singspiel and Zabeel who have been prominent on the distaff side of Group winning Exceed and Excel progeny.
Exceed and Excel’s damsire Lomond is a half brother to Seattle Slew, who is also desirable in yearlings’ dams. Agincourt, Air De France, Pulpit and AP Indy via sons Bernardini and Congrats are sources.
Daughters of Citidancer (Ire) provide a sex balanced cross.
The presence of Shifnal via Sidestep’s dam calls for the presence of his brothers Todman, Noholme II and Faringdon in mares.
THE BROTHERS WAR (War Front – Moon Queen by Sadler’s Wells)
A son of Danzig, The Brothers War’s sire War Front has worked best with outcross lines. The Brothers War is bred on the very successful War Front / Sadler’s Wells cross.
Gr 1 winner The Factor is by War Front out of a Miswaki (by Mr Prospector) mare, making yearlings out of Umatilla and Tough Speed mares also look appealing. The Brothers War is a half brother to smart stakes winner Beauty Parlour, a daughter of Elusive Quality, who is proving to be an excellent broodmare sire. Mr Prospector line mares in general should be a good match with The Brothers War, due to his dominant Danzig influence.
A P Indy line mares have also done very well with War Front, indicating that his progeny out of Bernardini and Congrats mares may also be talented.
The Brothers War’s dam Moon Queen is linebred to Lalun, dam of Never Bend and Bold Reason. It would be interesting to see how yearlings out of Snippets mares, who carry fellow family member Grand Chaudiere, fare.
He has also worked with Roberto line mares, producing two Gr 1 winners from this line via Red Ransom and Arch (by Kris S – sire of Brocco).
The Brothers War carries a duplication of Forli, who nicks well with Round Table. There is already a daughter of Round Table on the fifth remove of his pedigree, but yearlings by mares from the Sir Tristram / Sir Ivor sire line introduce a son of Round Table and further cement the nick.
THE WOW SIGNAL (Starspangledbanner – Muravka by High Chaparral)
The Wow Signal is out of a granddaughter of Sadler’s Wells and carries fellow Rough Shod family member Topsider. Yearlings carrying Fairy King (sire of Encosta de Lago) and ¾ brother Nureyev, create further line breeding to this influential family. Mares carrying Geiger Counter, Yeats, Perugino, Inflate and Open Day also contribute to this line.
The Wow Signal’s pedigree carries daughters of several important influences, which will benefit by the presence of sons of these influences in mares. Look for yearlings whose dams carry sons of Secretariat, Vain and Lunchtime in their pedigrees.
Starspangledbanner traces to Olympic Aim, who is also the ancestress of sires Haradasun and Elvstroem, whose daughters boost this valuable Colonial line.
With a triplication of Northern Dancer plus other compatible individuals, The Wow Signal yearlings out of mares from the Mr. Prospector line have an advantage. With the addition of fellow Almahmoud family member Danehill in The Wow Signal, yearlings carrying other members of this line such as Halo, Orpen, Way Of Light, Machiavellian, Catrail, El Moxie and Arctic Tern look interesting.
The Wow Signal’s damsire High Chaparral has nicked with Zabeel, who also carries Nureyev, adding to the Rough Shod family in The Wow Signal. Zabeel’s sire Sir Tristram sex balances Round Table and offers Sir Gaylord, a half brother to Secretariat.
Invincible Spirit shares many similarities with The Wow Signal’s dam. They both carry Northern Dancer, Round Table, Nasrullah, Somethingroyal and Lalun. Yearlings by Invincible Spirit’s daughters and his son I Am Invincible appeal.
TIME FOR WAR (Snitzel – Lady Zabelia by Zabeel)
Unfortunately already deceased, Time for War is a son of the great Snitzel.
Inbred to Storm Bird 4f x 4m, Time for War carries one presence of the genetically similar Nijinsky II on his 5th remove. Royal Academy mares would boost this nick and sex balance Nijinsky II.
Redoute’s Choice and Nijinsky II in his pedigree would further benefit from the presence of other family members in mares such as Try My Best (sire of Last Tycoon). Snitzel’s Gr 1 winner Wandjina is out of a Last Tycoon mare.
Yearlings from mares carrying Red Ransom carry a proven cross, with Snitzel’s Gr 1 winner Trapeze Artist and Gr 2 Chance Bye having this sire via their dams. He and sons such as All American, Duporth, Domesday, Sri Pekan and Charge Forward will suit Time for War.
Yearlings carrying the Halo line are also noteworthy. A close relation to Danehill and Northern Dancer (6 lines in Time for War), Halo is present in damsires such as More Than Ready, Fuji Kiseki and Sunday Silence.
With Time for War being free of Mr Prospector, yearlings out of mares from this sire line are particularly appealing.
Snitzel’s Gr 1 winner Hot Snitzel is out of a mare by Blushing Groom, who is readily available via Quest for Fame, Spectrum, Redding, Noverre, Nassipour and Fantastic Light mares.
Snitzel has produced Gr 1 winners out of mares by Rubiton (Redzel), Success Express (Shamus Award), Encosta de Lago (Invader and Summer Passage) and General Nediym (Sizzling). There are no impediments on his distaff side to Time for War also working very well with these individuals.
TORONADO (High Chaparral – Wana Doo by Grand Slam)
Nijinsky II is prominent in two of High Chaparral’s Gr 1 winners, So You Think and Contributer. Toronado also carries Nijinsky II’s relation, El Gran Senor. Yearlings from mares carrying Redoute’s Choice, Masterclass, New Regent, Spinning World, Try My Best (sire of Last Tycoon), The Minstrel, Umatilla, Xaar, Hurricane Sky and Good Journey contribute more of this classic family.
His damsire is Grand Slam, who is from the family of Alydar, also desirable in the female page of yearlings.
Toronado carries three lines to Northern Dancer. Mares carrying fellow family members such as Halo, Danehill and Machiavellian reinforce this dominant family. Furthermore, his dam carries two Northern Dancer / Buckpasser nicks, a pattern which can be further reinforced by Danehill.
Toronado is from the family of Vaguely Noble, present in such broodmare sires as Anabaa, Green Perfume, Noble Bijou, Gay Mecene, Oratorio (Ire) and Toorak Toff.
As a grandson of Sadler’s Wells, Toronado should respond well to mares carrying Fairy King and Nureyev, as well as Thatch, Thatching, Geiger Counter, Yeats, Inflate, Perugino, Festival Hall and Northern Meteor.
High Chaparral’s dual Gr 1 winner Monaco Consul is out of a mare by Star Way, who is damsire of Encosta de Lago. The latter also contributes Fairy King (see above). Encosta de Lago also sex balances Mr Prospector with Toronado.
High Chaparral has enjoyed success with Star Kingdom and Sir Tristram, principally through his son Zabeel, with six Gr winners bred on this cross.
VERRAZANO (More Than Ready – Enchanted Rock by Giant’s Causeway)
Verrazano is line bred to the great La Troienne via More Than Ready, Woodman and Buckpasser. Yearlings from mares carrying sires such as Congrats, Private Account, Francis S., Hook Money, Cornish Prince, The Axe II, Noble Bijou, Belong To Me and Rhythm boost this prepotent line.
Duplications of Halo and Northern Dancer call for fellow Almahmoud family member, Danehill, who has an excellent record with More Than Ready. Yearlings carrying other Almahmoud descendants such as Orpen, Way of Light, Machiavellian, Exit to Nowhere, Catrail, Eagle Eyed, El Moxie and Arctic Tern suit Verrazano.
Apart from Danehill, Verrazano’s sire More Than Ready has worked very well with other Danzig line broodmare sires.
Storm Cat and a duplication of Blushing Groom beg for Nijinsky II, who has a genetic affinity with these two. He is present in mares carrying Royal Academy, Western Symphony, Yeats, Serheed, Caerleon and Bletchley Park, amongst others.
Mares with Star Kingdom, Sadler’s Wells and Sir Tristram in their pedigrees have also been successful with More Than Ready.
Multiple lines to War Admiral and Bold Ruler in Verrazano’s pedigree will appreciate the presence of Prince John and Eight Thirty in mares. These four have a recognised affinity. Carnegie, Brief Truce, Success Express (Mossman), Magic Albert, Rock Of Gibraltar, Brocco, Royal Academy, Zabaleta and Is It True are sources.
WANDJINA (Snitzel – La Bamba by Last Tycoon)
Like Time for War, Wandjina is a son of champion sire, Snitzel. Bred on a speedy 6f, 4m x 3f cross of Lunchtime, he also possesses Classic reinforcement through linebreeding (via Redoute’s Choice and Try My Best) to Best in Show.
Of note, Snitzel has produced Gr 1 winners out of mares by Rubiton (Redzel), Success Express (Shamus Award), and General Nediym (Sizzling), while Zabeel mares have also produced stakes winners (Time for War and Lubiton).
Five lines to Northern Dancer and Danehill on his top line suggest that yearlings out of mares carrying relation Halo such as More Than Ready, Fuji Kiseki and Sunday Silence will kick this pattern along. Similarly, Machiavellian (Street Cry), Way of Light, Exit to Nowhere, Catrail, Eagle Eyed, El Moxie and Arctic Tern boost this line.
Yearlings out of mares from the Mr Prospector line are particularly appealing. He sex balances Native Dancer for Northern Dancer and is a proven nick with this influence.
Mares by Red Ransom or sons such as Charge Forward, All American, Duporth, Domesday and Sri Pekan will create a similar cross Snitzel’s Gr 1 winner Trapeze Artist and Gr 2 Chance Bye.
Blushing Groom line mares will suit, with Snitzel’s Gr 1 winner Hot Snitzel from a daughter of this key influence. Yearlings out of Quest For Fame daughters or granddaughters in particular should be sought, as his second dam is a half sister to Adamastor, the third damsire of Wandjina. Dracula from Wandjina’s family is bred on this cross, being by Quest for Fame.
Encosta de Lago mares have worked well with Snitzel (Invader and Summer Passage) as has fellow Fairy King son, Falbrav (Spill the Beans). Wandjina’s own female family also supports this cross, having produced Hong Kong stakes winner My Admiration out of an Encosta de Lago mare.
WARHORSE (General Nediym – Rathlin Island by Giant’s Causeway)
Warhorse’s tail male line is a less trodden path to Northern Dancer, via son Shareef Dancer, grandson Nediym, who stood in Australia, and in turn his best son, General Nediym.
General Nediym produced three Gr 1 winners, only one of them a colt, Warhorse. His dual Gr 1 daughter Regimental Gal demonstrates that more Northern Dancer is no impediment to success with this line. Her dam was inbred to Northern Dancer 3m x 3m. Warhorse himself carries two lines to Northern Dancer via his dam, however they are further back, sitting on his 5th and 6th removes via sons Storm Bird and Northfields.
California Dane (by Danehill) is from the same tail female line as Warhorse and yearlings by his daughters create an attractive 3f x 3m sex balanced duplication of Seattle Sew mare, Storminwinter. This is also the family of US sire Capote (also by Seattle Slew). His son Agincourt stood here and his presence in dams’ pedigrees is an asset for Warhorse.
As Seattle Slew is via a daughter in Warhorse, mares with sons of Seattle Slew will create a sex balanced duplication. Apart from Agincourt, sires Air De France, Pulpit and AP Indy via sons Bernardini and Congrats are appealing.
The Mr Prospector line creates a proven outcross to Warhorse’s sire line. General Nediym’s Gr 1 daughter Mrs Onassis is from an Unbridled’s Song mare. Other Mr Prospector line broodmare sires include Hussonet, Bellotto, Secret Savings, E Dubai, El Moxie, Geiger Counter, Rhythm, Street Cry, Thunder Gulch, Umatilla, Unbridled’s Song, Vettori and Woodman.
Seattle Slew’s half brother Lomond is the sire of Citidancer, whose presence in dams is desirable.
Other successful damsire lines with General Nediym include Sir Tristram, Danehill, Snippets and Bletchingly.
WHITTINGTON (Tale Of The Cat – Maha Chakri by Beautiful Crown)
Whittington is a son of Tale of the Cat, who is from the same family as Gone West, Round Table, Atan (sire of Sharpen Up), Alcide, Aureole and Known Fact. Whittington’s dam is free of this family and should respond to further lines in the dams of yearlings. Round Table can be found in the pedigrees of Sir Tristram, Don’t Say Halo and Pompeii Court. Several of Tale of the Cat’s best stakes winners carry Sir Tristram, including Tell a Tale, Trusting and Ubiquitous, while Real Saga carries Round Table via his damsire Air Express.
Bred on the repetition of a Northern Dancer / Secretariat cross via Storm Cat and Chief’s Crown, Whittington should appreciate mares who carry Secretariat’s three-quarter brother, Sir Gaylord. Again, he can be sourced via mares carrying Sir Tristram or his sire, Sir Ivor.
Whittington has the benefit of possessing daughters of some prepotent individuals more commonly seen through sons in Australian pedigrees. Duplication of these beneficial ancestors via their sons can create dynamic patterns.
Carrying Mr. Prospector through a daughter, Whittington should suit mares hailing from the Mr Prospector male line.
Mares with Snippets in their pedigrees are also very attractive, as he is a son of Lunchtime, sex balancing the daughter (Whittington’s second dam) in matings. Snippets also contributes Native Dancer and Misty Day, a 3/4 brother to What A Pleasure in Whittington.
Royal Academy’s daughters and granddaughters should work well with Whittington. A half brother to the dam of Whittington’s grandsire Storm Cat, Royal Academy has the added benefit of being by Nijinsky II, creating a sex balanced duplication of Nijinsky II in a mating. Royal Academy is damsire of Fastnet Rock, whose daughters will prove a good resource for Whittington.
ZEBEDEE (Invincible Spirit – Cozy Maria by Cozzene)
By a sire who carries Danzig and a duplication of Rockefella, Zebedee looks a shoe-in for mares carrying fellow Lady Susan family member, Bletchingly. These three have a strong history of success together and Invincible Spirit’s highly successful son I Am Invincible is bred on this pattern.
Another strong proven nick is present in Zebedee’s pedigree. Prince John (twice), War Admiral (four times), Bold Ruler and Eight Thirty have a long history of compatibility. As these influences don’t appear until the fourth generation at the most recent, yearlings out of mares carrying more of these individuals boost the chances of inheriting their traits. Ready sources of these influences include Bernardini, Danehill, Salieri, Dehere, Carnegie, Brief Truce, Magic Albert, Rock Of Gibraltar, Brocco, Royal Academy, Hussonet, Secret Savings (and son Dash For Cash), Is It True, Bite The Bullet and Air de France.
Zebedee’s sire Invincible Spirit has worked particularly well with Machiavellian, producing two Gr 1 winners including Darley’s Territories. He is most easily sourced in Australia via daughters of Street Cry and Vettori.
With no Danehill and only one line to Northern Dancer in his pedigree, Zebedee will be a breath of fresh air for mares becoming top heavy in this (the Almahmoud) family, which also includes the previously mentioned Machiavellian. From the Danzig sire line, Invincible Spirit has been happy to work with more Danzig, this cross present in his Gr 1 winner Shalaa and grandson Brazen Beau.
Another individual who features at the top end of Invincible Spirit’s 53 Group winners is Rainbow Quest, including his best product, the much decorated French sprinter, Moonlight Cloud. Rainbow Quest can be sourced in mares by Spectrum (and sons Golan and Hemingway), Bin Ajwaad, Quest For Fame (sons Dracula and Viscount) and Urgent Request.
By Jane Henning
First published in Bluebloods March 2018
