Written Dec 2003
With a winners to runners ratio as a sire idling at about 70 per cent after 17 seasons at stud, it is obvious that Marscay’s pedigree is working beautifully with the lines available to him in Australasia.
A representative of the Star Kingdom line through Biscay, Marscay also possesses some prepotent American lines through his U.S. bred dam, Heart of Market. Individuals such as Bull Dog, his brother Sir Gallahad III, War Admiral, Bull Lea, Bimelech, Black Toney, and Hyperion’s half brother, Sickle are prominent in her pedigree.
Marscay’s 50-plus stakeswinners are produced from broodmares with a variety of pedigree backgrounds.
His ‘love affair’ with Sir Tristram mares is well known. Australasian Champion 3 yo Filly Triscay, Australasian Champion 2 yo Bint Marscay and multiple Group One winner Miss Margaret are all daughters of Marscay who were out of Sir Tristram mares. Great Command, another Group One winner, had Sir Tristram as his dam’s damsire. Smart 1999/2000 two year old Kootoomootoo is from a mare by Marscay out of a daughter of Sir Tristram. There are several sons of Sir Tristram with daughters at stud which can be exploited in matings with Marscay. Mares by Zabeel, Kaapstad, Grosvenor, Military Plume and Marauding provide a high level of opportunity in matings with Marscay.
Another New Zealand based sire, Zamazaan, has also shown an affinity with Marscay. Triple Group One winner March Hare was out of a Zamazaan mare, as was AJC Australian Oaks winner, Circles of Gold. Zamazaan not only has daughters still at stud, he is also now available as the damsire of many broodmares.
Co-Champion 3 yo Jetball and his full brother Marwina are out of Orwhina, a mare by Vain from a Dignitas mare. Daughters of Keltrice and Kenvain, who both have Vain as their damsires, should be interesting mates for Marscay. Haulpak, a Champion Western Australian sire whose daughters are making their mark as broodmares (such as Roadsong – dam of black type performers Condotti and Road to Success) is by Dignitas.
Lunchtime mares work well with Marscay also. His sire Silly Season hails from the same family as Star Kingdom, so it is no wonder. This cross has produced stakes winners Masked Party and Blazing Sword.
Another development for Marscay in recent times is the emerging affinity with Danehill. Both Catbird and Camarena are Danehill stakeswinners out of Marscay mares, while Kootoomootoo is by Danehill’s son Danewin out of a Marscay mare. There is no reason why this cross won’t work in reverse – Marscay has already worked over Northern Dancer line mares. New Zealand Derby (Gr.1) winner Great Command is out of a mare by Tights (USA), by Nijinsky II.
