Written May 2008
The stakes successes of the progeny of his sire Flying Spur give a good indication of how Shaft may work with Australasian mares.
The Star Kingdom line features in Flying Spur’s stakes winners. Jet Spur, Trezevant, Blur, Flying Babe, Volitant and Joy of Flight are all out of mares carrying Star Kingdom. Flying Spur seems to enjoy a particular affinity with sons of Biscay BLETCHINGLY, MARSCAY and ZEPHYR BAY. Mares by BROAD REACH, BUREAUCRACY, CANNY LAD, CLAY HERO, COVETOUS, HURRICANE SKY, JETBALL, OUR MAIZCAY, STAR WATCH, ST COVET, KAORU STAR, SEMIPALATINSK, STAR WATCH, KENNY’S BEST PAL, COSSACK WARRIOR, BRAVE WARRIOR and ZEPHYR ZIP should also suit Shaft.
MARAUDING and other sons of SIR TRISTRAM in ZABEEL, KAAPSTAD and DR. GRACE have all produced stakes winners by Flying Spur. Sir Tristram creates a sex balanced duplication of Sir Ivor with Flying Spur.
Flying Spur has shown an affinity for the Djebel sire line, in particular with CENTURY and his sons RUBITON and CENTAINE as well as with NORTHERN SPRING and AHONOORA. Other stallions from this sire line to consider for Shaft include TWIG MOSS, MOSSMAN, AVERAGE GAME and EUCLASE.
Flying Spur works well with NIJINSKY II, who features in the pedigree of his stakes winners Alverta, Creative Plan, Lunaspur and Vignor. Nijinsky is from the family of Try My Best, who appears in Shaft’s dam, giving even more reason to seek him in broodmares. He can be found in mares by ROYAL ACADEMY, CAERLEON, YEATS, BLETCHLEY PARK, SEA ROAD, SERHEED, WESTERN SYMPHONY and WHISKEY ROAD.
Nijinsky II will also appreciate the presence of Blushing Groom on Shaft’s dam’s sire line, creating a well documented nick.
Flying Spur’s dual Group One winner Forensics is out of a DEHERE mare.
SNIPPETS and his sire LUNCHTIME have both produced stakes winners with Flying Spur, namely Group 1 winner Magnus and Group 2 winner Wager.
Shaft’s dam is a half sister to two stakes winners by RED RANSOM, making his daughters and those of his son SRI PEKAN appealing.
The presence of Mr. Prospector through a daughter (Rolls) in Shaft’s pedigree suggests that mares carrying SONS OF MR. PROSPECTOR should be compatible. Mares by HUSSONET, BELLOTTO, UMATILLA, EL MOXIE, STREET CRY, SECRET SAVINGS, VETTORI, WOODMAN, THUNDER GULCH, STRAIGHT STRIKE, RHYTHM and GEIGER COUNTER create this dynamic pattern with Shaft.
