(By Lizz Kunz)
Dynaformer, who will be 27 when the 2012 Northern Hemisphere breeding season commences, has consistently sired winners of races all across the world since first retiring to Wafare Farm in 1990. While it's no secret that this big bay with an "I'm boss" attitude knows how make a determined runner, many in the Thoroughbred market overlook or underestimate Three Chimneys Farm's elder stallion. Even as he ages and his book size becomes increasingly selective, the quality of his progeny has not diminished. Wise buyers will be prepared to take advantage of what this stallion has to offer in his final crops.
At the end of this past summer, Dynaformer had only five yearlings offered in the select sessions of Keeneland's September yearling sale. While the Dynaformers sold better than they had last year, none broke the $1 million mark. His sales topper was the second foal out of grade I-winning mare Bohemian Lady (a half to Any Given Saturday), a colt that showed potential to his breeders even as a foal. He sold for $725,000 to Shadwell Estate Company after impressing with his pedigree and attractive conformation. It's hard not to question: If this colt had been by A.P. Indy, would he have brought more money as he passed through the the ring? Dynaformer doesn't tend to throw the most attractive and well put together yearlings--a reality that has always affected his sale prices--but he sure knows how to make a runner. His ability to get winners has not waned with age, either. Let's have a quick look at some of Dynaformer's big runners from the past few years.
One great example would be a filly that sold for only $200,000 at Fasig-Tipton's 2009 Saratoga yearling sale, yet has won $1,066,879 so far in her career. Blue Bunting's most recent success came October 30 when she won the Bet365.com E.B.F. Montrose Fillies' Stakes following three group I victories and a fourth place finish in the Investec Epsom Oaks (Eng-I). While she failed to defeat the males in the Ladbrokes St. Leger (Eng-I), her other tries this year have more than proven her ability to run. Impressively, these group I efforts took place on five different courses.
Dynaformer's filly Rainbow View was champion 2-year-old filly in Europe in 2008 after winning the Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile (Eng-I). She went on to win the Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes (Ire-I) and was named highweighted filly in Ireland for 2009. Throughout her career she earned $1,129,814. Rainbow View's pedigree is phenomenal. Her dam, No Matter What (by Nureyev), was the winner of the 2000 Del Mar Oaks (gr. IT) and went on to produce graded stakes winners Winter View and Just As Well, the latter also grade I-placed in the Arlington Million and Woodbine's Northern Dancer Turf Stakes.
Another horse that reinforces Dynaformer's international credibility as a stallion is Americain, winner of $5,181,240, the majority of which he earned in the two-mile 2010 Emirates Melbourne Cup (Aus-I). He recently added to his resume the Drake International Moonee Valley Gold Cup and the Zipping Sandown Classic (both Aus-II).
Any discussion of Dynaformer's success as an older stallion has to include the ill-fated Barbaro, winner of the 2006 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). A good stakes winner at 2, Barbaro was a perfect 6-for-6 leading up to his injury in the Preakness (gr. I). Other recent millionaires by Dynaformer include Dynaforce, winner of the 2008 Flower Bowl Invitational (gr. IT) and the Beverley D Stakes (gr. IT) a year later, and Brilliant Speed, winner of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) in April. Keeneland September grad Gozzip Girl sold for $60,000 and went on to win $814,194, with a signature victory in the 2009 American Oaks Invitational (gr. IT). The list of Dynaformer's top-level latter-day progeny continues....
It is hard to pin specific accolades on this stallion. It seems that he is more successful through his fillies, but he has the ability to produce colts that can compete internationally in the classics. While he is celebrated for his turf runners, his offspring have proved their ability on synthetics and dirt. Dynaformer's runners can cover a vast range of distances: Though they tend to be stayers, they can fall back to score at a mile or stretch out to win routes like the Melbourne Cup. The typical Dynaformer develops as a 3- or 4-year old, but it's not unusual to see his sons and daughters succeed in graded or group races as juveniles. With this level of success, one would expect his offspring to command big money at the sales, yet they never seem to make the headlines until they hit the track. Maybe it's the lack of flair in their appearance, or the fact that he doesn't have the reputation of being a sire of sires.
Dynaformer may be getting older--it can be predicted that his breeding years are numbered--yet his offspring never lack in talent. Offspring of the Three Chimneys stallion tend to have outstanding pedigrees and provide more value for their price than almost any other stallion on the market today. He's not to be overlooked in his final years at stud.
So--who's your favorite Dynaformer? Which son has the best opportunity to carry on the Dynaformer legacy at stud? What type of mare would you like to send to Dynaformer in his final years?
