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I was a little intrigued last year when Kafwain (TrueNicks,SRO) was represented by stakes winner (and subsequently graded-placed) Kadira. She is out of a mare by Rahy (TrueNicks,SRO) , and since Kafwain is by Cherokee Run (TrueNicks,SRO) , Kadira is the result of a Blushing Groom/Blushing Groom cross.

Now -- as I've often said -- breeding a sire back over a mare from his direct mail line tends to have a below-opportunity outcome (unless other factors are present). What's more, stakes-winning Blushing Groom/Blushing Groom crosses are very rare; literally less than a handful exist (although Kafwain has a second, a story for another day).

Anyway, a look at the protagonists in Kadira's pedigree, Cherokee Run and Rahy, offers an explanation as to why they might have combined successfully. Cherokee Run is by a son of Blushing Groom out of a mare by a son of Drone (grandson of Turn-to), and Rahy is by Blushing Groom out of a mare by Halo (grandson of Turn-to). Drone and Halo are in fact close genetic relatives -- both by sons of Turn-to out of mares bred on a Pharamond II/Mahmoud cross. Along with Sir Ivor and Stop the Music, they form a quartet that all work with each other.

I still wouldn't expect to see many Cherokee Run/Rahy or Rahy/Cherokee Run crosses, but a very practical use for the combination struck us the other day while doing some mating work. There are a growing number of stallions out of Rahy mares, beginning with Giant's Causeway (already sire of classic winner Footstepsinthesand out of Blushing Groom-line mare, and with several sons at stud), and also including his brothers, Freud and Roar of the Tiger (TrueNicks,SRO) ; After Market (TrueNicks,SRO); Even the Score (TrueNicks,SRO) ; Grand Reward (TrueNicks,SRO) ; Harlington (TrueNicks,SRO); and Posse (TrueNicks,SRO) . All of these look well worth trying with mares carrying Cherokee Run.

Filed under: Sire Lines, Other Breeding Theories, Emerging Nicks, Sires