Sadler's Wells, whose sons and grandsons
have a virtual shut-out in the upcoming Epsom Derby (Eng-I), ran wild
last week, particularly in concert with his old ally Mill Reef. In Australia,
his number one son Galileo (IRE) was represented by Saint Minerva (AUS), winner of The Prop House
Grand Prix Stakes (Aus-III). Rated A++, Saint Minerva follows
grade I winner Sousa (NZ) as the second stakes winner by Galileo out of Last
Tycoon (IRE) mare, but the cross of Sadler's Wells and Last Tycoon has proved
exceptional in general. A look at their pedigrees reveals a very obvious
reason: Sadler's Wells is by Northern Dancer out of a mare by Bold Reason,
where Last Tycoon is by Try My Best (by Northern Dancer) out of a mare by Mill
Reef (by Never Bend, a half-brother to Bold Reason).
The Schweppes Sires' Produce Stakes (Aus-II) was
taken by the promising Shoot Out (AUS) (A). He is by Sadler's Wells' son High Chaparral (IRE)
out of mare by the excellent "down under" sire Pentire (GB) (a son of one-time
Keeneland July sale topper Be My Guest). High Chaparral already has the
Sadler's Wells/Mill Reef cross, as he's out of a mare by Darshaan (GB) (by Mill
Reef's Derby winner Shirley Heights (GB)). What makes this really interesting is
that Pentire is also a Northern Dancer/Mill Reef cross, and is out of a close relative to Shirley Heights.
Another interesting example of the cross made headlines Saturday in England. This was the
progressive Suzi's Decision (GB), who took the E.B.F. Joan Westbrook Pinnacle Stakes at
Haydock Park, and who now heads for group competition.
She is by
Act One (GB), a son of the Sadler's Wells stallion In the Wings (GB) (who is also also responsible
for the good sire Singspiel (IRE)). In the Wings is a product of the Sadler's
Wells/Mill Reef cross, as he is out of a mare by Shirley Heights. This
combination is reversed in the pedigree of Suzi's Decision's dam, Funny Girl (IRE),
who is by Darshaan out of a mare by Lead On Time (by
Sadler's Wells' genetic relative Nureyev). This combination has had international success: Act One's brilliant South African mare Dancer's Daughter (GB) has a second
dam by Nureyev, so also has the Sadler's Wells/Nureyev combination.
We should also note
that Sadler's Wells' deceased son Scenic (IRE), modest in Europe but exceptional in
Australia, also had a pair of weekend graded winners in Scenic Shot (AUS), who took
the Seppelt Wines P.J. O'Shea Stakes (Aus-II) and Grand Nirvana (AUS), who captured the Roma Cup (Aus-III).