Job Well Done for Sadler's Wells Sire Line
Written by Alan Porter | Jun 29, 2009 |
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It might have taken a while for Sadler's Wells to hit his
stride as a sire of sires, but he's been making up for lost time at a
tremendous rate -- as evidenced this weekend when his line dominated group and grade I racing.
The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Ire-I) resulted in a one-two for the
offspring of his sons as Investec Epsom Derby (Eng-I) runner-up Fame and Glory (GB) prevailed over Golden Sword (GB). Fame and Glory's victory brings the total number of Northern Hemisphere Derby winners sired by
Montjeu (IRE) to five in just five crops. Add to that the winners of the St.
Leger (Eng-I) and the Prix Royal-Oaks and Grand Prix de Paris (both Fr-I), and
two Australian Derby (Aus-I) winners. Rated A by TrueNicks, Fame and Glory is
out of the stakes-placed Shirley Heights (GB) mare Gryada (GB) -- so bred on
the most prolific cross for Sadler's Wells-line horses. The granddam is German
classic-winning filly Grimpola (GER), and Sadler's Wells has also
historically done well with German strains. Irish Derby runner-up Golden Sword
(also rated A) is from the second crop of High Chaparral (IRE), out
of a mare by Salse. This is a rather interesting pedigree as Salse's
sire, Topsider, is by Northern Dancer out of Drumtop, a daughter
of the mare Zonah. Since Sadler's Wells is by Northern Dancer out of a
granddaughter of Zonahs close relative Thong, he is bred on
similar lines to Topsider.
Coincidentally, another weekend group I runner-up, Beach
Bunny (IRE), is a daughter of High Chaparral out of a mare by Peintre Celebre (by
Nureyev, a son of Northern Dancer out of a daughter of Thong), so bred
on similar lines Golden Sword (not to mention having the genetic relatives
Sadler's Wells and Nureyev 2 x 3, and Thong's daughter Special and her
brother Thatch 4 x 4 x 5). Beach Bunny was beaten a short head in the
Audi Pretty Polly Stakes (Ire-I) by Dar Re Mi (GB), who is by Sadler's Wells'
grandson Singspiel (IRE), out of the Trusthouse Forte Prix Vermeille (Fr-I) victress Darara (IRE).
That mare is by Top Ville (IRE), a broodmare sire who has been a great foil
for Sadler's Wells and his sons (including Irish Derby victor Winged
Love (IRE), who is by Singspiel's sire, In the Wings (GB)). Darara herself has previously
produced Darazari (a group winner in France and grade I winner in
Australia) and Diaghilev (IRE) (who took the Audemars Piquet Queen Elizabeth II Cup (HK-I) in
Hong Kong) to Sadler's Wells. Not surprisingly, Dar Re Mi is rated A+ by
TrueNicks.
The weekend was also an impressive one for the
U.S. branch of Sadler's Wells, which comes via El Prado (IRE). On Sunday, El
Prado himself was represented by his first-ever European group I winner when Spanish
Moon (A+) won the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Fr-I). He is out of
the Rainbow Quest mare Shining Bright (GB), and El Prado has done well
with Rainbow Quest's sire Blushing Groom (FR) in general, including Spanish Moon's
group II-winning sister, Spanish Sun. Spanish Moon's second dam, Bourbon
Girl, who ran second in the Gold Seal Epsom Oaks (Eng-I) and Gilltown Stud Irish Oaks (Ire-I), is a
parallel Northern Dancer/Sir Gaylord cross to El Prado.
Meanwhile, in the U.S.,
Rachel Alexandra (A++) -- by El Prado's son Medaglia d'Oro (TrueNicks,SRO)
-- romped in the in the Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I), barely missing
Secretariat's track record despite being eased a long way from home. We've
discussed Rachel Alexandra's pedigree in detail but it's worth mentioning that
in addition to her sire's seven stakes-winning daughters, he's recently had the colts Warrior's
Reward and Arcodoro finish close up second in graded stakes.
Related: Help TrueNicks find the perfect mate for Rachel Alexandra.
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