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A colleague recently pointed out an interesting story from the July 2010 issue of Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder Incorporating Pacemaker. In a profile of breeders Eric and "Budgie" Moller, Jeremy Early explains that the Moller's foundation broodmare, Horama – a 2,100 guineas yearling purchase who won four races at five furlongs – became ancestress of such middle-distance standouts as Epson Derby (gr. I) winners Teenoso and Sir Percy, Betfair.com St. Leger (gr. I) winner Rule of Law, and multiple grade I winners Einstein (BRZ) (TrueNicks,SRO), Old Country, and Moulton.

Jason Early writes of Horama: "...there have been a number of instances of fast mares forging first-rate non-sprinting dynasties – the Aga Khan III's Mumtaz Mahal is another – and this may confirm the theory that by judicious mating it is easier to work stamina into a speedy family than to work pace into one containing staying power."

I'm curious to get our readers' comments on this theory. Can anyone think of modern-day examples of a speed or stamina being successfully infused into a family of the inverse aptitude? Which strategy is more difficult to accomplish? Please leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Filed under: Other Breeding Theories, Mares