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Uncle Mo

Earlier this week I got a phone call from a breeder who wanted to discuss a potential mating of his mare with Uncle Mo (TrueNicks,SRO). The mare (an exceptional racemare and a grade I producer) was foaled in 1990, meaning that she would produce the Uncle Mo foal at age 23. Uncle Mo will be 5, so that's an 18-year difference.

This got me thinking—what are some successful matings resulting from similar age gaps?

Earlier this year there was Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Ruler On Ice. His sire Roman Ruler (TrueNicks,SRO) and dam Champagne Glow (1988) are 14 years apart, and Champagne Glow was 20 when she foaled Ruler On Ice.

A couple months before that, Brilliant Speed won the Blue Grass (gr. I); Dynaformer (TrueNicks,SRO) and Speed Succeeds (2001) are 16 years apart.

Going back a bit further, 2000 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Fusaichi Pegasus (TrueNicks,SRO) was from one of the last crops of the great Mr. Prospector, and his dam, Angel Fever (1990), foaled the Derby winner at age 7. That's a 20-year gap.

The most interesting aspect of this phenomenon is the fact that two different generations, so to speak, could be combined into one mating. The potential exists for an older mare, perhaps from a later crop of her sire, to be bred to a young stallion. For example, there are still a few Secretariat mares out there who are still producing. Imagine an Uncle Mo/Secretariat cross. Or what about a Dynaformer/Kitten's Joy (TrueNicks,SRO)? Such genetic opportunities couldn't be tried a great number of times due to availability, but the potential exists for some unique matings.

Can anyone think of other examples where there is a large age or generational gap between sire and dam?

Filed under: Hypothetical Matings, Mares, Just for Fun