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A Mega Nick for Discreet Cat

Monday, July 15, 2013 2:20 PM

Discreet Cat ( TrueNicks , SRO )'s stud career may not yet have matched the scintillating racetrack performances that saw him rated as a world champion at 3, but he's having a very strong year in 2013, standing second only to stud-mate Hard Spun ( TrueNicks , SRO ) among U.S.-based third season sires. Photo: Darley Discreet Cat (Forestry—Pretty Discreet, by Private... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter | Jul 15, 2013 | 3 Comments

Filly 'Same Cross' is Bred on the Right Cross

Thursday, February 14, 2013 2:25 PM

This morning I spoke briefly with Brereton Jones of Airdrie Stud, who alerted me to a homebred filly of his with a very clever name. She is by Airdrie stallion Proud Citizen ( TrueNicks , SRO ) out of the winning Langfuhr ( TrueNicks , SRO ) mare Saramar—the exact same cross as Mr. Jones' Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner and champion 3-year-old filly Proud Spell... Read More...

Written by Ian Tapp | Feb 14, 2013 | 4 Comments

Galileo/Danehill is "Nick of the Moment"

Sunday, May 22, 2011 3:30 PM

With the game triumph of Roderic O’Connor in Saturday's Irish 2,000 Guineas (gr. I) following hot-on-the-heels of the smooth victory of Golden Lilac in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches-French 1,000 Guineas (gr. I) one week ago, and Frankel’s runaway English 2,000 Guineas (gr. I) win three weeks ago, the cross of Galileo and mares by Danehill has become the classic... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter | May 22, 2011 | 18 Comments

Danzig Line Domination in Europe

Thursday, April 22, 2010 7:36 AM

The sterling efforts of Pivotal, and of Sadler’s Wells sons Galileo and Montjeu – who come to the fore as the distance increase – not withstanding, European racing often appears to be dominated by the Danzig line, particularly via Danehill and Green Desert. Those two branches were particuarly in evidence in the last week, through Dansili – who is vying with Danehill... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Apr 22, 2010 | 4 Comments

Brother Also Rises

Thursday, April 15, 2010 7:25 AM

While Ghostzapper ( TrueNicks , SRO ) was represented by his first grade I winner when Stately Victor upset the Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I), his older half-brother City Zip ( TrueNicks , SRO ) , continued his progress when his daughter Unzip Me captured the Las Cienegas Handicap (gr. III). City Zip – who’s advertised stud fee for 2010 is just $10,000 – currently... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Apr 15, 2010 | 2 Comments

Victor Victorious

Tuesday, April 13, 2010 2:30 AM

Although he was relatively sparingly-raced – 11 starts in four seasons – and carefully-managed, both form book and speed-figures suggest that Ghostzapper ( TrueNicks , SRO ) is worthy of a place alongside the all-time greats. Indeed, a record that includes wins in the 6½ furlong Vosburgh Stakes (gr. I); the seven furlong Tom Fool Handicap (gr. II, in 1:20.42... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Apr 13, 2010 | 3 Comments

A Grade I Combination

Monday, April 05, 2010 4:42 PM

Sidney’s Candy took the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) and is by young sire sensation, Candy Ride (ARG) ( TrueNicks , SRO ). He follows Evita Argentina and Capt. Candyman Can as the third grade I winner by the sire from only ten starters out of mares by Storm Cat and his sons. Can we say “emerging nick” anyone? He’s from the second crop of Candy Ride (a grandson of... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Apr 05, 2010 | 1 Comment

A Plan Comes Together

Tuesday, March 30, 2010 11:33 PM

The beautifully-bred Battle Plan has taken a while to show that he has talent to match his pedigree. The five-year-old only ran twice before this year, having been sidelined after breaking his maiden in the January of his three-year-old season. Returning from that extended break, he kicked off the year with a pair of allowance wins at Gulfstream Park, and at... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Mar 30, 2010 | 0 Comments

More From Meydan

Tuesday, March 30, 2010 11:06 AM

One nick that has a 100% strike-rate is that of Yankee Victor with mares by Woodman, which has produced stakes winner Timely Reflection, and Kinsale King (TrueNicks A++) , who took the Golden Shaheen (gr. I) in Dubai. The granddam, Flaming Leaves is a stakes winner and graded placed, and is a three-part-sister to Champion Two-Year-Old Colt Roving Boy (both by... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Mar 30, 2010 | 2 Comments

The Devil Went Down To Florida

Thursday, March 25, 2010 7:18 AM

Last year’s Frizette Stakes (gr. I) captress, Devil May Care re-established herself near the top of the division with a 2¾ lengths win in the Bonnie Miss Stakes (gr. III). She’s a Pedigree Consultants recommended mating (for Diamond A Racing Corp) and is by the A.P. Indy ( TrueNicks , SRO ) son [Malibu Moon] out of the Red Ransom mare, Kelli’s Ransom (rated A... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Mar 25, 2010 | 3 Comments

Ice Box Avenges His Sire

Wednesday, March 24, 2010 2:36 PM

Pulpit ( TrueNicks , SRO ) was one of the sensations of the early part of 1997, going undefeated through his first three starts at Gulfstream Park. In succession he took a seven furlong maiden by 7½ lengths, an allowance race by 6¼ lengths, and the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II). The triumphant progress was interrupted when, taken further off the pace than... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Mar 24, 2010 | 4 Comments

Meydan Musings

Monday, March 08, 2010 11:20 AM

Last Thursday was “Super Thursday” in Dubai, the preview to World Cup Day. Here's a look a some of the more interesting pedigrees. Presvis, who took the Jebel Hatta (gr. II), is by the Riverman, grandson, Sakhee, winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (gr. I), and Juddmonte International (gr. I). What’s more unusual, however, is that Presvis, is out of a mare... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Mar 08, 2010 | 1 Comment

An Exciting Thursday at Medyan

Monday, March 01, 2010 9:15 PM

In the UAE Oaks Guineas, Raihana avenged her UAE 1,000 Guineas defeat by Siyaadah, who took third here. A daughter of Elusive Quality ( TrueNicks , SRO ) , Raihana is out of the Sunday Silence mare, Esubooh. The mating is rated B+ by TrueNicks on the basis of the broad Mr. Prospector/Sunday Silence cross, a nick that has also produced Japanese grade one winners... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Mar 01, 2010 | 2 Comments

On The Derby Trail

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 3:59 PM

Rule, was expected to get his classic campaign off to a bright start in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III) and he accomplished this with aplomb. Rule certainly has a classic pedigree. He is from the first crop of Roman Ruler ( TrueNicks , SRO ) (by Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner, Fusaichi Pegasus ( TrueNicks , SRO )), who had a good weekend with his daughter Roman... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Feb 17, 2010 | 2 Comments

Bim Bam - One, Two Punch

Thursday, February 11, 2010 1:14 AM

Bim Bam is a son of Deputy Wild Cat (by Deputy Minister, out of Champion Hollywood Wildcat, and a brother to stake winner Minister’s Wildcat, and half-brother to War Chant ( TrueNicks , SRO ) ), who stands at Fairberry Farm in Illinois. Deputy Wildcat has sired just 64 foals in his first three crops, and two of these are stakes winners, Bim Bam, and Ashley River... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Feb 11, 2010 | 0 Comments

Quality in Abundance

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 11:55 AM

Last Saturday, Quality Road erased the Gulfstream Park nine furlong track record that he himself had established in the 2009 Florida Derby (gr. I), earning a Ghostzapper ( TrueNicks , SRO ) -like 121 Beyer in the process. Quality Road’s sire, Elusive Quality ( TrueNicks , SRO ) can now claim to be responsible for three truly outstanding horses; Smarty Jones ... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Feb 10, 2010 | 0 Comments

It's All Relative, Part 2

Saturday, February 06, 2010 11:30 AM

In our most recent post we commented on some interesting duplications found in last weekend's stakes winners. There a few more that are also worth highlighting: Repent ( TrueNicks , SRO ) had a good winner last weekend in Sweet Repent, winner of the Sunshine Millions Distaff Stake. TrueNicks rated A++ , Sweet Repent has an intriguing pedigree. She is out of a... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Feb 06, 2010 | 1 Comment

It's All Relative

Friday, February 05, 2010 11:22 AM

Last weekend was relatively light on graded stakes action in the U.S., with just three races at that level. Two of the three, however, went to horses with interesting genetic relative inbreeding. Medaglia d'Oro ( TrueNicks , SRO )’s “other” grade I winning filly, Gabby’s Golden Gal, took her second race at that level, the Santa Monica Handicap (gr. I). She is... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Feb 05, 2010 | 2 Comments

Corredor of Power

Wednesday, January 27, 2010 2:40 PM

El Corredor ( TrueNicks , SRO ) is off to a very good start in 2010, and when El Caballo took the Colonel E. R. Bradley Stakes (gr. III), he followed the Santa Ysabel Stakes (gr. III) victress Crisp, as the second graded winner of January for the sire. El Caballo, a six-year-old gelding who was beaten a nose in the Mervin Muniz Jr. Handicap (gr. II) in his previous... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Jan 27, 2010 | 0 Comments

A Crowded Family Portrait

Tuesday, January 26, 2010 2:46 PM

We have to wonder if there has been a more prolific family in the last couple of years than that of the Verbatim mare, Right Word, the dam of three stakes winners: the graded scorer Ascutney and Words of War (both by Lord At War) and Word o’ Ransom (by Red Ransom). Ascutney is dam of two graded winners, headed by Raven’s Pass, winner of the 2008 Breeders’ Cup... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Jan 26, 2010 | 1 Comment

Winslow Homer-Variation on a Theme

Monday, January 25, 2010 2:26 PM

Winslow Homer has been a “talking horse” ever since his three lengths maiden win at Saratoga in August and he came through loud and clear in the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) on Saturday. Winslow Homer is the first foal of his dam, Summer Raven, winner of the Tempted Stakes (gr. III) at two. A daughter of Summer Squall, Summer Raven is out of Rahy Rose, a Rahy half... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Jan 25, 2010 | 2 Comments

And Now For The Stakes Winners...

Wednesday, January 13, 2010 7:18 PM

Wildcat Heir ( TrueNicks , SRO ) ended 2009 with the frankly-staggering total of 39 individual juvenile winners. Despite this, he’d reached November before a stakes winner appeared. But surely enough, time has begun to reveal quality among Wildcat Heir’s great quantity of winners. On November 13, Karmageddon took the Jersey Juvenile Stakes, and the very next... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Jan 13, 2010 | 0 Comments

Halo Effect

Tuesday, January 12, 2010 11:57 AM

Actually this post is as much about Prince John as it is about Halo, but “Prince John effect” doesn’t have quite the same ring. What turned our mind to the connection between the two, and more particularly it’s current effects, was the victory of Custom For Carlos in the Mr. Prospector Handicap (gr. III). Custom For Carlos – who strikes us as having the potential... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Jan 12, 2010 | 3 Comments

The Few The Proud

Tuesday, December 29, 2009 10:49 AM

We must admit, we did a double-take when we saw the pedigree line for the Malibu Stakes (gr. I) winner, M One Rifle, as the name of his sire, One Man Army, rang absolutely no bells whatsoever. It turns out that we weren’t having a senior moment, as One Man Army has very much been flying under the radar. Although not bred by Fred Hooper, One Man Army has a pedigree... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Dec 29, 2009 | 3 Comments

A Lucky Pair With Three of a Kind

Tuesday, December 22, 2009 6:26 PM

There was a 'lucky' ending to the last major two-year-old contests of the year with Looking At Lucky taking the Cashcall Futurity (gr. I) and Blind Luck the Hollywood Starlet Stakes (gr. I). Lookin At Lucky is a son of Smart Strike ( TrueNicks , SRO ) , who won’t repeat his Leading Sire titles of 2007 and 2009, but who has had enjoyed another excellent season... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Dec 22, 2009 | 3 Comments

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