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While there is no doubt that nicks tend to run in sire lines, we've also often found it profitable to consider the dam of a stallion when attempting to predict potential crosses. For example, when Smart Strike ( TrueNicks ) retired to stud, we noted that he was a half brother to champion Dance Smartly, a daughter of Danzig. Since Smart Strike was a Mr. Prospector...
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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...
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It’s hard to believe, but we’ve already had the first U.S. juvenile stakes of the new season. Winner of the colt’s division of the Copper Top was Verny. His sire, Gold Case (by Forty Niner), was 3-for-3, all at two, including the Old Hickory Stakes and Sugar Bowl Handicap. He’s now in New Mexico, but has been a very useful stallion wherever he has stood, getting...
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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...
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The rush to judgement that we mentioned last time with regard to Ghostzapper ( TrueNicks , SRO ), along with the current economic climate has led to opportunities for some countries to purchase stallions that would have been well-beyond reach a year or two ago. One such example is Lion Heart, who was exported to Turkey for the 2010 breeding season. The son of...
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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...
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While his brother Giant's Causeway ( TrueNicks , SRO ) has been ruling the roost – he was Leading Sire of 2009, and currently leads the table again this year – Freud ( TrueNicks , SRO ) has quietly been making his way towards the head of the stallion ranks in New York. He’s so far sired 17 stakes winners and 35 stakes horses (for a number approaching 20% stakes...
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In our last post we noted that the three sophomore grade I winners last weekend all had some form of Storm Cat and Blushing Groom on their pedigree pages. Storm Cat and Blushing Groom are also found in the pedigree of American Lion (TrueNicks B+ ) who punched his ticket to Churchill Downs with a 2¾ lengths win in the Illinois Derby (gr. III). The son of Tiznow...
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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...
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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...
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Brazil is the country that gave us football legend Pele and is no stranger to domination in that sport. They are, however, less often at the top of the racing world, but Saturday at Medyan, Brazilian breeding prevailed in the shape of Gloria de Campeao. The much-traveled seven-year-old – runner-up last year to Well Armed – led virtually throughout and held on...
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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...
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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...
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March 18 might as well have gone down as Kingmambo ( TrueNicks , SRO ) day in France, as his sire ons dominated the stakes events at Deauville. The 6½ furlong Prix Montenica, for three-year-old colts and geldings, went to Too Nice Name, a son of Kingsalsa. A group III winning miler, Kingsalsa also finished second in the Prix de la Salamandre (gr. I) and third...
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In the Burj Nahaar (gr. III), Cat Junior became the first stakes winner by Storm Cat, out of a mare by Sadler’s Wells (although there have only been a handful of starters on the cross). Funnily enough, Storm Cat’s son Giant's Causeway ( TrueNicks , SRO ) , has already sired three stakes winners on the cross. Mind, Cat Junior’s dam, Luna Wells is not just “a Sadler...
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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...
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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...
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When the gates opened for Saturday’s Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II), Buddy’s Saint was the favorite for the Kentucky Derby. But after a disastrous trip a he passed the baton to runaway winner Eskendereya. From the only crop of Horse of the Year Saint Liam, out of a mare by Blushing John, Buddy’s Saint (TrueNicks A++ ) is bred on the Halo/Blushing Groom cross...
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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...
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Roman Chestnut, winner of Saturday's Busher S. in New York, is the fifth stakes winner, and tenth stakes horse, from the first crop of Roman Ruler ( TrueNicks , SRO ) , the top North American-raced son of Fusaichi Pegasus ( TrueNicks , SRO ). What made us do a double-take, however, was when we noticed that Roman Chestnut’s dam, Silverdew, is by Silver Deputy...
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Phyllis asks: Using the Equineline data base, I found that Even the Score and a Deputy Minister line mare produced the filly Four Gifts, a grade III winner who has earned well in excess of $600,000 (and still running). I called and spoke to the farm today about a season with my Deputy Minister mare. I did a TrueNick, and see that it is being rated as a C Nick...
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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...
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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 ...
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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...
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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...
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