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Not Enough Data? How the Key Ancestors Report Gives a Breeder an Answer

Friday, May 09, 2014 5:00 PM

As a consultant, there is a tendency to feel that you should have a ready answer for most inquiries. There are times, however, when the correct answer is "I don't know." We were reminded of this when presented with a query regarding the mare Cameron's Buddy. The 10-year-old mare is by Frisk Me Now, a multiple graded stakes winner of $1.7 million, but the sire... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter | May 09, 2014 | 2 Comments

Super Nicks, Super Ratings?

Friday, February 14, 2014 10:10 AM

From time to time on this blog, we've looked at what we might call "super nicks," or crosses calculated on immediate ancestors (like, say, the sire and broodmare sire) that are particularly notable for the numbers and class of stakes winners they are providing. In the current era, none would surpass a cross we've considered in detail before, that of Galileo with... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter | Feb 14, 2014 | 5 Comments

Chasing a Mate for The Fugue

Tuesday, October 08, 2013 1:30 PM

In its relatively short life as a premier race, the Irish Champion Stakes (Ire-I) has an envious roll call of winners, with the likes of Sadler's Wells, Suave Dancer, Dr. Devious, Swain, Giant's Causeway ( TrueNicks ), New Approach ( TrueNicks ), Sea The Stars, High Chaparral (IRE) ( TrueNicks ), and So You Think (NZ) ( TrueNicks ) all victorious at Leopardstown... Read More...

Written by Byron Rogers | Oct 08, 2013 | 17 Comments

Inbreeding Coefficients, Pedigree Statistics Added to TrueNicks Reports

Saturday, September 28, 2013 1:45 PM

At TrueNicks we are continually trying to improve the data in our reports in order to help you make a more informed and intelligent decision in your breeding and selection efforts. In that regard, in response to feedback we received from our customers, earlier this year we launched the TrueNicks Key Ancestors Report , a report that considers the entire pedigree... Read More...

Written by Byron Rogers | Sep 28, 2013 | 5 Comments

From the Vault: TrueNicks Top 10 Nicking Myths Webinar

Tuesday, September 17, 2013 7:00 PM

We've reached back into the time vault and unearthed a TrueNicks webinar that we filmed back in 2009. While it is over three years old, much of what we talked about back then is still relevant today. Enjoy! Click here to download the "Top 10 Myths About Nicks in Thoroughbred Breeding" whitepaper . Read More...

Written by Byron Rogers | Sep 17, 2013 | 0 Comments

TrueNicks.com Now Serving Classic & Enhanced Reports

Friday, February 22, 2013 1:30 PM

TrueNicks.com is now serving TrueNicks Classic and Enhanced reports at TrueNicks.com/Products . Reports can be ordered for any horse or hypothetical mating. Classic reports ($15) include the powerful TrueNicks rating, five-generation pedigree, and top five racehorses bred on the cross. Enhanced reports ($25) add a second page of data points for starters, auction... Read More...

Written by Ian Tapp | Feb 22, 2013 | 1 Comment

VIDEO: Key Ancestors Report Strategies with Alan Porter

Monday, February 11, 2013 6:20 PM

TrueNicks' Ian Tapp sits down with Alan Porter, the creator of the TrueNicks rating, to discuss strategies and commercial considerations for using the new Key Ancestors Report. Up for discussion is Oregon Lady ( click for report ), a graded stakes-winning Shamardal mare who recently sold for $475,000 at Keeneland January in foal to Elusive Quality ( TrueNicks... Read More...

Written by Ian Tapp | Feb 11, 2013 | 10 Comments

Announcing the All New Key Ancestors Report

Thursday, January 10, 2013 11:00 AM

Today TrueNicks is pleased to announce the new Key Ancestors Report, a breakthrough report that considers your mare's entire pedigree—all male and female ancestors—and identifies the key ancestors to seek out or avoid in the pedigrees of stallions in prospective matings. TrueNicks' Byron Rogers and Ian Tapp discuss the new report in the video below. brightcove... Read More...

Written by Ian Tapp | Jan 10, 2013 | 41 Comments

Time Has Told

Thursday, February 23, 2012 11:30 AM

Over two years ago, we ran a TrueNicks Broodmare Report for the O'Reilly (NZ) ( TrueNicks ) mare Rare Insight. The report was ordered by Rare Insight's part-owner Neil Hoar, who gave a copy to his trainer, leading Australian trainer John O'Shea. After reading the report, the trainer told us: "I'm impressed that the report has Danehill Dancer as a top pick. I... Read More...

Written by Byron Rogers | Feb 23, 2012 | 0 Comments

Broodmares Ready for Valentine's Day

Friday, February 10, 2012 5:05 PM

I've had more than one customer describe TrueNicks as a "dating service" for Thoroughbreds. This might be a fair assessment, since increasingly more breeders are using TrueNicks as a research tool during their stallion selection process. With Valentine's Day just a few days away—and in hopes that breeders everywhere will find the right stallion match for their... Read More...

Written by Ian Tapp | Feb 10, 2012 | 4 Comments

TrueNicks Broodmare Reports Now a Triple Threat

Monday, January 09, 2012 3:00 PM

In January 2009, a little more than a year after the launch of the TrueNicks website, the Broodmare Analysis Report was announced. The report allows breeders to cross their mare with up to 50 selected stallions and provides a catalog-style pedigree for the mare. The report lists the stallions in order of TrueNicks rating and Broodmare Sire Improvement Index,... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter | Jan 09, 2012 | 0 Comments

TrueNicks Celebrates 4 Years

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 8:45 AM

We at TrueNicks are pleased to announce our 4th anniversary this month! Time flies, and it's amazing to think that TrueNicks is now beginning its 5th Northern Hemisphere breeding season. TrueNicks was founded in 2007 as a partnership between Pedigree Consultants (Alan Porter and Byron Rogers) and Blood-Horse Publications, with the calculation running off the... Read More...

Written by Ian Tapp | Dec 20, 2011 | 4 Comments

Cox Plate Winner Rated Well from Beginning

Saturday, October 22, 2011 7:30 PM

In what was somewhat of an upset victory, the classy mare Pinker Pinker won the historic Cox Plate (Aus-I), the best weight for age race over 10 furlongs in Australasia, last night at Moonee Valley. Interestingly, the owner of Pinker Pinker's dam Miss Marion had asked TrueNicks to run a Broodmare Analysis Report on the mare when Pinker Pinker was still an unnamed... Read More...

Written by Byron Rogers | Oct 22, 2011 | 0 Comments

TrueNicks Adds Over 140 Stallions in Australia and New Zealand

Sunday, August 07, 2011 10:00 PM

Over 140 stallions standing in Australia and New Zealand have joined TrueNicks in advance of the 2011 Southern Hemisphere breeding season. Thoroughbred breeders who are currently busy working on their 2011 mating plans can now run complimentary TrueNicks Enhanced Reports with these stallions. ( Click here for the full list ) TrueNicks Enhanced Reports include... Read More...

Written by Ian Tapp | Aug 07, 2011 | 4 Comments

TrueNicks Gets Enhanced!

Monday, November 22, 2010 12:00 PM

As today's breeders and buyers of racehorses become increasingly savvy, they demand more information when making decisions. Our TrueNicks customers have asked for more, and today we are proud to present the new TrueNicks Enhanced report. The Enhanced report adds a second page of multiple cross-specific data points. Through the end of January, 2011, we are offering... Read More...

Written by Ian Tapp | Nov 22, 2010 | 4 Comments

Updated Cross Notations for TrueNicks

Friday, August 13, 2010 12:00 PM

TrueNicks cross notations are now more descriptive, telling you specifically which generations are being considered in each rating. To make the nick rating statistically relevant, TrueNicks requires at least two stakes winners or 15 starters to rate a cross. If these criteria are not met by the direct Sire/Broodmare Sire cross, the TrueNicks algorithm incorporates... Read More...

Written by Ian Tapp | Aug 13, 2010 | 10 Comments

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What's a No Rating?

Thursday, June 17, 2010 6:00 PM

We are often asked why we assign a No Rating designation to some crosses. Well, it's quite simply that sometimes the most honest answer to a question is “We don't know – there isn’t enough evidence to give a verdict." Click for Conveyance's pedigree, an example of a No Rating . In assessing a cross, the TrueNicks algorithm tries to calculate a rating on the basis... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Jun 17, 2010 | 0 Comments

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Reader Q&A - Derby Contender Nicks?

Friday, March 05, 2010 10:20 AM

Michelle asks: Where can I find the TrueNicks ratings for horses that are running in the prep races leading up to the Kentucky Derby? Byron's response: Thanks for taking the time to send us this email. Judging by your question we should probably make a better effort at getting the TrueNicks ratings integrated and displayed on The Blood-Horse web site (www.bloodhorse... Read More...

Written by Byron Rogers | Mar 05, 2010 | 1 Comment

Reader Q&A - Can You Explain the Significance of the TrueNicks Variant?

Thursday, February 04, 2010 8:00 AM

Fred asks: I just ordered two broodmare analysis reports and I was most pleased. While I understand the significance of BSI II (Broodmare Sire Improvement Index) I am unclear as to the significance of the True Nicks Variant. Could you please explain? Byron's response: Thanks for the email and we appreciate ordering the broodmare analysis report. I'm glad you... Read More...

Written by Byron Rogers | Feb 04, 2010 | 1 Comment

Spanning The Globe

Thursday, January 14, 2010 9:17 AM

Of the numerous orders we have received for the new TrueNicks Stallion Analysis and companion Pedigree Consultants Stallion Compatibility Report, one of the most intriguing was for Sabirli , who retires to Karacabey Farm in Turkey for 2010. While Sabirli may not be a very familiar name, he is a son of 1991 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner, Strike the Gold, out of... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Jan 14, 2010 | 0 Comments

What's the Difference?

Sunday, January 10, 2010 12:30 PM

Russell asks : Why are the ratings found in the Stallion Affinity Report not the same as the ratings obtained by running an individual mating? As an example, Storm Cat over Yonaguska gets a TrueNicks rating of A+ according to the sample affinity report shown for Storm Cat. I ran my Yonaguska mare, Bella Cherokee, with Frost Giant using the TrueNicks link on the... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Jan 10, 2010 | 2 Comments

TrueNicks Launches Stallion Affinity Report

Thursday, January 07, 2010 9:45 AM

TrueNicks has now added a Stallion Affinity Report to it’s growning stable of products. Utilizing the data-base of The Jockey Club Information Services, the comprehensive report returns ratings for the subject stallion when crossed with mares by any broodmare sire or sire who has been represented by 50 or more runners in either category in the previous year.... Read More...

Written by Alan Porter 1 | Jan 07, 2010 | 0 Comments

Broodmare Analysis Report Unveiled

Monday, January 12, 2009 5:36 PM

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Written by sgillies | Jan 12, 2009 | 2 Comments

Reader Q&A: Can TrueNicks Be Used in Thoroughbred Handicapping?

Saturday, December 06, 2008 11:09 PM

Question from Tony: I realize that TrueNicks is primarily a tool for breeders but does your group envision developing any tools for handicappers as way to measure the potential of lightly raced horses? Byron's reply : Tony, thanks for the email. The short answer is "yes," the long answer is that it is going to take time to develop and certainly be rigorously... Read More...

Written by Byron Rogers | Dec 06, 2008 | 6 Comments

Reader Q&A: Can TrueNicks help the regional stallion?

Monday, September 08, 2008 9:20 AM

Question: I have a stallion named Basketball Court (by Doneraile Court out of Stage Bulletin, by Rare Performer), a stakes winner with a record of 6 wins, 3 places, and 2 shows from 20 starts. How could I best get him out to the breeding public? Could TrueNicks help a smaller stallion? Byron's answer: Thanks for your email. TrueNicks can certainly form part of... Read More...

Written by Byron Rogers | Sep 08, 2008 | 3 Comments

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