Paint It Black

re: Paint It Black

Alan Porter — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 01:22:06 GMT

Hi Anne,

What I'm trying to do here is cover major winners around the world in a fairly short space. Because the blogs on the Pedigree Consultants and TrueNicks sites are read by people around the world, I try and quickly link the names to things that are globally identifiable. Hence, for Royal Academy, to describe him as a son of Nijinsky II out of the granddam of Storm Cat, is a pretty quick and effective way of placing him in context, even though it doesn't tell (or pretend to tell) the whole story.

As far as what's working, I'd go with Sceptre and say it's something to do with Vain combining with Menow/Bull Dog (or Sir Gallahad III).

re: Paint It Black

sceptre — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 21:49:27 GMT

Pedigree Ann,

You seem to be suggesting that Black Caviar owes the lion's share of her brilliance to Crimson Saint. I do agree that Crimson Saint is one of the most dominating influences for brilliance-ex.: she no doubt almost singlehandedly caused the speed in two Nijinsky IIs and two Secetariats-, but I'm rather sure her role in Black Caviar's greatness is a minor one. For it to be otherwise, one by now would likely have seen an abundance of brilliantly fast Royal Academys. This stallion does tend to sire milers, and some have been on the brilliant side, but not on an order to suggest that he possesses an overabundance of Crimson Saint's most brilliant genetic "material", let alone "enough" to accommodate your scenario. Nothing can be said here with absolute certainty, but I'm also inclined to believe that Bel Esprit (Royal Academy's son) is a more sure influence for true brilliance than his sire. Yes, Bel Esprit may well have inherited much of Royal Academy's best Crimson Saint genes, but as likely or moreso, much of Vain's better genes, and to a lesser extent Silly Season's-Tom Fool-Menow. Let's also not forget that Royal Academy is linebred to the speed influence Menow and that Silly Season adds another. Also, this pattern (of linebreeding to Menow) has a long history of much success-seen often with Blushing Groom and, perhaps, among the causes for the potent *Nijinsky II-Blushing Groom "nick". Now, when we look at Black Caviar's dam we see yet another Silly Season, as well as another Vain (one position closer). I'm not suggesting that all above is the CAUSE for a Black Caviar, rather only that it is the more likely greater (partial) cause(s) than Crimson Saint.

re: Paint It Black

Pedigree Ann — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 18:09:10 GMT

Did you misplace my earlier post? Crimson Saint was SO much more than 'the granddam of Storm Cat'. She won more races, more stakes races and set more track records than her less-sound grandson. She was a rocket ship; go out front, set wicked fractions, and dare you come get her. As usual, you give all credit to the stallions, forgetting that some horses take after mum or grandmum or even great-grandmum, and it needn't be through female family or sire line. Not saying Vain had nothing to do with it, but when you see a filly descendant of Crimson Saint RUN like Crimson Saint did, one has to connect the dots.