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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 ...

The richest race of the weekend was actually not one of the graded events, but was the $1,000,000 Charles Town Classic. Last year local hero, Researcher, had defeated the formidable Commentator to take the prize, and he once again turned back the shippers to score by 1¾ lengths. Researcher (TrueNicks A) is by the Two Punch stallion, Two Smart, out ...

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 ...

The Wertheimer family have been breeding and racing thoroughbreds for very nearly 100 years – the first winner to carry the now famous blue and white colors was in 1911. In recent times they have enjoyed success with long held families such as that of Glaneuse, fourth dam of last year’s Eclipse Award winner and World Champion Goldikova, and Green ...

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 – ...

We don’t see a lot of graded winners bred in New Jersey, but one who hails from the Garden State is the Commonwealth Handicap (gr. II) winner, Together Indy, a four-year-old by Maryland’s perpetual leading sire, Not For Love (TrueNicks,SRO), out of I Ain’t P T, a daughter of A.P. Indy (TrueNicks,SRO). Rated B+ by TrueNicks, Together Indy has a ...

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. ...

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, ...

Tragically, the brilliant Dubai Millennium died after serving just one season at stud. He was represented by just 56 registered foals, of which 35 started, and five were stakes winners. The best of his three group winners was the colt Dubawi, winner of the National Stakes (gr. I), Irish 2,000 Guineas (gr. I) and Prix Jacques Le Marois (gr. I), and ...

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 ...