The greatest|ANCESTORS| to |REINFORCE

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Learned about many aspects of the game from Sir Philip Payne-Galwey (British Bloodstock Agency) in England and France, noting how busy he was when racing manager for Stavros Niarchos and his daughter Maria Niarchos. I enjoyed working with Michael Goodbody, general manager of Gainsborough Stud (England) and Gainsborough Farm (Kentucky) and racing manager for His Highness Maktoum al-Maktoum. We planned many successful matings which produced Group winners. I was consultant for William T Young’s Overbrook Farm, Kentucky and managed the first few years of Storm Cat’s stud career before returning to Australia.

I have written four books on breeding the racehorse, the first being “Tesio – Master of Matings”. I visited Dormello Stud and had Italian notes by Federico Tesio translated from Donna Lydia’s private stud book. I was lucky to learn about conditioning the racehorse from such eminent trainers as T. J. Smith, Les Bridge, Charlie Whittingham and D. Wayne Lukas. I learned how to interpret and understand American pedigrees from men like Warner Jones and Olin Gentry.

It was a young Olin Gentry who was sent to France by Colonel Bradley (Idle Hour Farm) to purchase the small mare La Troienne (by Teddy), ancestress of champions. While managing Darby Dan Farm for John Galbreath, Olin Gentry planned the mating of champion Roberto who won the English Derby and he also planned the mating of three Kentucky Derby winners. Olin looked after Ribot and Sea-Bird II at Darby Dan Farm and educated me about the physical strengths and weaknesses of the best commercial bloodlines.

He explained to me how important it was to reinforce a stallion’s dam to breed stakes runners and mentioned the grey horse Native Dancer as the best racehorse he ever saw. One of the most interesting pedigree book I read was Abrham S Hewitt’s “The Great Breeders and their Methods”. I studied Keylock’s Charts of families organized by Bruce Lowe numbers and extended pedigrees of champion racehorses to learn about pedigree patterns. I studied basic genetics to understand why brothers and sisters can be so different.

With this knowledge I planned matings of many stakes winners for friends and clients including a Kentucky Derby Gr1 winner and a Kentucky Oaks Gr1 winner. Who are the most influential ancestors with unique DNA that helped shape the racehorse breed? In my opinion at the top of the list should be the little mare Pocahontas (by Glencoe-Marpessa) whose strain dominates the Thoroughbred gene pool. It is incredible that one mare can be so influential via seven of her foals.

She produced Stockwell (leading sire 7 times), his brother Rataplan (a leading broodmare sire) and their half-brother King Tom (leading sire twice). King Tom is famous because he is the broodmare sire of undefeated champion St Simon. Pocahontas produced four valuable daughters: • Araucaria (by Ambrose) dam of RAYON DOR (Champion Stakes, English St Leger, Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Prix du Cadran), Camelia (English 1000 Guineas, English Oaks) and Wellingtonia (by Chatanooga) winner of the Biennial Stakes – a stallion inbred to sisters. • Ayacanora (by Birdcatcher) dam of Chatanooga (Criterion Stakes) • Heroine of Lucknow (by Nutwith) • Indiana (Muley Moloch) dam of Humming Bird, fourth dam of Kizil Kourgan (by Omnium II) won French 1000 Guineas, French Oaks.

Phenomenal success on the racetrack occurred when daughters of Pocahontas mixed with sons of Pocahontas in the one pedigree. Further, when Ksar became the highest earning racehorse in history after winning the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe twice, his pedigree highlighted inbreeding to Omnium II. The fact that Ksar’s classic winning dam Kizil Kourgan traced in direct female line to Indiana (Muley Moloch-Pocahontas) highlighted the powerful genetic input from Pocahontas. Champion French 3YO filly Kizil Kourgan (by Omnium II) won the Prix de Diane (French Oaks), Prix des Pouliches, Prix Lupin and Grand Prix de Paris.

Ksar was owned and bred by Evremond Saint-Alary, a sort of genius with pedigrees. He inbred to Omnium II on purpose and asked his dear friend Madame Edmond Blanc to race the colt Ksar by Bruleur from Kizil Kourgan, explaining how this colt had a pedigree comprising three daughters of Pocahontas. Ksar became leading sire in France and is a key ancestor worth reinforcing, especially using the strain of Tourbillon and son Djebel. Ksar won 11 of 15 starts.

Apart from his two victories in the Arc, he won the Prix du Prince d’Orange twice, Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby), Prix Lupin, Prix Hocquart, Prix Royal Oak and Prix du Cadran.

Edmond Blanc was close friends with Evremond Saint-Alary and became a mentor for Marcel Boussac who took the strain of Tourbillon to new heights, it proving to being far superior to the best British strains. To verify the significance of descendants from Pocahontas, it is necessary to comment on TEDDY, TRACERY, HAVRESAC II, AJAX (Fr) and TOURBILLON. Ajax (Fr) bred by Edmond Blanc was undefeated. He was Champion 3YO of France winning the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby), Prix Lupin, Prix Noailles, Grand Prix de Paris and Prix de St Firmin.

He was a son of the hot-tempered Flying Fox, a champion inbred 3 x 2 to Galopin. Flying Fox was by Orme, son of St Simon’s sister Angelica. Standing at Haras de Jardy, Ajax became a significant sire of stakes winners and sire of sires. The broodmare sire of Ajax was Clamart (Saumur-Princess Catherine) who traced in female line to Heroine of Lucknow, daughter of Pocahontas. The best son of Ajax (Fr) was Teddy (1913) French Champion 3YO when classic races were cancelled because of World War II.

He was bred by Edmond Blanc and became Leading Sire in France. He sired La Troienne, Asterus, Sir Gallahad III, Bull Dog, Coeur a Coeur (grand-dam of Djebel), Assignation (4th dam of Secretariat and Sir Gaylord), Tara (grand-dam of Wilkes), La Moquese (grand-dam of Abdos), Sun Teddy, Case Ace, etc.

Of significance, Teddy’s strain had a geneti affinity with Northern Dancer. The strain of Teddy featured in all the best progeny of Northern Dancer with the exception of Lyphard. Mr Prospector’s strain had a genetic affinity with Northern Dancer mainly because Teddy’s sons Bull Dog and Case Ace were present in his make-up. Tracery was a son of Triple Crown winner Rock Sand and Topiary by Orme. He came from Stockwell’s male line through the great sire Sainfoin.

Tracery’s grand-dam was the high-class mare Plaisanterie by Wellingtonia from Poetess. Bred in the USA at August Belmont’s Nursery Stud, Tracery was shipped to England where he was voted Champion 3YO colt. At his first appearance he finished third in the English Derby at Epsom before a string of successes occurred including the St James’s Palace Stakes, Goodwood Sussex Stakes, Champion Stakes, Eclipse Stakes, Burwell Plate and English St Leger. After a few seasons at stud in England, millionaire Saturnino J Unzue purchased Tracery to stand in Argentina where the stallion led the Sires’ List and sired champions.

Tracery’s best son was English Derby winner Papyrus who inherited unique DNA that was passed on to several high-class performers. Flamingo (by Tracery) won the English 2,000 Guineas and was runner-up in the Derby. Star Kingdom’s second dam Thoughtless is by Papyrus. Tracery’s best daughter Teresina became the dam of Alibhai (leading sire in North America) and Irish Oaks winner Theresina. Papyrus sired Cosquilla, dam of Princequillo. Tracery’s fast son Abbot’s Trace appears in the pedigree of Nearctic, sire of Northern Dancer.

Inheriting classic speed from Sainfoin, St Simon and his sister Angelica (dam of Orme) plus impact from Wellingtonia makes Tracery one of the best and most interestingly bred stallions of all time. Tracery’s grandsire English Derby winner Sainfoin was linebred 4 x 4 to Stockwell, son of Pocahontas. Rock Sand’s third dam was by Stockwell. Orme was out of Angelica, sister to St Simon. I was not surprised to discover Danehill is linebred to Tracery.

Tracery also appears in the pedigree of Emborough, sire of champion Bernborough. Further, Tracery’s daughter Traverse became third dam of Hasty Road and Traffic Judge. Tesio’s filly Nera di Bicci (by Tracery) established a classic family in Germany and Copyright became leading sire in Argentina. 

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Havresac II (by Rabelais) was eleven times leading sire in Italy. He won nine races including the Premio Chiusura and Premio Ambrosiano. He appears in the pedigree of Ribot via the male line of Cavaliere d’Arpino. Havresac II is the broodmare sire of champion Nearco. Federico Tesio bred and trained both unbeaten colts.

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Here we have another stallion that is the product of St Simon and Ajax (FR) the latter supplying Wellingtonia with the two daughters of Pocahontas. No wonder Nearco (Pharos-Nogara by Havresac II) liked mares with Teddy, “son” of Ajax (Fr). Tourbillon (Ksar-Durban by Durbar) was bred by Marcel Boussac and became a foundation sire at Haras Fresnay-le-Buffard. He was leading sire in France three times and won the Prix du Jockey Club, Prix Lupin, Prix Greffulhe and Prix Hocquart.

Ksar being inbred to Omnium II with Wellingtonia having two daughters of Pocahontas gained another daughter of Pocahontas via Heroine of Lucknow. Thus, he suited mares whose pedigree included a son of Pocahontas, viz. Stockwell, Rataplan or King Tom. Tourbillon sired Horse of the Year and champion 3YO colt Djebel from Loika by Gay Crusader from Coeur a Coeur by Teddy. Djebel proved far superior to the British three-year-old division. He won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, English 2,000 Guineas, French 2,000 Guineas, Prix Harcourt (twice) and Middle Park Stakes.

Djebel became an influential sire for Marcel Boussac’s programme. Among his sons was My Babu, champion 2YO and winner of the English 2,000 Guineas. His dam Perfume II was by brilliant sprinter Badruddin, by Blandford from Mumtaz Mahal. My Gladiola, recent winner of the MRC Moir Stakes Gr1 over 1000m is a grey filly by I Am Invincible from Villa Verde by Not A Single Doubt, son of Redoute’s Choice. She won the Blue Diamond Preview Gr3 and VRC Cap d’Antibes Stakes (Listed), was second in the Lightning Stakes Gr1 and Coolmore Stud Stakes Gr1.

Her pedigree reveals duplication of su champion Canny Lad 3 x 4 via Cannarelle an and Shantha’s Choice as well as 4 x 5 G to Danzig. Duplication of Danehill S can upgrade speed, especially if Mr S Prospector appears in the pattern. The an Danehill mix with Sadler’s Wells has been uccessful in producing Group winners nd reinforces Natalma and Tracery. Genetic compatibility exists between Sadler’s Wells and Darshaan, between Sadler’s Wells and his ¾ brother Nureyev, nd between Dubawi with Galileo.

The outstanding sire Night of Thunder is linebred to the similarly breed Seeking The Gold (Mr Prospector-Con Game by Buckpasser) and Miswaki (Mr Prospector-Hopespringseternal by Buckpasser). Dubai Millennium is a son of Seeking the Gold whereas Urban Sea (dam of Galileo) is by Miswaki. Pinatubo is almost certain to nick with daughters of I Am Invincible as this cross duplicates Eljazzi. Tales of Time (by Pinatubo) is bred on this cross which features a wonderful pedigree pattern.

Elite mare Eljazzi is duplicated via the sisters El Jazira (third dam of Pinatubo) and Rafha (dam of Invincible Spirit). Potential Group winners could be produced from this exciting match. Recently in Germany, Pinatubo sired Saddadd, winner of the Grosser Preis von Baden Gr1. One of the strongest female lines in the Aga Khan’s broodmare band is that of Tourzima, daughter of Tourbillon. The female line of Too Darn Hot and Darshaan (rich in the strains of Tourbillon) is an extension of Marcel Boussac’s bloodstock enterprise and I’ve noticed a couple of promising stakes performers with Delsy reinforced.

Heldifann (Durbar) Djezima (Asterus) Tourzima (Tourbillon) Albanilla (Pharis II) Marilla (Marsyas) Kelty (Venture VII) Delsy (Abdos) dam of Darshaan Darara (Top Ville) Da Re Mi (Singspiel) dam of Too Darn Hot At the Qatar sponsored Paris-Longchamp meet in early September, three Aga Khan horses won Group races. A happy Princess Zahra Aga Khan congratulated her trainer Francis Henri-Graffard who conditioned Daryz (Sea The Stars) to win the Prix Foy Gr2 over 2000m, Erdenali (Caravaggio) to win the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp Gr1 over 1600m and Varandir (Zarak) to win the Prix Niel Gr2 over 2400m.

Zarak (by Dubawi) stands at Haras de Bonneval and is a Group winning son of champion mare Zarkava. This is the female line of Mumtaz Mahal via champion mare Petite Etoile:

Lady Josephine (Sundridge) Mumtaz Mahal (The Tetrarch) Mah Mahal (Gainsborough) dam of Mahmoud Mah Iran (Bahram) Star of Iran (Bois Roussel) Petite Etoile (Petition) Zahra (Habitat) Zarna (Shernazar) Zarkana (Doyoun) Zarkasha (Kahyasi) Zarkava (Zaminder)

At the same Sunday meeting, Friendly Soul (by Kingman) won the Prix Vermeille Gr1 and Rogue Passion won the Prix d’Aumale Gr2. Varandir is a progressive three year-old colt by Dubawi’s son Zarak from Varkesha by Pivotal from Varana by Sea the Stars from Valasyra by Sinndar. This is the family of French Oaks Gr1 winner Valyra. Erdenali, a brilliant miler, is a bay gelding by Caravaggio (son of Scat Daddy) from Erdana by Sea The Stars from Ervedya by Siyouni from Elva by King’s Best. Of significance, the pedigree shows Erdana is inbred 3 x 4 to Allegretta via Urban Sea and King’s Best.

Another powerful line of Mumtaz Mahal was carefully developed by Miss Kirsten Rausing. I refer to the family of Champion mare Alpinista (Frankel-Alwilda by Hernando). Here is the progression of this branch of Mumtaz Mahal:

Mumtaz Mahal (The Tetrarch) Mah Iran (Bahram) Mah Behar (Bois Roussel) Nucciolina (Nuccio) Allara (Zeddaan) Alruccaba (Crystal Palace) Alouette (Darshaan) Albanova (Alzao) Alwilda (Hernando) Alpinista (Frankel)

Mah Iran was a grey mare by champion Bahram who was second highweight filly on the 2YO English Free Handicap. She produced Migoli (by Bois Rousel) 12 wins, Eclipse Stakes, Champion Stakes and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the sprinter Moondust (by Stardust) 3 wins who was exported to Australia, Star of Iran (Bois Roussel) and Mah Behar (Bois Roussel). Miss Kirsten Rausing and Mrs Sonia Rogers teamed up to purchase Alruccaba, a filly linebred to Grey Sovereign, son of Nasrullah.

They selected Darshaan as the most suitable match and Alouette resulted, improving not only conformation but good temperament. Alouette won the Listed Oyster Stakes over 1 ½ miles and was stakes placed three times including 3rd Moyglare Stud Stakes Gr1. Albanova (ALzao) was Horse of the Year in Germany, 7 wins from 11 starts including the Preis von Europa Gr1 and Rheinland Pokal Gr1. She is sister to Alborada 6 wins including the Champion Stakes Gr1 twice, Nassau Stakes Gr2 and Pretty Polly Stakes Gr2.

Albanova produced All At Sea (Sea The Stars) dam of Roaring Lion’s son Kingswood, recent winner of the Heatherlie Stakes (Listed) at Caulfield. Kingswood’s 6 wins include the Zabeel Classic Gr1 and Coongy Cup Gr3. All At Sea won 4 times including three Listed races, the best being victory in the Prix Zarkava. Albanova also produced My Sanctuary (by Oasis Dream) 2 wins in Australia after being imported by Waratah Thoroughbreds. This mare is linebred to Lyphard, Mill Reef and Sir Ivor, thereby increasing the amount of stamina.

Alpinista was Horse of the Year in Germany and Champion Mare in France. She won 10 of 15 starts with earnings of 3,321,033 Pounds including the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Gr1, Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud Gr1, Yorkshire Oaks Gr1 twice, Preis von Europa Gr1, Grosser Preis von Berlin Gr1, Grosser Preis von Bayern Gr1 and Lancashire Oaks Gr2. Alalcance (Mastercraftsman-Albanara by Galileo from Albanova) recently won the Brisbane Cup Gr2. A grey mare who keeps improving with age, she won the Chairman’s Quality Gr2, Eagle Farm Premier’s Cup, Randwick City Stakes Listed and N E Manion Cup Listed.

From 7 wins she has earned $959,739. Mumtaz Mahal’s daughter Mumtaz Begum (by Blenheim) produced Nasrullah (Nearco) and Sun Princess (Solario) dam of Royal Charger (Nearco). Canny Lad’s pedigree shows Beautiful Dreamer with 3 x 3 inbreeding to Nasrullah’s half-sister Dodoma (Dastur-Mumtaz Begum).

Well Written (Written Tycoon-Mozzie Monster by Sebring) remains unbeaten with seven wins and NZ$2.8 million earnings. Her wins include the Ellerslie Proisir Stakes Gr1, New Zeand 1,000 Guineas Gr1, Auckland Guineas Gr2, Soliloquy Stakes Gr2 and Karaka Millions 3YO (Listed). Owned by a syndicate, Yulong recently bought into the filly. Well Written was bred by D Digney and probably heads to Australia to continue her career.

With the passing of His Highness Karim Aga Khan IV the destiny of the racing and breeding programme for the Aga Khan Studs passed into the hands of a board of directors including Karim’s daughter Princess Zahra Aga Khan. Passionate about horses, her direction of the Aga Khan Studs is safe and will continue to breed high-class performers. Karim Aga Khan bred multiple Group winning racehorses after taking the role of managing director of the Aga Khan Studs immediately after his father Prince Aly Khan was tragically killed in a car accident.

Among the many Group winners were: Shergar (winner of the English Derby Gr1 by 10 lengths), Daylami (French 2,000 Guineas Gr1, Breeders’ Cup Turf Gr1, Coronation Cup Gr1, King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes Gr1), eight French Derby Gr1 winners including Darshaan, Top Ville and Dalakhani. Others stars include Sinndar (English Derby Gr1, Irish Derby Gr1), Shahrastani and Harzand  (both winners of the English Derby Gr1), Zarkava and Daryz (both winners of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Gr1).

The Haras de Bonneval in France is home to the stallions Siyouni and Zarak. In Ireland at Gilltown Stud stands champion Sea The Stars. Siyouni is the sire of European Horse of the Year St Mark’s Basilica who with his first crop sired champion Diamond Necklace, winner of the French 1,000 Guineas Gr1 and French Oaks Gr-1. Azmiyna, dam of The Autumn Sun, is an Aga Khan homebred. By Galileo, she is from Asmara by Lear Fan from Anaza by Darshaan.

The Autumn Sun is the sire of champion filly Autumn Glow, 12 wins $9.1 million earnings who recently defeated crack filly Sheza Alibi (by Saxon Warrior) in the Randwick Winx Stakes Gr1.

Daryz is considered to be a chance to win another Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. His female line goes back to Dalama, by Djebel:

La Moquese (Teddy) Pretty Lady (Umidwar) Dalama (Djebel) Djebellina (Charlottesville) Darazina (Labus) Darata (Vayrann) Daryaba (Night Shift) Daryakana (Selkirk) dam of Daryz by Sea the Stars Sheza Alibi has won almost $4 million and is considered one of the most talented fillies in the country. She may have finished runner-up to Autumn Glow in the Winx Stakes Gr1 but perhaps she can turn the tables on her in late Spring if they meet again. Sheza Alibi’s major victories were the Doncaster Handicap Gr1, Randwick Guineas Gr1, Sandown Guineas Gr2, Angus Armanasco Stakes Gr2 and The Vanity Stakes Gr3.

Her sire Saxon Warrior is by the outstanding Japanese champion Deep Impact, son of Sunday Silence. Sheza Alibi is linebred 4 x 4 to Danehill via daughter and son, and linebred to Mr Prospector via son and daughter. With duplication of extra sources of Northern Dancer, Sheza Alibi inherits speed from dominant ancestor Native Dancer, USA Horse of the Year. BBBB