Photo: Jeremy Nelson
Gimmethegreenlight Nelson’s G i m m e t h e g r e e n l i g h t Column (AUS) was selected as a brought to you by weanling by Sue Snaith in Varsfontein Stud
Australia for Hassen Adams. This astute purchase has had a pronounced impact on the South African racing and breeding industry. Trained by Snaith Racing, he was G1 placed at 2 and was the first 3yo in 42 years to win the G1 Queen’s Plate while beating SA’s superstar, Variety Club (Longines 3rd Highest Rated Horse In The World 2014. Timeform 131. South African Horse Of The Year 2012 & 2013. Won 5 Gr1 Races. First International horse to win the HK Champions Mile G1 in 10 years). Gimmethegreenlight became the highest rated 3yo in SA in 2012. Varsfontein Stud opened negotiations with Hassen Adams and secured the colt to take up stud duties for the 2012 breeding season. With his International pedigree, outstanding racing career and his excellent physical attributes, Gimmethegreenlight GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT by Jeremy Nelson
was considered the ideal prospect as a future leading stallion. History has proven this correct and he has become one the leading young sires of stakes winners in SA. He has achieved the following: Champion First Season Sire 2016, Champion Sire of 2yo’s 2020, Champion Sire 2021, Champion Sire of 3yo’s 2021, 3rd leading sire 2022, and now the current leading SA sire in 2023 (to 22nd May), with 95 winners of 128 races including 10 stakes winners of 12 stakes races.
SIRE - MORE THAN READY (USA) Gimmethegreenlight’s sire More Than Ready was a brilliant miler, and is renowned the world over as the best sire of winners the World has ever seen. He has sired more than 2051 winners. The only other stallion in history to tally over 1600 winners is Danehill, who sits on 1623 winners. More Than Ready became the perfect outcross for Danehill line mares in Australasia as evidenced by PRIZED ICON, MORE JOYOUS, SEBRING, PERFECTLY READY, MORE THAN SACRED, BENICIO etc. In South Africa, Gimmethegreenlight has produced GOT THE GREENLIGHT from a Danehill line mare through Commands. More Than Ready was also the most shuttled stallion in the World and became a Champion Sire in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and a World-renowned stallion who has made an indelible mark on the breed. “More Than Ready was an amazing horse who GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT by Jeremy Nelson
touched everyone he came in contact with,” says Elliott Walden, president, CEO, and racing manager of WinStar Farm. “He may not have been the biggest horse in the barn, but he more than made up for it in class, balance, and character. His expressions said it all. We will greatly miss him at the farm.” More Than Ready is a breed-shaping stallion and one of the youngest stallions in history to attain 100 stakes winners and 1,000 winners. He was Champion 2yo Sire USA in 2010 and Champion Sire of 2yo’s in Australia in 2008 and 2009. He has sired graded stakes winners in 12 countries, G1 winners in 7, and has more black type winners than any North American sire in history with 216. More Than Ready has sired 100 graded stakes winners, 30 G1 winners, and 13 champions. More Than Ready is the only sire to have an Eclipse Award Champion each year from 2017 to 2020. His RUSHING FALL was named Champion Female Turf horse in 2020; UNI (GB) was honoured
as the 2019 Champion Turf Female; and ROY H earned back-to-back Champion Male Sprinter titles in 2017 and 2018. Further testament of his ability to sire versatile runners at the industry’s highest levels, More Than Ready is the number-one sire of Breeders’ Cup winners in history with seven wins in the marquee event, accomplished with six different winners of four different races at both sprint and route distances. UNI (GB) won the 2019 Mile; ROY H captured the 2018 and 2017 Sprint; RUSHING FALL won the 2017 Juvenile Fillies Turf; REGALLY READY annexed the 2011 Turf Sprint; MORE THAN REAL won the 2011 Juvenile Fillies Turf, and PLUCK (out of the Varsfontein bred mare Secret Heart - by Fort Wood) was triumphant in that year’s Juvenile Turf. More Than Ready is by Southern Halo out of the winning Woodman mare Woodman’s Girl, a halfsister to Grade 1 winner BAIL OUT BECKY and from the family of Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner STEPHANIE’S KITTEN.
GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT by Jeremy Nelson
BROODMARE SIRE - CANNY LAD (AUS) Canny Lad epitomised the Australian thoroughbred. Fast, precocious and tough. By Bletchingly out of the Lunchtime mare Jesmond Lass, Canny Lad was one of the best juveniles Australia has ever seen. He was Australia’s champion 2yo of 1990, winning 6 of 7 starts, including the 1990 Golden Slipper G1 (1200m) and VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes G1 (1400m). As a 3-year-old, he finished third in the W.S. Cox Plate G1 over 2040m, Australia’s premier weight-for age race. Canny Lad sired 11 G1 winners including ACCOMPLICE, PRESERVE, REPUBLIC LASS and ANCIENT SONG. Canny Lad was also outstanding as a broodmare sire, with REDOUTE’S CHOICE, a multiple G1 winner and multiple Champion Sire. He is also the dam-sire of Australian Champion Sire I AM INVICIBLE (INVINCIBLE SPIRIT). Canny Lad was one of the last and most successful representatives of the STAR KINGDOM male line.
STUD CAREER Gimmethegreenlight’s stud career began in the spring of 2012. From his first crop he sired 90 foals and 75 runners which produced 8 stakes winners of 15 stakes races. The rest is history. Gimmethegreenlight currently has 8 crops running and has produced the G1 horses: BARAHIN (Silvano) BLESS MY STARS (Silvano) CIAO BELLA (Dynasty) COSMIC HIGHWAY (Silvano) ECSTATIC GREEN (Ashtontown) GIMME A PRINCE (Trippi) GIMME SIX (Mujadil) GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT by Jeremy Nelson
GOT THE GREENLIGHT (Commands) GREEN LASER (Parade Leader) GREEN PLAINS (Jet Master) GREEN TOP (Caesour) GUNNER (Captain Al) LADY OF STEEL (Western Winter) NATIONAL PARK (Camden Park) ROSE IN BLOOM (Goldkeeper) SECOND BASE (Fort Wood) SHE’S A KEEPER (Trippi) SURCHARGE / YULONG PRINCE (Diktat) THIRD RUNWAY (Black Minnaloushe) UNIVERSAL (Jet Master) YOUCANTHURRYLOVE (Jallad) His progeny are predominantly milers, but have won from 1000m - 3200m.
Photo: Jeremy Nelson
STAR KINGDOM became one of Australia’s most influential sire lines. “Canny Lad and his relations have had a significant impact on Darley’s fortunes both on the racecourse and at our stud farms since Sheikh Mohammed purchased Woodlands in 2008,” said Darley Australia’s managing director Henry Plumptre.
SUCCESSFUL MALE LINE CROSSES NORTHERN DANCER Nureyev Caesour: GREEN TOP - F (G1p; G2p) JOHNNY HERO - G (G3w; G2p; G3p) FOLLOW ME - F (G3w) LUCKY LAD - C (G2w; G3w) Sadler’s Wells Fort Wood: GREEN LANTERN - G (Lp) GREEN PEPPER - F (G3w; Lw; G2p; G3p) HACK GREEN - G (G2w) PURPLE TRACTOR - C (Lw) IN THE DANCE - F (G2p) OUR MAN IN HAVANA - C (Lp) GEE FOR GO - F (G3w; G3p) SECOND BASE - G (G2w; G3w; G1p) ABOUT TO STORM - C (Lp) OUTOFTHEDARKNESS - C (G2p; G3p) EYE OF THE PROPHET - G (G2w) GIMME’S LASSIE - F (G2p; G3p) LIGHT SPEED - C (G3w) Dynasty: CIAO BELLA - F (G2w; G1p; Lp) PACIFIC GREEN - F (Lp) Casey Tibbs: CASH TIME - G (Lw; G3p) PAISLEY PARK - G (Lw) Rakeen: MR GREENLIGHT - C (Lw; Lp) GIMME A SHOT - F (G2w; G2p; G3p) Jet Master: GIMME THE STARS - G (Lw) GREEN PLAINS - F (G2w; G3w; G1p; G2p; G3p; Lp) LA BELLA MIA - F (G2w; Lp) READY STEADY GO - G (G2p; G3p; Lp) CANE LIME ‘N SODA - C (Lp) CHASING GREEN - F (Lp) ONE NIGHT IN PARIS - F (G3w) UNIVERSAL - G (G3w; G1p; G2p)
GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT by Jeremy Nelson
Danzig Danehill Commands: GOT THE GREENLIGHT - C (G1w; G1p; G2p) Solskjaer: CAPTAIN TATTERS - C (G3p; Lp) Danehill Dancer: LOADSHEDDER - G (G3p) Redoute’s Choice Stratum: GAINSFORD - C (G2p) Rock Of Gibraltar: IRIS - F (Lw; G3p; Lp) Seventh Rock: AMBER ROCK - F (G3p) Danetime Myboycharlie: SUPER SIRI - F (G3p) Shoe Danzig: KAYDENS PRIDE - C (Lw) Qui Danzig: PORT LOUIS - G (Lw; G3p; Lp) National Assembly National Emblem: THUMBS UP - F (G2p) Joshua Dancer: PRINCE OF FIRE - C (G3p) Lyphard Bellypha Mendez Linamix: FREDERICO’S DREAM - F (Lp) Elliodor Model Man: SULKA - C (G2p) Northern Guest: LONDON SECRET - F (Lp) Nijinsky II Niniski Lomitas Silvano: BARAHIN - C (G2w; G3w; Lw; G1p; G2p) COSMIC HIGHWAY - C (G2w; G3w; Lw; G1p;
G2p; G3p) BLESS MY STARS - F (G1w; G1p; G2p; G3p) HAZY CRAZY NIGHT - F (Lp) Storm Bird Storm Cat Tale Of The Cat: GIMMETHEGREENBACK - F (Lp) Tiger Ridge: ME TIME - F (G3p) Black Minnaloushe: THIRD RUNWAY - F (G2w; Lw; G1p; G3p) Forest Wildcat Var: FAVORITA - F (Lw; G2p; G3p; Lp) DISTINCTION - F (Lp) Giant’s Causeway: CRIMSON CAUSEWAY - F (G2p) Pure Prize: LIVE MY LIFE - F (G3w) Mogok: SHOEMAKER - C (G2p; G3p) Mujadil: GIMME SIX - F (G2w; G3w; G1p; G2p; G3p) RIBOT Arts And Letters Codex Badger Land: BEATABOUTTHEBUSH - F (Lw; Lp) Badger’s Drift: SKIP THE RED - G (Lp) MR PROSPECTOR Forty Niner End Sweep Trippi: SAN VERDE - C (Lp) SHE’S A KEEPER - F (G1w; G2w; Lw) GIMME A PRINCE - G (G1w; G2w; G2p; Lp) RENY - F (G2p) Rich Man’s Gold: GOLD SEASON - C (Lw) Kingmambo Parade Leader: GIMME ONE NIGHT - G (G3w; G3p; Lp) GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT by Jeremy Nelson
GREEN LASER - C (G3w; G1p; G2p; G3p; Lp) Gone West Western Winter: SIMONA - F (Lw; Lp) VOLVER - G (Lp) LIGHT ON HER TOES - F (G3p) ANNEKA - F (G3p) GREEN HAZE - C (Lw; G2p; G3p; Lp) STREAM AHEAD - C (Lw) VIKRAM - G (G2w) EMERALD BAND - G (Lp) LADY OF STEEL - F (G3w; G1p) GIMME DAT - F (G2w; G3w) Goldkeeper: ROSE IN BLOOM - F (G3w; Lw; G1p; G2p; G3p; Lp) GOING UP - F (Lw; G3p; Lp) Lion Cavern Latino Magic: LIL MISS GEE - F (Lp) Machiavellian Kahal: KWINTA’S LIGHT - F (Lw; G3p; Lp) WECANGOALLNIGHT - C (G3p) ROBERTO Al Mufti Captain Al: GUNNER - G (G1w; G2p) FLANDERS - G (G3w; Lw) FIFTYSHADESDARKER - F (G2p; G3p) MERCURY RISING - F (Lw; G2p) Red Ransom: EUROPEANA - F (Lw; Lp) Kris S Philanthropist: COUNTDOWN - C (Lw) NASRULLAH Red God Blushing Groom Rainbow Quest Spectrum: LEGEND - G (Lp) FIRE TO THE REIN - C (Lp) GIMMETHEGOAHEAD - C (G3p)
Jallad: QUEEN FOREVER - F (Lw; Lp) CROWN GUARDIAN - C (Lp) EMERALD TIARA - F (G3p; Lp) YOUCANTHURRYLOVE - C (G1p; G2p; Lp) Bold Ruler Jungle Cove Bush Telegraph Ashtontown: ECSTATIC GREEN - F (G2w; G1p; G2p) Boldnesian Bold Reasoning Seattle Slew A.P. Indy Camden Park: NATIONAL PARK - G (G2w; G3w; G1p; G2p; Lp) Mon Sang: ROLL IN THE HAY - F (Lw; G2p) Judpot: GIMMEANOTHERCHANCE - C (G3p) Never Bend Mill Reef Doyoun Daylami: GREAT AFFAIR - G (Lp) IN REALITY Known Fact Warning Diktat: SURCHARGE - C (G1w; G3w; Lw; G1p; G2p; Lp) HYPERION Owen Tudor Tudor Minstrel Sing Sing Averof Foveros: CATCHAFALLINGSTAR - F (G2p; Lp)
Sire line crosses, although a good starting point, are not the only criteria to look for when doing matings. To demonstrate this, I will evaluate the pedigrees of Surcharge and Got The Greenlight. GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT by Jeremy Nelson
SURCHARGE (renamed Yulong Prince in Australia) is a magnificent specimen and went through the sales ring twice, once at Val de Vie (not sold) and then at the 2016 National Yearling Sale, where he was purchased by trainer Stuart Pettigrew on behalf of owner Mr Ian van Schalkwyk, for a giveaway price of R200,000. Surcharge is out of the imported DIKTAT mare Congestion Charge (GB), tracing in female line to NO ANGEL (NASRULLAH x FAIR TRIAL) - from the leading International family of Champions SOFT ANGEL, KRIS and DIESIS. Bred by Varsfontein Stud, Surcharge is a very impressive horse on two fronts. Firstly, his ability to compete at the highest level at home and overseas, and secondly he is a very good-looking horse with a good attitude, very sound and the first son of Gimmethegreenlight to be retired to stud as a stallion. Surcharge’s dam-sire DIKTAT (a multiple G1 winner over 1200m - from the family of PRETTY POLLY through INNOCENCE) is from the MAN O’WAR male line through WARNING, and is out of a mare by SADLER’S WELLS, while his grandam PARK APPEAL (Champion 2yo Filly GB & Ire, by AHONOORA) is the dam of CAPE CROSS (sire of 21 G1 winners including OUIJA BOARD, SEA THE STARS and GOLDEN HORN). Diktat’s sire WARNING (KNOWN FACT) is out of SLIGHTLY DANGEROUS (ROBERTO x RAISE A NATIVE), a half-sister to RAINBOW QUEST (BLUSHING GROOM) and SCENIC (SADLER’S WELLS), who’s dam WHERE YOU LEAD, is out of the Champion
SURCHARGE / YULONG PRINCE Halo Southern Halo Northern Sea More Than Ready Woodman Woodman’s Girl Becky Be Good
Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) Bletchingly Canny Lad Jesmond Lass Yes She Can Cancan Marauding Dove Vai Benbara Queen
Known Fact Warning Slightly Dangerous Diktat Sadler’s Wells Arvola Park Appeal
Congestion Charge (GB) Mill Reef Shirley Heights Hardiemma Overdrive Crepello Milly Moss Ballys Mil
GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT by Jeremy Nelson
Hail To Reason Cosmah Northern Dancer Sea Saga Mr Prospector Playmate Naskra Good Landing Biscay Coogee Lunchtime Beautiful Dreamer Sir Tristram Biscalowe Red Anchor Lunar Sky In Reality Tamerett Roberto Where You Lead Northern Dancer Fairy Bridge Ahonoora Balidaress Never Bend Milan Mill Hardicanute Grand Cross Donatello II Crepuscule Ballymoss No Angel
Turn-To Nothirdchance Cosmic Bomb Almahmoud Nearctic Natalma Sea Bird Shama Raise A Native Gold Digger Buckpasser Intriguing Nasram Iskra II First Landing Best Side Star Kingdom Magic Symbol Relic Last Judgement Silly Season Great Occasion Coeur Volant Adina Rose Sir Ivor Isolt Biscay Nunkalowe Sea Anchor Decoy Girl Kaoru Star Lunar Queen Intentionally My Dear Girl Tim Tam Mixed Marriage Hail To Reason Bramalea Raise A Native Noblesse Nearctic Natalma Bold Reason Special Lorenzaccio Helen Nichols Balidar Innocence Nasrullah Lalun Princequillo Virginia Water Hard Ridden Harvest Maid Grandmaster Blue Cross Blenheim II Delleana Mieuxce Red Sunset Mossborough Indian Call Nasrullah Fair Angela
2yo Filly NOBLESSE (MOSSBOROUGH). Warning’s Sire KNOWN FACT is out of TAMERETT - the dam of TENTAM (Leading Sire), SECRETTAME (dam of GONE WEST) and TAMINETTE (dam of TAPPIANO, MY EARL, AP JET and AMO). Tamerett is inbred 5x5x5 to the great French matron PLUCKY LIEGE, 5x5 to another great matron in SELENE (GONDOLETTE family), and 5x5 to Champion English sire PHALARIS. Tamerett’s dam MIXED MARRIAGE (TUDOR MINSTREL) is inbred to the full-brothers PHAROS and FAIRWAY.
Needless to say, all these lines work extremely well with Gimmethegreenlight. Sadler’s Wells has proven his compatibility through Fort Wood, Dynasty and Casey Tibbs; Hail To Reason through Captain Al, Red Ransom and Kris S; the speed line of Hyperion through Tudor Minstrel; the Native Dancer line through Raise A Native and his son Mr Prospector, and the multiple lines of the great speed influence Lady Josephine and the incredible ‘Blue Hen’ mare Plucky Liege. Moving on to Surcharge’s grandam Overdrive - a stamina influence - being by Irish and Epsom Derby winner SHIRLEY HEIGHTS (sire of sires DARSHAAN and SLIP ANCHOR) out of MILLY MOSS - by Epsom Derby winner and Champion Sire, CREPELLO. Overdrive is inbred to NASRULLAH (4x4) and linebred to BLENHEIM II (6x4), NEARCO (5x5x5), BLANDFORD (6x5), GAINSBOROUGH (6x6), and FAIRWAY (6x6). This indicates line-breeding to the full brothers PHAROS (3) and FAIRWAY (2) within 6 GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT by Jeremy Nelson
generations. Looking at the pedigree as a whole, the major male line clusters (to approximately 12 generations) in Surcharge’s pedigree are: • PHALARIS (mainly through PHAROS - NEARCO, NASRULLAH, ROYAL CHARGER - and FAIRWAY, mainly FAIR TRIAL) • TEDDY • FAIR PLAY (mainly MAN O’WAR) • GAINSBOROUGH (mainly through HYPERION, SOLARIO and his daughter MAH MAHAL) • SWYNFORD (mainly through BLANDFORD). The female clusters are more interesting Surcharge has an astonishing 42 lines of the great foundation mare LADY JOSEPHINE, 26 of these are from Gimmethegreenlight. LADY JOSEPHINE is the dam of 3 fillies including LADY JUROR (dam of FAIR TRIAL) and “the flying filly” MUMTAZ MAHAL (dam of MIRZA II, FURROKH SIYAR, BADRUDDIN and MUMTAZ BEGUM - the dam of NASRULLAH). Purchased by the Aga Khan at the Doncaster Sales in 1922, the BBR noted: “As an individual, MUMTAZ MAHAL is wonderful, as near perfection as imagination can conceive. Her conformation is ideal and she has both size and quality”. The hallmark of this family (9c) is speed. PLUCKY LIEGE (family 16a) is another great foundation mare with 25 lines in Surcharge’s pedigree. PLUCKY LIEGE is one of the most important broodmares of the 20th Century. Two of her sons, SIR GALLAHAD III and BULL DOG were Champion Sires in America, and two others, BOIS ROUSSEL and ADMIRAL DRAKE, were sires of classic winners in England, Ireland, and France. Few mares have sired as many important sire sons and she has wielded a far-ranging influence. English Derby winner ROBERTO carries three of the four brothers in his pedigree, and is line-bred 5x5x7x5 to PLUCKY LIEGE. Nearly every major runner in the World today carries at least one strain of this celebrated mare. Surcharge’s pedigree reveals a further cluster of 33 lines of GONDOLETTE (family 6e; dam of
DOLABELLA, the dam of MYROBELLA; and SERENISSIMA, the dam of SELENE), and 35 lines of CANTERBURY PILGRIM (family 1g) - both significant foundation mares of great influence. GONDOLETTE’S sire is out of PILGRIMAGE, the dam of CANTERBURY PILGRIM. Two other great matriarchs - PRETTY POLLY (14c) and LA TROIENNE have 7 and 6 lines respectively. PRETTY POLLY is the ancestress of NEARCTIC, sire of NORTHERN DANCER. PRETTY POLLY is probably best known in this country through her descendants PREAMBLE II (GB) - who is inbred to PRETTY POLLY (6x5) - and SISTER SUBLIME (GB), ancestress of MAZARIN, SAVONAROLA, ABBEY BOY, BLACK BISHOP, PRAIRIE OYSTER, NATIONAL EMBLEM and ROLAND’S SONG, to name a few. The LA TROIENNE line is represented in SA through COMPLETE WARRIOR (USA) and is most prevalent in SA pedigrees through BUCKPASSER. In the half century since her passing, LA TROIENNE’S influence has strengthened, and there have been 20 American Champions tracing directly to her, as well as Champions and classic winners in England,
GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT by Jeremy Nelson
France, Canada, Ireland, Mexico, Australia and South Africa. Four recipients of the Kentucky Broodmare of the Year award hail from her family. She is considered the most important broodmare to be imported to America in the twentieth century.
GOT THE GREENLIGHT was bred at Hassen Adams’ Nadeson Park Stud near Hermanus in the Western Cape. An exceptional racehorse, he became Equus Champion 2yo Colt 2019, Equus Champion 3yo Colt 2020 and Equus Champion Middle distance 2020. Winning from 1200 2000 metres, he was a G1 winner at 2, 3 and 4 years. Owned by Messrs Chinsammy, Adams &
GOT THE GREENLIGHT Halo Southern Halo Northern Sea More Than Ready Woodman Woodman’s Girl Becky Be Good
Gimmethegreenlight (Aus) Bletchingly Canny Lad Jesmond Lass Yes She Can Cancan Marauding Dove Vai Benbara Queen
Danzig Danehill Razyana Commands My Swanee Cotehele House Eight Carat
Command Chi (Aus) Mr Prospector Fusaichi Pegasus Angel Fever Chivana Blues Traveller Giovana Tristaine
GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT by Jeremy Nelson
Hail To Reason Cosmah Northern Dancer Sea Saga Mr Prospector Playmate Naskra Good Landing Biscay Coogee Lunchtime Beautiful Dreamer Sir Tristram Biscalowe Red Anchor Lunar Sky Northern Dancer Pas De Nom His Majesty Spring Adieu Petition Grey Rhythm Pieces Of Eight Klairessa Raise A Native Gold Digger Danzig Rowdy Angel Bluebird Natuschka Centaine Tristina
Turn-To Nothirdchance Cosmic Bomb Almahmoud Nearctic Natalma Sea Bird Shama Raise A Native Gold Digger Buckpasser Intriguing Nasram Iskra Ii First Landing Best Side Star Kingdom Magic Symbol Relic Last Judgement Silly Season Great Occasion Coeur Volant Adina Rose Sir Ivor Isolt Biscay Nunkalowe Sea Anchor Decoy Girl Kaoru Star Lunar Queen Nearctic Natalma Admiral’s Voyage Petitioner Ribot Flower Bowl Buckpasser Natalma Fair Trial Art Paper Grey Sovereign Metronome Relic Baby Doll Klairon Courtessa Native Dancer Raise You Nashua Sequence Northern Dancer Pas De Nom Halo Ramhyde Storm Bird Ivory Dawn Authi Norbelle Century Rainbeam Sir Tristram Pacific Isle
Soma, Got The Greenlight is the second son of Gimmethegreenlight to retire to stud - unfortunately I believe he is having fertility issues. Got The Greenlight is out of the imported Australian mare COMMAND CHI (AUS) by COMMANDS - a son of DANEHILL (DANZIG). Danehill is inbred to the great mare NATALMA (3x3), and line-bred to PHAROS (5x6), HYPERION (5x5) and WAR ADMIRAL (MAN O’WAR) (6x5) within 6 generations. Remarkably, Danehill has sired DANEHILL DANCER, REDOUTE’S CHOICE, EXCEED AND EXCEL, FASTNET ROCK, DANSILI AND ROCK OF GIBRALTAR – all siring over 100 Stakes winners. Danehill’s sons REDOUTE’S CHOICE and DANSILI, have also excelled by maintaining exceptional quality, as their near 12% Stakes winners to runners demonstrates. FRANKEL is the result of the successful cross of a DANEHILL mare with a son of SADLER’S WELLS (GALILEO). This male line cross has also produced KYPRIOS, TEOFILO, JAPAN, INTELLO, HIGHLAND REEL, NOBLE MISSION, MINDING, CIRCUS MAXIMUS, THE GURKHA, RUSSIAN EMPEROR, MOGUL, IDAHO, ANTHONY VAN
GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT by Jeremy Nelson
DYCK, TAPESTRY, SERPENTINE, DEAUVILLE, MARS, etc. - all rated over 120lb. As I have already mentioned, Gimmethegreenlight’s sire MORE THAN READY did well when crossed with DANEHILL line mares in Australasia, while Gimmethegreenlight is doing well with DANEHILL and SADLER’S WELLS. In other words, a FRANKEL mare should be an ideal male line cross with Gimmethegreenlight. Got The Greenlight’s dam COMMAND CHI is inbred to DANZIG (3x4) and brings additional lines of HALO (1 - sex balanced), RELIC (1 - sex balanced), MR PROSPECTOR (1 - sex balanced), BUCKPASSER (1), NATALMA (3 - 1 x sex balanced) and SIR TRISTRAM (1 - sex balanced) to Gimmethegreenlight. DANZIG has proved successful with Gimmethegreenlight, as have the other lines in COMMAND CHI’S pedigree - MR PROSPECTOR, RIBOT, FAIR TRIAL, NASRULLAH, RELIC (MAN O’WAR line), DJEBEL (TOURBILLON line), STORM BIRD and HYPERION. Looking at the pedigree as a whole, the major male line clusters (to approximately 12 generations) in Got The Greenlight’s pedigree are basically the same as Surcharge, but with a higher concentrations of most, especially Gainsborough, Swynford and Teddy: • PHALARIS (mainly through PHAROS - NEARCO, NASRULLAH, ROYAL CHARGER - and FAIRWAY, mainly FAIR TRIAL) • TEDDY • FAIR PLAY (mainly MAN O’WAR) • GAINSBOROUGH (mainly through HYPERION, SOLARIO and his daughter MAH MAHAL) • SWYNFORD (mainly through BLANDFORD). Female concentrations are impressive showing 52 lines of LADY JOSEPHINE, 43 of GONDOLETTE, 33 of PLUCKY LIEGE, 24 of CANTERBURY PILGRIM, 11 of PRETTY POLLY, 7 of MARCHETTA and 5 of LA TROIENNE.
CONCLUSION Gimmethegreenlight descends in male line from HALO - a mean, not particularly attractive near-black horse, who matured into a good turf performer. He was much better as a sire, becoming American Champion Sire twice and founding his own branch of the HAIL TO REASON sire line. HALO’S progeny include SUNDAY SILENCE who dominated the sire standings in Japan for 13 straight years from 1995 to 2007 - his last championship arriving five years after his death. He was a true game changer for the Japanese industry, not only as a brilliant source of elite talent but as a key to the development of Japan as a respected racing nation. “Thoroughbreds can be bought or sold,” says Teruya Yoshida of Shadai Farm, which bought Sunday Silence out of America in late 1990 and cultivated him into a global force. “As Nasrullah sired Bold Ruler, who changed the world’s breeding capital from Europe to the U.S., one stallion can change the World. Sunday Silence is exactly such a stallion for the Japanese Thoroughbred Industry.”
Photo: Jeremy Nelson GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT by Jeremy Nelson
Japan’s DEEP IMPACT, the most prolific son of SUNDAY SILENCE, has held the title consecutively since 2012, the year in which his eldest runners were 4-year-olds. He had hit the ground running as the Champion First-Season Sire in 2010. DEEP IMPACT is the sire of SA sire DANON PLATINA, Champion 2yo Colt in Japan. DEEP IMPACT is also the sire of SAXON WARRIOR, an unbeaten G1 winner at 2 years in the UK, and a brilliant Guineas winner at 3. He now stands at Coolmore Stud in Ireland. He is out of a mare by GALILEO (SADLER’S WELLS) and his grandam is by DANEHILL. Gimmethegreenlight’s dam-sire CANNY LAD, is the maternal grandsire of REDOUTE’S CHOICE (DANEHILL) - a multiple Champion Sire and a prolific sire of sires in Australia. REDOUBT’S CHOICE is the sire of SA sire RAFEEF, who is inbred to DANZIG. DANON PLATINA and RAFEEF could prove ideal mates for Gimmethegreenlight mares. CANNY LAD is also the dam-sire of Champion Sire I AM INVINCIBLE, a son of INVINCIBLE SPIRIT
Photo: Jeremy Nelson
(GREEN DESERT by DANZIG) - bred on the same male line cross as REDOUBT’S CHOICE. Gimmethegreenlight has 3 lines of the STAR KINGDOM line, and 3 lines of ROYAL CHARGER (one of them through the great SIR TRISTRAM). SIR TRISTRAM x STAR KINGDOM became a very successful cross in Australia. ROYAL CHARGER is a 3 parts-brother to NASRULLAH and stallions in SA that descend from him are AL MUFTI, CAPTAIN AL (and sons), DANON PLATINA, HAT PUNTANO and
GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT by Jeremy Nelson
CANFORD CLIFFS. Many other SA stallions carry lines of HAIL TO REASON such as JET MASTER and descendants of SADLER’S WELLS. Most successful of the male line crosses are with lines of NORTHERN DANCER, MR PROSPECTOR, ROYAL CHARGER and NASRULLAH. Comparing opportunity with result, Gimmethegreenlight has done very well with mares by SILVANO and TRIPPI - although most of the progeny also include SADLER’S WELLS in their pedigrees.