new us sires He would have been among the favourites for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), had it not been for an infected cut that ruled him out of the race. Lord Nelson is undoubtedly the fastest son of his sire Pulpit, and very possibly the best of his sire’s offspring at any distance. Of course, Pulpit is sire of the allconquering Tapit, as well the successful sire Sky Mesa and Lucky Pulpit, another sprinter, and sire of California Chrome. His dam is out of Miss Linda, a champion in Argentina and Grade 1 winner in the US, and a daughter of Southern Halo, also sire of More Than Ready. He looks a likely cross for Storm Cat, Nijinsky, Deputy Minister, Danzig and El Prado. Lord Nelson is inbred 3x3 to Mr. Prospector, but could work over back over mares by grandsons or great grandsons of that horse, with the Unbridled branch looking particularly promising. Other prospects are mares from the Relaunch and Indian Charlie lines, and daughters of More Than Ready.

RUNHAPPY

Super Saver – Bella Jolie (Broken Vow) Claiborne Farm, Kentucky $25,000 Although the attempt to stretch him out in 2016 proved futile, at his best, as he was when earning an Eclipse Award as champion sprinter in 2015, Runhappy was spectacular. He took four consecutive graded stakes, including the King’s Bishop (G1) covering 7f in 1:20:54, the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) in a new track-record, and the Malibu Stakes (G1). Runhappy is one of eight stakes winners from the first crop of Kentucky Derby (G1) victor Super Saver, who is from a branch of the Raise A Native line that comes down through Majestic Light rather than the far more commonly found Mr. Prospector. Runhappy is the first foal of his dam Bella Jolie, a daughter of the Unbridled horse Broken Vow. Bella Jolie’s grand-dam Mimi La Sardine is a three-quarters sister to the champion two-year-old and three-year-old filly It’s In The Air. This is also the family of European champion and dual Classic winner Balanchine, Classic winner West Wind, Art Connoisseur and Alverta, who were both champion sprinters in Europe, as well as the Grade 1 winners Storming Home, Music Note, Musical Chimes, Saoirse Abu, Gun

Flintshire is a son of emerging sire of sires Dansili and has retired to Hill “N’ Dale at a fee of $20,000

Salute and Glencadam Gold. If Runhappy is going to emulate his sire he will match well with Mr. Prospector line mares, including Mr. Prospector/Seattle Slew combination and more Fappiano (his broodmare sire line). He might also do well with Seattle Slew, Danzig, Deputy Minister and Storm Cat.

FLINTSHIRE

Dansili – Dance Routine (Sadler’s Wells) Hill “N’ Dale Farms, Kentucky $20,000 The much-travelled Flintshire was trained in the US in 2016, and was the dominant middle-distance Turf runner of the season taking the Manhattan Stakes (G1), Bowling Green Stakes (G1) and Sword Dancer Stakes (G1). He couldn’t peg back loose on the lead front-runners in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) on his last two starts, but will still almost certainly claim the Eclipse Award as champion Turf male. Flintshire has won four other graded stakes, including the Grand Prix de Paris (G1), Hong Kong Vase (G1) and Sword

Dancer Stakes (G1) and his placings include seconds in a pair of Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1), and another Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). Flintshire is by Dansili, who is quietly becoming a very useful sire of sires, seven of his sons having sired group or graded winners. His dam, a produce of the Sadler’s Wells/ Shirley Heights cross, was a Group winner in France, and second in the Prix de Diane (G1), while his grand-dam Apogee was also a Group winner in that country. Flintshire is an outcross for Mr. Prospector, and Dansili and sons have crossed well with that line, notably through Distant View and through the Kingmambo, Machiavellian and Gone West branches. Blushing Groom, including Rahy, should do well, as should the Nureyev branch of Northern Dancer.

MSHAWISH

Medaglia D’Oro – Thunder Bayou (Thunder Gulch) Taylor Made Stallions, Kentucky $20,000 A Listed winner over a mile in France at

www.internationalthoroughbred.net

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