Turf Monthly September 2022

monthly

TURF

September 2022

THIS MONTH

MAURICE McCARTEN NOHOLME FIRST SEASON SIRES FOR 2022 THE GENE POOL

Editor’s Letter Spring has arrived and hopefully along with it we will see better weather across much of the east of Australia. It certainly would not be the first wet Spring that we have ever seen if the rain continues.

The win of Van Der Hum in the 1976 Melbourne Cup will for me be the pinnacle of what a wet Spring looks like. It shapes as an interesting Spring and I hope that some of the promising horses can step up. It is always great to see a new champion emerge and there looked to be a couple of good 3yo’s that might make a name in the staying races. It would be surprising if we did not see a good number of imports making their way to Melbourne for the Spring riches and I hope we get to see some more of the Japanese horses come over this year.

But no matter the weather, the new breeding season is upon us, and we look at some of the remarkable stallions that are standing in Australia. We are seeing some outstanding bloodlines coming to Australia, but to be fair, this has been happening since the shuttle phenomenon started in the 1980’s. Still, we see that few of them succeed, but this is the case with most stallions, and we try and identify some that might make their mark. Next month we will continue to look at some more of the 2022 Freshman Sires.

The talented Maurice McCarten also graces our pages this month and it is certainly easy to make a case that he may be our greatest ever horseman. A man who is at home in the Racing Hall of Fame as both a jockey and a trainer, but who sadly does not get the recognition that he so richly deserves.

CONTENTS 4

Maurice McCarten

7

Noholme

10

The Legacy

of

Nohilme

16

Freshman Sires 2022

17

Home Affairs

22

Extreme Warrior

28

Pinatubo

32

Wooded

38

Captivant

45

The Gene Pool

Until next month

Cover Photo CAPTIVANT courtesy of KIA ORA Stud

Ross Prowd

Turf Monthly ABN 64 892 144 940 Phone 0412 712 181

Email editor@turfmonthly.com.au Unit 4/125 West St Menzies Qld 4825

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McCarten, Maurice Thomas Joseph (1902–1971)

by Richard Waterhouse This article was published: in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 15 , 2000 online in 2006

Maurice Thomas Joseph McCarten (1902-1971), jockey and racehorse-trainer, was born on 17 September 1902 at Hawera, South Taranaki, New Zealand, son of John McCarten, a New Zealand-born groom, and his wife Mary, née O'Neil, from Ireland. Maurice was given trackwork from the age of 9 and apprenticed at 14 to the trainer Fred Tilley. His first winner was Merry Gain in Wellington. In the following years he won almost every major race in New Zealand and headed the jockeys' premiership twice.

many of the A.J.C.'s and Victoria Racing Club's classic and weight-for-age races. The freak sprinter, Todman, won the Sydney Turf Club's inaugural Golden Slipper Stakes by eight lengths in 1957 and the tough mare, Wenona Girl, collected the Sires' Produce Stakes in Sydney and Melbourne and the A.J.C. Oaks in 1960.

McCarten won the Sydney trainers' premiership four times in succession between 1948-49 and 1951-52, and finished second to T. J. Smith ten times.

His fortunes declined from the mid-1960s. The State government resumed his stables for a (still unconstructed) section of the eastern suburbs railway.

Many of his racecourse friends were dead and his clients abandoned him in favour of large-scale establishments.

By 1971 McCarten had only two poorly performed horses in his stables. Survived by his wife, daughter In Sydney on 18 August 1923, at his first appearance and son, he died of cancer on 10 June 1971 at his on an Australian racecourse, McCarten rode three Randwick home and was buried in Botany cemetery. winners at Canterbury; that year he won the first of He was a master horseman, capable—both as a jockey four Australian Jockey Club Derbys, on Ballymena. and trainer—of getting the best out of his charges.

After returning to New Zealand, he came back again to Despite his outstanding skills, exemplary character Sydney and married with Catholic rites Mary Veronica and likeable disposition, his later career indicates the O'Brien on 25 May 1925 at the Church of Our Lady of fickle nature of the racing fraternity. the Rosary, Kensington. Next year McCarten settled in Sydney and linked with the trainers Fred Williams and George Price. He rode more than a thousand winners.

The Melbourne and Caulfield cups eluded him, but his victories included four Brisbane (two on Spear Chief, 1938, 1939) and two Sydney cups, two Victoria Derbys and two Epsom handicaps. He was renowned as a master of tactics, especially in the major races, but he did not achieve the Sydney jockey's premiership until 1938-39. His most famous ride was on Spear Chief which beat the 40/1-on favourite Ajax in the 1939 Rawson Stakes.

Troubled by weight problems and lured by the opportunity to acquire the ailing J. T. Jamieson's stables, horses and wealthy clients, in May 1942 McCarten was granted a trainer's licence by the A.J.C. From 1946 Neville Sellwood was his leading jockey. Among the most successful horses McCarten trained were (Sir) Adolph Basser's Delta, (Sir) Frank Packer's Columnist, Stan Wootton's Todman and Noholme, and Knave, owned by T. C. Lowry from New Zealand. As a trainer, McCarten won the 1947 Caulfield Cup with Columnist and the 1951 Melbourne Cup with Delta; he also won

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MAURICE MCCARTEN CHAMPION JOCKEY AND TRAINER

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aurice McCarten may well be the greatest horseman that Australian racing has ever seen. It is a big claim, but the NZ born champion who was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2002, could have been inducted for both his roles as a jockey, and as a trainer. McCarten was also inducted to the NZ Hall of Fame in 2014. Yet oddly McCarten’s is not a name that is mentioned readily when we talk of the greatest jockeys and trainers. No bigger testament to this is that McCarten does not have his own Wikipedia entry which is astonishing given his career.

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cCarten was to win the Sydney Trainer’s Premiership on four occasions. His career would have been so much better had he not been runner up to TJ Smith on ten occasions. McCarten was in charge of Todman and Noholme, Delta, Wenona Girl, Cuddle and Prince Cortauld. As a jockey he had associations with the great Ajax but lost the ride to Harry Badger after he was suspended following that colt’s win in the Caulfield Guineas. He also rode Ammon Ra, Gold Rod, and Limerick who he rated as his favourite horse.

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he champion horseman was born in Hawera, near Wellington NZ on September 17th, 1902. His father was a drover and occasional horse-breaker who sadly died when McCarten was young. McCarten and his older brother, Owen were raised by their widowed mother. Maurice helped supplement the family income by delivering newspapers on his pony. Both brothers had a talent with horses, and Owen went on to become apprenticed to Oney Cox at Hawera. Maurice started riding work as a nine year old, and his poise and touch in the saddle impressed onlookers. McCarten

Limerick and McCarten

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was apprenticed to prominent trainer Fred Tilly in August 1915. He rode his first winner, Merrie Gain in January 1917 and by the end of that year had unluckily run second on Johnny Walker in the NZ Cup. In 1919 he won the Fielding Cup on Paraoa and the following January, as a 17yo, the Marton Cup on Oratress. He won his first classic in 1920 aboard Isabel in the NZ Oaks. He rode Enthusiasm for the same owners, William and Thomas Duncan when she won both the NZ and Great Northern Oaks and Derby doubles in 1922. McCarten then was taken on by the wonderful trainer and former top jockey Fred Jones and that year won the NZ Jockey’s Premiership.

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n late winter 1923, McCarten accompanied Jones to Sydney for a tilt at Australian racing. Jones was a secretive type, but with a wet winter, that had seen many of the locals underprepared, he set his team up for an early windfall. In the Canterbury Parks meeting, all three of Jones’ team, with an unknown McCarten on board were successful. Zaragoza won the maiden, Urgency led all the way in the handicap, and Ballymena the second division of the high weight. McCarten and Jones had arrived in the big time in Australia. The Spring was to get even better for the pair as Ballymena went on to win the AJC Derby.

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ones arrived early the following year with McCarten staying in NZ to attempt to win his second Jockey’s Premiership. He ended up tying with Charlie Emerson on 47 winners. The first runner for the season in Sydney was Royal Despatch who was heavily backed following the plunge by Jones on his runners the year before. Ridden

by Ted Lowe in McCarten’s absence, the horse was backed into 6/4 although easing to start at 4/1. The gelding dropped out in the straight and was never a chance and both jockey and trainer were hauled before the stewards. The inquiry continued the following Monday, but ultimately both were exonerated. McCarten was in Sydney to ride Royal Despatch at his second start at Canterbury Park on August 9. Again, the gelding was well supported in the market but dropped back soon after the start to never feature. Stewards immediately launched another inquiry and this time both Jones and McCarten were found guilty. Both were given a twelve month ban but both returned to the track as if they had barely been away.

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n 1926, McCarten made the move to Sydney where he became one of our leading jockeys. When he started to have weight issues, McCarten transitioned almost seamlessly into the training ranks. Before long he was to find himself among Sydney’s best trainers, and perhaps would have been more of a household name had Sydney not seen the emergence of one TJ Smith.

Ballymena wiining the AJC Derby TURF MONTHLY 6

NOHOLME

MOST INFLUENTIAL SINCE CARBINE

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oholme was the second live foal of the Colombo mare, Oceana. The mare had been purchased by the famed breeder Stanley Wootton for his new stallion, Star Kingdom. It was to be a master stroke as the first foal from the mating was the flying colt, Todman who was to win the inaugural Golden Slipper when trained by Maurice McCarten and ridden by Neville Sellwood. The second was to be Noholme who was two years younger than Todman, and destined to live his life in Australia under the shadow of his famous brother.

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he colt stepped out in the Juvenile Handicap at Randwick, a race that had also been the launching pad for Todman. While Todman set a record in an eight length romp, Noholme was to win by three quarters of a length in a time that was some four seconds slower than his older brother. The comparisons were not positive especially when he was beaten into second in his next start in the December Stakes.

A win at Rosehill followed but Noholme was to finish seventh behind another top son of Star Kingdom in Fine And Dandy in the Golden Slipper. The colt was to gain some prestige by winning the Champagne Stakes at his last 2yo start.

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eturning as a 3yo, Noholme won the Campelltown Handicap at Randwick easily. He was then an ordinary eighth behind a good colt in Martello Towers in the Canterbury Guineas stepping up sharply in distance. He then went to open age events winning the time honoured Hill Stakes over 1700m, and the mile Epsom Handicap. We must remember that the flying Todman had by then gone to the paddock with injury and was to not race for two years. Noholme then went to Melbourne where he was an unlucky second to Prince Lea in the Caulfield Guineas beaten a half-head. He then won the Cox Plate in a dominant display despite many saying that the distance would be beyond him. Noholme jumped to the lead and was never seriously challenged in a dominant display that saw him defeat Grand Garry by four lengths with Prince Lea in third. Back over the mile of the Linlithgow Stakes, he again was dominant against the older horses at Flemington with a margin of four lengths to Count Tassia. He then stepped up to the mile and a half of the CB Fisher Plate to beat Sir Blink by a length and a half to close off a Spring that stamped him as a dominant 3yo. The Autumn saw McCarten struggling to get his star colt right. He ran a good second to Melbourne champion Lord in the St George Stakes over 9 furlongs but then finished eleventh back to the six furlongs of the Newmarket.

Back in Sydney, Noholme finished third in the Rawson Stakes before his final run in Australis in the All Aged Stakes over a mile. He proved just how good a galloper he was by beating In Love and Martello Towers comfortably in a time that was only three tenths of a second outside of Fine And Dandy’s Australasian record. As an interesting aside, the strapper for Noholme in Australia was a young Neville Begg who was to go on to a wonderful training career in his own right including preparing the remarkable filly, Emancipation.

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oholme was sold to Texas oilman Gene Goff for 12000 pounds where he raced as Noholme II. He was to race 24 times in the US for only two minor wins. He was placed four times in stakes races when trained by Newcastle trainer, Arthur Beuzeville who had accompanied the horse to the US. These included the good handicap races of the Orange Bowl in Florida, the Chicago Handicap and the Stars and Stripes Handicap at Arlington. Noholme stood only 15.2 hands, and his lack of size and racetrack success saw Goff have difficulty in attracting mares to the stallion at his Verna Lea Farm in Arkansas. As a result he had only 14 foals in his first crop with three of these winning six races between them and only $18000 in stakes money. By now, older brother Todman had made a sensational start to his stud career, and Goff decided to purchase better mares to send to his stallion. With interest regenerated by Todman’s success, and with Goff in particular purchasing Abla-Jay, a daughter of Double Jay, Noholme II’s second crop was to establish him as a sire of note. This crop saw him set a US record of 24 individual juvenile winners.

Included in this crop was the son of Abla-jay called Nodouble who was to win 13 races and US$846,749 in prizemoney in a career that saw him win five Grade 1 events and placings in races like the Preakness, Hollywood Gold Cup and American Derby. The success of Noholme II saw Goff syndicate the stallion for $1 Million and he was transferred to Robin’s Nest Farm in Florida in 1967. He later relocated to Lasater Farm in 1974 where he stood alongside his son, Nodouble. Noholme II was to die at Lasater Farm on May 17, 1983 at age 27.

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NOHOLME has an inbreeding co-efficient of 10.55% and it is Chaucer, the son of St Simon and Canterbury Pilgrim, we see quite prominently through his daughters Selene, the dam of Hyperion, and Lady Nairne, the dam of Colombo. We also see another line of St Simon, this time through a daughter in Lady Mischief in the dam line of Manna. Not only do we see another line of St Simon, but we see another line of Canterbury Pilgrim through her son, Swynford. Sunstar is found three times in the fifth generation, all through daughters, while another stallion in Orby is also found twice in the fifth generation, this time through two sons. The other duplication we see in the sixth generation is Cyllene who is found three times all through sons. It is particularly interesting when we note that Cyllene is the grandsire of the wonderful Phalaris who we only in the sire line of Oceana.

NOHOLME HIS LEGACY

Noholme II has an enduring legacy throughout the world. Unlike many stallions, it was his influence through his sons and grandsons that was perhaps most important.

We will look at some of the best of these, and because of the number, it can be done alphabetically.

ADIRONDACK HOLME This horse won eight of his sixteen starts and over $300,000 in stakes money. He was crowned the Champion New York bred 2yo and 3yo in 1980 and 1981 respectively.

The stallion actually came to Australia in the mid 1980’s but had relatively little success. His daughter La Maison though produced the 1997 Magic Night Stakes winner Regal Chamber who was to go on to produce Regal Cheer who won three stakes races including the G1 Coolmore Classic in 2006 along with the G2 Surround Stakes the same year. This family which was based at Lomar Stud for owner Fred Peisah is still going strong.

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BRIGAND Brigand was a good racehorse winning six of his twelve starts including the Tidal Handicap over 11 furlongs. He too was to make his way to Australia where he had good success siring eleven stakes winners. He produced Cole Diesel who won five stakes races including the Elders Mile and Caulfield Cup in 1989. The Queensland based galloper had won the Qld Guineas in his home State and the Shannon Quality and Tatts Tramway Handicap in Sydney. Arguably, River Rough was the best son of Brigand having won the VRC Pure Pak Stakes (now the VRC Sprint Classic) twice, as well as the VRC Lightning twice and the William Reid. He was to go on to do a good job at stud producing stakes winners French Pirate and Ride The Rapids. Another good son of Brigand was Toy Pindarri who proved a good stallion producing three stakes winners in SA Oaks winner, Pindi, SA Derby winner, Sea Brigand and WA Railway Stakes winner, Zaparri. Another good son of Brigand was Fixed Flush who was a quality galloper in Brisbane in the mid-1980’s winning a host of races including three stakes races. Brigand became a good broodmare sire and can be found in many current pedigrees including the good stallion, Flying Artie.

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DURHAM RANGER This stallion won the Survivor Stakes in the US. In all he was to win seven races in that country and was then brought to Australia where he had only moderate success at stud. He was to produce one outstanding son though in Durbridge who was to win 21 races and over $3 million in prizemoney. As a Spring 3yo, he won the Sandown Guineas before going on to win the AJC Derby in the Autumn. It was in interesting race in which he started the 5/2 favourite behind the hot pot, Surfers Paradise at 10/9 who was to be unplaced. The second horse, Cool Reception started at 100/1 while the third placegetter, Garter King officially started at 660/1. Among his 17 stakes wins, Durbridge was to chalk up six Group 1’s in the CF Orr, George Main, Queen Elizabeth, Doomben Cup and Australian Cup in addition to his Derby.

NODOUBLE Nodouble was the champion son of Noholme and perhaps his most important influence. He won thirteen races and was an important stallion ending up at the famed Three Chimneys Farm. Nodouble sired 91 stakes winners in his career and was the leading Sire in the US in 1981. His son True Statement came to Australia where he produced stakes winners like State Taj, Testimony, and King Of Brooklyn.

It was the McAlpine family at Eureka Stud in Qld that saw the potential in Nodouble, importing his son, Semipalatinsk who was to become one of the most dominant stallions in that state for many years. Despite siring some 23 stakes winners, it is through his daughter Alma Mater who won the Adrian Knox Stakes that he has achieved his greatest success. Alma Mater in turn produced NZ Oaks winner Savannah Success, and when she was mated with Zabeel was to produce the multiple Group 1 winner and champion stallion, Savabeel.

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PARIS REVIEW This horse was one of the Nodoubles who racing in England winning the G3 Ascot Cornwallis Stakes and placing third in the G1 Flying Childers Stakes in only nine starts. He came to Australia for only four years in the 1970’s where he produced only two stakes winners in Dancing Review who won the AJC Reginald Allen and Paris Beau who won the BATC XXXX Stakes and QTC Jumbuck Flying. His daughters though had good success with Clearly Chosen, Sir Breakfast and Burglar of Bamff just some of the successful runners owing their heritage to Paris Review.

No doubt though his daughter Yodelling Lady was to have the biggest impact on Australian breeding. She was to produce a daughter by Marscay called Yodells who gave us three stakes winners in Tyrolean, Iglesia and Yippyio. The gelded Yippyio was arguably the best racehorse of them winning eight stakes races including the G1 Qld Derby and Brisbane Cup. But it was Iglesia who won the STC Silver Slipper and VRC Standish Handicap who was to become a good stallion. He produced 11 stakes winners including the G1 winner Nova Star and the G2 winning Written Tycoon who has gone on to become one of Australia’s leading sires in recent years. He has produced almost 50 individual stakes winners in an impressive list that includes the Golden Slipper winner, Capitalist and Caulfield Guineas winner, Ole Kirk who are both now at stud.

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ROUGHCAST Roughcast was a useful galloper winning four races and was sent to NZ from the US in 1984. He was not to have a huge influence, but he was responsible for one of the Brisbane Winter Carnival’s favourite horses, in the wonderful Rough Habit. He was a special horse, winning 21 stakes races including 11 Group 1 races. In Brisbane he won the Qld Derby, two Stradbrokes and two Doomben Cups but he continued to be underrated in the south. This was despite being able to win two All-Aged Stakes, a Caulfield Stakes and the AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

SHECKY GREENE Shecky Greene, named after a popular US comedian, was an outstanding racehorse and sire. He won 15 of his 29 starts including nine races at stakes level. He was crowned the US Champion Sprinter in 1973 and at stud produced the French champion Green Forest who won four Group 1 races in that country. Green Forest was the sire of two stallions who had success in Australia in Forest Glow and Made Of Gold. Forest Glow sired seven stakes winners with perhaps his best being Fouardee who won the AJC Bill Richie and Concorde Stakes both at G3 level.

Made Of Gold was a rather surprise success at stud coming off a modest start in South Australia before heading to Victoria to cover larger crops. He produced 15 stakes winners including Cosmic Strike, Maitland Gold and Smytzer’s Rivalry. His daughters have certainly extended his influence with the likes of Don’t Tell Mama, Starspangledbanner and Star Turn seeing Made Of Gold in their female line. A stakes-winning daughter of Green Forest in Forest Flower was to produce a line that gave us Night Of Thunder who shuttled to Australia briefly to produce Cherry Tortoni and Qld Derby winner, Kukeracha.

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HOME AFFAIRS EXTREME WARRIOR PINATUBO WOODED CAPTIVANT

HOME AFFAIRS COOLMORE’S NEW BOY

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ome Affairs is the most expensive of the new stallions standing in Australia this season. Coolmore no doubt is hoping that he will create a new dynasty for the world-wide behemoth of the racing industry. Bred by Torryburn Stud, it is no coincidence that Coolmore purchased the colt from the Inglis Easter sale for the hefty price tag of $875,000. Apart from Home Affairs being closely related to Russian Revolution, both stallions are from the family of the blue hen mare, Fanfreluche whose descendants include not only Golden Slipper winner, Flying Spur, but also the long time Coolmore stallion, Encosta De Lago. No doubt this will play a role in his future, but before we get to that let us look at Home Affairs on the track.

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e started his career on 30 January 2021 with a second to the Darley colt, Zethus in the Canonbury Stakes over 1100m. Home Affairs had kicked clear in the straight to be caught on the line with four runners crossing the line within a neck.

Next up it was a win in the Silver Slipper over the same course and distance. The race followed a similar pattern, with Home Affairs kicking clear in the straight only to see Rocket Tiger and the rest of the field closing late with Home Affairs prevailing by 0.2 lengths officially. This earned the colt a start in the Golden Slipper and he headed to the Todman on his way to the big race. He was to finish third behind boom colt Anamoe who overhauled the leader Profiteer with Home Affairs trying hard in third only a half-length away. In the Golden Slipper, the colt was again well placed on the home turn but found the others a little strong over the last 100m fading slightly to finish eighth behind Stay Inside and Anamoe. A spell saw Home Affairs win the Listed Heritage Stakes over 1100m at Rosehill before he found Nature Strip and others a bit too strong in the Everest, again fading to finish ninth, some 5 lengths from the winner. It was then to Melbourne where Home Affairs found the 1200m at Flemington to his liking, winning the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes. He settled with the leaders and kicked clear inside the last 200m to record a commanding three length victory from Bruckner and Artorious. Returning again for the Autumn, Home Affairs was to have his finest moment in winning the Group 1 Lightning over 1000m at Flemington. This time he fought on strongly to hold off Nature Strip in a close photo. The Newmarket at his next start saw him lead over the straight six at Flemington on the grandstand side but was no match for NZ star, Roch ‘n’ Horse, finishing ninth almost five lengths away. It was then off to the UK for a tilt at the Platinum Jubilee at Royal Ascot, finishing over eight lengths from the winner.

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ome Affairs is a son of top stallion, I Am Invincible. He is a son of Invincible Spirit, and certainly the major legacy of that stallion in Australia. The dam line of Home Affairs, as we have mentioned, is that of Encosta De Lago and more recently Russian Revolution who has had a good start to his stud career. We cannot but note that Home Affairs’ damsire is Flying Spur, a son of Danehill who was from the same female family as Home Affairs. If you are looking for a stallion making family, this one would certainly be at the forefront of Australian thoroughbreds. We note that Danzig appears in both sire lines of the stallion, and we also see familiar names like Canny Lad and Mr Prospector prominent. The stallion’s pedigree is relatively inbred which makes us wonder not only what types of mares will suit him best, but also how many of these we will find in the general broodmare population.

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he temptation for many breeders is to look at descendants of Encosta De Lago to send to the stallion. I would caution about this as we see that the pedigree of Home Affairs already boasts the presence of his close relation in Flying Spur. Such close inbreeding is a high-risk strategy and given that the stallion has a distinct speed bias, perhaps more of an outcross mating would be more beneficial. This becomes a little problematic when we look more closely at the pedigree of Home Affairs. We see the inbreeding in his pedigree comes largely through Green Desert, his sire, and Flying Spur, his damsire. Danehill certainly becomes problematic in matings with the stallion. Given that I Am Invincible has had success with Danehill line mares, it will make finding suitable mares a little more difficult.

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verseas lines are a key to the success of Home Affairs in the breeding barn, but we do not have to go far. New Zealand will be the source of some excellent prospects for the stallion. Mares carrying Zabeel will be likely good mates for Home Affairs. Not only are there some lovely pedigree influences, but Zabeel would bring in some much-needed stamina to balance the speed influences in Home Affairs’ pedigree. Again though, the trick is going to be finding Zabeel line mares that do not end up with dominant Danehill lines also in the pedigree. Lonhro and Pierro are two sires that likely could have suitable daughters, although again we must be careful with the other influences in a mare’s pedigree.

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hese stallions are hardly what we would classify as overseas influences, with Pierro standing at Coolmore, which brings us to the Northern Hemisphere influences. ut quickly before we do, a look at the stakes winners of Russian Revolution shows us that Revolutionary Miss is by Onmorenomore, a son of Red Ransom and Ruud Awakening who is a daughter of Bernardini. Interestingly their second damsires are Danehill, and his son in Flying Spur. I think there are lessons to be learnt here. Firstly in pushing Danehill back as far as we can in a mare’s pedigree, and secondly the importance of the international bloodlines.

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adler’s Wells is one whose presence in the sireline of a mare could well be important. It is here that we find his grandson in So You Think who also stands at Coolmore and no doubt will have plenty of daughters who are suited to the stallion.

Churchill is yet another of the Coolmore stallions who may play a role in Home Affairs’ future. Still, it is So You Think who may well prove to have the most suitable daughters for Home Affairs.

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ride Of Dubai from the same stud could also daughters that may suit. His sire Street Cry certainly fits our Northern Hemisphere criteria, and interestingly he also traces to the same female family as Invincible Spirit. It certainly looks as if Coolmore purchased this stallion with an eye on his potential future with their own stallions.

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t is hard to mention Coolmore at times without also reflecting on the other large Northern Hemisphere stud in Darley. Again, the overseas bloodlines that they have introduced could well play a role in the success of their great rivals. Street Boss has been one of their leading stallions for some time, and this son of Street Cry is another who might have daughters who would match well with Home Affairs. Of course, they also stand Lonhro in the twilight of his career but there are plenty of his daughters around that might well find Home Affairs an ideal match.

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hile I Am Invincible was making his name, another similar style of stallion in Written Tycoon was also taking the local breeding industry by storm. While we are breeding speed on speed which could ultimately lead to some issues, there are certain attractions for owners with daughters of this stallion in the pedigree of Home Affairs. The key of course will be the rest of the mare’s pedigree, and especially if it was to carry a stallion like Sadler’s Wells, the produce would certainly have plenty of appeal.

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here is no doubt that the sale ring will be eagerly awaiting the arrival of the first of Home Affairs youngsters. It is likely that there will be plenty of early 2yo types among them, and the market seems to not be able to get enough of this type of stock. For his long term success though, it is likely to be some of the classic lines that will see if the stallion can make it to the top level.

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HOME AFFAIRS has a pedigree that features Danzig in both sire lines leading to a total of 9.38% inbreeding. In an interesting mix, we see that Sir Ivor appears through two daughters highlighting similarities in the pedigrees of Green Desert and Flying Spur. The stallion’s pedigree also features five lines of Northern Dancer, and we have to start wondering just how many lines of that stallion we can fit into a successful pedigree. Critically though in this pedigree we see two of these lines through his daughter, Fanfreluche. Interestingly these two female lines both see Northern Dancer in the sixth generation, so we wonder if they will continue to play such an important role in the case of the stallion. As a daughter of Natalma, whenever we see Danehill in a pedigree we get the obligatory duplication of that mare.

EXTREME WARRIOR A CHOICE FOR THE FUTURE

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xtreme Warrior represents an exciting new prospect for the emerging stallion powerhouse of Rosemont Stud. He is one of three sons of his sire, Extreme Choice, to go to stud this season along with Tiger Of Malay and Golden Slipper winner, Stay Inside. Oddly, the three look to be quite different prospects, although all largely are early sprinting types, their dams have varied pedigrees. But whatever the others do, they do not impact this stallion who offers Victorian breeders their first look at a son of Extreme Choice, one of Australia’s hottest stallions.

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xtreme Warrior was not the best performed racehorse to go to stud this year.

He had his first start in the Debutante Stakes at Caulfield in October 2020, running an impressive second behind Fake Love, a filly by I Am Invincible. Another excellent run in the Blue Diamond Preview saw him run a close second to General

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Beau. Extreme Warrior then ran fifth to that colt and Anamoe in the Blue Diamond Prelude before heading out for a spell. He returned for an easy win in a Echuca 3yo Maiden before beating Profiteer in the Group 3 Blue Sapphire. A tenth behind Home Affairs in the Group 1 Coolmore saw the colt back in the paddock. A win in the Listed Bel Esprit beating It’sourtime on return was followed by a disappointing run in the Goodwood before his retirement.

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e often overestimate the importance of racetrack performance in the future success of a stallion. Unfortunately race performance ensure opportunity for a stallion, and opportunity is often the difference between success and failure.

Having Rosemont behind Extreme Warrior with their impressive broodmare band is a plus, but is it enough to overcome the shortfalls in his performance? The answer of course lies in the pedigree. As we have mentioned, Extreme Warrior is a son of boom sire, Extreme Choice. That stallion has had quite a remarkable career to date.

He served 118 mares in his first season in 2017. Fertility issues saw his first crop number only 48 live foals. His second season dropped from a fee of $22,000 from his first season $38,500 and he attracted only 68 mares for 29 live foals. 2019 saw 65 covers for 41 love foals, but the impressive nature of his youngsters saw an increase in numbers again in 2020 to 105 with 45 live foals. Out of his first crop he sired

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six stakes winners including a Golden Slipper winner which saw his fee skyrocket although his numbers remain small. No doubt owners are hoping that his sons can continue his success, but with improved fertility. Extreme Choice is a son of Not A Single Doubt out of the unraced Hussonet mare, Extremely. She was out of the imported US mare, Going To Extremes by Nasty And Bold who won 11 races from 1200-1600m including the Listed Woodbine Royal North Handicap. Interestingly, the US nature of his pedigree sees that Extreme Choice has a pedigree that is almost a total outcross. It is a family that has not generally seen great success outside of the US, but it is surprisingly the family of the great champion Kingston Town.

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he pedigree of Extreme Warrior is very different to that of his sire. His dam is Heart Of Thrills by Show A Heart who produced the stakes winning Thrillster

by Starspangledbanner as her first live foal. Heart Of Thrills was a winner at 1200m and a three-quarter sister to Gotta have Heart who won the Group 3 Sandown Stakes and Victoria Handicap, and Crossyourheart who was the top filly on the 2006/07 NZ 2yo Free Handicap. Crossyourheart was the dam of Swear, a stakes-winning son of Redoute’s Choice who went to stud in 2017. An important part of Extreme Warrior’s pedigree is a duplication of Danehill through his sons Redoute’s Choice and Danewin. We also see crosses of Bletchingly, Nijinsky and Raise A Native, all of which may play a role in the stallion’s future.

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ecause of the frequency of Danehill in the local pedigree, there is certainly the likelihood that adding additional lines of that stallion may not be out of the question. Caution should naturally be taken when introducing these, and it would

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be recommended to push this influence as far back in the pedigree as possible. An example of this would be a stallion like All Too Hard who we see traces to Flying Spur in his sire line. Importantly in a mating with a daughter of that stallion, we also see the presence of Snippets who was a daughter of Easy Date and closely related to Not A Single Doubt. We have seen mixed success with the duplication of Easy Date, but with this mare now being pushed much deeper into the pedigree, it is a strategy that could really pay dividends with Extreme Warrior.

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t is not often that we see Danewin in particular in pedigrees and being a grandson of Eight Carat brings in some added depth to the stallion. No doubt this factor will attract some broodmare owners with mares from Octagonal lines, and daughters of Pierro may well be highly sought after. A local stallion who might be an interesting match for breeders on a budget is O’Lonhro who has been a regular source of winners for many years.

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eing based in Victoria, Extreme Warrior is unlikely to see as many daughters of the Hunter Valley based stallions as those sons of Extreme Choice based in NSW. While many of these will be Danehill line mares which will likely be suitable, it also opens up some different prospects for the local breeders. Top Victorian stallions like Nicconi, Toronado, Written Tycoon and even Americain all will have daughters that will match well with the stallion. A proven old stallion who has a lot

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of daughters in the State is Bel Esprit, and again he is another who may find success with Extreme Warrior through the presence of that often forgotten champion in Nijinsky.

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hile the stallion looks like he will suit a range of mares, there is interestingly a word of caution that relates directly to a Rosemont stallion. Their standout stallion is Shamus Award, a son of Snitzel, and it is Snitzel and his sire Redoute’s Choice that potentially offer a line that must be used with caution. It may be especially tempting with Snitzel because of the presence of Easy Date, but it is likely a strategy that will have little success. All things considered, Extreme Warrior looks like he may well be a son of Extreme Choice that will step up in both the breeding barn and sales ring. Providing he can attract good numbers of quality mares, Extreme Warrior might just help Rosemont Stud further increase their influence in years to come.

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EXTREME WARRIOR at 8.20% is only moderately inbred compared to some pedigrees we see this month. The closest duplication as we have discussed is the male cross of Danehill through his sons Redoute’s Choice and Danewin. Danewin is an interesting son as he was not a huge success at stud, but his pedigree had the presence of Eight Carat who has been such an important broodmare in Australasia. We see same sex crosses of Bletchingly and Nijinsky which again bring in some interesting prospects for the future. Perhaps one of the most notable features in the pedigree is the sex balanced cross of Raise A Native. The sire of Mr Prospector is one that we regularly see duplicated through sons, and the presence of him through a daughter could prove important into the future.

PINATUBO DARLEY’S BIG GUN

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inatubo is another of the outstanding horses that Darley continually bring to Australia. He was an unbeaten 2yo, being crowned Champion of that age in Europe before going on to win at Group 1 level as a 3yo and being placed in the time honoured 2000 Guineas at that age. A champion son of the champion stallion, Shamardal, Pinatubo would not be out of place in any of the great studs of the world.

It is truly amazing the quality of bloodstock we now see coming to Australia, yet oddly we still do not see these overseas lines dominating our breeding industry. It would be no surprise to see one of these new Darley stallions though becoming the new Danehill.

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his colt started his racing career by comfortably winning a Maiden at Wolverhampton over 1200m. It was then to Epsom where he had another stylish win over the same distance, before heading to the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot over 1400m. Here he set a new course record for his age in winning by over three lengths. Another win in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes, this time at Goodwood, followed. Here the colt saw his winning margin of five lengths earn him a start in

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the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh. Pinatubo stunned everyone winning by nine lengths before earning his champion 2yo status by rounding off his season with a two-length win in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.

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he unbeaten colt stepped out as a 3yo as an odds-on favourite in the 2000 Guineas over 1600m and loomed up to the leaders at the 400m only to peak on his run at his first attempt at the distance, finishing only a little over a length from winner, Kameko. Pinatubo then again started favourite over the same distance in the St James Palace and again was beaten into second behind Palace Pier, another of the Darley newcomers this season. He was then taken to France to win the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat back over 1400m. Pinatubo then had his last start in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp back to a mile and again started favourite but finished almost two lengths from winner, Persian King. His career is certainly an interesting one by Australian standards. He won six from his nine starts, with his three defeats all coming at a mile. Pinatubo remained unbeaten over distances shorter than this, which would have likely made Australian trainers think twice about even starting the colt over the longer trip, let alone persevering over the distance.

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inatubo is a son of the wonderful stallion Shamardal who shuttled to Australia between 2005 and 2010. Despite his outstanding success internationally, locally Shamardal did not meet those standards here although he did sire five local Group 1 winners in Able Friend, a dual G1 winner in Hong Kong, Captain Sonador who won an Epsom, Delectation who fittingly won the Darley Classic, Fine Perfume, a winner of an Oaks and Vinery Stud Stakes, and an SAJC Schweppes Oaks winner, Maybe Discreet. Shamardal has an interesting pedigree being by Giant’s Causeway out of a full sister to arguably Darley’s best shuttle stallion in Street Cry which is something that we often forget. The female line of Pinatubo is not all that well known in Australia in general until we get back a few generations. His dam Lava Flow by Dalkhani was a Listed winner in France. In turn, her dam was Mount Elbrus by Barathea, another former Darley shuttle stallion, and was also a Listed winner in France. The third dam of Pinatubo wass El Jazirah by Kris, a full sister to the Group 1 winning Rafha whose presence in the pedigree is critical as the dam of the top stallion, Invincible Spirit. This relationship will no doubt be a key factor in the success of Pinatubo at stud. It is interesting to ponder if this will be more important in the Northern or Southern Hemispheres. Invincible Spirit had significant overseas success, but when shuttled to Australia did not reach the same heights. That was until his son I Am Invincible went to stud and it could be important that while Invincible Spirit has had sons like Shalaa, Kingman and Lawman, his major influence to date has been through this colonially bred son.

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he lack of Danehill in the pedigree of Pinatubo makes him a likely mate for the multitude of mares that have that stallion in their sire line in particular. Snitzel mares in particular could be worthwhile with his dam line tracing to a daughter of Storm Cat who we see in the sire line of Pinatubo. His sire Redoute’s Choice might also have daughters that will suit but the real trick with these Danehill line mares is likely the remainder of their pedigrees.

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n that note, it is probably best to suggest what influences we would be best breeding away from. These will largely be some of the stamina lines, and Sadler’s Wells is one that I think may prove problematic. This however may not translate to mares that carry that stallion a little further back in their pedigree. High Chaparral has been a quality stallion and is a son of Sadler’s Wells. As we know, his son So You Think has proven at least his equal in Australia, and importantly in the pedigree of High Chaparral we see a female line of Darshaan which may work well with the presence of his son, Dalakhani in the pedigree of Pinatubo. Again, this comes with a slight word of caution in that while Pinatubo was a champion 2yo, he was not necessarily the true precocious type that we see in Australia. Having said that, I do not see him as a source of stayers which a duplication of Darshaan and the presence of Sadler’s Wells may indicate. In fact, I would be looking to introduce these precocious two year old speed lines in the mares that visit the stallion. One more stallion though that I would be approaching with caution is Mr Prospector.

Multiple male lines of that stallion appear in the pedigree of Pinatubo and introducing further male lines of that stallion may prove problematic. Alternatively, a stallion like Encosta De Lago in a mare’s pedigree which shows a female line of Mr Prospector might be able to turn that potential weakness into a positive.

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his brings us to I Am Invincible. His daughters may well prove successful with Pinatubo. Not only will we see the close relationship of Pinatubo and Invincible Spirit, but we also see the colonial speed of Canny Lad to the fore. In addition to that, we often see a lot of I Am Invincible’s daughters coming from Danehill line mares that might make for some nice progeny. Overall, we see that Pinatubo is a stallion that looks to offer just about everything Australian breeders could look for.

He will prove immensely popular no doubt and looks to be almost foolproof for much of our local broodmare population. Perhaps Pinatubo could be the stallion that finally sees Shamardal overtake his close relation Street Cry as the premier representative of his line in Australia.

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PINATUBO at 5.86% has the least amount of inbreeding of all of the stallions we have looked at this month. This may make it a little difficult for him as far as his future prospects go as we regularly see stallions with higher levels of inbreeding have more success at stud. The idea behind this is that the fewer ancestors in a pedigree, the less variability in characteristics that will be passed on to their progeny meaning more consistency in type and ability. The duplications we do see are Mr Prospector, Northern Dancer and Never Bend, all through sons, and the mare, Natalma. Given that it is a very European pedigree, it will be interesting to find mares that allow for breeders to focus on some of the strengths of the stallion without bringing in multiple same sex crosses.

WOODED

A NEW LINE IN VICTORIA

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he Irish bred son of Wootton Bassett in Wooded is one of Victoria’s new stallions for 2022. Standing at Swettenham Stud, he becomes the first son of that stallion to stand in the State. Wootton Bassett himself is now shuttling to Coolmore in NSW, while his son Almanzor stands in New Zealand. We have featured both of these stallions in the past, and we wonder whether Victoria might be the place where this line established itself in the Southern Hemisphere.

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ooded started his career in July of his NH 2yo season, running second by a short neck to a colt called Derbyism at Dieppe. The seven furlong (1400m) event was to be that colt’s only win. At his next start, Wooded won over the same distance at Deauville before again running second, this time in a Group 3 race by a short neck behind Kenway at Longchamp. At his final start for the season, also over 7 furlongs, Wooded was to run third in the Group 3 Thomas Bryon at Saint Cloud behind the Darley pair in King’s Command and Royal Crusade. Wooded returned as a 3yo to win the G3 Prix Texanita at Chantilly over 6 furlongs winning by 3.5 lengths in May. His next start was not until July when he ran fourth behind the star colt, Pinatubo in the G1 Prix Jean Prat over 7 furlongs at Deauville. A sixth behind

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another Darley horse, Space Blues, in the G1 Maurice de Gheest over 6.5 furlongs followed by a surprise defeat by Air De Valse in the G3 Petit Couvert at Longchamp at his first start over 5 furlong. It was then to his finest moment when he won the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines beating Glass Slippers by a neck. This was his final start and he retired with a record of three wins from nine starts but suffered defeat only once at 1200m or less which may be an important factor in his long term success at stud especially in the Southern Hemisphere. He goes to stud with the claim of being the fastest son of Wootton Bassett.

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e have spoken about the sire of Wooded at length in previous discussions, so will not further detail the pedigree of this son of Iffraaj. Wooded is a son of Frida La Blonde by Elusive City, a son of Elusive Quality who also shuttled to NZ as did Iffraaj. Her full sibling Fred Lalloupet was a multiple Listed winner in France, while a half-brother in Mon Pote Le Gitan by Thunder Gulch also won at that level. It is also the family of the champion Italian 3yo Miler, Maximum Aurelius

by Showcasing.

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e often talk about female lines with a view to the Bruce Lowe family numbers, and these can sometimes be something of a guide to success of stallions.

After all, there are such things as stallion families. Wooded comes from the 22b family which is represented in Australia at present by sires like Peltzer and Under The Louvre. It is also the family of Melbourne Cup winner, Green Moon and a sire called Magic Ring who shuttled to Australia in the 1990’s where he produced seven stakes winners including Baal Yabba, Spellmaker and Stella Maree. Magic Ring in fact is out of a full sister to the third dam of Wooded. This does raise an interesting point as to how we get such different types in a family from a Melbourne Cup winner to a pure sprinting type. Then again, we can have full siblings that have different aptitudes such are the vagaries of genetic expression. More importantly in a discussion on Wooded is the European type of 2yo. We saw Wooded place twice at Group 3 level as a 2yo, but he raced exclusively over 1400m. Oddly in Australia we would see a 2yo that prefers 1400m as a potential staying type, and of course the 1400 and 1600m of the last two legs of the Triple Crown are usually the first and only time we see some of our top 2yo’s race over these distances. Often it is the only times in their careers that they extend past 1200m.

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ow then do we measure the performance of horses like Wooded against our 2yo’s? It is a difficult question and one we can ponder without any possibility of coming up with a viable answer. Race performance is no measure of breeding success, and their own aptitude, while perhaps being an indicator as to the type they may produce, plays little role in their future apart from breeders presupposing what might happen. If they get it wrong, they usually blame the horse in any case. In the case of Wooded, it becomes an intriguing question because we saw the colt return as a 3yo to only once start over 1400m. His Group 1 victory was to come over 5 furlongs or 1000m which may just suggest that his connections totally got the horse

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wrong. One may suspect that had he raced over the shorter trips as a 2yo, his record may have been vastly improved. Should we consider Wooded as a 1000m type, or more of the miler type that it is fair to suggest that many of the Wootton Bassett’s are? Time will only tell, but it is likely going to affect the types of mares that he will be covering.

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ne of the reasons for digressing into type was that Wooded will no doubt be considered by many broodmare owners who have Danehill line mares.

Standing in Victoria, Wooded will also have access to perhaps more of the stoutly bred sons of Danehill than had he been in the Hunter. Victoria has seen the likes of Desert King and Gonski who are probably a little different to the speedier sons like Fastnet Rock, Exceed And Excel and even Redoute’s Choice we saw in NSW. It is those that will make the biggest impact on Wooded’s future no doubt as we see more of these quality mares in broodmare bands across Australia. It is hard to suggest that Wooded will be better off suited by the speedier Exceed And Excel type daughters or the more classic types that you often find in some of the Redoute’s Choice and Fastnet Rock mares. Again it will come down to the other influences in a pedigree and it is those that will make or break the stallion. Caution must certainly be taken though as we see two male lines of Danzig in the pedigree of the stallion.

When additional multiple lines appear in the pedigree of a mare, the Danehill factor may not prove the success that is hoped.

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ooded’s pedigree has three of the four main sire lines tracing to Raise A Native, and two of these through Mr Prospector and his son Gone West. This must be another flag for breeders who need to use caution when adding additional lines of these influences. Having expressed the need for caution, we must also recognise that there are times when multiple lines of stallions can have positive effects. One stallion we see that stands in Victoria is Anacheeva, a son of Anabaa

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who was a wonderful French racehorse who also won the July Cup in England. In turn Anabaa was a son of Danzig, but if we look at daughters of Anacheeva with Wooded, they would bring in additional lines of Gay Mecene. That stallion raced in France, and the son of Vaguely Noble traced to the excellent mare Missy Baba who was responsible for lines that gave us horses like AP Indy, Foxhound, Bite The Bullet and Lemon Drop Kid. Not only this, but Anacheeva would also bring in a male line of the son of Northern Dancer in The Minstrel who was a three quarter brother to Nijinsky. In Victoria, it should not be forgotten that Bel Esprit sees Nijinsky in his sire line. The pedigree of Wooded has such richness of lines that these remarkable opportunities exist for the astute breeder who is willing to delve a little deeper into the substance of the stallion’s pedigree.

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ooded represents most likely a real challenge for the astute breeder.

There will be a good range of mares that will suit the stallion, perhaps even more than had he stood in NSW. However there are plenty of risks that go along with his pedigree and we see that there are risks with introducing some of the popular lines. The reward though for breeders who are willing to do their homework on the stallion’s pedigree may well find great success across a range of types that are often much more at home in Melbourne than any other Australian capital. While a Melbourne Cup winner is probably a step too far, Wooded could certainly be a source of good 2yo’s, and he certainly appeals as a stallion that may well produce quality 3yo’s that may be aimed at Guineas type races. On type, he will certainly have some attractive offspring and it will come down to the right support to see if Victorian breeders can take advantage of this exciting opportunity.

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WOODED (11.72%) is again one of our more inbred pedigrees. The feature is the same sex cross of Gone West whose line has had mixed success at stud locally. It is however an important line internationally and recognised as an Intermediate/ Classic influence. His sons have often had an ability to get progeny that perform over a range of distances and the local stallion, Sepoy is probably a good example of these types. Male lines of Raise A Native, Danzig and Northern Dancer are likely stumbling blocks, but we see a female line of Mr Prospector, albeit when this stallion is pushed back to the sixth generation. We also see three lines of Secretariat although this stallion is almost exclusively found through daughters.

CAPTIVANT

THE HIGHEST PROFILE

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aptivant is a son of Capitalist, making him one of the first from that sire to go to stud. The stakes-placed Profiteer is another who will be standing his first season this year at Newgate in NSW. Captivant will stand at the rejuvenated Kia Ora Stud whose name features regularly in the pages of our magazine as one of the great thoroughbred nurseries in history.

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n the track, Captivant started his career on 17 October 2020 over 1000m at Randwick, winning the Victory Vein Stakes beating Akihiro. Next up was a fourth in the million-dollar Golden Gift behind Sneaky Five over 1100m at Rosehill after again getting back in the run and finishing strongly to be beaten less than two lengths. A break saw him return for a third in the Skyline before lining up in the Golden Slipper at the odds of $81. Settling towards the rear, he finished strongly for fifth despite having an interrupted run in the straight some 5.5 lengths behind

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winner, Stay Inside. Captivant ran home well again in the Sires Produce although no match for the champion colt, Anamoe but nevertheless a good third. It was then to his biggest win in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes over a mile when he was able to settle much closer to the lead, beating Hilal by 0.3 lengths. It was to be his last win, as he returned as a 3yo to have his best run in the Spring when running second to Anamoe in the Caulfield Guineas. The Autumn saw him finish third in the CS Hayes before unplaced runs in the Australian Guineas and All-Star Mile saw him retire to stud.

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he colt is a son of Capitalist, the Golden Slipper winning son of champion stallion, Written Tycoon, who went to stud in 2017. He has sired seven stakes winners to date with Captivant his only Group 1 winner. Written Tycoon needs little introduction having sired almost 50 stakes winners to date including Blue Diamond winner, Written By, Stradbroke winner, Tyzone, Oakleigh Plate and AJ Moir winner, Pippie and Golden Rose and Caulfield Guineas winner, Ole Kirk. Captivant is out of the Commands mare, Speedboat who was placed once in five starts, interestingly in the Picnic races at Burrumbeet. Her dam was River Express by Blazing Sword TURF MONTHLY 39

who produced the Listed winner Cross Current by Keltrice. She was a half-sister to River Dove by Hurricane Sky who was to produce the Silver Slipper winning stallion Headwater. In turn, the dam of Ride The Rapid by River Rough who won the Listed James HB Carr Stakes at Randwick and was a half-sister to stakes winners I Love Sydney and Catchfire.

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aptivant’s pedigree offers something of a dilemma for breeders. Capitalist traces to the wonderful filly, Bold Promise and her daughter, by Danehill, in Compulsion. As we noted, his dam is a Command’s mare, meaning that we see a close sex-balanced cross of Danehill. What is quite remarkable is that we also see sex-balanced crosses of Danzig and Marscay. We do not see these very often as we usually see Danzig through two sons, and Marscay more often through two daughters. The big question for breeders is whether it is wise to breed to any or all of these influences, or to try and breed away from them. It is a question that only time will answer for us. However, we do know that all of the best runners by Capitalist have relatively inbred pedigrees especially duplicating Danehill. Perhaps not surprisingly we see Vain duplicated in two of his stakes winners, while we also see

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Last Tycoon and Fusaichi Pegasus duplicated in two of his better progeny.

It is possible that a good strategy would be to pursue some inbreeding in his matings, although we should be very cautious how this is used.

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e noted that Captivant’s damsire is Commands. He is a son of Danehill that is becoming less common in pedigrees, although remaining a lovely influence and especially interesting as he is a grandson of Eight Carat. Breeding to this specific influence could have success although we must be careful to ensure that this is not too close in a mare’s pedigree. Using daughters of Pierro may prove successful although this must be tempered by the fact that we are unlikely to see many of these that do not carry lines of Danehill. While this may prove beneficial in the long run, it changes the strategy and sees a very different type of mating than if we can find Eight Carat without a line of Danehill in the pedigree. Lonhro may prove a better option although again it will not be that easy to find his daughters that do not also carry a line of Danehill.

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very different strategy could be pursued by finding daughters of Headwater.

It results in a heavily inbred mating that is likely to lack stamina, but perhaps there could be at least on of these mares that are worth pursuing for the stallion.

These will be few and far between and a much safer strategy is likely to be to breed to other Northern Dancer line stallions. Sadler’s Wells had significant success with Danehill and there is no shortage of mares from these lines like High Chaparral, So You Think and Galileo to name a few. We also have the Storm Cat, Dehere and Last Tycoon lines as well as plenty of others, many of which stood in NSW. There are also a lot of emerging lines that may suit with Deep Impact now making a mark locally and being another line that could be worth pursuing.

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hile Captivant goes to stud with the hype of his sire pushing his career, breeders will likely need to take some care in getting the best out of the stallion. He is certainly a type that should get his share of speedy youngsters and quality yearlings but as always, his future will depend on him getting enough quality mares of the right type. It would be fitting to see such a strong colonial female line brought to the fore by this young stallion. This is especially important when we look at the history of Kia Ora stud and the influential role it has played in the development of the Australian thoroughbred.

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CAPTIVANT who has 13.67% inbreeding is the most heavily inbred of all of the pedigrees we have looked at this month.

The pedigree though sees all of these duplications within five generations being sex-balanced which is notable when we see stallions like Danehill, Danzig and Marscay who we regularly see repeated in pedigrees through same sex duplications. It is possible that this will see Captivant play an important role in the future by introducing these relatively rare daughters of Danehill and Danzig, and sons of Marscay.

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he thoroughbred is unique in that the breed was established fundamentally for one purpose, and that is to race. Almost any individual horse can be traced back to its original foundations of a handful of ancestors that were specifically brought to Britain in order to introduce characteristics that were considered important to racing ability.

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he first edition of the General Stud Book which is the means by which all thoroughbreds are registered, was established in England in 1793. Though in 1791 Mr James Weatherby did publish a book titled Introduction to a General Stud Book which was the forerunner to the Stud Book. In the United Kingdom, the General Stud Book remains the property of Weatherby’s, a company retaining the name of its original founder. Separate Stud Books have been established in other countries, with the most prominent in the USA and Australia remaining in the ownership of sections of the racing industry. All now fall under the control of an International Stud Book Committee represented by members of the various individual bodies.

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he purpose of a Stud Book is to record the parentage of all eligible thoroughbreds.

Horses though had a long history in the UK before the introduction of the Stud Book. They were imported largely from areas of Europe, all the time looking for characteristics which helped the horse perform in its desired role. Whether this was to perform in battle, or to work pulling wagons, there were obvious physical characteristics, and many more unseen characteristics that made each subsequent generation of horses more suited to their task than the one before.

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he sole purpose of the thoroughbred was to race. It was characteristics that made the breed most suitable for this task that led to the continuing development of the thoroughbred. Changing factors of the horse racing industry see the breed continue to develop today. The US reliance upon dirt track racing leads to some characteristics being more highly valued in that country than in others as an example.

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n Australia, since the introduction of the Golden Slipper in 1957 which has now become the richest 2yo race in the world, we have paid great heed to the need for speed and precocity within our breed. Much of our industry is now based on early 2yo racing, and while we can argue the benefits or disadvantages of this strategy, it brings with it unique characteristics of the breed that have been adapted to largely commercial pressures. We should not fear this, but we do need to identify commercial reality. In fact, the thoroughbred has always been the subject of

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commerce, with the only measure of success being the amount of money that could be earned either through the racing or breeding of an individual. Concerns about the commercial nature of the breed only become apparent when we change the goal posts and measure success by different methods. As an example, yearling sale prices should relate to racetrack success, not to any other factor.

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here were largely a few major importations of horses into England, each with their own strengths and subsequent weakness. Recorded history shows us that figures like James I, Oliver Cromwell, and Charles I all imported specific stallions and mares into the country most often for cavalry purposes. Earlier history though showed that the Romans and then later the Normans all introduced unique influences of horses into what is now Britain. The Arabian is perhaps the best known, remaining to exist as an important breed in itself. While renowned for both its temperament, and its clean-windedness, the Arabian was noted largely for what many consider a weakness in the thoroughbred; and that being its size.

The early Arabian stood around 15 hands tall, and this even led to a royal decree in the UK prohibiting anyone from turning out a horse onto the Common that was under 15 hands in height. We can nevertheless rest assured that just about any modern thoroughbred standing at 15 hands owes this heritage to the original Arabian influences of the breed. Historically we hear of horses called the Godolphin or Darley Arabian, the Byerley Turk or even the Barb. The Arabian originated in North Africa, as did the Barb named after the Barbary States area which now would include countries including Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia. The French

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HECTOR - one of Australia’s earliest Thoroughbred stallions

political influence in the geographic location saw horses often enter Britain through France. The types of horses were often prefaced by the stud or region that stood or imported the particular horse. The Godolphin, for example, was named after Francis Godolphin, the second Earl of Godolphin. The Byerley Turk was believed to be a stallion captured in battle by Captain Robert Byerley in the Battle of Buda in 1686 and from then on used as his combat horse. The horse retired to stud upon his owner’s retirement from the military to his family home in Ireland. At each step of a thoroughbred journey, we are confronted by a rich tapestry of history, and today’s champions all share these remarkable human stories.

B

ecause thoroughbred origins are so well recorded, pedigrees offer us a unique study into a breed that is probably the most written about of all for this very reason. Geneticists study the thoroughbred to this day looking for the genetic factors that make the perfect racehorse. We have a myriad of breeding theories that all stem from different studies. There are theories of inbreeding and line-breeding, X-factors, nicks and crosses and just about any other that you can imagine. Perhaps the greatest of all breeders, Federico Tesio was responsible for a too often repeated quote of “putting the best to the best and hoping for the best.” It seems that even this off-hand line is used as the foundation when a preferred breeding theory can’t explain something.

M

any modern theories though are based on the principle that racing ability is an inheritable genetic trait, very much like colour. If that was the case then we could breed in such a way that in a few short generations, there would only be one colour, and the genetic advantage would cease to exist. As with all research, we need to ensure that we are measuring what we actually think we are.

R

acing ability can be linked to genetics without being a genetically inherited trait.

If we can accept this proposition, then we can move forward into another way of looking at the thoroughbred. The sum, after all, can be greater than the parts.

Vain Golden Slipper TURF MONTHLY 47