Which have been the most potent of the various crosses between the top SA sires, current and past? A number of sires have produced two good horses out of mares by the same sire, and instantly this has become a “successful nick”.
However determining the most successful cross percentagewise is a different story.
The Al Mufti/Complete Warrior pattern has been well documented. This mating took place on 15 occasions and produced 3 stakes winners (Roman Charger, Jettatura and Captain Al), stakes placed Amanati, five time winner Lord Oberon, and nine other winners.
In other words, just once from 15 matings has this cross not produced at least a one time winner and nearly a third of the horses produced on this cross are black type performers. In turn, Complete Warrior’s maternal grandson, Captain Al, is building up a solid record with daughters of National Assembly.
To date, Captain Al has sired Flower’s Angel, Pure Power, Trinity House, The-realslimshady and talented Gr2 placed Waitangi, all from daughters of National Assembly. This nick also produced this season’s promising juvenile Just Al,
National Assembly’s son, National Emblem, in turn, is the broodmare sire of this season’s Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes heroine Only Emily (by Captain Al). The Captain Al/National Emblem cross has also produced the stakes placed fillies Captain’s Emblem and Ribbons For Thee.
The reverse National Emblem/Captain Al cross produced the now exported Gr1 Tsogo Sun Medallion winner Potent Power. The late, lamented Jet Master built up a commendable record with daughters of champion broodmare sire Northern Guest. The pair combined to produce 21 horses to reach the track, of whom 15 are winners, and five are black type performers.
However, this cross is most notable for having produced two of Jet Master’s very best sons – champion sprinter J J The Jet Plane and July winner Pomodoro. These high-class horses are all inbred 3 by 3 to Northern Dancer. Jet Master and Badger Land mares also made a successful combination.
From 10 foals of racing age, this cross has produced 6 winners, and three stakes winners, including G1 winners Ebony Flyer and Viva Maria. The cross is also responsible for this season’s high-class 3yo, True Master (Gr3 East Cape Derby).
Outstanding speed sire Var has sired 14 foals, of racing age, out of Elliodor mares. To date, 11 have won, and this cross has already produced one of Var’s very best runners – champion filly Val De Ra.
Champion sire Fort Wood, whose sons Dynasty and Horse Chestnut are creating a stir this season, and Secret Prospector have also done well from a few matings.
From eight registered foals of racing age, the Fort Wood/Secret Prospector cross has produced five winners including the Gr1 winning champion Elusive Fort, and three other black type performers.
It is interesting to note, however, that Fort Wood has not done well when mated to mares carrying the blood of Fall Aspen (dam of Fort Wood himself). This mating has been done on numerous occasions and is yet to produce a stakes winner! It is perhaps food for thought, that only two minor black type performers in the world have been produced on inbreeding to Fall Aspen, without question one of the great broodmares of the modern era.
The brilliant Big City Life
One mating which has excellent returns is the now sadly deceased Casey Tibbs with Goldmark mares. This mating produced 10 registered foals, of which five are black type performers. This tally includes Casey’s best ever son, the brilliant, but ill-fated Big City Life, as well as this season’s high-class G1 2yo, Masked Lady.
Other high-class individuals bred on this cross include the talented full brothers Cree Lodge and Orchard House, Gr3 winner Cash Register and six time winner Cielo Et Mare.
Lecture and Al Mufti also built up a formidable record, although this was inevitable perhaps, in part due to the fact that both stallions stood at Ascot Stud. From 46 registered foals, Lecture produced 27 winners (58%) and 11 (23%) individual black type performers.
Arguably more tellingly, of Lecture’s six stakes winners, four (66%) are out of Al Mufti mares. Muhtafal, one of KZN’s best sires in recent years, had built up a solid record with daughters of dominant broodmare sire Northern Guest. The combination have produced no fewer than 10 black type performers – or nearly 20% of the sire’s stakes horses.
When looking at results of a study of this nature, it is worth taking into account the fact that the sire and respective broodmare sire were often based in the same region, and inevitably came more often into pedigrees than would have been the case if they had been in different countries.
Sensational Sinndar
Former Epsom Derby winner, Sinndar, has made a superb start to his career as a broodmare sire. With his eldest daughters only 11, Sinndar is already the broodmare sire of three major classic winners – Encke (St Leger), Flotilla (French 1000 Guineas) and Saturday’s Irish Derby winner, Trading Leather. Interestingly, the three are from different sire lines.
Encke is by Kingmambo (Mr Prospector), Flotilla by Mizzen Mast (Cozzene) and Trading Leather by Teofilo (Galileo). A slightly disappointing sire himself, Sinndar, (one of the best Derby winners this century), could well make up for this through future deeds of his daughters.
Sadler’s Wells’ Derby Influence
Trading Leather wins the 2013 Irish Derby
The remarkable influence of the great Sadler’s Wells on Ireland’s premier classic, the Irish Derby, continued unabated on Saturday. For the seventh year in a row, the 2400m Curragh classic was won by a descendant of Sadler’s Wells.
In 2013, it was Sadler’s Wells’ great grandson, Trading Leather, who prevailed in a field where the first three home are all by Sadler’s Wells line stallions. No fewer than seven of the nine in the classic were descendants of the Coolmore legend. Sadler’s Wells himself sired six Irish Derby winners -a truly astonishing achievement even for a stallion of his greatness.
In 2002, the first four home in the race were sons of Sadler’s Wells! His two greatest sons, Montjeu and Galileo, have combined to produce another six Irish Derby winners.
