When Silvano became South Africa’s champion sire for the 2012-2013 season, he became the first Nijinsky II male line horse to win a general sires title since Royal Academy headed the general sires list in Brazil in 2005-2006.
Prior to that, Green Dancer (France 1991), Lomitas (Germany 2001) and Caerleon (UK 1991) had been the only scions of the great horse to become official champion sires.
While the above named are the only official champion sires to trace directly back to Nijinsky II, a number of other sons of the 1970 Triple Crown have also made an important contribution to the modern thoroughbred. While never actually heading the general sires list, Nijinsky II’s son Dancing Champ was an excellent sire – who produced 36 stakes winners from 333 local foals (11%). He later became a proficient broodmare sire – with his daughters memorably producing a Breeders Cup winner and successful NZ sire (Success Express).
Other successful sire sons of Nijinsky II include Sky Classic, Whiskey Road, and Baldski. Whiskey Road’s son Strawberry Road himself became an extremely successful sire in a short stud career, while another son, Ile de Bourbon, is the sire of the highly effective, but unfashionable sire, Kahyasi. His son, Tights, is the broodmare sire of fashionable young sire, and ten time G1 winner, So You Think – while Royal Academy’s son, Bel Esprit, is the sire of the immortal Black Caviar.
While more fashionable sire sons of Nijinsky II failed at stud, his stout son Niniski prospered. He produced the successful sires Hernando (sire of exciting local sire Gitano Hernando) and leading sire Lomitas – while another son of Niniski, Kala Dancer, sired Melbourne Cup hero Subzero.
Though Niniski’s King George winner Petoski was a poor sire, he did sire German Oaks winner and outstanding broodmare Night Petticoat. Lomitas, who sired 47 stakes winners , has strong claims to being one of the most successful sire descendants of Nijinsky II. Not only is he the sire of Silvano, but Lomitas has another seven G1 winners to his credit, including Arc de Triomphe winner Danedream.
The name of Nijinsky II can be found in the pedigree of such successful sires as Dansili, Fastnet Rock and Halling, to name a few.
The Nijinsky II male line has been especially effective in South Africa. Through the likes of Dancing Champ, Peacetime, Russian Fox, Nijinsky II made his mark felt – while another son, Piaffer, is the broodmare sire of former July winner Dunford.
Nijinsky II’s Breeders Cup winner Royal Academy not only sired champion Eyeofthetiger and Guineas hero Express Way, but he also sired of outstanding broodmare Mystic Spring (dam of champion Rabiya, and second dam of current champion filly All Is Secret).
