GALILEO/DANEHILL REVISITED

A little over two years ago, we looked at the cross of Galileo with mares by Danehill. This was fast becoming a European mega nick, having—in the space of three weeks—been represented by Frankel, who had just taken the Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) in breathtaking style; Golden Lilac, successful in

ROYAL ASCOT DAY V – TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY

  • by Alan Porter  on June 24, 2013  -  
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The final day of what had otherwise been a wonderful Royal Ascot was marred by the death of Thomas Chippendale, who collapsed and died—apparently of a heart attack—shortly after winning the 1 1/2-mile Hardwicke Stakes (Eng-II). Successful last year in the King Edward VII Stakes (Eng-II) over course and distance,

ROYAL ASCOT DAY IV – SKY CROWNED MILER QUEEN

  • by Alan Porter  on June 21, 2013  -  
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  Day four at Royal Ascot kicked off with the six-furlong Albany Stakes (Eng-III) for 2-year-old fillies. The winner, Kiyoshi, looked to travel nearly as far sideways as forwards in the last couple of furlongs, but still scored impressively from favorite Sandiva (by Footstepsinthesand), with Frankel’s half sister Joyeuse third.

ROYAL ASCOT DAY III – FIT FOR A QUEEN

  • by Alan Porter  on June 20, 2013  -  
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U.S.-trainer Wesley Ward, who nearly took yesterday’s Queen Mary Stakes (gr. II) with Sweet Emma Rose (City Zip), gained compensation at Royal Ascot today with the Scat Daddy colt, No Nay Never in the Norfolk Stakes (gr. II). Ward’s two-year-olds usually break like greased lightning, but No Nay Never dwelt leaving the stalls. He was

ROYAL ASCOT DAY II – A CASE FOR INBREEDING

  • by Alan Porter  on June 19, 2013  -  
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The Royal Ascot seven furlong Jersey Stakes (gr. III) for three-year-olds who have yet to win a group race went to Gale Force Ten, who produced a super-game effort to prevail after being headed close home. The result was a significant boost for the form of both the French 2,000 Guineas

ROYAL ASCOT DAY 1 – WAR TIME

  • by Alan Porter  on June 18, 2013  -  
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  At around halfway in the Opening Day’s Queen Anne Stakes (gr. I), Animal Kingdom and Declaration of War were about the same distance off the lead. From that point, however, the duo went in opposite directions, Animal Kingdom, who had pulled hard in the early stages, and found no cover, fading out of

A KEY ANCESTOR FOR ENCOSTA DE LAGO

  • by Alan Porter  on June 9, 2013  -  
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  While he is now considered an ‘elder statesman’ of the Coolmore Australia stallion roster, there can be no doubt that Encosta de Lago is one of the premier stallions standing in Australia this year. The son of Fairy King has amassed a sensational record at stud with 6.32% SW

KENDARGENT LOOKING GOLDEN

  • by Alan Porter  on June 4, 2013  -  
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The victory of Snow Bell in the Prix des Lilas at Chantilly on June 4, credited the young French sire Kendargent with his sixth individual stakes winner from his first two crops. Kendargent’s start as a sire has been a lot more impressive than his early career as a runner.

MONSUN SEASON

  • by Alan Porter  on May 31, 2013  -  
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It’s no secret that the late German stallion, Monsun – who died in September, 2012, at the age 22 – was an outstanding sire. However, even by his standards, he had exceptional day on Sunday, with five-year-old Maxios taking the Prix d’Ispahan (gr. I) and three-year-old filly, Silasol, capturing the

A CLASSIC CASE OF COINCIDENCE?

The interpretation of thoroughbred pedigrees is no simple matter. With the multi-factorial elements that might be considered including nicks, inbreeding, linebreeding, the positions of ancestors relative to one another, the relationship of the pedigree to the female line, and the class of the individuals involved. Given the volume of the