WAR FRONT/PULPIT WAS A PREDICTABLE NICK

  • by Alan Porter  on August 25, 2013  -  
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While there is no doubt that nicks tend to run in sire lines, we’ve also often found it profitable to consider the dam of a stallion when attempting to predict potential crosses. For example, when Smart Strike retired to stud, we noted that he was a half brother to champion

FASIG-TIPTON SARATOGA REVIEW

  • by Alan Porter  on August 19, 2013  -  
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There is a French saying that translates as something like “the more things change, the more they say the same.” Plenty has changed in the macro- and micro-economic climates since last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale, but despite the various undercurrents, as far as numbers sold, totals, and average, we

VALUE FOR MONEY AUSTRALIAN SIRES

  • by Alan Porter  on July 30, 2013  -  
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Wherever in the world you’re breeding, the search for value goes on, and like we did yesterday with New Zealand sires, today we’ll take a look at some Australia sires that we think fall into that category. Choisir (AUS) (by Danehill Dancer) strikes us as incredible value at Aus$27,500 when

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