Pedigree Dynamics Blog

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-12T15:55:00.000+11:00

Put a Share in this Racehorse Under the Christmas Tree!

2011-12-09T11:38:00.003+11:00

Ready To Race with top Victorian trainer GREG EURELL

This athletic three year old is ready to commence his racing career.

He’s by Al Samer (a Group winning son of Redoute’s Choice) out of 5-time winner, Lunarism (by Naturalism). She is already the dam of two winners, both of whom have also been trained by Greg Eurell. The trainer of Group One winners Apache Cat and Pinker Pinker had this to say about the Al Samer gelding:

“I have trained two foals from this mare and been successful with both. His half brother Street Eclipse is still racing and has won and had 6 placings from 13 starts so far. He’s been unlucky in not winning more to-date.

“There is no reason to suggest this horse will not be a winner too. He is by an up and coming stallion in Al Samer and is typical of that breed in appearance and type.

“This gelding is in his second preparation with us and has learnt his craft well, doing everything right. He has been given plenty of time and has improved markedly from his first prep. He’s very athletic and a great mover.

I look forward to making it three from three with his family.” Greg Eurell.

Al Samer - Lunarism

The gelding is registered for the Super Vobis Scheme, giving owners bonuses of up to $40,000 on top of the usual prize money.

Shares in this horse are very reasonably priced at $2,000 per 10% share.

Join the OZ Racing team – they have been putting together successful racehorse partnerships for over 14 years!

Call Jane Henning on 0414 944094 for further details on this syndication.

AFS no. 269277.

Examining Superior Runners by Non- Leader Board Stallions

2011-10-17T18:15:00.004+11:00

It is always interesting to me when a sire who has been a little disappointing to-date - or in the past few years - throws up a classy racehorse. What genetic kick in the ribs did the dam's pedigree give him?
A couple of cases in point are the recent stakes winners SOUTHERN SPEED, SKYERUSH and SINCERO.

Southern Image (USA)

Southern Speed is by Southern Image, a son of Halo's Image. He stood out here for four seasons to 2009, his oldest being Southern Hemisphere four year olds. To-date he's had 49 runners here for 23 winners, 22 of them vastly inferior to Southern Speed, winner of this year's Caulfield Cup. What makes that mating tick? Her dam Golden Eagle is by Zabeel - not only a leading broodmare sire but when combined with the pedigree of Southern Image, he creates a reverse Sir Ivor / Northern Dancer cross to that in Southern Image's dam. Golden Eagle's damsire is Danehill, who was always touted as being a great cross for Southern Image. He reinforces Halo on Southern Image's sire line, both tracing back to ALMAHMOUD, as does Danehill's grandsire Northern Dancer (present three times in this mating). Not only that, but his Northern Dancer / His Majesty cross is also present in Southern Image's dam. A bit of Colonial speed is also injected via the tail female line, the granddam being a sister to Golden Slipper winner, Ha Ha.

Super Jet (USA)

Skyerush, recent winner of the Gosford Belle of the Turf Stakes (Listed), is by Super Jet, a beautifully bred son of Dayjur (Danzig) out of a granddaughter of a half sister to Mr. Prospector. To-date he hasn't set the world alight, having produced 121 runners for 60 winners, however Skyerush is also Group 2 placed and four times Listed placed. His next best runner is the Group 3 placed Afterburn. Anybody with a grain of respect for the Rasmussen Factor or indeed merely sex balanced inbreeding, would think Skyerush's pedigree a very pretty mating. Her sire Bellotto is a son of Mr,. Prospector, thereby creating 4f x 4m inbreeding to Mr. Prospector's dam Gold Digger. Meeting up with his half sister Myrtlewood Lass on Super Jet's tail female line is a great pattern, complemented by the fact that Mr. Prospector also appears through a daughter (to sex balance the son, Bellotto) in Super Jet's sire, Dayjur.

Umatilla (USA)

While Sincero is by Umatilla, a stallion who has produced many classy runners over the years (19 Group winners), it's been a long time between drinks. Four of Umatilla's six Group 1 winners were born in 1994, the other in 2000. Recently deceased at the age of 23 years, Umatilla served his last mare in 2009. In the year Sincero was conceived (2007) Umatilla produced a healthy 57 foals with fertility statistics over 85% in that year and all those preceding. So what was special about As Always, dam of Sincero?
What caught Umatilla's genetic attention appears to be the presence of a sister to Umatilla's third dam, the predominant BEST IN SHOW, on As Always' tail female line. BEST IN SHOW is a taproot member of the TORPENHOW family, which is also represented in Umatilla's pedigree by his damsire, Nijinsky II. It's interesting that another of Umatilla's Group 1 winners, Bohemiath, also carries Nijinsky II, creating sex balanced inbreeding to that icon.

A Great Week for Buyers of Mares Sold by Pedigree Dynamics

2011-10-17T09:09:00.056+11:00

Just on a year ago, we advertised and sold an Irish bred mare named Finko (by Caerleon) in foal to Snippetson.

Finko (Ire)

Out of Rosefinch, a Group One winning mare over 2000 metres, Finko is also a half sister to a stakes winner over the same distance. Her granddam Oh So Sharp was Top Filly on the European 3yo Classification, winning three Group Ones, being the English St. Leger, One Thousand Guineas and The Oaks.
On 12th October, Finko's Commands two year old JIMANDO became her first stakes winner, scoring impressively in the Listed MRC Debutante Stakes at Caulfield.
Finko's owner Boyd Curran is understandably very pleased, especially as he now has a 'very nice' Snippetson yearling filly and the mare is about to foal to Dylan Thomas.
Jimando's trainer Tony McEvoy yesterday commented, ""His dam line says that he should be three and further and I never had any intentions of running him at two, but funny things happen with horses.”
All we can say is congratulations to Finko's owners on an astute buy!

Rising Eagle

Late in 2009, Pedigree Dynamics sold Rising Eagle, a full sister to Ha Ha, with a lovely Host filly at foot and in foal to Snippetson. On the 15th October, her new owner Robbie Proctor reaps the benefit of a boost to her pedigree when SOUTHERN SPEED won the Group One Caulfield Cup. She is out of Golden Eagle, a daughter of Rising Eagle.

Loving New (Brz)

Sourced, purchased and imported by Pedigree Dynamics for clients back in 2007, Loving New was Brazilian Champion 3 Year Old Filly, winning two Group Ones.
At the time of purchase, Loving New had produced one foal, Brazilian born QUESTING NEW, who has since become a Group One winner in that country.

Her first Australian bred foal was Dark Matter, a son of Stratum, sold as a yearling by Bellagio Lodge for $140,000. Purchased by Singaporean interests, the now 3 year old has had 4 wins, the latest on 15th October. Since his previous win, he finished second in the Group 2 Aushorse Golden Shoe. His dam Loving New (Brz), now owned by Patinack, had a colt by Husson (Arg) this season, making him the product of an 'all South American' mating!

Start Looking Now!

2011-10-16T15:53:00.000+11:00

Now is a great time to 'take stock' and assess whether you should be tweaking your Thoroughbred portfolio for the coming season.
If you are thinking of buying a stallion for 2012, start looking now before everyone else has the same idea.
The Aussie dollar is still strong and buying an overseas stallion or mare now is a sound plan.
Recent bloodstock sales in Europe and the USA experienced an upturn on the previous year and it's logical that ours will follow suit in the next year or so.
Locally, there are those looking to upgrade and others looking to sell.
If you have breeding stock, racehorses, young stock or stallions you either want to buy or sell, please give us a call! We'd love to help you.

Mosayter's First NSW Produce Look the Goods

2011-10-16T09:46:00.067+11:00

Mosayter foal and nanny

Blue-blooded sire MOSAYTER is producing some stunning stock out at Argyle Thoroughbreds' Central Tablelands (near Orange, NSW) property.
A dual UK winning son of Storm Cat from a Mr. Prospector half sister to two Group One winners (NASHWAN and NAYEF) and three other Group winners besides, Mosayter started his stud career in Western Australia. After a few seasons of small books however, it was decided to better position the Sheikh Mohammed product for the market.
Owned by Pedigree Dynamics clients in Perth, we were asked to find Mosayter a new location last year.
Enter Louise Ellis from Argyle Thoroughbreds, who was looking for a foundation sire to service the growing number of Thoroughbred mares not only on-farm, but in the district.

Mosayter has been greeted with open arms by breeders in the area and these recent photos attest to the fact that he seems to be working well with local mares.
With strong, correct foals on the ground, many are sending their broodmares back to Mosayter for the 2011 season.
Mosayter has produced 16 winners to-date including a stakes place-getter and seven metropolitan winners.

**UPDATE** - Mosayter produced a metropolitan double at Ascot on 5th November. Mr. Moet racked up his second consecutive win in 5 days, scoring as favourite in the 2100 metre event. This was his 5th career victory. Later on in the Summer Carnival program, Solsay, also favourite, landed a 1200 metre sprint, chalking up his third win in only 6 career starts.

The Cutting Edge of the Thoroughbred Industry

2011-10-15T16:24:00.001+11:00

Most of us who buy young stock or own a couple of mares and outsource the agistment, foaling and service, have no real concept of how much hard slog goes into getting these animals off to a viable start.

The long hours, physical work, joy and heart break experienced by those actually charged with the responsibility of bringing healthy horses into the world are not for the faint hearted.

For several years now, I have kept my mares, foals, weanlings and yearlings at "Oaklyn Farm", a family run broodmare facility at Willow Tree, north of the Hunter Valley.

An unusual midday foaling on the farm

Bloodstock I manage for clients is also kept there, where I can visit and provide regular updates and photos.

With a record number of broodmares on farm for the breeding season, another pair of hands was welcomed when I offered to relocate my office (ie bring laptop and mobile!) for a few weeks and lend a hand during the peak of the season. Daily vet visits to monitor not only the health of new born foals and their dams but the fertility cycles of mares off to stud again (on top of the usual work necessary to keep a farm full of thoroughbreds fed and healthy), make for busy days. What with the paperwork, phone calls and administration involved in getting mares back in foal, the work days flow straight through to busy nights on a small farm.

Foal watch has been interesting, to say the least! While the vast majority of births result in a healthy foal, several need immediate attention due to an assortment of possible problems. These include awkward foetal presentation, contracted tendons, low IgG (immunity) levels and even poor mothering skills on the part of the mare. All these possible problems (and much, much more) require eagle-eyed observation and experienced 'first aid', backed up by dependable, proficient vet care.

Hypothetical Scenario: As a broodmare owner, you get a call at lunchtime to tell you that your mare foaled at 3am, the foal took a long time to stand, he required supplementary colostrum in order to increase his IgG to an acceptable level and that the mare is a protective mother. After the vet's visit in the morning, all was progressing well. While obviously this doesn't sound the ideal start, you get off the phone knowing that all is under control. What you don't hear is that it was cold and raining at 3am, and that the staff carried out the usual ministrations in a wet and windy paddock. As the foal was not getting up any time soon, he was carried on a foal stretcher down to a warm dry stable, with Mum in close attendance. Once ensconced there, the mare was checked over, given pain relief (and was not pleased at being given a needle) and offered a hard feed while the foal was thoroughly checked out. The mare bit/ kicked the handler in her over zealous maternal state. The handler then had to give the foal a supplementary bottle feed of colostrum (while fending off a protective mother), the mare having depleted her natural supply by running her milk a few days early.

While there are multiple variations of the foaling scenario, from 'absolute breeze' through to middle-of-the-night dashes down to Scone Equine Hospital's emergency unit, what impresses me is the unwaivering goal of ensuring the mare and the foal have every opportunity of becoming a healthy family unit, to the detriment only of the short term sleep deprivation / bodily safety and comfort of those people caring for your stock. And when there's awful news (ie the foal's born dead, mare haemhorraged etc), you can be assured that while the news is devastating for the owner, it is a lot easier than actually being there, dealing with reality on the cutting edge.

Best Value Sires $16,501 to $38,500

2011-08-09T14:23:00.007+10:30

A few weeks back, we looked at the best value stallions priced $16,500 or under. The article drew several comments and by popular demand, here are (in our opinion) some of the best value stallions offered in the $16,501 to $38,500 price range. They’re listed in alphabetical order.

BEL ESPRIT

Yes, he is the sire of BLACK CAVIAR and her deeds did catapult him into 6^th place on the Leading Sires by Earnings List 10/11. He did however, also finish 7^th on the Leading sires by Winners list. His stats are actually very similar to those of More Than Ready for the same season, the latter finishing 5^th on the ‘Earnings’ list and 9^th on the ‘Winner’s’ list. At a stud fee of $27,500, this son of Royal Academy has 12 stakes winners to-date. Of those, six of those create line breeding to Vain (including BLACK CAVIAR) or to Vain’s damsire, Orgoglio. A further three stakes winners create line breeding to Nijinsky II’s ancestress, TORPENHOW via The Minstrel, Try My Best or Umatilla. Bel Esprit stands in Victoria at Eliza Park Stud.

CHOISIR

This evergreen stallion couldn’t have done much more last season and early into the current season, is firing out winners left, right and centre. An Australian bred son of Danehill Dancer, Choisir is a dual Group 1 winner and International Horse of the Year 2003, he is now the sire of Champion Sprinter in Europe and Australia, STARSPANGLEDBANNER. Like Choisir, SSB will be standing in the Hunter Valley at Coolmore this season.

Of the 16 Group winners Choisir’s produced to-date, five carry Sir Tristram or his sire Sir Ivor; two carry Vain (including STARSPANGLEDBANNER) and two carry Nijinsky II.

Choosing the right stallion can come right down to the wire.

CONGRATS

A new boy on the block, Vinery Australia has already closed the2011 book on Congrats. Champion First Season Sire in the US last year, he is proven to produce lovely, saleable types.

Not only that, but Congrats appers to be very easy to mate. By Seattle Slew’s son A.P. Indy (also sire of Bernardini), Congrats looks pretty with Northern Dancer and Mr. Prospector sire line mares as he provides those two influences through daughters (his first and second dams). Not only does that point alone make him easy to mate, but his dam line traces to LA TROIENNE and reinforcing this line is also highly desirable. Dam sires (and second dam sires) such as More Than Ready, Woodman, Hula Chief, Private Account, Buckpasser, Noble Bijou, Belong To Me, Air De France and Rhythm reinforce LA TROIENNE.

DOMESDAY
At one stage the cheapest stallion on Darley's roster at $5,500, Domesday spent his first four seasons at Cootamundra, largely soaking up the local broodmare population and the less commercial of Darley's lovely broodmare band. It soon became evident though, from the deeds of his first season foals that he was destined for higher status. He was relocated to Darley Victoria, with a rise in fee from $5,500 to $11,000 and served a personal best of 162 mares in 2010.
An immaculately bred stallion by Red Ransom out of member of the BEST IN SHOW branch of the TORPENHOW family, Domesday has shown a leaning towards his own female line. Of his 7 stakes performing progeny to-date, Group 1 winner PRESSDAY (via family member Nijinsky II) and Group 2 winner DOMESKY (via Masterclass) are out of mares reinforcing this line.
Three of his stakes performers are out of Grand Lodge mares - a great ratio when it's known that he has only had 6 foals of racing age out of Grand Lodge mares for 5 runners and 4 winners (3 black type).
With an Average Earnings Index of a healthy 2.31, Domesday's stud fee this season is $22,000 - surely still great value.

HUSSONET

A sire of several Champions here, in the USA and in South America, Hussonet has recently relocated to Cornerstone Stud, South Australia.

Being by Mr. Prospector, he is a great outcross for the Danehill line and has proven this time and again. Of his four Australian–sired Group 1 winners, three are from this line: REAAN (Danehill), GOLD TRAIL (Danewin) and EAGLE FALLS (Desert King). In fact, of his 14 Aussie bred stakes winners, 6 are out of Danehill line mares. He has also worked very well with Snippets mares, with 3 of those 14 stakes winners bred that way. His Champion 3yo Sprinter WEEKEND HUSSLER is out of a Helissio mare.

Having peaked at a stud fee of over $137,500 in 2008, Hussonet stands at the very reasonable fee of $25,000 this year.

MOSSMAN

Having started his career in Queensland at the fee of $8250 in 2000, the son of Success Express had to make his own luck and the second to fourth seasons saw him standing for only $5500. In the fourth season however, his progeny’s racetrack performance saw his book soar to 103 mares – 6 more than the first three seasons put together!

Mossman was moved to Vinery in New South Wales in 2004 and suffered a debilitating colic attack, resulting in a crop of only 18 foals that year. So really, his foals born in 2006 (97 in total) are the first substantial NSW born crop.

While a Group 1 winner still eludes him, six of his stakes winners are Group 1 placed (including the full sisters SEGMENTS - 2^nd VRC Oakleigh Plate - and PURE ENERGY – 2^nd STC Golden Slipper). The quality of his girlfriends has been steadily improving and he has two unraced crops on the ground.

At a fee of only $27,500, Mossman is great value. He is working with a variety of lines both Colonial-orientated like himself, and out of mares by imported stallions.

NOT A SINGLE DOUBT

As a Listed winner, Not A Single Doubt started his stud career at Arrowfield at a fee of $13,750. His first crop yielded the subsequent Group winners DOUBTFUL JACK and ALWAYS CERTAIN and stakes placed My Girl Helen, while his next crop produced the highly talented SQUAMOSA and South African Group 3 winner, CASTLETHORPE.

Magic Millions winner KARUTA QUEEN capped off a great 10/11 season for Not A Single Doubt, placing him 2^nd on the Leading Sires of Two Year Olds by Earnings

While he is working with a variety of lines, two of his six stakes winners and one of his stakes placegetters to-date carry Sadler’s Wells. It could be that Not A Single Doubt’s second damsire Grand Chaudiere may be linking up with Sadler’s Wells’ damsire Bold Reason, both being descendants of SUNSHOT. This is supported by the fact that another of his stakes placegetters has Bold Reason in the dam’s pedigree and another has Never Bend as his second damsire. Never Bend is a half brother to Bold Reason.

By Redoute’s Choice out of a half sister to Snippets, Not A Single Doubt is still great value despite the rise in his 2011 fee to $24,750.

SHOW A HEART

A long term resident of Glenlogan Park Queensland, Show A Heart is the only stallion standing there in 2011 in this fee range. His nearest rival is Jet Spur at a fee of $16,500. Show A Heart’s fee this year was lowered to $27,500, a figure at which he hasn’t stood since 2007.

The sire of 14 stakes winners to-date, it is interesting to note that ten of those competed successfully outside of Queensland. They include Group 1 winners HEART OF DREAMS and TOORAK TOFF. Apart from heading the General Sires List in his home state, Show A Heart ended up in the National Top 20 Sires by both Earnings and Winners for the 2010/11 Season.

One of the very few successful stallions remaining from the Bletchingly sire line (Canny Lad being another that comes to mind), Show A Heart is working with a wide variety of pedigrees.

An Update on Inbreeding to Danehill

2011-08-05T14:52:00.009+10:30

We were recently asked by a leading farm for our current opinion on inbreeding to Danehill.

At that time (late July), there were 322 named foals inbred to Danehill for 182 runners, 71 winners (winners to runners 39%) and two Group winners (Gr.3 LADIES ARE FOREVER and Gr.3 PSYCHOLOGIST), a Listed winner (SINGLE SPICE) and a further nine stakes placegetters.

Breaking down this information on the twelve stakes performers:

Eight (66%) were inbred through a son of Danehill and a daughter of Danehill. It has long been a theory (with us at least!) that sex balancing the inbred ancestor provides a better result.

Only four (33%) were inbred through two sons and of those four stakes performers, three (75%) of them had Danehill Dancer as one of the sons. They include the two Group 3 winners.

Combining a son and a daughter of Danehill in the mating is currently the most successful way to inbreed to him.

It is our opinion that inbreeding to Danehill through two sons needs to involve at least one son who is ‘atypical’ of the usual Danehill type and distaff pedigree.

We would classify Danehill Dancer in this category, as we would Danzero (damsire of PSYCHOLOGIST). Danzero appears in two (17%) of the total twelve stakes performers.

A Sale (as agent) Results in a Winner at Sandown .... England!

2011-08-05T13:03:00.003+10:30

Three years back, a client of ours (Forward Racing and Breeding) wanted to sell a lovely two year old Galileo filly named Hunter Forward. They enlisted our help as agent, and we sold her to Simon O'Donnell and Terry Henderson's OTI Racing.
As she is by Galileo, they took her along patiently and after four starts in Victoria as a three year old, resulting in a win and a second placing, the bold step was made to export her to race in England under the guidance of leading trainer, Luca Cumani.
At her first start there on 27th July 2011, she won over 1700 metres at Sandown. "We're really pleased that the experiment worked," said Terry Henderson. "Being by Galileo, we thought she might fare better in Europe, and it looks like we might be right!"

Hunter Forward winning at Sandown on 27th July

Hunter Forward franked that form by winning her very next start just 8 days later. Penalised 6lb from her first win, she carried second top weight of 9 stone 11 lbs (57.5 kg) to convincingly score at Haydock over 2100 metres on 4th August, running as favourite at 4/6 on.
In recent times, OTI Racing is best known for the feats of the whisker-close 2008 Melbourne Cup runner- up, Bauer.
A late scratching from the 2010 edition, the gallant grey is being set for the 2011 Melbourne Cup and will enter quarantine in September. Like Hunter Forward, Bauer is trained by Luca Cumani.

Who Are the Value Sires $0 to $16,500?

2011-05-11T09:38:00.002+10:30

It seems to be turning into an annual sport, trying to fathom which of the sires standing for $16,500 (incl GST) or less are going to turn broodmare owners into genuises of foresight.
In the past couple of seasons, Not A Single Doubt and Domesday were on high on the Pedigree Dynamics radar. Sadly, but deservedly, both are out of this fee range for 2011, so where to next?

Possibly the Best Value Stallion on the Farm

Here are a few which have caught our eye for 2011.
DUBLEO - This stallion, whose oldest progeny are currently 4 year olds, had served books averaging 64 mares - that's until last season, when his book nearly trebled from 45 mares in 2009 to 124 mares in 2010.
Dubleo was one of a small rash of sons of Southern Halo to come to Australia, surfing in the wake of More Than Ready. Like Dubleo, More Than Ready got off to a slow start here, his second and third season books averaging 77 mares and his fourth season stud fee dropping to $16,500.
Dubleo is the sire of recent dual stakes winner DUBLEANNY (ex Canny Lad mare) while ATC Kindergarten Stakes runner up (by a lip) Queenian (ex Palace Music mare) is also a very smart type. The dual Macau Listed winner Oriental Taste continues to impress his trainer Gary Moore.
Dubleo's 2010 stud fee at Vinery was $4,400 and his 2011 fee has 'jumped' by 50% to $6,600. Amongst others, Dubleo should suit Danehill line mares, seeing his grandsire Halo is from the same family as Danehill and his grandsire Northern Dancer. This pattern has certainly worked well for More Than Ready.
DANE SHADOW - Another stallion whose oldest progeny are 4 year olds, Dane Shadow is doing a fabulous job. He recently chalked up his second Group 1 winner, SHADOWS IN THE SUN, joining his other son SHELLSCRAPE at the highest level. HURTLE MYRTLE (Gr.2) and RED ALERT (Listed) are his other stakes winners, followed by a further 5 stakes placegetters.
After an initial fee of $12,100, Dane Shadow sat on $7,700 for the next three season, moving to $16,500 in 2009 after Shellscrape's Group 1 victory. Kitchwin Hills and Dane Shadow's owners have shown great restraint in keeping his fee at this price and are bound to get a huge bookl. Like most sons of Danehill, Dane Shadow is working with a variety of non-Danehill lines. His stakes winners to-date are out of mares by Snippets (the full siblings Shellscrape and Red Tracer), Best Western, Woodman, Citidancer, Dehere, Catrail, Thunder Gulch and Vettori.
MAGIC ALBERT - While he's been around since 2002, Magic Albert has been quietly chipping away, spending the first five seasons at $11,000. He pinned his third "Group 1 Sire" sticker on the bed head recently with the win of ILOVETHISCITY in the ATC Royal Randwick Guineas. Consistently producing attractive, scopey types like himself, he has 11 stakes winners and a further 10 stakes placegetters to his credit.
A son of Zeditave out of a Salieri mare, Magic Albert's stakes winners have come from a wide range of pedigrees, with only two stakes winners out of Danzig line mares (Honor Grades and Danehill). At this stage, the most common ancestor in his stakes winners' dams is Sir Tristram, with four of his 11 stakes winners carrying this icon, two of them at Group 1 level..
Magic Albert's fee this year modestly rises to $16,500 from $13,750. With large books of mares over the past few seasons to support his future foals, he still looks great value.
SUPER SAVER - A first season model, this son of top international sire Maria's Mon adds some interest to the gene pool in Victoria. A very fast stakes winning juvenile, he followed through as the 2010 Kentucky Derby winner before retiring to Winstar Farm, where he covered 140 mares this season. His damsire is A.P. Indy and his second damsire is Mr. Prospector. He himself is a direct member of the LA TROIENNE family and he carries a further six lines to this prepotent ancestress throughout his pedigree. Not only should he provide an outcross to the Danehill line, but it will be interesting putting Mr. Prospector sire line mares to him as this will create a sex balanced duplication of this icon. He stands at $16,500 at Eliza Park Stud.
EQUIANO - You have to be pretty fast to win a Gr.1 Royal Ascot King's Stand Stakes (1000m) - but two?? It had only been done once before in the 75 year history of the race. By another speedster in Acclamation (the tail male tracing to Try My Best - sire of Last Tycoon), Equiano has Ela-Mana-Mou, Kris, Secretariat and Northern Dancer as the sires of his first four dams. With all these daughters of elite ancestors, it will be fun putting him over mares carrying sons of this group. Of further interest to us at Pedigree Dynamics is the duplication of Rockefella through his dam. A relation of Danzig, he has worked very well when coupled with him in pedigrees. Examples include Sunline, Danehill Dancer, Invincible Spirit, Tiger Hill, Johan Cruyff and Erhaab. Rockefella is also from the family of Bletchingly, so mares from this line should also suit. Examples of this cross include Kingston Town, Telesto and Bonanova. For more info on this nick please read our article A Long Distance Relationship in Full Bloom.

Stud Fees Are Out and It's Decision Time!

2011-05-09T11:11:00.001+10:30

Yes, it's the time of year when we all need to put on the smart goggles and deliberate on which stallions our mares will be visiting in the forthcoming season.

For commercial breeders, it's crucial to use the right stallions to get you a good return at the sales. Using just commerciality and conformation compatibility to plan your matings however, may give you a short term result, but if the mating is not genetically optimum for your mare, she may end up with a few expensive duds against her progeny race records.

Planning for something as intangible as the inheritance of racing ability is not an exact science, but the study of pedigrees is a valuable aid in increasing the chances of producing top class racehorses.

Pedigree Dynamics has been planning matings for many years and with many success stories, including Group One winners such as Belle Du Jour and a further 105 stakes performers (that we know of!). Not only do we advise the clients of some of Australia's (and the world's) largest breeding operations, but have many small breeders on our books.

Now's the time to have us analyse your mare/s and shortlist the most compatible based on your stud fee budget and other preferences, to ensure the resulting progeny not only sell well, but enhance the future value of your broodmares by performing well too.

Please see our FEES AND SERVICES page for more details.

Chestnuts Fight Back!

2011-05-02T11:01:00.001+10:30

Last week we were asked by leading racing journalist Shayne O'Cass to comment on the observation that the bay to chestnut colour ratios seem to be gradually moving in favour of bays.
The subsequent article was published in The Sportsman:

Fans of chestnut-coloured horses are proudly proclaiming a fightback against the ruling bay-toned thoroughbreds that make up almost one half of all new foals born in Australia each year.
Darley colts Sepoy and Helmet made a clean sweep for the chestnuts, dividing
up the two-year-old Triple Crown between themselves, while the unmistakable
Karuta Queen made a one-act affair of the Magic Millions in the summer.
Later in Melbourne, the equally flashy Running Tall became only the second chestnut to win the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes in a decade.
The wave of chestnut stars,particularly among the juvenile category, comes in spite of super-sire Danehill’s extraordinary legacy on the breed, both in racing
prowess and colour.
“What’s happening is that you don’t see that many chestnuts anymore and the reason for that Danehill is a homozygous bay, meaning that he cannot throw a
chestnut,” leading pedigree analyst Jane Henning said.
“So Danehill has got two bay genes and doesn’t have a chestnut gene, which is
recessive. “Before Danehill, a lot of the bays were heterozygous, they had a chestnut gene, and if they were mated to a horse who also had a chestnut gene, there was a chance of throwing a chestnut.
“But Danehill, Redoute’s Choice, Bel Esprit, Fastnet Rock, Lonhro, High Chaparral, Zabeel, Commands and Charge Forward are all homozygous bays, they cannot throw a chestnut, and they are leading stallions. “That’s not to say that all leading stallions are homozygous, because you’ve got horse likes Danehill Dancer, Encosta de Lago, More Than Ready, Street Cry, Exceed And Excel, Testa Rossa and Not A Single Doubt that are heterozygous and can throw a chestnut.

“But with so many Danehill-line mares at stud, a lot of the mares that those stallions are serving can be homozygous and they can’t produce a chestnut.”
Henning says that in the pre-Danehill days there were more chestnuts on the scene thanks mainly to Australia’s first breed-shaper, Star Kingdom.
“Star Kingdom was a chestnut, which is recessive, so if you mated him to a (hererozygous) bay there was a 50 per cent chance the foal would be chestnut.”
Thankfully, say their supporters, there are a number of high-profile chestnut stallions at stud and the promise of more to come (including Sepoy, Helmet, Toorak Toff, Ilovethiscity, Star Witness and Starspangledbanner) despite some misgivings.
“Breeders in general, and I have certainly heard it come out of the mouths of studmasters, they don’t really like to stand a really flashy horse because they feel that people have a bias,” Henning said.
“But what about Starcraft? He is throwing a lot of blazes and socks and he himself has a fair amount of white on his legs and face.”
There are other prominent chestnuts at stud, Henning noted, like Magic Albert, Show A Heart, General Nediym (deceased), Hussonet and Sebring.
“It’s nice to have those chestnuts around because we were getting swamped with bays.”
The tide may yet be turning.

The article was accompanied by a graph, which showed that of the 2007 foal crop, 23% were chestnuts, 48% were bay, 4% grey and the remaining 25% were bay / brown or black.

Genetically speaking, bay / brown and black are variations of the bay gene, and grey, rather than being a colour, is a fading factor. Grey foals are born either bay or chestnut. Assuming that of the grey 4%, the ratio of bays and chestnuts is the same as the general population, we could probably attribute 3% to the bay team and 1% to the chestnut team. Therefore, the current colour ratios are about 75/25 bay to chestnut, which makes mathematical sense.

To read more on this subject, please see my earlier article on colour inheritance and performance, "What's Colour Got To Do With It?".

Pedigree Dynamics Purchase Produces Promising Performer

2011-05-02T08:02:00.000+10:30

It's gratifying to see that the first Australian born foal of Brazilian import Loving New, has inherited his mother's talent.

Dark Matter (Stratum - Loving New) as a new born foal

Sourced, purchased and imported by Pedigree Dynamics on behalf of Bellagio Lodge back in 2007, Loving New was Brazilian Champion 3 Year Old Filly, winning two Group Ones. At the time of purchase, Loving New had produced one foal, Brazilian born Questing New, who has since become a Group One winner in that country.
Her first Australian bred foal is Dark Matter, a son of Stratum, sold as a yearling by Bellagio Lodge for $140,000. Purchased by Singaporean interests, the now 2 year old has had two starts there for two wins, the latest a smart performance in the $95,000 IRT Juvenile Stakes at Kranji on 1st May. His next challenge is the Group 2 Aushorse Golden Shoe on 20th May.

Loving New was sold (empty) at auction to Patinack Farm for $250,000 in 2010 and her yearling by Flying Spur also purchased by that group this year for $180,000 at the MM Premier Sale. She is currently in foal to their stallion Husson, another South American import.

Farewell Tribu

2011-04-20T08:03:00.002+10:30

It's with a mixture of sadness and good memories that we recently learned of the death at age 21 years of former leading Western Australian stallion, TRIBU.

A handsome son of Kenmare, Tribu was purchased by Pedigree Dynamics for a partnership headed by Perth breeder and trainer, Kath Fleming. Whilst initially meeting a luke-warm reception from breeders, he quickly showed what he was made of, producing two Group winners from his first crop of 21 foals. His second crop of 31 foals yielded another two, including the flying filly TRIBULA, winner of ten stakes races, headed by the Group 2 Lee-Steere Stakes.
After only 8 crops however, a decline in his fertility led to his early retirement in 2004. In all he produced 17 stakes performers from a total of 200 runners, with earnings of over $8.5 million.
Tribu's success prompted a series of Kenmare line stallions to be moved to Western Australia. They included French imports METAL STORM and VERGLAS as well as established stallions KENVAIN and KENDEL STAR. Tribu's half brother,by Rory's Jester, SPEED WEEK was also put to stud in W.A but died prematurely.
Tribu stood at Kent Johnson's Taunton Vale Stud, Dandalup, where he also lived out his days. His daughters are continuing his legacy at stud, having already produced 34 winners and three stakes performers to-date. Interestingly, Listed Belgravia Stakes winner EVEN ASTAR and Listed Raconteur Stakes winner KEN'S DOUBLE are inbred to Kenmare 2m x 3m, both being by Kendel Star out of the Tribu mare, Even You.

Classic Sale Purchases Update

2011-04-05T12:47:00.001+10:30

Pedigree Dynamics signed off on two lovely yearlings at the Inglis Classic Sale last January.

So Rubenesque as a yearling

The CHARGE FORWARD filly out of a half sister to stakes winners YESTERDAY (by Charge Forward's sire Red Ransom) and DONNA DIOR, is a filly built for speed. Now with a group of keen owners including WA based syndicate Oz Racing, she broke in extremely well, showing great balance, strength and maturity. With reference to her well rounded hindquarters, she is now named 'So Rubenesque'. Gary Portelli has already had her through the yard and could not be more pleased with her professional attitude.
The second yearling purchase was a STRATUM filly out of a stakes placed sister to speed machine HAPPY GIGGLE, secured for Perth clients. A racy type born early August, one would think she might line up in WA's premier two year old race, the Karrakatta Plate.

She has broken in well and will soon enter the yard of Ascot trainer, Kath Fleming.

Ground Breaking Technology Reveals A Horse's Optimal Racing Distance

2011-02-04T13:47:00.002+11:00

Equine genetic research has come along in leaps and bounds in the last decade. We started DNA testing foals for parentage early in the new millennium, and in 2007 the horse genome sequence was completed. Since then, Dr. Emmeline Hill, one of Ireland's most prominent young scientists, headed one of the world's first academic research programmes dedicated to understanding genetic contributions to athletic performance. Her team's discovery of 'the Speed Gene' led to the formation of a company named Equinome in 2009.

In a gene responsible for muscle mass development, a specific position in the genetic code can contain either the letters C or T. As each individual inherits a copy from both sire and dam, there are three possible combinations:

C:C horses excel at sprints and are best suited to races up to 1600 metres, with an average best distance of 1300m.
C:T horses have a mixture of speed and stamina and are the most versatile. A CT horse can perform well as a 2 year old but is best suited to races between 1400 and 2400m.
T:T horses are later maturing and do not perform optimally as a 2 year old. On average, T;T horses earn up to 20 times less as 2 year olds than C:T horses of similar pedigree. Winners of the Irish Oaks, Derby, St. Leger and the Melbourne Cup have been identified as T:T.

Using DNA samples from 179 elite racehorses, they were able to extrapolate their laboratory findings to predict best race distance for an individual. In collaboration with leading Irish trainer Jim Bolger, DNA was also taken from 142 two-year-olds in training to test the integrity of the process.

Uses for this technology are wide spread. Here are a few suggestions:

Breeders decide which yearlings to put in sales with bonuses for early performing two year olds.
Mare owners can identify their mare's genotype to make informed mating decisions.
Stallion owners can predict the stamina index, gaining a 5 year head start on normal assessment.
Trainers can target the most precocious 2 year olds and train and race all horses for their optimal distance.
Bloodstock agents can identify stock which is compatible with their clients' requirements.

The test takes the form of a simple blood test, which is shipped to Equinome's laboratory in Ireland for analysis. For more details on this fantastic technology, visit their website at www.equinome.com.

What Happens When Your Racehorse Retires from the Track?

2011-01-27T10:17:00.012+11:00

Our 4yo gelding retired with a sesamoid injury

Thousands of horses are bred every year with the sole purpose of horse racing. Whether they are successful or not, in most cases they have a relatively short career in relation to their life span. These horses are more than capable of spending many more years competing in an equestrian discipline or living out a happy life with a loving owner.

The problem is that often the owners who are not 'horsey' are also not inclined to continue paying bills when their horses are not earning their keep, while the trainers generally have a waiting list of horses to enter their stables and therefore need retirees out as quickly as possible.
Selling a retired racehorse at auction (unless yours is a mare with a good breeding pedigree) often results in more product for the abattoir, a fate most undeserving of the animals which have been our uncomplaining servants in some cases, for several years.
Personally, I ensure that any healthy horse under my ownership or management finds a suitable home. I have a lot of contacts within the equestrian world however, while the majority of owners don't know where to turn.

It's refreshing to see that Cyberhorse has developed a Racehorse Outplacement Program, which assists owners, trainers and equestrian enthusiasts to get together for the good of the animal.

To quote THE CYBERHORSE RACEHORSE OUTPLACEMENT PROGRAM, its aims are:

Providing a comprehensive solution, capable of being supported by Racing Authorities nation wide. Racing Victoria has already demonstrated support.
Cost effectively present outplacement candidates to the equestrian community through Cyberhorse's internet based The Virtual Saleyard, The Virtual Formguide and The Virtual Equestrian.
To facilitate the owners taking responsibility for its "thoughtful disposal" by providing a variety of cost effective outplacement mechanisms ranging from "free to a good home" through to "retraining and resale" or "outright sale".
To provide a complete dossier on each horse including photos, racing history, pedigree and trainer's assessment of temperament, conformation and soundness for suitability of different equestrian activities.
A pro-active system to "catch them before they fall" by listing horses while they are still in training rather than after they have been retired
Includes the option for actively working with approved "outplacement consultants" who will be paid by the outgoing owners to retrain the horse for non-racing activities.
In each case to facilitate the best outcome by matching the horse to its potential new owner.
Allows for follow up on program graduates, producing news articles and reports on horses in their new career.
Provides statistics on horses listed, horses matched and overall success rates.

I suggest that you bookmark their site in anticipation of needing to find your horse a worthy home on retirement.

We Didn't Have a Doubt!

2011-01-22T11:58:00.012+11:00

If you had Pedigree Dynamics plan your matings in the past few years, with parameters which included stallions standing in NSW for under $20,000, it’s pretty certain (compatibility withstanding) that we would have put Not A Single Doubt high on the list.

We have always had a high opinion of this stallion, who not only had good racing ability, but possesses a fantastic pedigree at a very reasonable stud fee.

Several of our clients whose broodmares are managed by Pedigree Dynamics, have lovely yearlings and foals by Not A Single Doubt and several more have babies in the belly.

Our Not A Single Doubt filly ex Miss Neck (Miswaki)

Karuta Queen has catapulted Not A Single Doubt to the top of the Leading 2 Year Old Sires List with her facile win in the Gold Coast Magic Millions and created a very healthy average for his stock at the GCMM and Inglis Classic sales.

Incidentally, Karuta Queen is out of Card Queen, a Group 3 winning mare whose own mating was planned by Pedigree Dynamics way back in 1995.

Our other ‘hot tip’ in the last two seasons was Domesday, however his location at Cootamundra caused several of our clients to bypass the recommendation.

With both these stallions’ stud fees inevitably rising over the $20,000 mark in 2011, we are on the lookout for the next bargain sire for the forthcoming season. Watch this space!

Private Label Improves with Age

2011-01-16T17:16:00.002+11:00

The progeny of young stallion Benicio (More Than Ready - Mannington) are now three year olds. A Derby winner himself, Benicio seems to be passing on his classic bent to his progeny.
Innovative veterinary products company MEDIVET asked us to assist in the selection of a yearling to race and with the assistance of Vinery's Peter Orton, we selected a Benicio colt out of the paddock ex Group placed Zoffany mare Centrefold Spread.
Given to John O'Shea to train and duly named Private Label, he squeezed in a 2 year old win on 30th July at Warwick Farm before following it up with another metropolitan win on the Kenso. In this race he beat a smart field of up-and-comers, including Darley's much admired Domesday colt, Giresun.

After 2 wins and a neck second from 4 starts last campaign, we have high hopes in the Autumn for Private Label. Being set for the Royal Randwick Guineas on 12th March, his latest run over 1400m on Australia Day resulted in a flashing third at Warwick Farm, the location of this year's Guineas. (photo Bradley Photographers)

Sale-o, Sale-o!

2011-01-06T10:41:00.003+11:00

The MM Gold Coast Sale threatened to be a washout

Yes, it's coming up to that time of year. It's the culmination of over two years from mating plan and stallion booking, through the obstacles of service, pregnancy, live birth, accident and incident-free growth, sales acceptance, to where the breeders' final product comes under the scrutiny of the buying public.
The trick now is selecting which of the glossy coated, pretty pedigreed products best suits your parameters and has the genetic potential to hit the finishing line first.

Jane Henning will be attending the major sales including Magic Millions Gold Coast, Inglis Classic, Magic Millions Perth and Inglis Easter.
As bloodstock agent, Jane utilises her 20 years experience of pedigree analysis to arrive at a long-list to suit each client before the usual agent's tasks of inspection, elimination and bidding on behalf of the client.
After sales service has always been a feature of Pedigree Dynamics' operation and new clients can rest assured that they will not be left holding 'baby' once the gavel has dropped.
We organise transport, agistment and liaise with trainers on your behalf as part of the service.
Call Jane on 0414 944094 to discuss your plans.

EFFECTIVELY ADVERTISING YOUR HORSE

2010-09-16T18:10:00.058+10:30

(Tongue Tie Firmly ON!)
PHOTOGRAPHS

Every effective advertisement should be accompanied by a photograph.

Location

If possible, take a photo of your horse while out in a paddock. Being dirty and unbrushed demonstrates that you feel you have nothing to hide and that your horse is hardened to the elements.

A dirty horse is a tough horse

Similarly, showing that your horse is intelligent enough to survive in a barbed wire fenced paddock littered with other objects is a good strategy.

Interesting poses

Rather than the boring old stance which shows all four legs, try to catch a buyer’s attention by either standing the horse with other horses’ legs in the background, or hide one leg altogether.
Even a well placed fence post will make a browsing buyer do a double-take.

Interesting photo angles attract the buyers' attention

Angles

Many trainers and breeders take a lot of stock in the horse’s ‘eye'. So accentuate the head – take the photo from the front so that the head looks abnormally important.

PEDIGREE

Highlight the best parts of the horse’s pedigree, no matter how remote.

The head is an important aspect

“Closely Related to Denman” only means 'from the same female family' to those boring pedigree purists. If the horse’s grandsire is Denman’s grandsire Octagonal, that’s a close relation isn’t it?

“Black Type Mare” strictly speaking refers to whether she has actually won black type races herself. But if her sire won a Listed race for instance, surely that’s close enough.

These type of ad titles will get the potential buyer to at least look at the pedigree and if that fails to impress, the photos should get it over the line (see above).

A good side shot is vital

PERFORMANCE

Don’t be negative. If your racehorse is an ambulance hazard / won’t go in the barriers / bolts / bucks / hangs / ties up / jars up – whatever, there’s a track and owner out there to suit. Be honest, but come up with constructive suggestions such as ‘suit manual start’ or ‘suit creative trainer’.

SPELL CHECK

Copy some of the leading brand names such as Kleenheat, SupaCenta and Kwik Copy by mis-spelling words for additional impact. I've seen clever horse sellers advertising their “Broadmare”, “Well Bread Filly”, “Throughbreed”, “Mare by Gold Carrot” or a Proven Wet Tracer”, no doubt hoping to catch the eye of weary scrollers.

If all these rules are too complicated, it's probably best to get Pedigree Dynamics to do it all for you!

Domesday's a Real Family Man

2010-09-16T17:23:00.000+10:30

While planning a mating for a client recently, I noticed that the regally bred Domesday is already demonstrating an affinity to his own tail female line. A member of the illustrious TORPENHOW family, his relations include sires Redoute's Choice, Al Maher, El Gran Senor, Masterclass, Nijinsky II, Xaar, Try My Best, Spinning World, Umatilla, and Hurricane Sky. The Minstrel, damsire of Domesday's broodmare sire Zafonic, is also from this line.

Heading his highly promising first crop of two year olds is PRESSDAY. A triple Group winner including the Group One TJ Smith Classic, he is out of a Kaaptive Edition mare out of a mare by Upper Nile. While neither of these may ring any loud bells, Upper Nile is by Nijinsky II, therefore creating line breeding to TORPENHOW.
His stakes placed son Domesky is more overt about it - his sire Masterclass is not only a half brother to Domesday's granddam, but his sire The Minstrel is also from this family. The Minstrel is duplicated and sex balanced in Domesky's mating.
Now with four stakes performers to-date, I think it's pretty significant that 50% reinforce this one family!

Rare Footage of the Great NASRULLAH

2010-09-16T10:36:00.000+10:30

It's almost impossible to find a pedigree that doesn't carry at least a couple of lines to Nasrullah, not only famous for his prepotent influence on the breed, but also for his volatile temperament and electric presence. He is the sire of such breed influences as Bold Ruler (sire of Secretariat), Never Bend (sire of Mill Reef and Riverman), Nashua (damsire of Mr. Prospector and Roberto) and Grey Sovereign (sire of Zeddaan). Here is some wonderful 1950 footage, sent to me by Michael Power in Kentucky, of the 12 year old Nasrullah arriving in Kentucky by train and then on to Claiborne Farm by truck. He died and was buried there nine years later.
Nasrullah's Arrival at Claiborne

Medivet Launches New Stem Cell Treatment

2010-09-15T14:54:00.000+10:30

Australian veterinary products company Medivet recently held a seminar for vets at Sydney University, launching their 'Autologous Adipose Derived Stromal Cell Treatment'. Speakers included Dr. Joe Yokum, leading equine vet from Kentucky); Simon Bailey, Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Pre-clinical Practices at the University of Melbourne and Dr. Mike Hutchinson, a leading U.S. small animal veterinarian specialising in stem cell treatments. Having witnessed this procedure successfully carried out by NSW equine vet Dr. John Crowley a few weeks back, we took the opportunity to attend and found it fascinating and exciting.
This new system, which extracts and activates dormant stem cells from the animal's own fat, harvests 1.5 + million stem cells per gram of fat - around 4 times more than existing methods.
They are able to take what only existed previously in a very costly, off site laboratory process (costing upwards of $4,000) to the mainstream, where now all veternarians can not only conduct stem cell based procedures at their practice, but do it more quickly (same day out-patient procedure).
Of particular interest to us was the talk by Dr. Yokum, who showed before and after x-rays on young horses with problems such as bone cysts and hoof lameness which were dramatically improved (or completely healed) after this treatment. Let us know if you would like any further information and we'll steer you / your vet in the right direction.