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Great afternoon’s racing at Haydock.
Fair Eva was stunning in the flesh. She wasn’t big. She was very relaxed in the parade ring; she didn’t seem unduly bothered by her first racecourse appearance! She was a professional.
I got caught up en route to the course (I couldn’t find my sunscreen anywhere and I can’t even glimpse at the sun without it so had to make an unscheduled stop at Sainsburys for more) and only just arrived in time to see the filly in the paddock so I didn’t get any decent photos until after the race. I have got some video as well; I’ll try and upload them all now.
Hi @Titus Oates – another fab post. I was reading an interesting article late night (published in 2000 but still relevant) that described exactly what we’ve been talking about.
If what the author says is true, Galileo’s success as a broodmare sire could be his undoing. Stallions who produce great broodmares end up snuffing out their own sire line, because their daughters improve their ‘rival’ sirelines beyond their own.
Also explains what happened to Highflyer. I’m sure the massive stallion books compared to days of old can’t help. Native Dancer produced just over 300 foals in his lifetime; that would be two crops for most modern stallions and one for some of the heavily worked ones.
Speaking of So Mi Dar, there were some as astute-as-ever comments from Big JG reported in the Sporting Life earlier this week that resonate here (and which connect with the GG/speed gene thread). Aside from revealing how, but for a slight setback, Golden Horn could easily have ended up going Dewhurst, Guineas – SJP, they were: the over emphasis on speed, speed, speed and the increasingly one-dimensional nature of flat racing (linked to its globalisation); 1.5 miles = a marathon in the US; and the real difficulty in getting hold of horses that have a hope in hell of staying 1.5 miles ‘without a taxi’. In part he puts that down to how breeding for stamina results (inevitably) in a lot of slow horses. Yes. But what this is also about, surely, is the increasing concentration of breeding for (classic) stamina in a certain organisation, linked to the huge books commanded by those stallions. When I think back to Derby fields of old, it was rare indeed to see more than a few runners with the same sires. In breeding terms, the Derby was a race between different sire lines. Now, looking at tomorrow’s field, Galileo (or his sons) are supplying over a third of the field, whilst his dam, Urban Sea (via StS) supplies another three, and another is by StS’s sire, Cape Cross. This cannot be good in the long run.
Others have found themselves speculating on Minding’s future as a brood mare. Looking at the current Coolmore roster, I find myself wondering what they are going to do with all these Galileo x Danehill daughters if they want to use them to produce the next generation of horses with speed and stamina (rather than say go more speed)? Montjeu’s sons Camelot and Pour Moi seem the only current in-house options. Or, will they do the unthinkable and double up on Galileo and/or Danehill, much as Northern Dancer’s male lines have been doubled and doubled?
Really interesting post Titus, thanks.
There was a drought of good stallions coming out of the Derby for some years – half of them were shipped to Japan anyway in the nineties – Generous was half decent but nothing special; it’s almost as if we have to trek back to the early 1970s to get anyone remarkable in Nijinsky, Mill Reef and Roberto.
Accordingly, I was thrilled when Galileo shone to become the first Derby-winning Champion Sire since Mill Reef in 1987. The sentimental one in me still relishes the fact that the Derby has become a decent source of stallions again (New Approach and Sea The Stars are doing well) but you’re right: they’re all sons of Galileo or from the immediate family.
In the same vein as the Derby field comment, I was looking at yesterday’s Oaks field and remarking to the OH that all but one were by Coolmore stallions. Sangster’s dream of ruling the bloodstock world is surely a reality but how good that is for the Thoroughbred when they stand such a ‘narrow’ range of stallions is debatable.
The best bet is Sea The Stars really (obviously not at Coolmore); he only has Northern Dancer once in his pedigree and is free of Sadler’s Wells. Sure, he has Urban Sea there (what a remarkable broodmare she was!) but she is a rare beast herself in being completely free of Northern Dancer in her pedigree. A good outcross of sorts for all the Danehills and Montjeus out there, if not the glut of Galileos.
Surely the same happened when Sadler’s Wells ruled the world? I’m not making a point, I’m genuinely asking. And what about further back in history; did the likes of St. Simon and Highflyer cause similar issues?
I suppose the stallion business was a very different kettle of fish back then though.
I really hope Diamonds Pour Moi is okay!
Not sure but she didn’t look too bad when she pulled up so hope and pray that it is just a setback and jockey erred on the side of caution pulling her up.
Just heard…. Been assessed by the vet now and seems OK what good news.
WOW what a filly Minding is, so brave and she just sprouted wings to catch Architecture who looked all over the winner.
Got a smack on the nose from Kevin Manning on Turret Rocks and still she soldiered on. So proud to see a filly run like that even though I didn’t have a penny on her…it’s not all about the money.Well done to all who backed her and Seabird what a great double you must have thought it was all over when Architecture hit the front but this tough little lady was having none of it.
Shame that there will be no meet up with Frankel in the sheds both being by Galileo (what a fantastic stallion he is).
Really exciting race and managed to get a 3rd place with Harlequeen so that’s fine
JacGood news re Diamonds Pour Moi.
Ralph Beckett reports she was sound this evening. 
At this rate I think Minding is going to have to start wearing a helmet in all her races!
Smashing performance by Minding! Nice to have a Guineas-Oaks double after so long! Well done @Sea-BirdII, what were the odds on your double?
She certainly stayed; keen to see Minding against the older horses now as this year’s three-year-olds seem rather uninspiring.
I really hope Diamonds Pour Moi is okay!
Netbet have Wings of Desire at 8/1 but knowing them it’s probably for next years Kentucky Derby
That made me laugh.
I can’t make head nor tail of this Derby. I was on Midterm months ago but then he flopped at York and damaged his pelvis so I’m not exactly brimming over with good luck here.
I wouldn’t be surprised if US Army Ranger falls by the wayside. I know it’s happened before but it’s not common for such unexposed horses to rock up at Epsom. And I like Wings Of Desire, but not sure he’ll be good enough here. I might wait for Churchill Downs next year.
I have backed Port Douglas and Deauville (each way because I have commitment issues). Port Douglas was only a matter of inches behind US Army Ranger at Chester yet he’s almost four times the price. And Deauville I have stamina doubts over, but I figured if Wings Of Desire does end up coming in and Deauville stays, he might tail him again.
This looks like a weak Derby and there’s no Golden Horn in the field. More than anything I’m just interested to see how it all pans out.
Hard to oppose Minding, I will be watching with interest as to whether she stays. I’d like to see another Guineas-Oak double; it’s been a while since Kazzia.
I have a bit on Diamonds Pour Moi each way but I’m not overconfident. Looking forward to the race.
Awesome Ghost, I was indeed thinking of a different mare but bow to your superior knowledge!
I was thinking of Moonsilk, a half-sister to 1000 Guineas winner Nocturnal Spree and dam of Leger bad boy Moonax.
Over to you.
Assuming the above was spam and not an attempt at a question (now removed Nic), I’ll break the drought.
Nice easy one. Which 20th century mare was a half-sister to a 1000 Guineas winner and dam of a St Leger winner?
Extra points if you can name the two Classic winners in question.
Sorry if there’s more than one answer, I will accept others besides the one I’m thinking of if they exist. I have an exam in a few days and shouldn’t really be getting distracted on here!
Today’s Post says a filly will run on Thursday – Queen Kindly (out of Prix l’Abbaye runner-up Lady Of The Desert (Rahy)) is declared in a maiden, also at Haydock. She’s trained by Richard Fahey.
They both had a daughter called Wishing Well.
Spot on!
The 1983 winner of the Nassau was Acclimatise, whose daughter Wishing Well was of little note.
Mountain Flower’s daughter Wishing Well was a Grade winner who is most famous for being the dam of the great Sunday Silence.
Sorry if it was too easy!
I only watch flat racing, so would never bet on anything else, but I’m a terrible punter anyway.
Jac
