Return to the Sire the Best Blood of His Dam

The breeding maxim "Return to the sire the best blood of his dam" has been attributed to longtime Darby Dan Farm manager Olin Gentry. Gentry wasn't the first to suggest this breeding theory, indeed there is evidence to suggest that it first came into livestock management via the Bedouins in upgrading Arabian stock centuries ago. The theory is that when mating to a stallion, it is optimal to send him mares that reinforce the best ancestors within his dam. Gentry's coup de grâce, so to speak, was the champion Roberto, who is bred on this stated pattern.

ROBERTO  HAIL TO REASON TURN-TO ROYAL CHARGER+ Nearco  Sun Princess SOURCE SUCREE  Admiral Drake* Lavendula  NOTHIRDCHANCE  BLUE SWORDS Blue Larkspur Flaming Swords GALLA COLORS  Sir Gallahad*  Rouge et Noir BRAMALEA  NASHUA  NASRULLAH+  Nearco  Mumtaz Begum  SEGULA  Johnstown  Sekmet  RARELEA  BULL LEA  Bull Dog*  Rose Leaves BLEEBOK  Blue Larkspur  Forteresse

In the above pedigree you will note that Royal Charger and Nasrullah are three quarter brothers. Additionally, Bull Dog and Sir Gallahad are brothers and Admiral Drake is a half brother. Thus, Rarelea is bred on a Bull Dog/Blue Larkspur cross, while Nothirdchance is a Blue Larkspur/Sir Gallahad cross. In a somewhat similar fashion our own Alan Porter has been preaching the efficacy of what he terms the "parallel pattern," that is, combining horses that are bred on the same patterns closely within a pedigree. The ill-fated Devil May Care, a Pedigree Consultants mating by Alan for clients Diamond A Farms, is a good representative of this with Macoumba and Musical Minister being bred on the same Mr. Prospector/Northern Dancer cross, but in reverse of one another.

DEVIL MAY CARE  MALIBU MOON A.P. INDY SEATTLE SLEW Bold Reasoning  My Charmer WEEKEND SURPRISE Secretariat Lassie Dear  MACOUMBA MR. PROSPECTOR Raise a Native Gold Digger MAXIMOVA Green Dancer  Rouge et Noir KELLI'S RANSOM  RED RANSOM  ROBERTO  Hail to Reason  Bramaela  ARABIA Damascus  Christmas Wind  MUSICAL MINISTER DEPUTY MINISTER Vice Regent  Mint Copy BALLERINA PRINCESS  Mr Prospector  Alandancer

This past weekend saw two grade/group I winners combining both of these pedigree theories. The first of these was the Spring Champion Stakes (Aus-I) winner Complacent. From the first crop of Epsom Derby (Eng-I) winner Authorized (IRE) (TrueNicks), Complacent is out of a mare by another Epsom Derby winner in Quest for Fame.

COMPLACENT  AUTHORIZED MONTJEU SADLER'S WELLS Northern Dancer  Fairy Bridge FLORIPEDES Top Ville Tout Cy  FUNSIE  SAUMAREZ Rainbow Quest Festa Fun VALLE DANSANTE*  Lyphard  Green Valley INSOUCIANCE  QUEST FOR FAME  RAINBOW QUEST  Blushing Groom  I Will Follow  ARYENNE Green Dancer*  Americaine  AWARDS CEREMONY  KAORU STAR Star Kingdom  Kaoru PARTY Lunchtime  Waltz

The mating of Quest for Fame mares to Authorized was a very intentional move by Darley, for whom Complacent races. In Authorized's first Australian crop, Darley Australia bred eight foals on the cross (of 10 total foals that are bred on the cross to date) which are now current spring 3-year-olds. Only two of the eight foals have hit the racetrack so far, but with Complacent now a group I winner and firm favorite for the Victoria Derby (Aus-I) at the end of this month, the potential for the cross is certainly established. The close relationship of Quest for Fame, by Rainbow Quest out of a Green Dancer mare, and Authorized's dam Funsie, by a son of Rainbow Quest out of a three-quarter-sister to Green Dancer, should be noted.

A little over 12 hours later and in another hemisphere, a second example of this pattern of upgrading for class could be found in the Middle Park Stakes (Eng-I) winner Astaire.

ASTAIRE  INTENSE FOCUS GIANT'S CAUSEWAY STORM CAT Storm Bird  Terlingua MARIAH'S STORM Rahy Immense DANELETA DANEHILL Danzig Razyana ZAVALETA  Kahyasi  La Meilleure RUNWAY DANCER  DANSILI  DANEHILL  Danzig  Razyana  HASILI  Kahyasi  Kerali  SHALL WE RUN  HOTFOOT Firestreak  Pitter Patter SIRNELTA  Sir Tor  Finelta

Astaire is from the first crop of Intense Focus, a son of Giant's Causeway (TrueNicks) who stands in Ireland with his first runners just 2-year-olds. Astaire's broodmare sire is the leading sire Dansili, who is bred on the exact same Danehill/Kahyasi pattern as Intense Focus' dam Daneleta.