DERBY WINNERS OF THE YEAR 2000:
a comparative, genealogical
analysis
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The Derbies of the year 2000 seem to display a
champion (Sinndar, winner at Epsom and then at the Curragh), one valued and
paid for so (around 60 million dollars) but in any case still waiting for
confirmation (Fusaichi Pegasus), a medium champion in becoming (Samum, winner
of the German Derby) and two specimens then retrenched (Kallisto, winner of the
Italian Derby, retrenched by Samum, of the same nationality, in the German
Derby, and Holding Court, winner in Paris, dazed in Ireland).
These being the winners, it is useful to make a
short comparative, genealogical analysis for finding the development lines and
the future prospects of the world breeding of thoroughbred horses, at least in
the northern hemisphere.
The winners of the most important European
Derbies (Sinndar and Holding Court) both come down in direct male line from
Northern Dancer, the first through the substantially sprinter one of Danzig
– Chief’s Crown and finally Grand Lodge; the second through the
classic branch of Nijinski – Niniski – Hernando.
Kallisto gets down, instead, from an another
important branch from Nearco, that of Nasrullah, across the line of Zeddaan (a
great waster of his talents, before at the track -bad disposition- and then at
stud -almost barren-), Kalamoun – Kalaglow and finally Sternkoenig (bred
and owned by the glorious Gestut Roettgen), athlethe versatile, adaptable and
stout, sire still unvaluable, being at stud only from 1996.
The German Derby winner is a member of the
tribe of the chief de race Persian Gulf, this being one most difficult to
arrange and settle, through Tamerlane – Dischingis Khan –
Koenigsstuhl and Monsum, the latter having his first 3 years old at the track
this year.
Tipically American instead, is the male line of
the Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, who boasts the paternity of the
great Mr. Prospector (chief de race line of Native Dancer) mated with a mare by
Danzig, son of Northern Dancer as above mentioned. So the breeders, Arthur
Hancock III and Stonerside Ltd, carried out the today top cross of the USA
breeding, and so then Fusaichi Pegasus has been the top price at Keeneland
yearling sales with 4 million dollars.
As regards pedigree, only Sinndar is outbred in
the first five generations (5 generations free), but he is originated by three
successive crosses on Nearco sire lines (through the branches of Northern
Dancer, Nasrullah and the European line of Derring-Do – High Top –
Top Ville). For the positions filled in the pedigree, are of little meaning the
inbreds 5x5 on Nearco of Fusaichi Pegasus, 5x5 on Neckar of Kallisto and 5x4 on
Birkhahn of Samum. The inbred 4x5x3 of Holding Court on Northern Dancer is
instead to be checked carefully. This is the outcome of a cross “Northern
Dancer on Northern Dancer” (stallion and mare stallion line) inserted on
an immediately genealogical background of absolute strength and solidity, which
shows the name of Relko and St. Paddy, both of them Derby-winners, and also
that of Big Game, an intermediate chief de race, coming down from classic sire
line of Swynford – Blandford - Bahram.
With regards to the female line, Samum comes
down from a branch of family 28, from seventy years in Germany with notable
success; Holding Court also belongs to a high number family (fem. 22) while
Sinndar reports in favour the progeny of the great Marcel Boussac mare,
Tourzima (fem. 13). Finally, Fusaichi Pegasus belongs to a family richer of
classic winners (fem. 8) and Kallisto to an even richer one (fem. 4), the
latter belonging also to a female line developed in Germany from the beginning
of the century.
The main dates of Varola valuation, which are
related later on, display very clearly that Fusaichi Pegasus and Holding Court
are members of the same genealogical tendency (much classic blood, 3rd number
of five groups diagram, about the double of the intermediate blood, 2nd number;
moderate representation of extreme aptitudinal groups: sprinter, 1st number,
and professional, 5th number). The other three Derby winners belong instead to
the European genealogical tendency, with notable representation of extreme
aptitudinal groups, as the seven groups diagram well puts in evidence both for
Kallisto and Samum; while these conditions are less evident for Sinndar.
These are the genealogical issues; now the
breeders must think about the best crosses for the 2005 derbies.
Roma, July 10, 2000
(Leonello Falco)
The dates of Varola valuation
Name 5 groups diagram 7 group diagram
I.C.(#)
Fusaichi Pegasus, m.b. 27,5/30,5/63,5/80,5/21
3/24,5/30,5/63,5/38/42/25 7,25
Kallisto, m.b. 50/28/77/77/57
21/29/28/77/43,5/33,5/57 4,78
Sinndar, m.b. 60,5/52/100,5/136/58
15/45,5/52/100,5/70,5/65,5/58 5,72
Honding Court, m.b. 50,5/64/127/142/39
11,5/39/64/127/65/77/39 7,36
Samum, m.ch. 62,5/43,5/95/128/81
22,5/40/43,5/95/59,5/68,5/81 5,56
(#) I.C. = Index of Consistency.
For further information please contact
Leonello
Falco
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