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Pedigree Analysis: American Roots

by John P. Sparkman
No contemporary stallion has exerted as overpowering an influence as a sire of sires as the late, great Danehill.

Rydilluc Breezes Into Classic Contention

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Although he was unplaced in his only dirt start, on the score of pedigree, one wouldn't have many concerns about Rydilluc handling synthetic or dirt surfaces.

Pedigree Analysis: Frankel's Choice

by John P. Sparkman
England's all-time great racehorse faces some restricted options as a sire.

Sean Feld to Manage Stallion Bullet Train

Wintergreen Stallion Station announced Jan. 2 that Sean Feld, formerly of Spendthrift Farm near Lexington, has been named managing director of Bullet Train, LLC.

Violence Holds Promise of Racing Glory

MAHUBAH'S CORNER
The equine Violence now must be considered a leading Triple Crown prospect for owner Black Rock Thoroughbreds and trainer Todd Pletcher.

Frankel's Half Brother to Stand in Kentucky

Bullet Train, a half brother to two-time Cartier Award winner Frankel, will enter stud in Kentucky in 2013.

Changing Skies Brings $4.2M at Keeneland

Royally bred Changing Skies, a graded stakes-winning daughter of Sadler's Wells, brought $4.2 million during the Nov. 7 session of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale from Mandore International Agency.

Classic Colt Camelot Conveys Kincsem Heritage

MAHUBAH'S CORNER
The Two Thousand Guineas winner is now the favorite for the Epsom Derby, a race more likely to be in line with his true aptitude.

Coolmore Stallion Montjeu Dies at 16

Montjeu, a Cartier Award winner and an outstanding sire at John Magnier and partners' Coolmore Stud in Ireland, died March 29 after a short illness due to complications from septicemia, an infection in the bloodstream.

French Stallion Refuse To Bend Dies

Irish champion Refuse To Bend, who was standing at Haras du Logis in France for the first time this season, died of a heart attack Friday, Feb. 10.

Perfect Soul Moving to Canada's Norse Ridge

Charles Fipke's homebred champion Perfect Soul (IRE), sire of 2011 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (gr. IT) winner Perfect Shirl, will stand the 2012 breeding season at the Hunderup family's Norse Ridge Farm.

American Breeders Should Get It Together

MAHUBAH'S CORNER
A trip to the U.S. was just what Galileo's Irish-bred daughter Together needed to break a 12-race losing streak -- which she did in the grade I Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland.

Wigmore Hall Adds to High Chaparral's Success

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Woodbine's grade I Northern Dancer Turf Stakes freshly added to his race record, Irish-bred Wigmore Hall adds to a breakout year for the Sadler's Wells stallion High Chaparral.

Montjeu Duo Go Long for European Classic Wins

MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Bred for stamina top and bottom, Montjeu never would have had a chance had he stood in North America. But Europe is a different world in Thoroughbred breeding.

Galileo Sires 100th Stakes Winner

Galileo, whose first runners hit the track as 2-year-olds in 2005, has reached the 100 mark by number of stakes winners.

Classic Success Runs Deep in Pour Moi's Blood

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Both in the male line of sire Montjeu and the family of dam Gwynn, Pour Moi's bloodlines include a plethora of European classic winners.

Gomez to Ride Master of Hounds in Derby

Two-time Eclipse Award-winning rider Garrett Gomez has been named to pilot Susan Magnier's Master of Hounds in the May 7 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Sadler's Wells Dies

The leading international sire died of natural causes at Coolmore Stud in Ireland.

Giant's Causeway Tops 2010 Sires' List

For the second consecutive year, Giant's Causeway claimed the top spot on the 2010 leading sires' list, according to final figures provided by Equineline Company.

Changing Skies Opens Up in La Prevoyante

Favored Changing Skies pounced on Casablanca Smile in the stretch and proved a handy 3 3/4-length winner of the $100,000 La Prevoyante Handicap (gr. IIIT) on the turf at Calder Casino and Race Course Jan. 2.

Percussionist Drums Up Grand National Triumph

In his first United States start, Denmark-based Percussionist exploded through the stretch to win the $250,000 Grand National (NSA-I), featured race of the Far Hills Races Oct. 23 in New Jersey.

Cape Blanco Adds to Irish Derby Dynasty

Coolmore, Sadler's Wells, and trainer Aidan O'Brien have a longstanding presence in the Irish Derby winner's circle. This year, the trio made it a trifecta, headed by the Galileo colt Cape Blanco.

The Very One: Changing Skies Thunders Home

Changing Skies picked up her first U.S. stakes win for trainer Bill Mott when she swept past upset-minded Nehantic Kat to win the $100,000 The Very One Stakes (gr. IIIT) on the turf at rainy Gulfstream Park Feb. 27.

Sadler's Wells Mare Brings Nearly $3 Million

Song, an unraced Irish-bred 3-year-old Sadler's Wells mare and a full sister to two group I winners, was bought for 1,700,000 guineas (US $2.96 million) by Badgers Bloodstock during the Dec. 1 second session of the Tattersalls December mares sale at the Newmarket, England sales company's Park Paddocks.

Bloodstock Agent Billy McDonald Dead at 65

Billy McDonald, a bloodstock agent whose clients included prominent owner Robert Sangster, died Nov. 19 at his home in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Yeats to Stand at Coolmore

Yeats, a three-time Cartier Award-winning stayer, will stand in 2010 as a flat stallion at John Magnier and partners' Coolmore Stud in Ireland instead of as a National Hunt stallion at the farm as previously announced.

Prominent Sire El Prado Dead

Irish-bred El Prado, the horse that inspired Frank Stronach to get involved in the stallion business, died of an apparent heart attack in his paddock at Adena Springs near Paris, Ky. the morning of Sept. 21.

El Prado Slowing Down, But Not Done

El Prado, who has sired 74 stakes winners, including the hot young stallion Medaglia d'Oro, experienced declining fertility during the 2009 breeding season, but will continue to cover mares in 2010 if he remains healthy, according to Eric Hamelback, who is the general manager of Frank Stronach's Adena Springs operation near Paris, Ky.

Father Time, Times Two

There have been instances over the years with horses bred in different countries having the same name. But not often have the two won on the same day, and in this case, the same race number.

Yeats Pure Gold at Royal Ascot

Yeats etched his name in history by becoming the first horse to win the prestigious Gold Cup (Eng-I) at Royal Ascot for the fourth straight year.

J'ray Retired; Booked to Medaglia d'Oro

J'ray, a stakes winner all four years she raced, has been retired from racing and will be bred to Medaglia d'Oro.

BC Pedigree Profile: Henrythenavigator

Kingmambo excelled at a mile on the track but his offspring have shown a mix of speed and stamina. Henrythenavigator, a three-time group I winner, is among Europe's leading milers this year. He is the sixth group winner and third classic winner produced from the cross of Kingmambo with Sadler's Wells daughters.

Tail Hairs to Raise Money for Charity

It's amazing how inventive racing people can be when there is a need to raise money for a good cause.

Top Aussie Sprinter Poised to Show More

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Whobegotyou is the best runner to date by Street Cry, who shuttled for four years to Australia. The top-notch sprinter performed like a superstar in The Age Caulfield Guineas (Aus-I) is now poised to show what he can do at distances longer than a mile. Whobegotyou is inbred to Mr. Prospector and Riverman, both within four generations.

Septimus Superb in Irish St. Leger

Septimus powered his way to a 13-length victory in the Irish Field St. Leger (Ire-I), enabling trainer Aidan O'Brien to sweep all five Irish classic races this season. In doing so, O'Brien became the first trainer in 73 years to accomplish such a feat.

Sadler's Wells Reaches Another Milestone

Sadler's Wells, who topped the English/Irish sires list an incredible 14 times, came through with another milestone when he became just the second stallion to reach the 300 mark in number of stakes winners.

Tattersalls Sale Has 611 Yearlings

Tattersalls has cataloged 611 horses for book one of its October yearling sale, sponsored by Betfair. The catalog can be viewed at www.tattersalls.com.

Bold Place in History

When it comes to identifying the great Irish stallion Sadler's Wells, it's easy to remember that his sire is the legendary Northern Dancer. But when it comes to naming Sadler's Wells' broodmare sire, it's not that easy for some.

Danzig Line Rebounding

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Big Brown's victory in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands and Hard Spun's second in the Derby last year are the latest indicators that the Danzig line is asserting some authority in America's premier dirt races. Want more proof? How about last year's older male champion Lawyer Ron (a son of Danzig's son Langfuhr)and the emerging sire Exchange Rate, who got two grade I winners in his first crop.

Sadler's Wells Pensioned

Irish-based Coolmore Stud announced May 12 that legendary sire Sadler's Wells is to be retired from stud duties due to declining fertility.

Sadler's Wells Colt Tops Tatts

A Sadler's Wells colt tops Tattersalls December yearling sale as gross and average decline.

Criminologist Steals Cardinal Win

Continuing to display her turf dominance, Criminologist came from off the pace to shed seven rivals Nov. 17 at Churchill Downs, scoring by 2 1/2 lengths in the $150,000 Cardinal Handicap (gr. IIIT) to earn her fourth consecutive victory.

Danehill Tops Again

Danehill, the top English/Irish stallion the last two years, picked up another sire title this year.

World Record Set For Broodmare at Keeneland Sale

English champion Playful Act shattered the world record for a broodmare or broodmare prospect sold at public auction when her price soared to $10.5 million Nov. 5 on the opening day of the Keeneland breeding stock sale.

Dylan Thomas to Stand for 50,000 Euros at Coolmore

Irish champion Dylan Thomas will stand for 50,000 euros at John Magnier and partners' Coolmore Stud in Ireland.

Record Filly Fuels Tattersalls Business

With a world-record yearling filly in the mix, business during the final session of Book One of Tattersalls' 2007 October sale is strong with an 18% upswing in gross over last year's total.

Sadler's Wells Filly Brings World-Record Price at Tattersalls

The world-record price for a yearling filly was shattered by a Sadler's Wells filly Oct. 12 during book one of the Tattersalls October yearling sale.

Daughter of Sadler's Wells Brings Big Bucks at Goffs

The best was kept to last at the Oct. 2 second session of the Goffs Million sale in County Kildare, Ireland, when--close to the end of play--a daughter of Sadler's Wells became the dearest yearling filly ever to sell at auction in Ireland when she brought 2.4 million euros ($3.39 million).

Septimus Shines in Doncaster Cup

Septimus took command with two furlongs left to run to score a dominating five-length victory in the GNER Doncaster Cup (Eng-II) Sept. 14.

Septimus Shows Class in Lonsdale Cup

There will never be any questions regarding Septimus' stamina after the 4-year-old colt's convincing victory in the Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup (Eng-II) at York August 21.