2017 English Derby

LOTS to write about this week after the running of some great, and not so great, races around the world.

First there was the final of the Group 1 English Derby won by Astute Missile (Kinloch Brae-China Doll by Top Honcho) the rank outsider in the race who downed the hot favourite Tyrur Shay (Big Daddy Cool-Black Eyed Boss by Westmead Hawk).

The pedigree of the winner is, in my opinion, amazing in that he brings in a very powerful cross I have been watching for some time with Kinloch Brae waiting for it to produce a superstar.

Astute Missile's granddam Stout Bottles (Winetavern Sam-Soon To Win) is in-bred 3x4 to the full relations Murlens Slippy and Murlens Peach (I'm Slippy-Murlens Chill).

So, China Doll's mating to Kinloch Brae has brought in a very special cross. Kinloch Brae's damsire is Fortress, the Irish-bred but US raced stud great.

The powerful link here is that Fortress (I'm Slippy-Exception) is a virtual brother to both Murlens Slippy and Murlens Peach. It is obvious they are all by I'm Slippy, but their damlines trace to litter sisters Miss Hilary (second dam of Fortess) and Slight Chill (second dam of Murlens Slippy and his sister Murlens Peach.

Miss Hilary and Slight Chill are Sand Man-Maythorn Pride.

My interest in Derby runner-up Tyrur Shay is based mostly around his dam Black Eyed Boss who is in-bred 2x2 to the half brothers Sonic Flight and Larkhill Jo. Three of five recent English Derby winners, including Taylors Sky, are bred on this cross of Sonic Flight and Larkhill Jo.

Some time ago, Pedigrees By Design put together a mating of Bekim Bale-Alana Blues for Cameron Butcher in South Australia. The mating was based almost entirely on the link to Sonic Flight and Larkhill Jo. The result is current Angle Park superstar On Fire and his fabulous littermates.

Interesting too that Derby runner-up Tyrur Shae is by Big Daddy Cool. On Fire also carries a cross of Balintore Beauty, a litter sister to Big Daddy Cool, in his damline.

This is certainly a lead for Aussie breeders who have daughters of Taylors Sky in their kennel ... Big Daddy Cool's influence might just be a must for those bitches.

Also, many of the best progeny sired by Fabregas (he has Larkhill Jo as his damsire) carry a cross of Big Daddy Cool in their dam.

NOW, on to last Thursday night's McKenna Memorial winner Shima Song (Dyna Tron-Shimaguni by Primo Uno). Interesting that Shima Song's close relation Bella Shima (Barcia Bale-Shimaguni) finished third in the McKenna Memorial.

Top class staying bitch Shimaguni has had three litters to race and the results of those matings should be studied by breeders in a bid to gain insight into what makes a successful mating ... and sometimes not.

Like many breeders, Shimaguni's owners rushed her off to El Grand Senor back in 2013 when that champion sprinter retired to stud. One of my regular clients wanted to buy a couple of the pups ... I advised him against them despite being by a champion out of a top class bitch.

The litter was moderate to say the least.

But when Shimaguni was mated to Dyna Tron it brought in a 3x3 of the closely bred Lansley Bale and Carnage. Group star Shima Song is the result.

Shimaguni (herself in-bred 3x3 to genetic sisters Polly's Portrait and Special Portrait) then went to Barcia Bale. This time the mating again brought in Lansley Bale/Carnage, but also a 3x3 link to the litter brothers Hallucinate and Carnage.

The result ... Group 1 winner Shima Bar and highly promising stayer Bella Shima.

OK, the mating to El Grand Senor brought in Where's Pedro/Carnage 2x3. BUT, Where's Pedro was NOT in a powerful position in the El Grand Senor mating, unlike the common links in the matings to Barcia Bale and Dyna Tron.

And, in the El Grand Senor mating it brought in two SONS of Black Shiraz ... no balance.

AND, finally to the pedigree of recent Sandown winner Cardamom (Pharoah King-Carlow Queen by Premier Fantasy).

Pharoah King (Big Daddy Cool-Judy's Surprise) won the G2 Great Chase. His only litter is that which includes Cardamom. Pharoah King is from the direct damline of Head Honcho.

Carlow Queen, dam of Cardamom, is out of a sister to the G1 Perth Cup winner Superman a bitch called Pearlee Surprise who has been a great broodbitch producing Campaspe Will and Tania Two Shoes among others.

Carlow Queen won 12 races and $38,000 on the track.

Cardamom is line bred 2x3 to the half brothers Big Daddy Cool and Brett Lee.

But the strongest aspect of the pedigree of Cardamom is that, once again Head Honcho is linked with his sister Skyline Miss to produce city class offspring. They come into the pedigree of Cardamom 4x4 and positioned to impact.

There are so many great examples of Skyline Miss and Head Honcho combining in a pedigree with success.

LINE breeding within a pedigree is not about simply having a couple of similar names in the match-up. There is much more to it than that. Where those names are positioned within a pedigree is crucial.

All three of the above are prime examples.