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