The right stallion for a mare, the right mare for a stallion

[George William Smith]

Genetic Stregth should never be underestimated if you want to go for the big horse! For 4 years now I have been grinding out numbers that represent genetic strength. In the last four years, the Eclipse winner [all four of them] averaged the following as measured by their GSV2 score:
Horse of the Year = 72.95
Champion 2yo Male = 70.94
Champion 2yo Female = 71.13
Champion 3yo Male = 67.59 [all four under 70]
Champion 3yo Female = 73.88 [all four above 70] what's with that??
Champion Older Horse = 73.22
Champion Older Mare = 71.12 and Azeri won it three times
Champion Sprinter = 70.47
Champion Female Turf = 71.59
Champion Male Turf = 74.30
Champion Steeplechaser = 70.86.

Since 70 is a rare score when the averge is mid 50's, it pays to breed the best to the best to get a shot at the best.

[llbean]

Hey George,

On the discrepancy between 3YO Male and 3YO Female I think the key might be that who they give 3YO Male is based on a more narrow number of races (oftentimes); namely the Triple Crown ones.

Therefore it might be easier for a horse to fluke his way into Champion 3YO Male (not that a bad horse could do it but I'm saying that the best one[s] will be less likely to).

-llbean

[angelsprite]

Ilbean,
I'll go along with that. If they are only going to look at the Triple Crown races and maybe the Breeder's Cup, then it would basically mean he hadn't had to face larger numbers of regionally competetive individuals who shine, but are never nominated for the big ones.

[KamiBrooks]

George,

Just curious, are those today's scores or the scores at the time that they actually won the awards?

Kami

[George William Smith]

Those are today's scores

[Worksoplad]

George: How does the GSV of a horse improve over time? Case in point, Street Cry has a high GSV as a runner, but seemingly a low GSV as a stallion on which the GSV of any foal he sires is evaluated. However, since his son Street Sense just won the BC Juve, shouldn't that improve the score of the GSV he passes on to his foals? (Excuse me if my terminology is wrong here.)

I guess my question is: What is the criteria for evaluating the GSV?

[George William Smith]

The progeny of a horse cannot change its GSV score and the score applies to the horse itself and not anything it produces. It's own GSV score can go up or down depending on its parents and their success or lack of success at stud and so forth back through four additional generations.

[Worksoplad]

Well then I just have to say I am sorry. I cannot see the usefulness of using GSV to choose a stallion for a mare, if the GSV of the stallion does not improve or detiorate with the quality of the foals it produces. I have four mares, and that is what would influence me to choose one stalion over another.