Postby KAL » Fri Jan 28, 2005 10:47 pm
If you don't think 19b has done much since Lalun (Never Bend), you are not doing much research.
There may not be any "super big" horses, but this family is dripping with stakes winners at every turn. Unfortuately, many of these families were whisked abroad, or their better runners taken abroad.
Such more recent stars as Electronic Unicorn and Blushing K.D. are found in this family, and if given time, I could name several more (in fact, one of Secretariat's Grade or Group I winning sons hails from this family.
Also, some rather successful runners, and a certain leading sire, would probably take offense that you left out Never Bends 1/2 brother Bold Reason.
Anyway, since Lalun (or Bloodroot) are probably several generations back in the pedigree, it is probably pretty important to see what you have to work with up close. Or, possibly more important, to see what limitations the "up close" generations bring.
It is going to be difficult to find a quality Never Bend line sire, at least in North America. The only one which comes to mind is Worldly Manner, but I am pretty wiped-out, so the brain may be operating with little efficiency.
Since Lalun herself had success (or, more correctly, influential success) when bred to a Nasrullah, and Turn-to line stallion, and in turn, subsequent success was found with the introduction of Northern Dancer, there may be a multitude of possibilities. On the other hand, personally, it sounds as if the quality of blood may be there, so conformation and type may be as important as anything else.
I would look for the stallion with the best physical fit, who had the race record I could most respect, and whose pedigree contained no "limitations", while containing as much strength as possible, while fitting into your budget. I think you'll find that this family tends to pretty much be able to go with everything. Of course, I probably wouldn't mind seeing a duplication of Lalun or Bloodroot, if it came as a side note to the factors listed above.
Good luck!
