Pedigree Query

I am considering either Tomahawk or Horse Chestnut (SAF) for Barroness Beth.

I really like the match up with Horse Chestnut since he was champion in SA and the mare's two 1/2 brothers were also champions in SA. On the other side of the coin, the HC yearlings did seem to sell well at Keeneland..it was a mixed bag.

Tomahawk I like because of the Seattle Slew cross with the mare's family and he is new and a champion in IRE. Which would be better commerically?

Unless you are planning on selling this foal to Graham Beck, the Oppenheimer family, or Gary Player, I don't see mating this mare to Horse Chestnut as a viable option. Aside from her one trip to Badger Land, this mare's dam has been seeing the South African equivalents of Cozzene. They are very good sires, but not in the top five (Fort Wood, Al Mufti, Jallad, and the deceased Elliodor and Badger Land). That nobody in the immediate family of two champions has produced a winner by Fort Wood (and I suspect at least one *has* to have been bred to him) is bothersome.

This page will tell you a bit more about your mare's champion half-brother. Scroll down the list of names on the left until you get to Badger's Coast:

http://www.sportingpost.co.za/handbook/2frames.htm

Meanwhile, Coasting Home's other champion was sired by Capote--so why not Matty G? He has shown that he gets runners, enough so to be brought into Kentucky. His yearlings aren't selling for huge amounts, but they are averaging a little over twice his stud fee. He brings in the Seattle Slew cross, is the same price as Horse Chestnut, and has the advantage of being proven (vice Tomahawk).

Her '05 filly by Matty G died. I would go back to him but his '05 median sales price is 9k per the stallion register and at a 10K fee, that would be a loss. He is a really fine horse but under appreciated commercially.

The other Slew horse I like is Doneraile Court but I need a stallion that can get the job done in the breeding shed.

Chief Seattle matches up well with her from a conduit profile perspective. His yearlings have sold pretty well, and the overall pedigree looks good. Unfortunately he has moved to New York due to the sale of Spendthrift Farm, but the stud fee has been reduced. Might be worth a look.

Bill

I think Afternoon Deelites would be an interesting match as it would bring in linebreeding to Sir Gaylord/Secretariat and Buckfinder/Laughter.Stud fee is $4000 and he is Louisiana.

Actually, Rick, not a bad idea. His old man Private Terms has a stakes winner from a Track Barron daughter. PT isn't getting his fee at the sales, but so far Afternoon Deelites is.

Speaking of Doneraile Court, I've been hearing that he is a shy breeder but his '05 Jockey Club stats has him breeding 148 mares. That figure doesn't match up with what I've been hearing re his libido. Anyone out there know the real story?

I am not suggesting this mating but Sundance Ridge would be an interesting cross as he has proven to line breed well on Majestic Prince. This cross would be
3x4 Majestic Prince
4x5 Capelet
5x5x6x6 Royal Charger

Keith

Aurora,

I've heard Doneraile Court has a very poor libido; however, given the amount of mares he's covering anf getting in foal one has to assume that Hill N Dale had figured out a way around that. I like him quite a bit. My big reservation this year would be that he's going to a new farm and he might slip into past behaviors.

Ok, I had been looking at the JC report of mares bred for Doneraile Court thining I was looking at 2005, but realized that the latest report out is for 2004. It will be interesting to see the 2005 report when it comes out.