Pondering Challenger II

[vineyridge]

He was one hell of a sire of way above average race horses with very long careers. His daughters were wonderful on the track. His sons weren't bad.

Yet his get don't seem to have excelled in the shed, and they had exemplary pedigrees, many from great American lines. He himself was from great English lines.

So what happened? Why was he so great and his get so not great in passing on racing capacity?

[Matchemforever]

Taking an entirely unscientific approach and just quickly looking at the top money earners from Pedigree Query.....

I'm wondering if at that time in America he had much opportunity to be bred to mares that would return some of his own breeding. I'm thinking that would have helped in passing down the abilities.

Seems to have been an affinity for the Sir Gallahad III/Teddy/Ajax line, and Flying Fox. (Which I think Challenger has)

Challedon and Gallorette were all out of the Sir Gallahad/Teddy lines as were some of the other better runners.

Also some luck with Blue Larkspur/Black Toney but I don't know why. Those are mostly "American" lines. Some luck with the Hampton/Bay Ronald bred lines.

I'm guessing the Teddy lines provided some kind of nick? But that nicks often don't have the ability to pass on the traits?