The male line of Green Desert is exploding around the world, thanks to the deeds of his brilliant son Invincible Spirit, a leading sire standing at the Irish National Stud, Tully, County Kildare. Invincible Spirit’s reputation as a sire of turf specialists at Group level up to a mile is gaining momentum.
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His best performed sons are in solid demand as commercial sire prospects and his daughters are becoming expensive because commercial breeders foresee them as potential stakes producers.
Years ago I visited the Irish National Stud to inspect stallions and see the beautiful Japanese Garden nestled adjacent to the stud farm. The land was originally owned by a wealthy Scotsman named Colonel William Hall-Walker, politician and chief of Liverpool’s biggest brewery. His first love, of course, was the Thoroughbred racehorse and he went about purchasing fillies and mares from winning families. His dedicated study of classic pedigrees enabled him to upgrade families, even using unfashionable bloodlines.
William Hall-Walker developed the female lines which produced high-class sires Blandford, Princequillo, Hyperion, Sickle and Pharamond II. He was instrumental in encouraging the old Aga Khan to invest in Thoroughbreds, advising him to purchase the best yearling fillies money could buy. At Tully Stud, Hall-Walker’s greatest achievement was to breed Minoru (Cyllene-Mother Siegel) a colt he leased to His Majesty King Edward VII.
Minoru did not disappoint the monarch, winning seven of 13 starts including the English 2,000 Guineas and Epsom Derby as well as the St James’s Palace Stakes and Sussex Stakes. By the end of 1909 he was voted England’s Champion Three Year Old.
Not long afterwards, the Scotsman was knighted, and received the title Lord Wavertree. I researched many horses bred by this clever man when writing the manuscript for my book “Quest For A Classic Winner” and discovered he was eccentric yet with ideas way ahead of his rivals, From unconventional pedigree designs, Hall-Walker produced major winners and Minoru made Tully Stud famous. In Japanese, the name Minoru translates as “Life of Man”. Other meanings are Favourable One, Light of My Life, Truth and Bountiful.
Before a study of Invincible Spirit and some of his progeny, I wish to highlight Minoru’s progeny. Even though he appears well back in modern pedigrees, young members of our industry should be made aware of his lasting legacy. His strain survives in many champion performers. In my humble opinion Minoru was special because of the intensity from English Derby winner Hermit and his full sister, Minoru’s strain linked up extremely well with descendants of unbeaten St Simon, boosting classic speed.
The stallion left his mark on the stud books of the world. Among his progeny from two small foal crops were:
• LUCKNOW (1914) won VATC Caulfield Cup, Futurity Stakes
• SANTA MARIA, grand-dam of TREDAVON, 26 wins and U. S. Champion Older Mare in 1932.
• MINDFUL (1913), third dam of champion sire PRINCEQUILLO
• TILLYWHIM (1913) dam of ENRICHMENT, FIGARO and Embarras de Richesse, dam of EMBOROUGH, sire of champion BERNBOROUGH
• SERENISSIMA (1913) dam of SELENE, BOSWORTH, SCHIAVONI, COMPOSURE and TRANQUIL. Selene is the dam of champion HYPERION as well as leading sires SICKLE and PHARAMOND II, and the fillies All Moonshine, New Way.
Bernborough won 26 of 37 starts including the Doomben Cup, Doomben Ten Thousand, Caulfield Stakes, Futurity Stakes, All Aged Stakes and Newmarket Handicap. He was exported to Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky where he sired many stakes winners Minoru is linebred to Stockwell three times plus Stockwell’s half-brother King Tom, sire of Verdure, second dam of Bona Vista. Stockwell and King Tom are sons of the famous mare Pocahontas (by Glencoe) and it is significant to recall King Tom is the broodmare sire of unbeaten St Simon. Notice Minoru’s second dam is by Galopin, the sire of St Simon.
Emborough, sire of champion Bernboroush possesses a very unusual pedigree pattern with the following ancestors duplicated :
• 4 x 5 to Hampton via both sexes (Bay Ronald and Maid Marian)
• 4 x 5 x 6 x 7 to Galopin
• 4 x 5 to St Simon, plus his sister Angelica x 6
• the dam of Emborough is inbred to powerful ancestors Sainfoin and Cyllene.
Minoru’s most famous grand-daughter was of course the 15.2 hands high bay mare Selene (see pedigree), winner of 16 races at two and three years including the Cheveley Park Stakes, Nassau Stakes, Park Hill Stakes and Hampton Court Stakes (in which she defeated Fair Trial’s dam Lady Juror). The best juvenile filly in England, Selene was inbred to 1,000 Guineas winner Pilgrimage. Selene’s pedigree also shows reinforcement of Hermit and his sister. When Pilgrimage was matched with Hermit’s outstanding son Tristan, the resulting filly was Canterbury Pilgrim, winner of the English Oaks.
Selene’s son Sickle (by Phalaris) sired many wonderful fillies. His male line continues via the deeds of Native Dancer through Raise A Native and his son Mr Prospector. English Derby winner Hyperion (Gainsborough-Selene by Chaucer) is the grandsire of the great little stallion Star Kingdom. The small mare Lady Angela, dam of Nearctic, is a daughter of Hyperion. The full brothers Rosicrucian and The Palmer appear in Selene’s pedigree.
TULLY STUD
In 1915, William Hall-Walker bequeathed Tully Stud to the British Government along with valuable mares and foals. The farm was called the British National Stud and decent winners were produced between the two Great Wars. However, by 1946 with the British economy in a sorry state, the farm was gifted to the Irish Government. It was renamed the Irish National Stud and is visited annually by tourists who walk around the picturesque Japanese Garden. The stud farm’s current CEO is Cathel Beale who oversees these resident stallions:
INVINCIBLE SPIRIT (by Green Desert)
PHOENIX OF SPAIN (by Lope de Vega)
NATIONAL DEFENSE (by Invincible Spirit)
DECORATED KNIGHT (by Galileo)
ELUSIVE PIMPERNEL (by Elusive Quality)
PALAVICINI ( by Giant’s Causeway)
FEE EAGLE (by High Chaparral)
National Defense won the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-G.1 and finished third in the Prix des Chenes-G.3 as a juvenile. He was runner-up at three in the Prix Djebel-G.3. A good-looking individual, he was the Champion 2YO of France in 2016. His dam is by Mr. Prospector’s champion son Kingmambo, bred and raced by the Niarchos family. National Defense is linebred 5 x 5 to America’s Horse of the Year, Round Table (son of Princequillo) and 4 x 5 x 5 to America’s Horse of the Year, Native Dancer. The young stallion shuttles between Ireland and Victoria where he stands at Sun Stud.
The rise to fame of Invincible Spirit was spectacular. The stallion has recently commanded a service fee of 120,000 euro although it has come down to 80,000 euro this year. Born on February 17,1997, Invincible Spirit was trained by John Dunlop for Prince Faisal. From four starts at two years, the son of Green Desert made his debut in July in a 2YO Maiden over 6 furlongs, finishing third. He next broke his maiden at Goodwood before winning the Listed Ripon Champion Trophy by 1 ½ lengths to earn a rating of 119. His final start as a juvenile was an unplaced effort in the Middle Park Stakes-G.1 in which he failed to settle.
At three, he was unplaced from two starts. The following year he progressed to win the Newbury Hackwood Stakes (Listed) over 6 furlongs, the MacDonaugh Boland Stakes-G.3 at the Curragh and was runner-up in the Prix de Meautry-G.3 at Deauville. At five, he was voted Champion Irish Sprinter after victories in the Haydock Sprint Cup-G.1 and Duke of York Stakes-G.3. His career earnings amounted to 247,786 Pounds Invincible Spirit retired to the Irish National Stud. Initially in his stud career he was shuttled to Victoria where he covered the unraced mare Cannarelle, daughter of champion Canny Lad. This match produced a bay colt named I Am Invincible, among today’s leading sires of Group winners. I Am Invincible stands at Yarraman Park Stud, Scone for a service fee of $209k inc. GST. He won five of 13 starts for $270,030 but he showed great brilliance and was purchased by the Mitchell brothers upon retirement from the racetrack.
The handsome colt had won the D C McKay Stakes-G.3 at Morphetville over 1100m and the Sir John Monash Stakes (Listed). However, his best effort came when second to crack sprinter Takeover Target in the valuable Goodwood Handicap-G.1 over 1200m.
Selene’s best son Hyperion sired Lady Angela (dam of Nearctic) as well as Rockefella and Stylish Pattern’s dam Sunset Gun. Please be aware that in the pedigree of Artaius, his ancestor Minoru is duplicated via two daughters (sourced via Princequillo and Selene). Eljazzi daughter of Artaius is the second dam of Invincible Spirit (see pedigree). Artaius, owned by Robert Sangster, won the Eclipse Stakes-G.1, Sussex Stakes-G.1, Sandown Classic Trial-G.3 and finished second in the Prix du Jockey Club-G.1 and Benson & Hedges Gold Cup-G.1. He was exported to Japan after siring stakes winners in Ireland.
Eljazzi was matched with Kris, English Champion Sprinter, to produce high-class filly Rafha. Owned by Prince Faisal, Rafha won the Prix de Diane-G.1 (French Oaks), May Hill Stakes=G.3 and two Listed stakes, viz.Princess Elizabeth Stakes and Oaks Trial Stakes.
Rafha produced stakes winners Invincible Spirit (by Green Desert), Acts of Grace (by Bahri), Massara (by Danehill), Sadian (by Shirley Heights) and the stakes-placed Kodiac (by Danehill), another influential sire of Group winners.
Acts of Grace won the Princess Royal Stakes-G.3 and Listed Prix de Tourelles. She produced Contradict, dam of Mumkin (2nd Craven Stakes-G.3, Thoroughbred Stakes-G.3) and Mishriff (by Make Believe) winner this year of the Prix du Jockey Club-G.1 (French Derby), Listed Newmarket Stakes and runner-up in the Saudi Derby.
Massara won three times including the Empress Stakes (Listed), was second in the Prix Robert Papin-G.2 and third in the Nell Gwyn Stakes-G.3 and Listed Hackwood Stakes. Massara produced Gustav Flint (Superlative Stakes-G.2), Nayarra (Milan Grand Criterium-G.1), Blissful (Listed Ingabelle Stakes), Cuff (Listed Naas Fillies’Stakes) and Tebee, winning dam of Hartford Dancer (Listed Oaks Trial, 3rd Ribblesdale Stakes-G.2)
Hartford Dancer inherited stamina. She is inbred 3 x 3 to Danehill via Fastnet Rock (son) and Massara (daughter). Massara’s dam is inbred 2 x 4 via sons to Sharpen Up.
Where did Rafha’s stakes ability come from? To find out we need to search her ancestry for clues and the most obvious feature is the duplication of elite mare Selene via sons Sickle and Hyperion. Hyperion appears twice via Rockefella, also via Sunset Gun and Tudor Minstrel’s father Owen Tudor (Hyperion-Mary Tudor II by Pharos). These strains are rich in stamina.
Owen Tudor won six races including the English Derby-G.1, St. Leger-G.1 and Ascot Gold Cup-G.1. Rafha has a son and daughter of Pharos in her pattern. Is this important? Yes, I believe it is, because like Hyperion, Pharos is out of a daughter of Chaucer.
Sweet Angel (third dam of Kris) carries a source of Nasrullah by Nearco son of Pharos (see pedigree). Tudor Minstrel’s dam Sansonnet is a daughter of Lady Juror, the half-sister to champion Mumtaz Mahal featured in the pedigrees of Nasrullah and My Babu. Thus, classic speed can be identified. My Babu was Champion 2YO of England and progressed to win the English 2,000 Guineas. He has a genetic relationship with Nasrullah:
Rafha’s sire Kris carries strains of Nasrullah and Native Dancer (sire of Atan) and Owen Tudor’s second dam is by champion Teddy, bringing in unbeaten Ajax. Thus there is a build-up of outstanding classic winning ancestors in Eljazzi, ancestors inheriting speed.
Another ancestor adding to the success of this branch of the No.7 Family is Selene’s
three-parts brother Sansovino (Swynford-Gondolette by Minoru). For Lord Derby, Sansovino, inbred 3 x 3 to Pilgrimage, won the English Derby, Prince of Wales’s Stakes and Coronation Cup. He sired Sansonnet, dam of champion Tudor Minstrel (English 2,000 Guineas). Swynford is out of Canterbury Pilgrim, dam of Selene’s sire Chaucer.
ELJAZZI’S FAMILY
Eljazzi’s dam Border Bounty is by Bounteous, seven wins including the Dewhurst Stakes, Prix Kergorlay and Grand Prix de Deauville-G.2. Eljazzi’s next dam is B Flat by Chanteur II who won the Coronation Cup and Prix Jean Prat. The next dam is Ardeen by champion Ardan (Pharis II-Adargatis by Asterus).
Ardan was Champion at 2 and 3 in France. Among his 13 victories were the Prix du Jockey Club, Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Coronation Cup. He was bred by Marcel Boussac who raced Adargatis to win the Prix de Diane (French Oaks). Boussac sold Adargatis’s famous three-quarter sister La Troienne (by Teddy) to Edward Bradley, owner of Idle Hour Farm in Kentucky and towards the end of 1953, Boussac sold Ardan to Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky.
Adargatis’s sire Asterus is a son of Teddy. The dam of Ardan happens to be by Bosworth, a son of Serenissima by Minoru from Gondolette.
I noted the Minoru connection.
French Oaks winner Adargatis is out of Helene de Troie by Helicon from Lady of Pedigree by St Denis. Why should I mention St Denis? Am I going too far back in Rafha’s ancestry? Well, there is a reason. I wanted to know why Eljazzi’s family is producing so many Group winners. Fortunately I had already discovered intensely inbred stallion St. Denis was important in La Troienne’s make-up.
St. Denis was one of many superior performers bred by S. B. “Solly” Joel at his Sledmere Stud. St. Denis won the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Ascot and he put up a good performance when third to St. Amant and John O’Gaunt in the English Derby.
His dam was by Blue-Green, half-brother to champion Orme, both bred by the Duke of Westminster. Blue-Green was a smart juvenile winning the Criterion Stakes and Houghton Stakes and graduated to win the Lowther Stakes, Ascot Triennial Stakes and Alexandra Plate. He was runner-up in the English St. Leger and finished third in the Two Thousand Guineas.
Returning to Eljazzi, among her progeny were:
• Al Anood (by Danehill) stakes-placed dam of PRIDE OF DUBAI, ENAAD and AL ANEED
• CHIANG MAI (by Sadler’s Wells) stakes winner and dam of CHINESE WHITE
• Wasaita (by Generous) dam of WHAZZIS, WHAZZAT and UNAIDED, the dam of U.S. Champion Turf Female UNI.
Pride of Dubai stands at Coolmore Stud and shuttles to Ireland. He was leading freshman sire and is siring stakes winners. By influential sire Street Cry, Pride of Dubai stands 16.1 hands high and was a quick maturing colt whose wins include the Blue Diamond Stakes-G.1 and Randwick Sires’Produce Stakes-G.1.
Uni, chestnut mare by More Than Ready, has earned $US 2.6 million and was voted Eclipse Champion Turf Female in 2019. Among her victories were the Breeder’s Cup Mile-G.1, First Lady Stakes-G.1 twice, and Matriarch Stakes-G.1. She may earn another title this year..
Please study Uni’s pedigree. It suggests commercial breeders might consider matching daughters of More Than Ready with sons of Invincible Spirit because superior ancestors are reinforced with this mix.
Eljazzi’s daughter Mount Elbrus (by Barathea) produced Lava Flow (by Dalakhani), whose two wins including the Listed Prix de la Seine. For Sheikh Mohammed, Lava Flow produced Pinatubo (by Shamardal) last year’s unbeaten Champion 2YO colt of Europe.
Eljazzi’s daughter Fayfa (by Slip Anchor) was a winner and sent to Australia. She produced Love Djeddah (2nd Maribyrnong Plate-G.2); Doduo (dam of Joiya, 3 wins and dam of Bella Giola who was runner-up in the New Zealand 1,000 Guineas-G.1), Palace Talk (dam of Never Talk) and Di Lusso (dam of Contessa Vanessa winner of five races in New Zealand including the Eight Carat Classic-G.2, Sunline Vase-G.3 and second in the New Zealand Oaks-G.1 and Royal Stakes-G.2). Hillfa (by Danehill-Fayfa) earner of $205,050 won the Listed Seppelt Stakes and produced Walk With Attitude.
Invincible Spirit’s exciting sons at stud in Australia comprise Cable Bay, I Am Invincible, National Defense, Magna Grecia, Shalaa and Territories.
CABLE BAY
Standing at Woodside Park Stud in Victoria, Cable Bay is out of Rose de France (Diktat-Cherokee Rose) who produced stakes winners Mister Sea Wolf and Yulong Yuheng. Cable Bay has short cannons and is an attractive stallion almost 16 hands high. Sire of fast stakes winners, it is hoped he will continue to shuttle. He won Newmarket’s Challenge Stakes-G.2 (with Belardo third), Haydock’s John O’Gaunt Stakes-G.3 and finished second in the Dewhurst Stakes-G.1 and Richmond Stakes-G.2 etc. He belongs to the family of champions Mastery, Magic Artist and Kirklees.
I AM INVINCIBLE
One of the leading stallions in Australia, I Am Invincible stands at Yarraman Park Stud. His progeny include Brazen Beau (Champion 3YO Colt, 5 wins VRC Newmarket Handicap-G.1), Loving Gaby (Manikato Stakes-G.1, William Reid Stakes-G.1), Libertini (Premiere Stakes-G.2, Furious Stakes-G.2), Hellbent (William Reid Stakes-G.1), Super One (Champion 2YO Singapore) and Viddora (A J Moir Stakes-G.1. He stamps his progeny.
I Am Invincible has a genetic affinity with the strains of Biscay, Bletchingly, Mr Prospector and Danehill and many of his best stakes fillies have duplication of Northern Dancer’s dam Natalma. I think Canny Lad transmits much of his phenotype to his grandson.
SHALAA
Arrowfield Stud is the home of shuttle stallion Shalaa, Champion 2YO Colt of Europe, whose first crop progeny are winning at stakes level. Bred to be a precocious juvenile, Shalaa won up to 6 furlongs scoring in the Prix Morny-G.1 at Deauville, Middle Park Stakes-G.1 and July Stakes-G.2 at Newmarket, and Richmond Stakes-G.2 at Goodwood. From six starts at two years he won five, and won from only two starts at three years. His dam is half-sister to Middle Park Stakes-G.1 winner Hayil.
Shalaa is a typical short course specialist. He inherits abundant fast twitch muscle fibre from the 3 x 3 double of Danzig and brilliance from the early maturing brothers Kris and Diesis who are found 3 x 4 in the pedigree. In his first Australian crop Shalaa sired Shaquero, winner of the Breeder’s Plate-G.2. This son of Shalaa was bred by R D Hannon who sold the colt at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $160,000. Shaquero’s second dam Finito Fling is a daughter of Luskin Star.
TERRITORIES
Darley Stud’s Territories (Invincible Spirit-Taranto by Machiavellian) is impeccably bred. A deep girthed, symmetrical bay horse, Territories stands not quite 16 hands high. This is the family of leading sires Shamardal and Street Cry. A sound individual, Territories met the very best on turf and won the Prix Jean Prat-G.1, Prix `de Fontainebleu-G.3 and was runner-up to Gleneagles in both the English 2,000 Guineas-G.1 at Newmarket and the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-G.1 at Longchamp. One of his best performances was a game second to Esoterique in the Prix Jacques Le Marois-G.1 at Deauville. Another top effort was when he finished third in the Prix du Palais Royal-G.3.
I believe Territories will sire Group winners in the range of 1400m to 2000m. He is one of the best value sires in Australia with a fabulous pedigree pattern. His influential broodmare sire Machiavellian is by Mr Prospector from Coup de Folie, a stakes winner inbred to famous mare Almahmoud. (Lope de Vega is inbred to Machiavellian). The third dam of Territories is Grecian Slipper, half-sister to Street Cry while the fourth dam is Helen Street by English Derby-G.1 winner Troy from Irish Oaks-G.1 winner Helen Street. In the pedigree of Territories we discover three valuable sources of Natalma via both sexes.
MAGNA GRECIA
Coolmore Stud shuttles first season sire Magna Grecia (Invincible Spirit-Cabaret by Galileo) who ran in the silks of Mrs John Magnier, Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor and Flaxman Holdings (Niarchos family). Magna Grecia is a product of the successful mix of Danzig with Sadler’s Wells. He won three of eight starts and earned 457,666 Pounds.
At two, he won the Doncaster Futurity Trophy-G.1 over 6 furlongs and finished second in the Autumn Stakes-G.3. At three, he was impressive when winning the English 2,000 Guineas-G.1 over a mile at Newmarket. Magna Grecia descends from the female line of Fife, by Lomond from Fiddle Faddle by Silly Season.
SENSATIONAL FILLY
I recommend readers study the pedigree of the outstanding filly Libertini, raced by Gerry Harvey and his mate John Singleton. Trained by Anthony Cummings, Libertini is absolutely brilliant and won the Premier Stakes-G.2 at Randwick on October 3, defeating Classique Legend, with Nature Strip fourth. The time of 1-07.6 was almost a Randwick track record. Libertini had won the Furious Stakes-G.2 over 1200m at Randwick to warn us of her potential.
Her dam Aloha (by Encosta de Lago) won eight times including a hotly contested Coolmore Classic-G.1 and earned $800,974. The female line traces to Misty Vain by Vain.
Aloha’s dam Tennessee Midnight by Danehill, is from Tennessee Morn by Bletchingly (see pedigree). I recall Brazen Beau (I Am Invincible-Sansadee) inherited much of his brilliance from a 4 x 3 double of Bletchingly as well as from duplication of Nearctic and Danzig. It’s interesting that Brazen Beau sired Sandown Guineas-G.2 winner Pretty Brazen from a daughter of Encosta de Lago.
Sir Tristram is linebred 5 x 4 to Selene via son Pharamond II and daughter All Moonshine. Obviously mares descending from Sir Tristram would suit Invincible Spirit’s strain, Sir Tristram is linebred to Princequillo via Somethingroyal and Round Table. Mares with a source of Zabeel or Marauding should be matched with sons of Invincible Spirit. Selene and Princequillo inherit genetic “magic” from their common ancestor Minoru, the champion colt born at Tully Stud.
Walter Alston, Lord Derby’s stud manager (regarded as England’s most astute pedigree analyst) recommended his boss purchase Gondolette, in foal to Minoru. The intention was to acquire a daughter of Loved One, “son” of English 1,000 Guineas winner Pilgrimage to be matched with home based stallion Chaucer who was out of Canterbury Pilgrim, best “daughter” of Pilgrimage. After haggling about price, Lord Derby finally agreed to purchase Gondolette. The resulting foal by Minoru was a small and intelligent filly named Serenissima who was eventually covered by Chaucer. The result was a small, rather workmanlike filly named Selene, inbred to classic winner Pilgrimage. Selene became a famous producer and was a champion performer for Lord Derby.
High-class stakes winners can often boast that somewhere in their ancestry they are descendants of Selene. Her descendants may be found in every major Thoroughbred breeding country and when her descendants meet up with Princequillo’s descendants, it supplies Group 1 winners. Selene’s dam is by Minoru while Princequillo’s second dam in by Minoru.
No wonder Sir Tristram was Leading Sire in Australasia with this mix. No wonder Native Dancer’s tribe succeeded with mares having Hyperion and Princequillo in their make-up.
Princequillo won 12 races including the Saratoga Cup in new track record time, Jockey Club Gold Cup, Saratoga Handicap, Questionnaire Handicap etc and was Leading Sire in North America in 1957 and 1958. He was many times Leading Broodmare Sire in Britain/Ireland and North America. Bull Hancock admired Princequillo who stood at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky. The stallion’s foals were known for soundness and clean airflow. The stallion’s father Prince Rose was Belgium’s champion Triple Crown winner.
Princequillo’s stakes winning dam Cosquilla was by Tracery’s best son Papyrus, winner of the English Derby. Hence, classic genes were passed on to future generations