HOPESPRINGSETERNAL the daughter of champion Buckpasser whose genetic influence is certain to have a lasting effect on the breed. Written By’s dam Yau Chin is linebred 4 x 4 to this wonderful mare.
Widden Stud’s young stallion Written By, the champion 2YO Colt of his generation, is an exciting young son of leading sire Written Tycoon. His dam Yau Chin happens to be linebred 4 x 4 to Hopespringseternal (Buckpasser-Rose Bower by Princequillo) and the duplication occurs via a daughter named Hope For All and via a brilliant son Miswaki.
Although it’s early days, there are signs duplicating Miswaki (by Mr. Prospector) can upgrade racing class. Miswaki’s daughter Urban Sea, winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe G.1 produced champions Sea The Stars and Galileo.
The pedigree of Hopespringseternal shows every grandparent was either a champion or a high-class stakes performer. Her sire Buckpasser was a champion son of high-class stakes winner Busanda, daughter of champion War Admiral.
The dam of Hopespringseternal was Rose Bower, 6 wins including the Matron Stakes and Princess Pat Stakes. She is a daughter of champion Princequillo from outstanding mare Lea Lane, winner of the Durazna Stakes, Pollyanna Stakes and runner-up in the Kentucky Oaks and Alcibiades Stakes. Lea Lane was a daughter of British champion Nasrullah.
Rose Bower represents the same Nasrullah nick with Princequillo as many Grade 1 or Group 1 performers, including Secretariat. Rose Bower acts as a female version of Secretariat’s pattern.
Hopespringseternal never raced owing to a paddock accident as a young filly. She fractured her near knee. Bred by Claiborne Farm, she ended up in the ownership of W. T. Young’s Overbrook Farm at a time when I was working on the farm. We all knew her by the nickname “Hope”. In conformation, Hopespringseternal was more like her dam Rose Bower than her father Buckpasser.
Rose Bower would also produce a Forli filly who became the dm of High Brite, 15 wins and earnings of US $1,150,519. His wins include the True North Stakes (G.2) and various Grade 3 stakes among them the Rosebud, Gravesend and Sports Page Handicaps.
Bruce Campbell and Early Bird Stud originally owned Hopespringseternal and bred Hope’s best foal, Miswaki who resembled his sire Mr. Prospector.
Miswaki , an athletic chestnut colt born 1978, won 6 of 13 starts on three continents. He earned US $232,320 and was a brilliant juvenile, voted Champion 2YO colt of France, winning the Prix de la Salamandre G.1, Prix Yacowlef (Listed) and was runner-up in the Prix Morny G.1. He finished third in the Dewhurst Stakes G.1. At three, he ran in the United States winning the Charles Hatten Stakes and was runner-up in the Saratoga Handicap and Fall Highweight Handicap G.3. He was retired to Walmac Farm, Lexington, Kentucky in 1982 and buried next to the graves of Alleged and Nureyev.
In 1975, Hope produced a filly by Secretariat inbred 3 x 3 to the great Princequillo. Named Hope For All, she produced the outstanding filly Lacovia, dam of Tobougg.
Hope For All was bred by Christopher Chenery, the breeder of the great Secretariat. From 9 starts she only managed 3 placings. At stud, from seven foals, she produced Lacovia, bought as a yearling by French trainer Francois Boutin for US $200,000. Lacovia won 3 of 6 starts including the Prix Saint-Alary G.1 and Prix de Diane (French Oaks) G.1
Lacovia’s best foal was Tobougg (by Barathea) raced by H H Sheikh Ahmed al-Maktoum. This good-looking bay colt won the Darley Dewhurst Stakes G.1 and Prix de la Salamandre G.1 as a two year old and progressed to be second in the Champion Stakes, Hong Kong Cup and third in the English Derby G.1. Tobougg entered stud in 2003 at Dalham Hall, Newmarket and shuttled three times to Australia.
Hopesspringseternal also produced the fillies Till Eternity (by Nijinsky II), Northern Eternity (by Northern Dancer) and Hopespringsforever (by Mr. Prospector).
I asked W. T. Young to name the Mr. Prospector filly Hopespringsforever. She inherited more refinement than most of her siblings. Shipped to England, she had a light preparation (placed from 5 starts) before returning to Kentucky where she produced Apollo Cat, a filly by Storm Cat, 4 wins $US 161,823 Listed Colleen Stakes, 2nd Cicada Stakes. She also produced Steady Cat, 5 wins US $224,327 who was the stakes-placed dam of Jump Start, winner of the Saratoga Special G/3 and a successful sire.
Northern Eternity was a big, tall filly who won the St. Catherine Stakes and was runner-up in the Lowther Stakes G.2. Owned by Mr Young’s daughter Lucy, Northern Eternity produced Eternal Reve, a strong filly by Diesis who won 3 times earning US $241,058. Eternal Reve would win the Listed Prix Yacowlef in France, the Matron Stakes G.1 in Ireland and finish runner-up in the Coronation Stakes G.1 in England. She is an early example of the successful Sharpen Up cross with Northern Dancer.
The workmanlike Eternity Star (Majestic Light-Northern Eternity) won 4 times in France and California, scoring in the Listed Prix de Pontarme, Hollywood Derby G.1 and Del Mar Derby G.2. Till Eternity was the unraced dam of Fort Chaffe, 7 wins including Governor’s Cup, who was a sire in Panama, as well as the big filly Office Politics, dam of winners.
WRITTEN TYCOON
I am looking forward to the progress of runners sired by Written By. Most champion 2YO colts make successful sires. Interestingly, Written By was bred and owned by Neville Begg and family and trained by Neville’s son Grahame. Written By and Ole Kirk are the best sons of Written Tycoon to date. Here is the race record for Written By – 11 starts, 6 wins, 1 second for $1,808700.
He won the MRC Blue Diamond Stakes G.1, Blue Diamond Prelude G.3, ATC Pago Pago Stakes G-3, MRC Blue Sapphire Stakes G.3, 2nd Listed Bill Adams Stakes, 4th Golden Slipper Stakes G.1, Ascot Vale Stakes G.1. His dam was a winner at 1200m and produced 5 winners. The grand-dam of Written By is Tilla’s Daughter by Umatilla, son of Miswaki and Dancing Show by Nijinsky II. The female line goes back to Kaoru Star’s daughter No Finer, dam of Pins (Australian Guineas G.1).
I wonder whether mares by Redoute’s Choice (half-brother to Umatilla’s dam Shantha’s Choice) might be matched with Written By? Might daughters of Galileo or Sea The Stars be worth testing to him? The cross would create duplication of Miswaki via daughter and son (Urban Sea and Umatilla).
Among stallions standing in Australia whose pedigree reveals Miswaki are Russian Revolution, Pierro, Written By, Pinatubo, Earthlight, Palentino, Kermadec, The Autumn Sun. Pierata, Churchill, Magna Grecia and Saxon Warrior.
DANEHILL/SADLER’S WELLS AFFINITY
We already know there is a powerful genetic affinity between the strains of Sadler’s Wells with Danehill, and between Galileo with Danehill. To try to predict which strains would complement this mix one might consider testing some of the following strains:
SUNDAY SILENCE branch of Halo, Hail To Reason line
MR PROSPECTOR – male line of Native Dancer (especially via Fappiano, Unbridled, Machiavellian, Miswaki)
MAURICE – branch of Grass Wonder, grandson of ROBERTO
SEBRING – son of More Than Ready, linebred to Mr. Prospector
DEEP IMPACT – Sunday Silence line of Hail To Reason
NORTHERN METEOR – with Fappiano’s strain, but from Fairy King’s line
ZABEEL – whose dam is by Nureyev – from Sir Tristram’s line
LYPHARD – whose strain has an affinity with Sadler’s Wells and Nureyev
SHAMARDAL – dam by Machiavellian, from Storm Bird’s line
WRITTEN TYCOON – from Last Tycoon line
Many future stakes winners with Danehill duplicated will emerge, especially if Mr Prospector also appears in the pedigree pattern.
Fillies with three or four sources of Natalma have the potential to win stakes races. Linebreeding to a powerful mare such as Natalma can be very rewarding. One could also add her close relative Cosmah to boost nervous energy.
LAST TYCOON
An ancestor whose influence is slowly penetrating the breed in Australia and New Zealand is Last Tycoon (Try My Best-Mill Princess by Mill Reef).
Leading sire in in Australia in 1994 he sired Marju, Mahogony, Bigstone, Lady Jakeo, Ezzoud, Le Zagaletta, Lost World, Knowledge, O’Reilly and Iglesia.
Bred by Richard Strauss’s Kilfrush Stud in Ireland, Last Tycoon won 8 races for US $683,438. At two years he won the Listed Prix d’Arenberg at Chantilly and later progressed to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile G-1, King’s Stand Stakes G.1, Sprint Championship G.1, Prix de Saint-Georges G.3 etc.
He sired 80 stakes winners. Stallions in Australia with a source of Last Tycoon include Capitalist, Casino Prince, Ole Kirk, Prague, Stratum Star, Brutal, Written By, Rich Enuff, Grunt, North Pacific and Written Tycoon.
What is it about Last Tycoon (by Try My Best) that makes him a valuable ancestor in pedigrees of stakes winners?
The first thing to notice is his linebreeding to famous mare Nogara via her best sons Nearco and Niccollo dell’Arca. Next, he carries duplication of champion Tracery and famous mare La Troienne.
When Last Tycoon’s strain meets up with any of the Star Kingdom tribe it reinforces the Hyperion/Tracery mix. The third dam of Try My Best is Traffic Judge, a fast horse linebred to Tracery: Traffic Judge with 13 wins and 14 placings scored in the Woodward Stakes G.1, Metropolitan Handicap G.1, Suburban Handicap G.2 and Withers Stakes G.3.
Traffic Judge is by Alibhai (Hyperion-Teresina by Tracery). The dam of Traffic Judge is Traffic Court by Discovery from Traffic by Broomstick from Traverse by Tracery.
Traffic Judge connects with Nearctic (sire of Northern Dancer) whose dam is Lady Angela (Hyperion from Sister Sarah by Abbot’s Trace, son of TRACERY). The connection with Star Kingdom is similar because Star Kingdom is by Stardust (by Hyperion) from Impromptu by Concerto out of Thoughtless by Papyrus by TRACERY. Hence, there is a reason why descendants of Northern Dancer succeed with mares possessing Star Kingdom’s strain.
OLE KIRK
Vinery Stud’s young stallion Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon-Naturale by Bel Esprit) has a pedigree revealing a triple of champion Vain.
Ole Kirk won the Caulfield Guineas G.1, Golden Rose Stakes G.1 and Listed Talindert Stakes. His dam is a sister to champion Black Caviar. It would appear Ole Kirk will suit a variety of strains including those carrying Danehill, Halo and Mr Prospector.
Vain is by Wilkes, son of Court Martial. To help balance pedigree patterns with duplication of Vain, it might be worth contemplating bringing in a source of Lyphard (Northern Dancer-Goofed by Court Martial). Court Martial was a brilliant miler by Fair Trial.
MILITARIZE
The Autumn Championship carnival was affected by heavy and soft racing surfaces. Runners with dry track form were at a disadvantage. In the Golden Slipper Stakes G.1, Dundeel’s son Militarize suffered interference. The Chris Waller trained colt came out to win both the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes G.1 and Champagne Stakes G.1.
Militarize, owned by China Horse Club/Newgate, was bred by GSA Bloodstock Pty Ltd and was a $550,000 yearling at the Magic Million Gold Coast Sale. There are no duplicated ancestors in his pedigree until we come to 5 x 5 to English Derby winner Shirley Heights and 5 x 5 to brothers Kris and Diesis. Further back there are various sources of Northern Dancer. Militarize is out of the unraced mare Amerindia by Dubawi from multiple stakes winner Satwa Queen.
A very talented performer, Satwa Queen won the Prix Jean Romanet G.2 twice, the Prix de l’Opera G.1, Prix de Psyche G.3 etc.
Two sons of champion Dundeel hit the board in the Champagne Stakes G.1. Militarize won from Bases Loaded with Dundeel’s son Townsend third. Bred in New Zealand and holding court at Arrowfield Stud, Dundeel is a product of linking Sadler’s Wells with his three-parts brother Nureyev.
Dundeel has sired Group 1 winners from the outset of his stud career. His sons Castlevecchio and Super Seth are at stud.
By High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells-Kasora by Darshaan), Dundeel is out of Stareel by dominant sire Zabeel (Sir Tristram-Lady Giselle by Nureyev) and carries Star Kingdom’s strain via Kaoru Star and his son Luskin Star in the second dam. Remarkably his pedigree is free of Mr Prospector and Danehill.
GIGA KICK
Australia has a new hero. The brilliant sprinter Giga Kick (Scissor Kick-Rekindled Applause by Royal Applause) from the female line of Stolen Date blitzed his rivals at the recent carnival to win the ATC All-Aged Stakes G.1 over 1400m. Bred by GSA Bloodstock in Victoria, he races for the Pinecliff Racing syndicate. The chestnut gelding has won 6 of 9 starts for earnings of 8,694,700.
He is by Scissor Kick (Redoute’s Choice-Back Pass by Quest For Fame) whose dam is linebred to Nijinsky II. The pedigree of Giga Kick shows 4 x 3 to Rainbow Quest, son of champion Blushing Groom. The third dam of Giga Kick is Seasonal Pickup by The Minstrel. three parts brother to Nijinsky II. We now look forward to winter racing.