view raw text
SIRES AND DAMS *v NELS0N dunstan LEXINGTON, Ky., May 8.— For many years this writer has spent a few days in Lexington after witnessing the Kentucky Derby running. In every season there is something new of interest to the visitor, and what we look forward to at the moment is a glimpse of the many imported stallions lions who who have have been been brought brought to to the the lions who who have have been been brought brought to to the the Blue Grass in the past year or so. In some cases it will be a second look, or, as in the case of Alibhai, even more. Alibhai has had an amazing record in this country, for When Special Touch won the Santa Margarita Handicap she became the seventh of his get to win over 00,000. Now 13 years old, it is interesting to speculate what this Unraced son of Hyperion will accomplish in the immediate years to come. The speculation takes on greater proportions when we realize that during the past 16 months there has been the greatest influx of imported stallions directly into Kentucky in the annals of breeding. Alibhai Is not a newcomer, having served for quite a few seasons In California before his transfer to Spendthrift farm here in the Blue Grass, where he joined one of the greatest array of top stallions to be found at any one farm. AAA Some three years ago, Henry H. Knight, the noted Almahurst breeder, imported the French trio of Goya II., Priam and Hierocles. Their first crops were given a royal welcome by yearling buyers and, judging by the few Priams that have raced, they are real runners. Many imported stallions have made their impression on our important stakes, and only time will tell what further Inroads those imported during the past year or more will make. Coldstream Stud imported Heliopolis a few years back and, although a substitute for Bull Dog appeared to entail a long search, they found him in this son of Many Newly Imported Sires in Blue Grass Djeddah, Nirgal With Heliopolis at Shaffers Claibornes Imposing Group of Outlanders No Breeding Farm Expanded Like Spendthrift Hyperion, who is now a leading sire. To support Heliopolis, they went to France to secure Djeddah by Djebel — Djezima, by Asterus and Nirgal, a son of Goya n. — Castillane, by Cameronian. Only the economic conditions in European countries made breeders on the other side receptive to American dollars, but it meant a variety of sire lines for Kentucky that cannot be found in any other one breeding sector throughout the world. Right here in Lexington is a "Whos Who" on stallion power for some of the best racing stock obtainable. AAA Claiborne, the famed Kentucky establishment of Arthur B. Hancock, is another farm that has a "new look" in its stallion force. Sir Gallahad IH. has passed from the picture, but Blenheim II., who has written many a brilliant page of thoroughbred history, is one of the sires now standing at the Paris, Ky., nursery. So, too, are the imported pair of Princequillo and Hypnotist II. While bred in this country, Black Tarquin, who raced so impressively in England, was returned to Claiborne, and the youngsters by this son of Rhodes Scholar — Vagrancy, by Sir Gallahad III., are eagerly awaited. Then the Hancocks also decided to invade France, and a few months later a ship docked at the North River in New York with a noted passenger in Ambiorix, a son of Tour-billon — Lavendula, by Pharos. But even before Noor became the sensation of 1950, Hancock was negotiating for Nasrullah, the son of Nearco — Mumtal Begum, by Blenheim IT., who, due to the feats of Noor and others, had earned attention from breeders throughout the world. When he arrived in this country Nasrullah joined a powerful group of stallions at Claiborne. Prince Simon is the latest to join the Claiborne band. AAA Probably no breeding farm in America has expanded so rapidly in a comparatively short space of time as Leslie Combs H.s Spendthrift. Ardan, by Pharos; the speedy Shannon II., by Midstream; Bernborough, by Emborough had joined with American sires, the latest of which is Jet Pilot, the 1947 Derby winning son of Blenheim II. But with all its growth Spendthrift had room for others, and within the past year two more were shipped from the other side — Somali, a six-year-old son of Nasrullah — Sonibai, by Solario, and Nizami, a five-year-old bay horse by Nearco — Mumtaz Begum, by Blenheim n., thus a full brother to Nasrullah. There is a wide variety, indeed, and all Spendthrift stallions have been selected on the premise of utility, class and appeal to owners of broodmares. Taking a page from sales history and his own experiences, Combs, like many other breeders, reaches to European countries to select horses that will command attention when their colts and fillies are sent to the yearling sales rings. AAA All the imported sires have not made good in this country, by any means, and there may be some who arrived during the past year who will fail to make the grade. But fresh infusions of blood, especially of top sire lines in European countries, is good breeding practice. The pattern of "sires of winners" of the Kentucky Derby and other important races has changed drastically during the past 15 years, and much of it can be accounted for by such matings as, for instance, that of Sir Gallahad Continued on Page Eleven SIRES AND DAMS I By NELSON DUNSTAN Continued from Page Forty-Four III. with a daughter of Blenheim II., which in one instance resulted in Jet Pilot, the Derby winner. Or again, the breeding of an imported sire with a mare of our American lines, such as that of Heliopolis and War Flower, a daughter of Man o War, which resulted in Ace Admiral. We are still due for changes in pedigree patterns during the years to come, for some of these newer stallions are certain to make their imprint on our breeding structure just as others have before.
