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*"* %«BaLiiiiiiiiiiaaaa. v - v -*-U: -,-y„ e*%££z*. - " ~ Silky Sullivan Is Pedigree Paradox Colts Late Drive Contrary to Truths Stretch Runner an Example Of Hybrid Vigor; Breeding Theories at Natures Mercy There is no getting away from it; the fantastic stretch-running Silky Sullivan is a freak and a paradox in the light of his pedigree. He is an odd-and whimsical colt and his style of coming "from out of the clouds" is at variance and contrary to "some previously ascertained truths, although which, when properly investigated, may be perfectly well explained." But, at first blush, it isdifficult to reconcile the situation. There is the Derby contender Tim Tam, a son of a Horse of the Year out of the Mare of the Year, and here is the Derby contender. Silky Sullivan, heralded as one of the great stretch runners of all time, by a speed sire with no classic heritage for generations, and out of a non-winning matron, who was out of a non-winner. However, it is not as bad as it reads on the surface. Still it isnt a pedigree which composes the type of beautiful music that blends with the words of our classical derby. Silky is an example of hybrid vigor — "The extra vigor expressed by the progeny when two unrelated . . . strains are interbred." There is no repetition of names In Silkys pedigree in his first four generations. Sire Noted for Speed - Sullivan, Silkys sire, was an allowance class performer whose trademark was speed. He carried that speed successfully a mile and one-sixteenth on one occasion at Hollywood Park. He also placed third to On Trust in a stakes. Sullivan, an Irish-bred, was by the late Panorama, Englands most noted sire of speed. Panoramas get won over 300 races, but averaged less than 6 furlongs per victory. Sullivans dam. My Aid, produced several other winners. Through 1956 they had won 36 races in England, but only one victory was past a mile. My Aid was a daughter of Knight of the Garter— Flying Aid, by Flying Orb. Knight of the Garter was a moderate success as a sire and, being by Son-in-Law. he may be responsible for what stamina Sullivan possessed and what stamina he has been able to pass along. As for Sullivans granddam, Flying Aid, her sire, Flvr ing Orb, traces in tall-male to Orby, a taU- ► : : male ancestor of Sullivans sire, Panorama. Since Sullivan possesses two lines to the speed line of Orby, it is almost inconceivable that he should sire a classic colt without unusual genetic help from the mare. While, Silky Sullivans first three dams never even managed to place and the "family" has been comparatively ineffective in recent years in production of good horses, there is stamina rather than speed in his bottom line. His dam, Lady N Silk, showed a growing aptitude for distance racing before being forced to retire. Ambrose Light, Lady N Silks sire, won stakes in France, and was by Pharos, a classic sire, and from- a female family which produced stakes horses capable of winning at 10 furlongs and more. Chance Play Stayer Foxhole, Lady N Silks dam, was by Chance Play, a staying son of Fair Play who won the 16-furI6ng Jockey Club Gold Cup and the 14-furlbng Sarajtoga Cup. Chance Plays full brother. Chance Shot, won the classic 12-furlong Belmont Stakes. Foxholes dam, Coffee Cup, by Whichone, was a full sister to Today, once conqueror of Seabiscuit and holder of Santa Anitas mile record for 10 years. Cofee Cups dam, Afternoon, was by the St. Simon-line sire Prince Palatine out of Matinee, the latter a full sister to Whisk Broom n„ who won the Brooklyn and Suburban handicaps under 130 and 139 pounds, respectively. Audience, dam of Matinee and Whisk Broom n., won the Kentucky Oaks, and was out of Sallie McClelleahd, who was out of Red-and-Blue, a full -sister to Panique, winner of the Belmont, and a half sister to Iroquois, the first American-bred to win the Epsom Derby. This family, more recently, has produced such stars as Top Flight, the ill-stared Blue Peter and Jacks Jill. Silky is a perplexity. It is acknowledged that his sire had class and considerable dash, and it can be seen that his female family, after several generations of comparative lassitude, may be recovering its past glories — but, on pedigree, he is strictly 100-to-l in this Derby. That he is one. of the favorites shows that nature, when she chooses, can toss the best made theories of mice and men into a hurricane of confusion. ~ SULLIVAN— Sire of Silky Sullivan.
