by Rosana Rivera ©

Nasrullah's Domination of the Clasico Del Caribe  

In the 34th edition of the Clasico Internacional del Caribe (CDC) celebrated on December 9 in Puerto Rico, the gray filly Alexia (PAN) (by El Rey David out of Dalmata) became the most recent descendant from the *Nasrullah sire line to win this coveted race. In addition to Alexia, the CDC runner up Yagrumo (PR) is also a product of a Runaway Groom stallion, giving *Nasrullah a 1-2 on this year's venue.

An analysis of all the the winners of this "Caribbean Derby" places the son of Nearco and Mumtaz Begum as the leader with seven male line descendants. He is followed by none other than chef-de-race, Northern Dancer with five winning descendants. The first winner of the CDC for *Nasrullah was the Mexican El Comanche in 1967. His next three representatives won in successive years starting with Patilargo from Panamá in 1985 followed by the Venezuelans Benemérito and Rayo Laser. Prior to Alexia his last two winners were both Triple Crown winners, the Puerto Rican Vuelve Candy B. in 1991 (by Double Dewan) and the Panamanian Evaristo (by Tupido). Coincidentally both colts won the CDC by disqualification. Patilargo and Benemérito also descend through their broodmare sire from *Nasrullah. Other female line descendants of the leading sire are Guaybanex (PR), Don Fabián (MEX), El Gran Nano (PR), Alighieri (VEN) and Cortisol (PAN) totaling seven distaff descendants.

So far the Canadian Northern Dancer does not have any broodmare sire line representatives that have won the Clásico, however given the availability of his stock the numbers will most certainly change soon. The sire line descendants for Northern Dancer are the Mexican Don Gabriel (by Erimo Ciboulette) winner of 1988 edition, Don Fabián (VEN), Leonardo (PAN), Locochón (PAN) and My Own Business (VEN) in 2000.

On third place with total of male descendants ranks *Princequillo with four winners. Three of them won the CDC on consecutive renewals starting with Barremina (PAN) in 1974 and followed by the Mexicans Teziutlán and Voy Por Uno. These last two were sired by Dauphiny who was a son of *Princequillo and Paris Pike by *Tulyar. The fourth winner for *Princequillo descends both on his sire and broodmare sire from this stallion, her name is Angelical (PAN) (by Screen King). Her broodmare sire is the previously mentioned CDC winner Barremina.

The unbeaten *Ormonde is also the male line ancestor of four winners of the CDC, Hashin and Pikotazo from Mexico; Huracán Sí (VEN) and Pan de los Pobres (PAN). All of the above with the exception of Huracan Sí descend from the French stallion *Teddy. An interesting fact is that the Mexican Pikotazo was a Triple Crown winner as well as his grandsire Citation (Triple Crown in the USA) and *Ormonde (Triple Crown in the UK). The distaff descendants for *Teddy are Ezgarta (MEX), Montecarlo (PAN) and the recent "queen" of the CDC Alexia (PAN).

For fourth place there is a tie between the American Polynesian, and two Italian masterpieces the *Ribot, and Nearco (excluding Nasrullah or Northern Dancer branches); each with three winners. Polynesian is represented by the fillies Verset Dancer (PR) and Galilea (COL), winners of consecutive renewals and the colt Alighieri (VEN). The female side descendants for Polynesian are the Puerto Ricans Verset's Jet (a son of Verset Dancer) and Vuelve Candy B. as well as the Mexican Teziutlán.

The unbeaten and fierce *Ribot is the male ancestor of Ezgarta (MEX) (by Ruffinal), El Gran Nano (PR) (by Bugle Boy) and Cortisol (PAN) (by Pi Phi Prince). These last two have similar crosses as they both descend on the dam side from *Nasrullah. Panamanian Triple Crown winner Leonardo is the sole CDC female side winner for *Ribot.

Nearco is further represented by two sons of Talgo II (by Krakatao), the Mexicans Guadamur and Nacozareño winners of the CDC renewals for 1969 and 1971. The third representative for Nearco is Montecarlo (PAN) (by Croupier) winner of the CDC of 1973. It is worth noting that if we add up all of the Nearco male descendants that have won the Clasico del Caribe we would obtain a total of 15 male descendants since *Nasrullah as well as Northern Dancer, Talgo II and Croupier descend from the Tesio protegé.

Finally the great Black Toney has two male line descendants that have won the CDC. They were the Panamanian El Cómico and the Puerto Rican Guaybanex. These two horses not only won during consecutive years but also descend on their female side from Nearco.

Last but not least we have:

*Blenheim II - represented on the sire line by Wiso G. (PR) and on the broodmare side by El Comanche (MEX) and Pikotazo (MEX).

*Pharamond II- represented on the sire line by Verset's Jet (PR) and on the broodmare side by Wiso G. (PR).

Fairway- represented on the sire line by Victoreado (VEN). Just like *Pharamond, Fairway belongs to the Phalaris sire line.

Hyperion- represented on the broodmare side by Verset's Dancer (PR), Don Gabriel (MEX) and Pan de los Pobres (PAN).

Son in Law- represented on the broodmare side by Barremina (PAN), Hurakan Sí (VEN) and Evaristo (PAN).

Djebel- represented on the sire line by the Mexicans Guadamur and Voy Por Uno; and by Galilea (COL).

Friar Rock- represented on the broodmare side by Rayo Laser (VEN).

Hurry On- represented on the broodmare side by Nacozareño (MEX).

Rabelais- represented on the broodmare side by Locochón (PAN). It should be noted that Tenerani (sire of Ribot) descends on his sire line from Rabelais (a son of St. Simon).

The Tetrarch- represented on the broodmare side by Victoreado (VEN).

*Sickle (other than Polynesian)- represented on the broodmare side by Hashin (MEX). *Sickle is also another Phalaris descendant, he is also a full brother to *Pharamond II and half brother to Hyperion.

Nearco- represented on the broodmare side by El Cómico (PAN).

All of the winners pedigrees are on Del Mar Pedigree Query and we encourage readers to utilize the Del Mar database to look into these pedigrees.

December 30, 2001. Copyright by Rosana Rivera 2001.