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by Nigel Pullen © RIBBLESDALE STAKES (Group 2) (12
furlongs) (3yo Fillies) The sun shone brightly for the third consecutive day, and the going remained good to firm. Nafisah set out to make the running in the opening event, and repelled all challengers until the big, rangy filly Sahara Slew came wide and late to get her head in front in the shadow of the post. Sahara Slew's granddam, Salphinx was 3x4 to the mare Almahmoud, but the pedigree of Sahara Slew's dam, the winning mare Sahara Sun, probably holds the key here. Sahara Sun was 3x3 to a pair of very close genetic relatives in the mares Belthazar (granddam of Alysheba) and Perfecta (third dam of Sahara Sun). Belthazar was by War Admiral out of Blinking Owl by Pharamond II out of Baba Kenny by Black Servant out of Betty Beall by North Star III. This was a very similar pattern to that found in Perfecta, who had War Admiral; and a maternal grandsire named Cosmic Bomb who was by Pharamond II out of a mare by Blue Larkspur. The latter just happened to be a three quarter genetic relative to Baby Kenny, also being by Black Servant out of a North Star III mare. A look at Seattle Slew's pedigree reveals that his dam was 3x3 to the full sisters Striking and Busher, who were also by War Admiral, and their maternal grandsire Bubbling Over was by North Star III, thus given them a similar pattern to both Belthazar and Perfecta. In fact, Bubbling Over had further links to Baba Kenny, for in addition to sharing North Star III they both had strains of Ben Brush and Domino close up. It is interesting to note that the recent Japanese G2 winner Matikane Kinnohoshi is by Seattle Slew out of Alysheba's full sister Alysbelle. NORFOLK STAKES (Group 3) (5 furlongs)
(2yos) The favourite Johannesburg had a slowish start, but made steady progress on the outside to come home a convincing winner, and give trainer Aidan O'Brien his fourth success of the meeting. Johannesburg is the first foal of the Ogyian mare Myth, and while the latter may have only won once from sixteen starts in the U.S., she was related to a host of top performers. Her dam, Yarn (by Mr Prospector), was a full sister to Frizette Stakes (G1) winner Preach, who in turn produced the Blue Grass (G2) and Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) hero Pulpit. Myth herself was a half sister to last season's leading European juvenile Minardi (by Boundary) and G2 scorer Tale Of The Cat (by Storm Cat). Johannesburg's sire Hennessy is a son of Storm Cat too, and it is informative to compare Storm Cat's pedigree with that of Johannesburg third dam Narrate, both in fact being very close genetic relatives. Firstly, Storm Cat's sire Storm Bird is matched in Narrate by Storm Bird's slightly closer than a three quarter genetic relative Nijinsky; both having strains of Northern Dancer and Bull Page with either Flares or his full brother Omaha. The relationship between Storm Cat and Narrate is further intensified, courtesy of their common strains of Bold Ruler, Princequillo and Menow. A similar pedigree pattern to Johannesburg has cropped up recently in another of Hennessy's Grade winners the Illinois Derby (G2) scorer Distilled. He has Hennessy in combination with Mr Prospector and Nijinsky's three quarter brother The Minstrel. ASCOT GOLD CUP (Group 1) (2 miles
4 furlongs) Persian Punch's fifth attempt to win the Ascot Gold Cup ended in gallant defeat. He kicked on ten furlongs out, but turning into the straight, Marienbard was travelling like a winner. However, Marienbard's stamina ran out, and it was left to Royal Rebel to challenge Persian Punch. The pair raced neck and neck through the final furlong, with Royal Rebel just proving the stronger. At first glance Royal Rebel's pedigree does not appear to be that of a stayer. His sire, Robellino, was a miler, while his dam Greenvera was a half sister to the useful French sprinter Way West; and was out of the speedy filly Greenway who did all her racing over five furlongs, at which distance she won the Prix D'Arenberg (G3) and Prix du Petit Couvert (G3). However, another member of the family was the excellent staying filly Gold River, who won the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe, together with the Prix du Cadran and Prix Royal Oak. She was bred on similar line to Greenvera, being by her sire Riverman out of her third dam Glaneuse. Perhaps Royal Rebel's stamina derives from his duplication of the near full genetic relatives Isobella (granddam of Robellino) and Targowice (sire of Greenway), who appeared 3x3 in Royal Rebel's pedigree. Isobella and Targowice were perfect foils for each other, Targowice being by Round Table out of a Bold Ruler mare, and Isobella by Bold Ruler out of Round Table's full sister Monarchy. Note how Isobella's pedigree is almost the reverse of Targowice's; and the duplication of Round Table and Monarchy is a potent weapon in the breeder's armoury. Isobella and Targowice are of course examples of the Nasrullah /Princequillo cross, and a further variation of this is found in Royal Rebel's pedigree via Riverman. One other relationship in the pedigree of Royal Rebel worth considering is that between Robellino's sire Roberto and Royal Rebel's granddam Greenway. In fact four of the eight individuals in Roberto's third generation are present close up in Greenway, thanks to their common strains of Turn-To, Nasrullah and Bull Lea. CORK AND ORRERY STAKES (Group 2)
(6 furlongs) Harmonic Way registered his second Royal Ascot success following his victory in last years Wokingham Handicap. Today's fast pace and fast ground are ideal for this strong finishing horse, and although he probably hit the front earlier than desirable, he was never in any danger. Harmonic Way has certainly improved with age, and his transition from handicapper to genuine Group race performer is now complete. Although a daughter of the sprinter Superlative, Harmonic Way's dam, Pineapple, registered her only win over twelve furlongs. Pineapple was also a half sister to the excellent filly In The Groove (by Night Shift) who won Group 1 races from a mile to twelve furlongs, recording victories in the Irish 1000 Guineas, International Stakes, Champion Stakes and Coronation Cup. The pedigree of Pineapple was very much one of extremes, her dam being 3x4 to the stamina influence Vimy via the very close genetic relatives Camenae and Sans Le Sou, while she herself was 4x4 to the sprinter Matador. The duplication of Matador is worth looking at further as it comes via two horses bred on similar lines, namely Clariden (dam of Superlative) and La Lidia (third dam of Pineapple). As well as both having Matador close up in their pedigrees, Clariden's great grandsire Emborough has a similar cross of Gainsborough with the mare Enrichment as La Lidia's dam Lady Grand. The pedigree of Harmonic Way was pretty much an outcross one, the only duplication in his first six generations being a 5x5x6 cross of Nasrullah. However, it does contain 3x5 a cross of Tamerett and Red God, both of whom possess Pharos, Menow, Bull Dog, Lady Josephine and Swynford. KING GEORGE V HANDICAP (12 furlongs)
(3yos) The lightly raced Beekeeper put up the performance of a progressive three-year-old by giving weight and a beating to his nineteen rivals. He took the lead inside the final furlong and kept on well to the line. Connections are now aiming him at the G2 Great Voltigeur Stakes. Beekeeper's dam, Chief Bee, was a late-maturing filly racing only once before she reached four. She then won three minor races between nine and fourteen furlongs to increase her paddock value. She was a full sister to the stallion and top-class juvenile Be My Chief, and thus another example of the previously mentioned cross of three-quarter brothers Secretariat and Sir Gaylord, who appeared 3x3 in her pedigree. Turning to the pedigree of Beekeeper we find the potent combination of Red God and Sir Ivor 3x3. This pair of stallions were very near seven-eighth genetic relatives; Red God being by Nasrullah out of Spring Run by Menow out of Boola Brook by Bull Dog, while Sir Ivor had Nasrullah's three quarter brother Royal Charger, Menow's three quarter sister Athenia and Bull Dog's full brother Sir Gallahad III. Another individual of interest in Beekeeper's pedigree is the mare Where You Lead, the granddam of Rainbow Quest. Her importance stems from the fact that she is a perfect balance for the ubiquitous Northern Dancer (present in Beekeeper's fourth generation), with a son strain of Native Dancer, a three quarter sister (All Moonshine) to Hyperion and a full brother (His Grace) to Blenheim. This is undoubtedly one of the reasons for Rainbow Quest success as a stallion. BRITTANNIA HANDICAP (Straight mile)
(3yos) This competitive twenty-nine runner handicap saw the visored Analyser run out a decisive winner. Both the dam and granddam of Analyser had extremely tight knit pedigrees. His granddam, the Cheveley Park Stakes runner-up Red Berry, was 4x4 Hyperion, 3x5x5 Fairway/Pharos, 5x5x6 White Eagle, 5x6x6 Roi Herode and 6x5 Swynford. Analyser's dam, Mountain Ash had Derring-Do (Dastur/Owen Tudor cross) and Big Berry (Dastur's half brother Bahram and Owen Tudor) 2x2. Red Berry was a daughter of Great Nephew, a fairly ordinary racehorse who sired two outstanding Epsom Derby winners in Grundy and Shergar. Great Nephew could be the key strain here because his dam Sybil's Niece was a wonderful balance for Nearctic, the tail male ancestor of Analyser. Sybil's Niece was by Hyperion's son Admirals Walk out of Sybil's Sister by Nearco out of Sister Sarah. Now compare this with Nearctic who was by Nearco out of Lady Angela by Hyperion out of Sister Sarah, and you can see how well they compliment each other. It is worth noting that Royal Academy's G1 Phoenix Stakes winner Lavery is a seven-eighth genetic relative to Analyser; his dam and granddam being by the same sires as the dam and granddam of Analyser; namely Dominion and Great Nephew. July 8, 2001. Copyright by Nigel Pullen 2001. |
