Nijinsky II, the last horse to win the English Triple Crown, was a truly outstanding stallion. Arguably the greatest racehorse sired by Northern Dancer, Nijinsky II sired 862 foals, of which 155 were stakes winners, writes Sarah Whitelaw.
Nijinsky II
His top horses included three Epsom Derby winners, Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand, as well as a host of other outstanding performers.
The Minstrel
Nijinsky II, whose three parts brother is 1977 Epsom Derby winner The Minstrel, also enjoyed some success as a sire of sires, with his successful stallion sons including Caerleon, Green Dancer, Niniski, Royal Academy, Sky Classic, Whiskey Road (sire of top class sire Strawberry Road), and the hugely successful South African sire Dancing Champ.
The latter’s name appears in the pedigree of the Gr1 Cox Plate hero Savabeel (Zabeel) –recently named New Zealand’s Champion Sire for a second year in a row.
Silvano
The Nijinsky II male line remains successful in South Africa, where his descendants include former champion sire Silvano, as well as the promising young sires Bold Silvano (Silvano) and Gitano Hernando (Hernando), and the very popular Cape sire Vercingetorix (Silvano).
Remarkably, Nijinsky II line horses have captured the Gr1 Vodacom Durban July on six occasions, with Marinaresco (Silvano) going oh-so-close to giving this sire line a seventh success this year.
However, this once powerful branch of the Northern Dancer male line has faded largely from international breeding – even if daughters of Caerleon, Green Dancer and Royal Academy continue to make their presence felt.
Fastnet Rock
Royal Academy (whose son Bel Esprit sired the undefeated champion Black Caviar) has ensured his name will be found in pedigrees for generations still to come when his Gr3 Blue Diamond Prelude winning daughter Piccadilly Circus produced outstanding sire Fastnet Rock.
Fastnet Rock
The latter has 95 stakes winners to his credit including 23 individual Gr1 winners. Fastnet Rock is also a promising sire of sires, with his sire sons including the Gr1 producers Hinchinbrook and Stryker, as well as Smart Missile – Australia’s Leading First Crop Sire of 2015-2016.
While the Nijinsky II male line may been in danger of dying out, this mighty champion promises to make his presence felt in top flight pedigrees for generations to come through his daughters.
North America’s dominant sire Tapit (Pulpit) is on course to record his third US General Sires Title, with his runners having already earned over $13.53 million and they include 2016 Gr1 winners Creator and Frosted.
Tapizar
Tapit also has a number of promising sire sons at stud headed by Tapizar and Hansen (both among the top leading first crop sires in the US this year), and Trappe Shot.
Currently the most expensive sire at stud in North America (his stud fee was $300 000 in 2016), Tapit has over 80 stakes winners to his credit, and Tapit looks like maintaining his dominance in North America for seasons to come.
He is one of a long line of top class performers inbred to Nijinsky II, with Tapit’s sire Pulpit’s third dam being the Nijinsky II mare State, and Tapit’s second dam Ruby Slippers (dam of US Champion Sprinter Rubiano) also being a daughter of the 1970 Triple Crown winner.
Tapit
Tapit is not, however, the only major stallion inbred to the mighty Nijinsky II.
The sadly ill-fated Scat Daddy (Johannesburg) is another outstanding sire inbred to the champ –Scat Daddy’s sire Johannesburg, like Pulpit, traces back to the Nijinsky II mare State, while Scat Daddy’s second dam is Nijinsky II’s Gr1 Las Virgenes winning daughter Likeable Style.
Scat Daddy, responsible for over 30 stakes winners last year, has had an unbelievable year in 2016, with his 2yos including the brilliant pair of Caravaggio and Lady Aurelia. In total, Scat Daddy has been represented this year by individual five Gr1 winners –including Celestine and Dacita, victorious in the Gr1 Just A Game and Diana Stakes respectively.
No Nay Never
This magnificent sire has at least six registered sire sons at stud, including former Gr1 Prix Morny hero No Nay Never and one can but wonder how much more he may achieved in a longer innings at stud.
The above mentioned Rubiano is another sire carrying the name of Nijinsky II in his blood to have made his mark at stud.
His daughters include Felicita (dam of Broodmare Of The Year Take Charge Lady) and Starry Dreamer. The latter is dam of the outstanding North American sire War Front (Danzig), whose top performers include champions Air Force Blue, War Command and the red hot young US sire The Factor. War Front’s top runners also include Gr1 Queen Anne Stakes/Gr1 Juddmonte International winner Declaration Of War – who is yet another top class racehorse inbred to Nijinsky II.
Redoute’s Choice
Nijinsky II is also the sire of the outstanding mare Dancing Show – whose grandson is multiple Gr1 winner and triple Australian Champion Sire Redoute’s Choice. The latter has a number of top class performers to his credit who are inbred to Nijinsky II – this tally includes the Gr1 winners Anamato, Cheeky Choice, former Equus Champion Majmu, and Hampton Court.
Louis The King wins the SA Derby and sweeps the Triple Crown
Other top class gallopers inbred to this magnificent champion include former Epsom Oaks winner Look Here (Hernando), Gr1 Golden Slipper winner Mossfun (Mossman), and South African Triple Crown winner Louis The King (Black Minnaloushe).
Clearly, the name of Nijinsky II will live on in pedigrees of outstanding thoroughbreds for generations to come!
