Merit Ratings
Merit ratings have always produced their fair share of controversy. The latest one revolves around the Kwa Zulu Natal based horse, Royal Zulu Warrior (Mossman). After winning his maiden by over nine lengths, the handicappers assessed the form as moderate and gave the Australian import a rating of 70. Whilst the runner up in his maiden win has yet to run since and the third horse has been beaten since (albeit by 4.8 lengths), the fourth horse has won and has a rating of 68 – despite finishing 13.5 lengths of Royal Zulu Warrior. The fifth horse home that day, beaten 14.1 lengths, subsequently finished 5 lengths off the promising Catelectric. Sixth home was a horse, subsequently unraced, who had finished a close second at his previous start. Whilst this form is certainly no great shakes, it is hard to believe that merits giving the winner a mere 70. Royal Zulu Warrior himself subsequently won again very easily, and it will be interested to see by how much his merit rating is adjusted. When his merit rating is adjusted, it can only go to 78 (despite having won his most recent start by nine lengths). This means Royal Zulu Warrior, having won his 2 starts by 18 lengths, will race off a 78, which makes something of a mockery of the concept of handicapping.
(Click here for the NHRA’s handicapping guidelines – as amended in April 2010. As Sarah says, they make a mockery of the concept of the concept of handicapping, certainly as it is understood and applied elsewhere in the world – Ed.)
Broodmare sire nicks?
It is easy to get carried away when more than one horse bred on a certain cross start winning feature races. However, statistics prove, that some “nicks” are more a result of numbers than anything else. Some “nicks” are the result of two outstanding parents, rather than a particular pattern working.
Based on the list of broodmare statistics I have viewed, the most successful nick (by percentage) in the modern South African thoroughbred (on a mating done 7 times or more) is the cross of Western Winter onto Royal Chalice. From eight registered foals, the cross has produced 3 stakes winners (at a percentage of 38%). Below, is a list of broodmares and sires, who have the highest percentages of stakes winners to foals. The broodmare sires are on the left of the list, with the sires of stakes winners next to them.
Royal Chalice Western Winter 38%
Model Man Joshua Dancer 30%
Del Sarto Western Winter 30%
Al Mufti Silvano 29%
Foveros Fort Wood 27%
Al Mufti Fort Wood 22%
Fort Wood Al Mufti 21%
The most successful modern day cross in South Africa based on pure numbers of stakes winners bred (regardless of percentages) is National Assembly on Golden Thatch mares. This cross has produced seven individual stakes winners. Other crosses to have done well as far as number of stakes winners go include Al Mufti on Fort Wood mares (6 stakes winners) and Sportsworld on Elliodor mares (5 stakes winners). Muhtafal has produced five stakes winners out of Northern Guest mares (from 55 foals).
Australia’s most popular sires
The list of Australia’s most popular stallions for the past covering season is an interesting one. The list has more than its fair share of unproven, but fashionable, stallions, whilst several sires’ statistics suffer repercussions of being too highly priced.
High Chaparral, currently leading the Aus general sires list, was the leading sire by mares bred last season. The son of Sadler’s Wells covered 218 of Australasia’s finest mares. It was a first season spent in Australia for High Chaparral, who had previously shuttled to New Zealand. His first New Zealand crop included Gp1 winners So You Think, Shoot Out, Descarado and Monaco Consul. The dual Derby winner has now established himself as one of Australia’s prime sires of classic horses. What is interesting about High Chaparral, is that he stands for 25,000 euros in Ireland (R220 000), but $88,000 (nearly R600 000) in Australia. This is a good indication of where he has enjoyed most of his stud success!
Second busiest sire was Choisir (Danehill Dancer), who covered 207 mares in Australia this season. His popularity was due in part to the international success enjoyed by his finest son, Starspangledbanner, who is due to begin his breeding career at Coolmore this year. Like High Chaparral, Choisir stands at Coolmore.
Remarkably 11 first year stallions covered over 100 mares “down under” last season. This is a staggering leap of faith shown in such unproven horses. Two of the unproven sires to have covered 100 mares in their first season at stud failed to win a Gr1 race.
Leading Australian sires Redoute’s Choice (Danehill) (121), Encosta de Lago (Fairy King) (134) and More Than Ready (Southern Halo) (107) understandably remained popular with breeders.
Russian at the Queen’s Plate
Russian Fox was the weekend’s most successful broodmare sire in South Africa. Not only is he the broodmare sire of l’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner, the gallant Mother Russia (Windrush), Russian Fox is also broodmare sire of the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes winner Tara’s Son (Tara’s Halls) and Politician Stakes runner up Nysean Bolt (Nysean).
Russian Fox mares have done well with a host of different stallions, as the weekend’s results – each of the stakes performers mentioned are by a different sire! His daughters have produced stakes winners to 14 different sires, ranging from Al Mufti and National Assembly to Jallad and Sportsworld. However, Russian Fox daughters have not done well with any particular sire. Every stakes winner out of a Russian Fox mare is by a different stallion.
Queen’s Plate – great result for Premier Sale
The result of Saturday’s l’Ormarins Queen’s Plate was a great boost for this month’s Cape Premier Yearling Sale. The Sale’s 290 horse catalogue includes a full sister to Queen’s Plate winner Mother Russia (Windrush), as well as a half-sister to third place finisher, Ebony Flyer (Jet Master). Ebony Flyer has a half-brother, by Captain Al, on offer at the Sale, which takes place on January 27th and 28th. Mother Russia’s win on Saturday was a fine tribute to not only her class, but her durability. The flashy mare has now won stakes races at 2,3,4 and 5, which is a rare feat in today’s thoroughbred.
The sires of the first four home (Windrush, Kahal, Jet Master) in the Queen’s Plate all have offspring on the inaugural Premier Sale.
