Galileo
Brothers and half-brothers have a mixed history of success as stallions. While the likes of His Majesty and Graustark, Kris and Diesis and Sadler’s Wells and Fairy Bridge have proved successful, Danehill far outperformed his numerous brothers (Anziyan, Eagle Eyed, Nuclear Freeze – ring few bells) at stud, as did Mr Prospector (Red Ryder,Yukon, Search For Gold) and Gone West (Lion Cavern, Krusenstern), to name just two.
However, in 2014 there have been a number of brothers, half and full, who have made their mark felt on some of the world’s biggest races. The most obvious siblings to excel during this year are Galileo and Sea The Stars, whose combined offspring have won no fewer than nine Grade 1 races in 2014.
Sea The Stars
Galileo and Sea The Stars scored a rare half-sibling sired Epsom classic double earlier this year when Australia (Galileo) won the Derby and Taghrooda (Sea The Stars) took the Oaks. The half-brothers, Galileo is by Sadler’s Wells and Sea The Stars by Cape Cross, currently occupy first and third positions on the GB/UK general sires log for 2014. While Galileo looks on course to record his fifth consecutive GB general sires title, Sea The Stars’ first crop are now three, and he looks set to yet further glory to the marvellous record of his dam, Urban Sea.
Another pair of half-brothers were represented by two Grade 1 winners over this past weekend. Former US Horse Of The Year Ghostzapper’s son Moreno became his sire’s sixth individual Grade 1 winner when landing Saturday’s Gr1 Whitney Handicap. The same day, Palace, by Ghostzapper’s talented half-brother City Zip, earned the first Grade 1 success of his career when successful in the Gr1 Alfred G Vanderbilt Handicap.
Ghostzapper
Ghostzapper and City Zip, who are out of Broodmare of the Year Baby Zip, have both built up solid records at stud. Ghostzapper, who began his stud career at the rather exorbitant fee of $200 000, had a rocky start to his stud career, but has made sufficient recovery over the past few seasons to boost a $50 000 stud fee. To date, the son of Awesome Again has been represented by 40 stakes winners – which represents a remarkable 9% of his foals. This is the statistic of a world class stallion.
By comparison, Ghostzapper’s half-brother City Zip has made a name for himself, rather as did his sire Carson City, as a reliable sire of speedy horses. To date, the stallion, by far and away Carson City’s best sire son at stud, has been represented by 51 % stakes winners, including the Gr1 winners Bustin Stones and Dayatthespa. This is a highly respectable 6% stakes winners to foals, and City Zip surely rates as one of the more reliable sources of stakes winners in North America. However, he is not quite operating at the same level as his half-brother, although it has to be said, that Ghostzapper has benefitted from a high class broodmare during his stud career.
Zamindar
When they first went to stud, most observers would have rated the chances of stud success for 2000 Guineas winner Zafonic higher than those of his inferior brother, Zamindar. However, it was Zamindar who produced a truly outstanding runner (unbeaten Prix de’l Arc de Triomphe winner Zarkava), while Zafonic, a decent sire in his own right, never managed to sire anything of equal class. However, unlike Zamindar, Zafonic has left behind some decent sire sons, notably Count Dubois in South Africa and Iffraaj, sire of the 2014 Group 1 winners Benvenue and Rizeena.
The brothers continue to exert their influence in Europe – though in 2014 it is as broodmare sires that Zafonic/Zamindar come to the fore. Zafonic is the broodmare sire of Saturday’s Group 1 Nassau Stakes victress Sultanina (New Approach) as well the Group 1 Prix Saint Alary “winner” Vazira, while Zamindar is the broodmare sire of 2014’s triple Group 1 winner, and outstanding miler of his generation, Kingman (Invincible Spirit).
Invincible Spirit
A pair of half-brothers who have considerable waves in the UK this season are Invincible Spirit and Kodiac. The pair, who are out of French Oaks winner Rafha, have both excelled in 2014. Invincible Spirit, the Irish National Stud’s top stallion, is not only the sire of the sensational triple Group 1 winner Kingman (one of the hottest sire prospects anywhere in the world), but he is also an exceptionally promising sire of sires. A Group 1 winning sprinter himself, Invincible Spirit (Green Desert) is not only the sire of Group 1 winners, but also sire of promising stallions Zebedee, Vale Of York, Lawman, and I Am Invincible – leading first crop sire in Australia for the 2013-2014 season. Invincible Spirit is the sire of 10 Gr1 winners to date, including this season’s Group 1 Prix Jean Prat hero Charm Spirit.
His half-brother Kodiac, a Group 3 placed son of Danehill, has also been in the news this season. The stallion, sire of sensational 2yo filly Tiggy Wiggy, is currently GB/IRE’s leading sire of 2yos (by prize money won) and been represented by four stakes winners this year thus far. While yet to sire a Gr1 winner, Kodiac has established himself a reliable source of fast and precocious stock.
El Corredor
While not outstanding stallions, the North American based pair of El Corredor and Roman Ruler, both Gr1 winners on the track, are another pair of half-brothers to have made their mark. El Corredor, the broodmare sire of Saturday’s Gr1 Clement L Hirsch Handicap winner Iotapa (Afleet Alex), while Roman Ruler is the sire of this year’s high-class US 3yo General A Rod. El Corredor (Mr Greeley) and Roman Ruler (Fusaichi Pegasus) were produced by the Silver Deputy mare, Silvery Swan.
