Some Storm Cat male line sires in South Africa include Brave Tin Soldier
Storm Cat was one of the most successful stallions of the past fifty years. A dual champion sire in the USA, Storm Cat headed the 2yo sires list on seven times, and sired yearlings which fetched up to $9.7 million.
He also sired a number of top-class stallion sons including Giant’s Causeway, Tale of the Cat, Hennessy, Harlan, Forestry, Bernstein and Forest Wildcat. The success of Storm Cat and his descendants can be seen from the leading US sires of 2yos list – grandsons Lion Heart, Harlan’s Holiday and First Samurai are 1-2-3!
Storm Cat himself headed that list seven times – and three of his sons have since followed in his footsteps.
However it remains to be seen how strong Storm Cat’s male line will be in the long run.
His best son at stud, Giant’s Causeway, (sire of over 100 stakes winners) has had three sons represented by G1 winners in 2012 – in the form of Shamardal (Amaron, Crackerjack King, Sagawara), Footstepsinthesand (Chachamaidee) and First Samurai (Executiveprivilege).
Another son of Giant’s Causeway, Morning Raider is the sire of world class filly, Amani – a four time G1 winner in Chile, and a G1 performer in the States. Still a young horse as regards having sons at stud, Giant’s Causeway has made a promising start to this aspect of his stud career, and his record could still improve. Shamardal, who himself is represented by sons at stud, is by some way Giant’s Causeway’s best sire son at stud to date.
Black Minnaloushe
Giant’s Causeway is also becoming an outstanding broodmare sire – with his daughters already having produced champion Soft Falling Rain, and such G1 winners as Beauty Parlour (French 1000 Guineas), Eden’s Moon (Las Virgenes S), Planteur (Prix Ganay) and Evening Jewel (Del Mar Oaks).
Tale of the Cat has consistently covered large books of mares, and does not have the best stats around. He is, however, sire of over 70 stakes winners, and his son, Lion Heart, is sire of G1 winner Line of David (Arkansas Derby), Breeders Cup winner Dangerous Midge and unbeaten 2yo Kantharos, to name a few. All three are now at stud.
Another son of Tale of the Cat, Falkirk, is the sire of Hong Kong Derby winner, Fay Fay.
Hennessy was another to produce over 70 stakes winners in a relatively short stud career. His son, Johannesburg, may have been banished to Japan, but he did leave behind the very promising US sire Scat Daddy – leading first crop sire of 2011, and sire of G1 winner Lady of Shamrock (Del Mar Oaks, American Oaks) from his first crop.
Another son of Johannesburg, French G1 winner Sageburg, has made a smart start with his first crop of 2yos in Europe this year – they number the very promising, G3 winning filly, Peace Burg (Prix d’Aumale). Another Johannesburg son, Teuflesberg, produced the multiple G2 winner Trinniberg in his small first crop.
Hennessy’s brilliant son, Henny Hughes, made a slow start to his stud career in North America, and was duly sold to Australia. His current crop of 2yos, however, do including the promising performers Beholder (2nd G1 Del Mar Debutante S) and Carried Interest (2nd G2 Futurity Stakes).
Forestry has been an erratic stallion, with his first 3 crops producing 27 stakes winners – and his next six just 15. He does, however, have the interesting claim of being Storm Cat’s only son to sire a US classic winner (Shackleford -2011 Preakness Stakes).
Forestry’s son Discreet Cat, one of the most brilliant performers in recent years, has made a useful start to his stud career – with his first crop of 3yos including G3 winners Out of Bounds and Mamma Kimbo, as well as the promising but side lined Discreet Dancer.
While Forestry’s G1 winner Forest Danger (Carter Handicap) has proved disappointing at stud, another son, Old Forester is currently Canada’s leading sire. His 41 winners in 2012 have earned in excess of $2.2 million, and include four stakes winners.
Harlan had the potential to become one of his sire’s very best sire sons – but unfortunately died young, and left just four small crops behind.
He left behind two top-class racehorses, from 98 registered foals, in Menifee and Harlan’s Holiday – both of whom won the G1 Blue Grass Stakes. Menifee sired G1 Game Face during his time in Kentucky- but was later exported to Korea. (Storm Cat’s sons Exploit and Creek Cat have both been champion sires in Korea).
Carpocrates
Harlan’s Holiday has become a consistently successful stallion. His 33 stakes winners include G1 winning sires Majesticperfection (A G Vanderbilt Hcp) and Into Mischief (Hollywood Futurity), and he is sire of unbeaten, G2 Hopeful Stakes victor Shanghai Bobby in 2012.
Bernstein, twice champion sire in Argentina, was one of Storm Cat’s best sire sons – getting over 75 stakes winners (17 winning at the highest level). Most of his success was gained in Argentina, and it remains unclear if a son of Bernstein can make an impact on the world stage.
Forest Wildcat was another very consistent stallion, who proved popular in the sales ring. His 69 stakes winners include Wildcat Heir (a former leading first crop sire in the US), and South Africa’s outstanding sire Var. Forest Wildcat is also the broodmare sire of promising young Australian sire prospect and G1 winner, Foxwedge (William Reid S).
Storm Cat is also represented by a number of promising and proven sires in South Africa, through the likes of Black Minnaloushe, Brave Tin Soldier, Carpocrates, Mogok and Tiger Ridge, to name a few.
While it is clear that Storm Cat’s name will be around in pedigrees of top-class thoroughbreds for years to come, it remains to be seen how deep his legacy will be, and which of his grandsons will prove his true heir.
