He's pretty well bred for turf. I'm hardly an expert, but Smart Strikes have had some good success running on turf over here and obviously have handled dirt as well given the recent rash of graded stakes winners from that guy.

EC's female family looks pretty green. His broodmare sire is Theatrical, and the same mare (Committed) that produced EC's dam also produced the very solid turf horse Hap and was a champion runner on the grass.

What the hell do I know? It looks pretty turfy to me, but it seems that there could be some solid dirt potential, especially with the advent of synthetic surfaces hosting traditionally "dirt" races.

Well from what i have been reading, Smart Strike has had a good year (EC apart). If they don't price him too high, breeders might really like him in his first season just to get through to Smart Strike. That said, it doesn't always work like that. Over here, Cape Cross has been getting very good mares for the past two or three years, even though Green Desert is cheaper himself, i believe. No doubt the mighty Ouija Board has something to do with that, though.

My guess is that his fee will have rocketed from winning the BC turf.

They need to send Megahartz to EC next year. Will be the smallest race horse ever ...13 hands maybe:D

no

I would be skeptical of his chances and he will have to be really good considering where he will be standing.

Why is that Deb?

turf horses are always up against it in this country. then there's the farm he'll be standing. also just the incredible amount of competition out there. you have got to have plenty of support for a stallion to make it, will he have that? odds are against him being a success. it's tough, and in ky is that much tougher--and at a pretty new farm as well. where will his mares come from? how many have they got to support him? who is in the syndicate? the fact that he's going there i feel speaks volumes about demand for his services.

Good points and he was small which does not help. 1 1/2 turf horses do not usually do great here.

Your boy's new home doesn't even have a website. You better book a ticket to Korea so you can go see him in a couple years.

I know...I was checking it out last night. They got Bellamy Road and Artie Hang...I mean Schiller showing up there. Bootleg...

he needs to have horses do well on other than turf. and of course smart strike has had that this year. definitely can get anything with him.
but that's the daddy. whole new ball game with the boys, and we all know that not all sires of good racehorses become sires of sires.

If I was looking to breed a turf star I would MUCH rather breed to Shakespeare, he was a freak, he could win at a mile and a mile and a half, much, much better looking horse as well.:)

You wouldn't be dissuaded by Shakespeare's numerous health problems?

I would.

NT

i would as well.
it's not that i don't think english channel CAN be a good sire, it's whether he'll get the chance. his is well bred, and his sire has shown he can get them short to long, dirt and turf. but with english channel being turf both top and bottom, he won't get as much attention from commercial breeders as some other smart strikes would.
if you're searching for a route turfer, he's one to go to. sound as a bell, and a runner and champion. you could certainly do worse!!

No I wouldn't, he had tendon problems which ANY horse can sufferfrom, he's a big beautiful specimen and he showed he was very versatile in winning a Grade 1 in both a mile and a route, in spectacular fashion. I would be more wary of getting a shrimpy little hot head from English Channel.