breeding shows....
 

discreet cat, by forestry, by storm cat.
henny hughes, by hennesy, by storm cat.
bernardini, by ap indy, by seattle slew.
bluegrass cat, by storm cat.
aragorn, by giants causeway, by storm cat.

there was an article about a year or so ago about storm cat, who is now 24 and in the twilight years of his career, altho apparently no one has told his progeny that! ap indy is poised to take away the top spot in a few years, altho he's no spring chicken himself. at any rate, back to the article, which stated that storm cat had no top colt to take his place at the top, that he hadn't yet proven himself a sire of sires, and asked if anyone would be able to make a name before we ran out of time. apparently that writer got ahead of himself! three horses vying to fill their sires shoes.

I have the splendid satisfaction of not only being the first to predict big things for Bernardini ...

... but also to know that he's from the Bold Ruler line ... and will likely keep it going in sumptuous fashion.

Not only is Bernardini from the Bold Ruler line ... he's inbred to him (5x4) x 4 ... through his marvelous sons Boldnesian, Secretariat, and Bold Bidder.

The latter two were champion race horses ... and Boldnesian was a G1 winner who may have become a champion ... were he not injured.

Blood and class aren't guaranteed to produce champions ...

... but they sure help.

storm cat has been an incredible influence world wide, much like his grandsire northern dancer. it's good to know that influence will continue.
and ap indy, he's always been a huge fave of mine. slews best at stud....

thing is, ap indy hasn't proven himself a sire of sires...mineshaft--so far so good, but too soon to tell.

i just thought of something depressing tho. bernardini. that joker wins the bcc, you can kiss his butt goodbye to darley at jonabell. they've got plans for discreet cat for next year. you watch.

I disagree, Danzig. AP Indy is off to a very promising start as a sire of sires. Pulpit is very good, though somewhat inconsistent. Malibu Moon is a solid sire, Old Trieste has sired some nice ones...Mineshaft is clearly his best son (thus far) and I think will be a superior sire. Also, Pulpit's son Sky Mesa is extremely highly regarded and his yearlings sold very well, so that line will continue (it looks like).

I really think Bernardini will run next year; Sheikh Mohammed is clearly reveling in his horse's performances and having a grand old time. I'm sure he wants his homebred to be considered a really great horse, and that would mean running as a 4 year old.

I dunno ...

... he didn't do it with Lammtarra ...

... sent that wonderful boy off to stud after only four races.

Bernardini has Slew, Secretariat, Fappiano, Spectacular Bid in his first 3 gens. there is no shaortage of black type in his family although there are no reines de course. at this time.

and his breeding basically is your tried and true Slew/Mr Prospector line cross.

pulpit is unsound as the day as long, much as i like him, i don't think he's a good representative. malibu moon is showing promise, we'll see. old trieste sadly passed away.

mineshaft is a darn good prospect, as is bernardini. i hope ap indy has a lasting influence as a sire...

Me, too. I really loved him. I remember his race in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (after a bad race in the Molson Million); he got off to a terrible start and still rallied to run very well against Pleasant Tap. He won the Classic in a hand ride after that.......boy, I was bummed when they retired him. Not very sporting of Will Farish, I have to say now.