Oracle thanks for mushing Circular Quay

[georgewashington]

Originally Posted by Pedigree Ann

Are you stating this as an established fact? Or as a frequently seen assertion? Or just for this one instance? The fact is that even classic winners and classic sires like Thunder Gulch sire a goodly number of horses who don't last out a classic distance. (Horses in the wild didn't need to run fast more than a couple of furlongs to get out of harm's way and without continuous human intervention, we wouldn't have horses who run longer distances; therefore, we have to keep testing, ie running the races, to find the ones with distance ability.) Having a mama who couldn't run long, although a mare of some class, puts CQ at a disadvantage in the genetic roulette game. I would also note that if on looks a horse strongly takes after one parent or the other, they are most likely to replicate that parent's distance preferences. CQ doesn't remind me a lot of Thunder Gulch.

I am not sure that because a horse takes on the looks of the sire or mare that the horse is going to replicate that parent's distance performances. I can't honestly say I have ever seen any data that backs that up.

If you have ever seen Dynaformer, he is one of the ugliest horses ever to walk the face of the earth (mean bastard too), but his stamina has come through in some really attractive horses he sired.

There was a Dynaformer this year that was very attractive out of a Carson City mare. Obviously he didn't take on the looks of his daddy, but he got his stamina from him. Over the last few weeks he has even started to act a little like his daddy, which is actually a good thing right now.

[Pedigree Ann]

Originally Posted by georgewashington

I am not sure that because a horse takes on the looks of the sire or mare that the horse is going to replicate that parent's distance performances. I can't honestly say I have ever seen any data that backs that up.

This is my impression, not the results of any study. And like anything in heredity it is more tendency than certainty. You can always find a counter-example because nothing in TB ability inheritance is 100%. Even a good mating doesn't succeed every time, like the one that produced Mr. Prospector, which only 'hit' 1.5 times (if you consider Search for Gold a good horse) out of 5 tries.

I am curious - when you say 'ugly', are you talking about his face, his forelegs or hindlegs, or the entire conformational package? I am told that breeding people considered Sunday Silence ugly and that was one reason why Arthur Han**** couldn't find anyone to buy him for stud aside from the Japanese. (There was a great call - they drooled over Easy Goer and dismissed SS.) I didn't see it, especially not on the track. He wasn't a 'pretty horsie' like War Chant, but not particularly unattractive to my eye.

[Pedigree Ann]

Do you see that? They censored one of the greatest names in American breeding! Claiborne Farm and now Stone Farm and their name can't be typed on this forum. Bizarre.

Originally Posted by Pedigree Ann

Do you see that? They censored one of the greatest names in American breeding! Claiborne Farm and now Stone Farm and their name can't be typed on this forum. Bizarre.

uhhh. I hope you're trying to make a funny.

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by Pedigree Ann

I am curious - when you say 'ugly', are you talking about his face, his forelegs or hindlegs, or the entire conformational package? I am told that breeding people considered Sunday Silence ugly and that was one reason why Arthur Han**** couldn't find anyone to buy him for stud aside from the Japanese. (There was a great call - they drooled over Easy Goer and dismissed SS.) I didn't see it, especially not on the track. He wasn't a 'pretty horsie' like War Chant, but not particularly unattractive to my eye.

I think dynaformer is ugly too...he looks like he could pull a plow...not that he isn't correct, he's just a heavy, common, unattractive animal...IMO. And as stated earlier I hear he's nasty mean.
But for my money if I was breeding to race (not to sell) I wouldn't hesitate to go to him...