Horse Racing Forum - USA Thoroughbred Races

question regarding stamina and how it's "passed along".

chitu just ran an apparently unexciting 9f race (i missed the final quarter which i read was slow, but the final overall time was pretty good). he is by a sprinter (henny hughes).

beholder has won at 9f, at a fairly high level. she is also by henny hughes.

beholder has less (?) stamina influence on the dam side than chitu has, i think, correct me if i'm wrong because i'm trying to learn. she has stop the music, who wasn't exactly bad at distance i don't think, but i know he has records at like a mile and one at... 6f? 5f? and clever trick who i think was a sprinter/miler?

while chitu has ap indy (and thus slew), and a double shot of secretariat (one on either side).

why would beholder be better at 9f than chitu, even with chitu having more stamina in his lines? is it just a "sometimes they do, sometimes they don't" like full siblings not being in the same class, or is there more going on?

The thing about Henny Hughes (who was a sprinter, best at 7F) is that he is out of a mare by Meadowlake, who was a sprinter.

Besides sharing the same sire, I wouldn't want to compare Chitu to Beholder- two very different running styles, and at this point I'd say Beholder is MILES ahead of Chitu. Beholder is a half sister to Into Mischief, who was also a GSW at 8.5F, and is siring miler/sprinter types like Goldencents...so the female side (Leslie's Lady) of those two is producing quality horses. Beholder has that high cruising speed that she carries 8.5-9 furlongs.

I think it helps Chitu that AP Indy is on his dam's side. Chitu's dam won at 10F on the turf. But, if you look to the 2nd dam of Chitu, she's by Zilzal, who was a miler. I think Chitu won't get 10F.

Well state, Izvestia. I'd add that some of the stallions on Beholders side are rated more for long distance than those on Chitu's distaff side. AP Indy and Secretariat are more rated for Intermediate and classic, where Beholder has more notable stamina (albeit further back) in the form of Princequillo and Sea Bird.

breeding side of thoroughbreds - you are my favourite side. don't tell that to racing, might hurt its feelings. but the science of breeding is fascinating.

sweettalk wrote:breeding side of thoroughbreds - you are my favourite side. don't tell that to racing, might hurt its feelings. but the science of breeding is fascinating.

Same here. I'm just a fan, but I had to read Frank Mitchell's breeding theories book. It was fascinating to read about Tesio's theories, biomechanics, dosage, etc. If I could do a career change, I'd love to get into that part of the industry, but I know I'm way too late to that dance!

swale1984 wrote:

sweettalk wrote:breeding side of thoroughbreds - you are my favourite side. don't tell that to racing, might hurt its feelings. but the science of breeding is fascinating.

Same here. I'm just a fan, but I had to read Frank Mitchell's breeding theories book. It was fascinating to read about Tesio's theories, biomechanics, dosage, etc. If I could do a career change, I'd love to get into that part of the industry, but I know I'm way too late to that dance!

http://www.amazon.com/Racehorse-Breedin ... 0929346750
this? $10 for the kindle i'm suddenly grateful was invented, lol. look at those hard-copy prices!

swale1984 wrote:

sweettalk wrote:breeding side of thoroughbreds - you are my favourite side. don't tell that to racing, might hurt its feelings. but the science of breeding is fascinating.

Same here. I'm just a fan, but I had to read Frank Mitchell's breeding theories book. It was fascinating to read about Tesio's theories, biomechanics, dosage, etc. If I could do a career change, I'd love to get into that part of the industry, but I know I'm way too late to that dance!

Agree with you both. I'd rather look at pedigrees and understand the genetics that goes into it. That's also why I enjoy the sales. I love going through the catalogues.

I was lucky enough to be on the MSNBC forum with a couple of people who really explained the importance of the female family to me. Now, after I look at a sire, I look at the dam and HER sire, then the tail female line. Because of that, I have said that I think that, if handled properly, Zenyatta could be a HUGE component to getting the breed back to stamina. She needs to start throwing fillies, though!