Matings 2018

[mariasmon]

Arrogate has straight front legs, which would be an absolute requirement for any mating with Songbird.

[Starine]

Makes more sense to send her to the senior stallion first, but what do I know?

[Ballerina]

Dickinson -> Curlin

Yuck

Yeah, I didn't think it was a very exciting match, not getting many graded stakes winners.

Nicks out to an A.

From Wiki

Though his offspring may be somewhat slow to mature, Curlin is now regarded as a source of classic stamina. His graded stakes winners include:

Exaggerator: winner of the 2016 Preakness Stakes, Santa Anita Derby, Haskell Invitational, 2nd in the Kentucky Derby. Winner of the 2015 Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes and the Saratoga Special

Palace Malice: 2013 Belmont Stakes, 2014 Metropolitan Handicap

Stellar Wind (horse): 2015 Champion 3-Year-Old Filly – won 2015 Santa Anita Oaks, Torrey Pines Stakes, Summertime Oaks, Santa Ysabel Stakes, 2nd in 2015 Breeders' Cup Distaff. In 2016, won Clement L. Hirsch and Zenyatta Stakes, 3rd in Distaff. In 2017, won Apple Blossom Handicap and Beholder Mile Stakes

Keen Ice: 2015 Travers Stakes

Curalina: 2015 Acorn Stakes, Coaching Club American Oaks, 2016 La Troienne Stakes, Shuvee Handicap

Off the Tracks; 2016 Mother Goose Stakes

Irish War Cry: 2017 Wood Memorial Stakes, Holy Bull Stakes, 2nd Belmont Stakes

Connect: 2016 Cigar Mile Handicap, Pennsylvania Derby. In 2017, won Westchester Stakes

Terra Promessa: 2016 Fantasy Stakes, Honeybee Stakes. In 2017, won Bayakoa Handicap, Allaire duPont Distaff Stakes

Curlin's Approval: In 2017, won Royal Delta Stakes, Hurricane Bertie Stakes

Ocean Knight: 2015 Sam F. Davis Stakes

Diversy Harbor: 2015 Buena Vista Stakes

[Sparrow Castle]

Yuck

Yeah, I didn't think it was a very exciting match, not getting many graded stakes winners.

Nicks out to an A.

From Wiki

Though his offspring may be somewhat slow to mature, Curlin is now regarded as a source of classic stamina. His graded stakes winners include:

Exaggerator: winner of the 2016 Preakness Stakes, Santa Anita Derby, Haskell Invitational, 2nd in the Kentucky Derby. Winner of the 2015 Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes and the Saratoga Special

Palace Malice: 2013 Belmont Stakes, 2014 Metropolitan Handicap

Stellar Wind (horse): 2015 Champion 3-Year-Old Filly – won 2015 Santa Anita Oaks, Torrey Pines Stakes, Summertime Oaks, Santa Ysabel Stakes, 2nd in 2015 Breeders' Cup Distaff. In 2016, won Clement L. Hirsch and Zenyatta Stakes, 3rd in Distaff. In 2017, won Apple Blossom Handicap and Beholder Mile Stakes

Keen Ice: 2015 Travers Stakes

Curalina: 2015 Acorn Stakes, Coaching Club American Oaks, 2016 La Troienne Stakes, Shuvee Handicap

Off the Tracks; 2016 Mother Goose Stakes

Irish War Cry: 2017 Wood Memorial Stakes, Holy Bull Stakes, 2nd Belmont Stakes

Connect: 2016 Cigar Mile Handicap, Pennsylvania Derby. In 2017, won Westchester Stakes

Terra Promessa: 2016 Fantasy Stakes, Honeybee Stakes. In 2017, won Bayakoa Handicap, Allaire duPont Distaff Stakes

Curlin's Approval: In 2017, won Royal Delta Stakes, Hurricane Bertie Stakes

Ocean Knight: 2015 Sam F. Davis Stakes

Diversy Harbor: 2015 Buena Vista Stakes

Probably just me. When I saw Jess's Dream and Kenyan were the only two Winners direct-sired by Curlin out of MDO mares, and Rock Fall (Speightstown) was the only GSW, and the cross got only 4% SWs from starters, I lost my enthusiasm.

[Treve]

Arrogate has straight front legs, which would be an absolute requirement for any mating with Songbird.

Songbird wasn't as badly over at the knees as a youngster as she is now which makes me think that while there is a possibility that she has a congenital predisposition, the stress of racing is mostly responsible (and perhaps the issues she developed later on, as she compensated exacerbated this). Not like Curlin who is as crooked as his mama. Nevertheless, I actually was thinking about her legs when I made that comment, Arrogate doesn't have a great shoulder. Assuming her front legs are genetically predisposed, if the baby inherits Arrogate's shoulder (which contributes to his long, low run style) that will probably bring out the worst tendency in the baby's legs as it runs and will not be optimal for long term soundness or a long career.

[mariasmon]

Songbird *does* have a fantastic shoulder.

[Charlie]

Arrogate may have straight legs but they look small on his large body. Could you image a horse with his large body and straight shoulder and with her legs?

[mariasmon]

I really don't think Arrogate's legs are too small for his body. The shoulder observation is spot-on. And he has a really unattractive head (irrelevant, for the most part). Bob Baffert doesn't wind up with a lot of auction purchases who aren't nicely balanced. Donato Lanni can pick a horse for me any day. Any day after I win the lottery, that is

[Ballerina]

Not like Curlin who is as crooked as his mama.

Curlin had a wonky ankle as a youngster due to a calcium deposit plus he was bowing out at the knee and his head looked like it belonged on another horse. He just wasn't very attractive as a youngster. But he outgrew most of it. He now has a handsome head and a beautiful shoulder. In short, he's a drop dead handsome horse. If there is some perceived unsoundness in his front legs, it sure didn't hurt his chances running. He's one of the soundest horses in the business and unless he is passing on the knee problem to his get, I think it means no never mind.

[mariasmon]

The only thing I really don't like about Curlin is that he's quite short-legged for such a strapping body.

[Treve]

Not like Curlin who is as crooked as his mama.

Curlin had a wonky ankle as a youngster due to a calcium deposit plus he was bowing out at the knee and his head looked like it belonged on another horse. He just wasn't very attractive as a youngster. But he outgrew most of it. He now has a handsome head and a beautiful shoulder. In short, he's a drop dead handsome horse. If there is some perceived unsoundness in his front legs, it sure didn't hurt his chances running. He's one of the soundest horses in the business and unless he is passing on the knee problem to his get, I think it means no never mind.

I don't know if that is what affected Jess's Dream's career but I do recall seeing pics of him and noticing he'd gotten Curlin's legs. Curlin certainly gets runners, and I was actually very surprised the first time I saw a confo shot of Curlin. I think he's a helluva horse from the chest up, and so I really don't have any problem with the idea of mating him to most mares as long as they have clean legs to increase chances the offspring won't be affected. Whether his legs didn't bother him at all, or he performed in spite of them, certainly shows the caliber of race horse he was.

[Ballerina]

The only thing I really don't like about Curlin is that he's quite short-legged for such a strapping body.

Maybe his legs were the right length - just too much body. I'd hate to see him any taller than his already 16.2 height.

[Ballerina]

I don't know if that is what affected Jess's Dream's career but I do recall seeing pics of him and noticing he'd gotten Curlin's legs. Curlin certainly gets runners, and I was actually very surprised the first time I saw a confo shot of Curlin. I think he's a helluva horse from the chest up, and so I really don't have any problem with the idea of mating him to most mares as long as they have clean legs to increase chances the offspring won't be affected. Whether his legs didn't bother him at all, or he performed in spite of them, certainly shows the caliber of race horse he was.

Some photo's of Jess's Dream's underpinnings

[BaroqueAgain1]

Am I correct in thinking that those are some long, lumpy pasterns?

[Ballerina]

Am I correct in thinking that those are some long, lumpy pasterns?

His mommy Rachel's pasterns

[Sparrow Castle]

Craig Bernick‏ @Craig_Bernick
How (Galileo-Lillie Langtry) getting a last look at GHF. Heads to Kentucky for quarantine tomorrow, flies to England and will be bred to Dubawi.

[Sparrow Castle]

Group 1 Winner Pretty Girl Retired, to Visit Union Rags
http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/gr ... nion-rags/

[mariasmon]

Marsha (IRE) --> Galileo

[Sparrow Castle]

Marsha(IRE) --> Galileo

Coolmore and Godolphin got in another bidding war and Coolmore won this one. She sold for an incredible 6,000,000gns, a European record for a broodmare. That's more than $8 million if I'm remembering correctly. Godolphin won the bidding war for Dank's Galileo filly by Galileo at the October yearling sale. Looks like there will be a lot of mixing of Dubawi and other Godolphin mares' bloodlines with Galileo's and other Coolmore stallions. And Coolmore mares will visit Godolphin stallions. Will be fun to watch and hopefully will improve the breed in Europe.

https://www.racingpost.com/bloodstock/b ... ble/310801

And an article about the Marsha sale:
https://www.racingpost.com/bloodstock/b ... eas/311141

[Starine]

Zhukova --> Dubwai