What do many modern day great sires have in common?

Answer – a family history of top class sires.

For example; the great Top Honcho descends from the Take Murex family – one of the truly great sire families, having produced the likes of Pigalle Wonder, Prairie Flash, Waverly Supreme, The Grand Silver, Daring Dandy and numerous other successful sires.

The leading Australian sire line to day Credibility comes from the obscure “Lady Bel Air” family. But a family which produced Wild Occasion, who in turn sired World Conquest – former holder of the 457m world record at 25.80sec. Delving further back, Credibility decends from the Blue Linen tail line – a dam line responsible for leading sire Fine Linen...sire of the immortal Black Top – Black Top himself inbred to Blue Linen, through brother/sister combination of Fine Linen and Yulalla, was himself a champion sire. Sire of the legendary Zoom Top.

Great Irish/UK sire Droopys Vieri traces back in tail line to Tintamarre (Tanist x Mad Darkie) a litter-sister to the great sire Mad Tanist.

Leading Irish/UK sire Droopys Kewell descends from the immortal Millie’s May tail line – a sire family which has produced any number of leading sires across the globe, such as Silver Hope (Ire/UK), Tivoli Dreamer (Aus) and Fortress (USA).

Droopys Maldini & Droopys Scolari trace back to the Favourite Tip dam line a dam line which has produced leading sires Knockrour Again and Glittering Look

Modern day great Australian sires Token Prince and Just The Best descend from the legendary race and broodbitch Bay Road Queen – a dam line which produced quality sire Captain Standby, but most significantly Bay Road Queen traces back to the legendary broodbitch Gorgeous Babe – arguably the greatest sire family the world has seen – through great Australian sire Magic Babe and leading US sire Tell You Why – Tell You Why dam sire of the immortal sires Rooster Cogburn and Sand Man. Import pioneer Frightful Flash also descends from Rocket Jet x Gorgeous Babe [Early Jet]. Further removed to Daisy Valley leading sires Fawn Scout and Second Stage.


Bombastic Shiraz traces back to Zulu Moss – a sire family which has produced numerous leading sires, such as Worth Doing, Chief Dingaan, Riviera Tiger, Casino Tom – even the obscure Dagenham, a complete non-commercial sire produced exceptionally well and can be found in leading sire Elite State. Zulu Moss tracing back to Cursorial - dam of leading sire New Mariner.

Somewhat of a surprise packet, but excellent sire Solve The Puzzle traces back to “Million Dollar Girl” – tail line which also produced a quality sire in Star Title.

Black Shiraz traces back to the imported brood Tapestry – a tail line responsible for numerous leading sires, such as – Tangaloa, Tangairn, Gold Grotto, Primo Uno etc.

Leading sire Light Of Fire traces back to Centrefire sister to leading Australian sire Shining Chariot. Also, from the same Princess Diro family, leading sire Bowetzel – all tracing back to the legendary Dechmont family – a family behind great sires Tullera Lad and The Marne – The Marne bred on a duplication of Dechmont.

Head Honcho traces back to the “Black & White Flash” tail line – a line which has produced leading sire Eaglehawk Star - a tail line which traces back to the imported brood Phar’s Reminder – descendants of this broodbitch include a who’s who of Australian sires, such as - Brett Lee, Awesome Assassin and Elite State.

Come On Ranger traces back to Kilcomney Hostess - a dam line behind successful even great sires Cheerful Chariot and the immortal Whisper Wishes.

Westmead Hawk - new kid on the block, who has created a stir - traces back to Ruby's Bridge - tail line of successful, even somewhat underrated sire Knockeevan Star. Further removed back to Lady Expert and succesful sires Jimsun and Monalee Expert.

Then of course there are families, which while they have their moments consistently perform at a lower level to the great sire families – most notably in recent years is Premier Fantasy – whilst a good sire of open/city class, something to be respected – still after 1600 offspring across the globe, only has two Group 1 winners to his name – Fear Zafonic (UK), out of the great broodbitch Farloe Oyster and restricted Galway (Ire) bitches winner Slick Sioux. Something consistent in recent times from what is unquestionably a great dam line – best know as the “Burnpark” tail line – a dam line which has produced greats Talentedmrripley (USA) and Chart King (UK/Ire) - both most notably major flops at stud.

Another great dam line – which while it has its sire moments, hasn’t proven to be a great sire family is the “Bale” line – with Lansley Bale being the best of the family – around any number of poorly performed family members.

Others;

Bond already has his detractors. Yet when you consider his family history, he is likely to be a handy sire, rather than a great sire - with in recent times moderately performed sires Ultimate Wish and Ultra Desire.

The Travelling Girl dam line another which hasn't set the world on fire in the stud ranks. With probably the best in recent years being New Fox and Royal Impact in Ireland. Though Burst Asunder did produce the brilliant Super Burst.

Again, Bit Chili will be the next sire on the chopping block, with a number of moderately performed sires in his family - the likes of Modern Assassin, Modern Express, Modern Gossip and Malawi Law. The exceptions being Golden Currency for a brief time leading "city/open" sire at Wentworth Park and of course Honcho Classic has been a decent sire in Ireland, but would have been a non-commercial entity in Australia and debatable whether he would have reached any great heights in his homeland. So fair play to these type of sires getting their chance in other countries.

Maybe it’s just coincidence, but nontheless a phenomenon this writer finds intriguing, if nothing else. It will be interesting to see where the next great sire comes from and which family he will descend from.