Just scanning the headlines, and I see that five top-class mares are already confirmed in foal to Sea the Stars, confirmed today as the Horse of the Year in France for 2009. The mares include the dam of Zarkava (who will visit Sea the Stars herself soon) and the dam of George Washington and Grandera. On paper, it doesn’t get any better than this, classic examples of “breed the best to the best and hope for the best.” I can’t wait to see these foals and how they develop. I am (like most people) a huge fan of Sea the Stars, and of his sire, Cape Cross (who gave us Cape Tycoon, my only duel winner last year). I still believe that the best race mares do not make the best brood mares (Sea the Stars’ dam, Urban Sea, being the biggest exception to that belief), so I have more hope for the combination of the dam of Zarkava and Sea the Stars than I do for the products of Zarkava herself. But who knows? Maybe she’ll be the next Urban Sea. I’ve seen photos of her first foal by Dalakhani, and she looks like a fine filly indeed, although I admit I have no idea how to judge a foal. They change so much and so fast I prefer to look at them as late yearlings, and even then things can change a lot. In any case, I think we can expect to see a few Sea the Stars products entered in the classics in 2014. That sounds like a long way off, but it will be here in an instant (that’s the middle-age lady seeing the years fly by attitude coming through…)
Gina,
Perhaps you’re correct in thinking the very best racemares don’t often reproduce themselves, but good racemares are the best bet statistically. Multiple winners and stakes class mares consistently outproduce the ones who can’t run.
Are you seeing anything on the gallops to suggest who might be getting some precocious 2yos?
All the best,
Frank
Frank – I agree that the mares showing some performance on the track are a better bet in the breeding shed than those that have tried and failed to win races. But the very top-class mares, like Goldikova and Sunline – remember her? – tend to give it all at the office, so to speak, I think.
As for the precocious 2yos – too soon to tell. We won’t have our first 2yo races until the end of the month, but I’ll certainly be watching!
0.o If all turns out well, then that foal is gonna be one lean mean racing machine!!!!
That rings tru sometimes but not all the times, Personel Ensign – Rare Treat and others did produce but like a lot o fhigh class stallions do not always sire thru. Maybe they gave too much t the office.