Between now and the Kentucky Derby, pedigree expert Edwin Anthony will be providing Paulick Report readers with insightful commentaries on many of the leading contenders for the race that most breeders and owners dream of winning. Ed comes from the racing family that bred and owned such classic winners as Temperence Hill and Prairie Bayou (a mating he recommended) under the Loblolly Stable banner, and he’s written for many publications, including Racing Update, where he learned pedigree research from bloodstock journalist pioneer Bill Oppenheim.

Ed has written an important new book, “The American Thoroughbred (Volume 1),” that should be in the library of anyone with an interest in Thoroughbred pedigrees, from serious racing fans, to newcomers to this fascinating world of breeding, to experienced matings planners seeking a fresh perspective. He is knowledgeable, creative in his thought process, authoritative and opinionated, and that’s a pretty good combination. – Ray Paulick

By Edwin Anthony
Thoroughbred racing and breeding is a global enterprise. This has certainly been brought to the fore in recent decades with the racing dominance of 3 princely brothers from Dubai (and other Arab interests like Juddmonte Farm and The Thoroughbred Corporation), as well as the Irish-based stallion conglomerate and breeding empire known simply as Coolmore. Coolmore pioneered the concept of the “dual hemisphere” stallion, in which studs are shuttled back and forth between Europe or the United States and Australia, where they can service mares on Southern Hemisphere time. This has ushered in an era of stallions being bred to enormous books of mares, as well as a confusing slate of statistics, as breeding farms have rushed to emulate and compete with the trendsetters of the industry.

This bit of background information is necessary, as it explains the circumstances that led American champion 2-year-old colt Dehere to Australia, where he sired the Grade 1-winning filly Bollinger, the dam of Friesan Fire (click here <http://www.pedigreequery.com/friesan+fire>  to view his pedigree). Bollinger was a high-class sprinter/miler, winning 3 graded or “group” events in the seven-furlong range, including the aptly named Coolmore Classic (Aust-GI). The dam of Bollinger was the Australian champion 2-year-old filly of her year, Bint Marscay, a winner of the important six-furlong Golden Slipper Stakes (Aust-G1) over colts.

There’s certainly no substitute for a classic prospect by the great stallion A.P. Indy with a first and second dam that were not only very fast, but Grade 1-caliber as well. And you can’t easily dismiss Friesan Fire on the grounds of lacking stamina, if only because A.P. Indy’s greatest successes at stud have involved crossing him with mares that possessed high-quality speed, as in the cases of performers like Mineshaft (Horse of the Year), Bernardini (champion), and Tomisue’s Delight (Grade 1 winner).
 
As a Belmont (G1)/Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner, A.P. Indy has more than enough class and stamina in his genetic bank to balance with the speed genes in the mares bred to him. This comes not only from the Triple Crown winners Seattle Slew and Secretariat so prominent in his pedigree, but also from the fact that his dam, Weekend Surprise, is closely inbred (2 x 4) to Secretariat’s dam, Somethingroyal, who was sired by the stout stamina influence Princequillo. As A.P. Indy’s second dam was sired by the classic influence Buckpasser, who is found in so many important pedigrees, you can see why A.P. Indy has little trouble passing on classic-distance performance in his progeny. We also find the notable stallion My Babu at the base of A.P. Indy’s family tree, he being a very close relative of Turn-to, an important stud who appears twice in A.P. Indy’s lineage.

Much of this genetic class found in A.P. Indy’s lineage is mirrored in the dam side of Friesan Fire’s pedigree. A.P. Indy carries three crosses of the important foundation mare La Troienne, while Bollinger’s sire, Dehere, brings in two crosses of La Troienne’s champion son, Bimelech.

Dehere was produced by a Secretariat mare (another cross of Somethingroyal), with a second dam by classic winner Damascus (out of a mare by My Babu—linking with Turn-to and My Babu in A.P. Indy’s pedigree).

Marscay, the sire of Friesan Fire’s second dam, was a high-class sprinter, winning the Golden Slipper (Aust-G1) at 2, and leading the Australian sire list twice. Although he is from the Star Kingdom line (distinctly Australian), his dam is very American, with his first three dams being sired by To Market (see pedigree of Spectacular Bid), Beau Max, and his half-brother Better Self (a son of Bimelech—more La Troienne). Thus, Marscay’s 2nd dam is intensely inbred (2 x 3) to the important broodmare Bee Mac, a daughter of Triple Crown winner War Admiral.
 
Friesan Fire’s third dam was sired by the tremendous stallion Sir Tristram, who dominated the sire lists in Australasia from his base in New Zealand. Although he only managed to win 2 of 19 starts on the track, Sir Tristram possessed an outstanding pedigree, being from the important Selene family, and carrying both Sir Gaylord (more Turn-to AND Somethingroyal), and My Babu (that’s 3 crosses, in addition to the fact that he’s closely related to Turn-to) prominently in his pedigree. Sir Tristram also possesses 4 x 3 inbreeding to the stamina influence Princequillo through a son and a daughter, as he was produced from a mare by the exceptionally sound racehorse Round Table.

Doubters of Friesan Fire’s potential classic stamina may take note of the fact that he is bred on the same A.P. Indy/Deputy Minister combination that is found in the pedigree of the champion filly Rags to Riches.  She, of course, defeated subsequent two-time Horse of the Year Curlin in a stirring rendition of the classic, 12-furlong Belmont Stakes (G1). That kind of classic form is difficult to dispute, as there is no sterner test of racing class and stamina on the American racing calendar.

Edwin Anthony was the staff pedigree consultant at Three Chimneys Farm for six years and has penned dozens of articles on pedigree research. He recently published the reference book, The American Thoroughbred (Volume I). Click here to learn more and order your today.

Tags: Edwin Anthony, Friesan Fire, The American Thoroughbred

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