Reflections upon pedigree analysis always takes its past to foretell the future and in particular the present: un-noticeable features, remarkable trends which go without nicking sire algorithms and their volumes.
TBL believes great pedigree analysis is to view an unique breeding-plan which man & ‘Nature’ graciously shapes before our very eyes.
Instinctively, we seek a key-strain that eternally exists as a ‘carrier’, integral to all thoroughbred breeding.
That key-strain, like a nucleus peaks a breeding pattern like no other. It changes the breeding landscape to challenge conventional breeding, extending breeding to superior.
The strain, its genetic impact is not obvious. It deserves scrutiny. It is always in the maternal grandsire field and to quote the late, and great Ross du Bourg , an Australian bloodstock analyst foretold – “maternal grandsire, sire of the dam, whose genetic presence is usually seriously undervalued and ignored in sales catalogues. I believe the maternal grandsire can exert a pivotal influence for good or bad in a pedigree.” RB
Reviewing old notes, TBL once held a slight skeptic view of the deep Danehill, genetic wave upon the Australasian thoroughbred.

Danehill
With no offense to the immense quality of bloodlines it was due to the ‘type’ featured, which has surely changed, settled and absorbed.
The absolute reason what I couldn’t comprehend an enormity of Danehill bred, is where Danehill, Northern Dancer, Halo, Coup de Folie, Machiavellian are all sourced from the same great maternal 2d family – Alamamoud/Mother Goose.
The shuttling sire model indeed challenged diversity to the global breeding populace. Conflicting perhaps a ‘too-closer’ relationship unable to erase its rich international presence. That’s okay, but one factor suggesting predicament; an over dosage and or, saturation point.
Too much of one thing is not always a good thing.
Saturation/dosage maybe fine IF intentional… has the greater forward breeding plan, as maternal lines settle through generational-breeding, intermingling 4th/5th generation. Once through the settling-pond, Danehill broodmares integrate.
Danehill influences are well…the common to world international breeding: repeated history like Northern Dancer, Mr Prospector or as the Nearco era was.
Yet to breed the ‘new’ thoroughbred shall cry for variability, diversity from a rather contemporary and closing gene pool.
It is indeed thought-provoking to advise where/what is next?
And further….what true genotype/racing phenotype is ‘faultless’ for today?
With climate-change, racing conditions have become highly climatic variable and racing programmes of today’s environment with lacking consistency is order of the day.
Many high quality thoroughbreds fall through cracks for lack of opportunity where training & natural development, plus other bureaucratic policies certainly flaw the horses racing condition and experience.
Further, demand is placed on athletic, rockin’ and rollin’ 2 year sprint market jobs – desirable for cost-effective reasons.
Due to infinite variables in the game, beauty-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder and all that….TBL’s take is where we seek a physical specimen: a flexibility, robust but economic in physique & motion as inclusive keys to the changing demands of racing. Such types may easily go under the sale radar – the yearling deemed immature.
Genotype genetic twists and turns are contingent on greater ‘depth’: we think it is wiser to select lines which favour tenacity.
Time and time again we emphatically find it is not the in-breeding ‘Danehill’s’ as the pedigree stature, but a throw of genetic bang from almost forgotten sources.
Individualists.
Old breeding purists of old did say: nature seeks (breeding) purity.
Once the ‘force’ is recognised, the record is there as confirmation.
And so, extraordinarily, enthusiastically, we’re finding Australian freshman sire Spirit of Boom (home-bred and standing at Eureka Stud, Queensland ) refreshing – stimulating – the desired transfiguration to fulfil genetic pre-potency as his ‘seeds’ ripened, majorly to a Hyperion expression, rather than Nearco. (which is another TBL notion, but one I uphold!)
http://www.stallions.com.au/horses/summary.php?arion_id=IjEwMzU1NTE2NCI=
http://www.pedigreequery.com/spirit+of+boom
*CHECK pedigree: double presence of Thatch, the sire and descendant line of Hyperion (Gondolette female family ) AND as importantly the female- Thong/Simon’s Shoes 5-H. Know who’s who on the same directory….hint Sadlers Wells, Nureyev, Yeats and just take a genuine look at this young superlative sire.
By tuning into pedigree influences, important notational principles apply; to comprehend inherency over homogeneity.
The Spirit of Boom’s maternal grand-dam sire carries Semipalantinsk (USA) .

photo credit – virtualformguide.com
Semipalantinsk, american bred and Italian raced before being imported to stand at Eureka Stud, Queensland.
To reference, Semipalantinsk (USA) takes maternal siring influence where he also ‘types’ the phenomenal Savabeel maternal line. http://www.waikatostud.co.nz/savabeel
Reflect , world champion, Vengeance of Rain (Zabeel/Danelagh where Semipalatinsk is grand-dam sire and same pedigree AJC Oaks winner, the mare Dizelle.
We marvel the continuation, the Spirit of Boom progeny – four entries in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic: Jonker, Ef Troop, Outback Barbie, Spirits Pride.
With his first crop, 2yo runners producing 2 individual winners, 5 individual placers, all from 8 starts (7 in Australia, 1 in NZ) to simply read a TBL……
So if you’re saluting Spirit of Boom, his progeny, caste your eye over maternal Bletchingly, Rockefella lines.
Evoke Vain, Wilkes, Court Martial – watch the recurrent folds.
Tap….Star Kingdom to.
Magic.
“Although he never stood above $5000, Semipalatinsk lays claim to be the most successful sire of quality performers to stand all his stud career in Queensland” refer http://www.thoroughbrednews.com.au/News/Story/21911
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