Genetic studies delve into the scientific and genetic aspects of typology. The focus shall lie in exploring the transcendent nature of genetics: tracing historical development and its impact on the present-day bred population.
In the world of genetics, it is believed that certain dominant trait(s) lie hidden within individuals. It waits to be expressed. This presents an ambitious exercise but with an extraordinary opportunity to bring forth those hidden characteristics and unlock their full potential.
Flightline (USA) the 2022 Longines Horse of the Year exudes an extraordinary level of brilliance. With a magnificent stride and captivating physique, this remarkable equine athlete simply radiates his charismatic presence.
Flightline whose sire Tapit over a Indian Charlie mare states barely the specific genetic framework behind Flightline.
Flightline’s genetics’ are fully characterized by careful consideration and selection, resulting in a truly exceptional athlete. Let’s explore…
Crossing mitochondrial DNA haplotypes into pedigree tables elevates the exploration of a genetic cross to a new level. The interpretation to *data available provides a valuable guidance.
Flightline’s sire Tapit from female family 3-O the ‘Black Cherry’ family – the same distaff to Caro, sire line of Indian Charlie. The f.f. 3-O has mtDNA haplotype L2b1a as does the branches 3-i,3-j, 3-m,3-n, seen to A.P. Indy distaff, Tom Fool (A.P. Indy influence) Nashua (2xMr Prospector & Roberto) & Hasty Road + Dynaformer from 3rd dam by Hasty Road
The f.f. 3-O has mtDNA haplotype L2b1a
Black Cherry, grand-dam of chefsBlandford a horse that made a significant classic impact in the world of thoroughbred racing. Whirlaway, who was sired by the renowned stallion Blenheim (Blandford) is the 7th dam sire to the Flightline pedigree.
The mitochondrial DNA haplotype L2bla may potentially exhibit a pattern of inheritance that follows a dominant-recessive relationship.
Further combinational, with mitochondrial DNA haplotype I2a1 assigned to family 13 branches (n.b. there are NZ exceptions 13-a). Those to Flightline are Mr Prospector (4x5x5) + Seattle Slew + Le Fabuleux (FR) of the Jean Gow family
Flightline’s 5th dam Blitey (Riva Ridge) – a reines-de-course mare as family 20b – ancestress Locust mare whose descendant and 20-b branch founder Escalade assigns the mitochondrial DNA haplotypeI2a2.
According to the analysis based on mitochondrial matching, it appears that the Eclipse haplotype I2a2 is the likely compatible sequence.
The association and with mutation I2a1 and I2a2 haplotype structure are also to the family 4 branch (n.b. 4 branch variables are not all same) – family 4d, 4r, 4g 4-n/mit. DNA I2a1.
With referencing Flightline’s dam pedigree viz.I2a1 to encompass – In Excess by Indian Charlie, Hail to Reason & His Majesty + distaff via Dynaformer, Storm Bird distaff.
The pedigree of Eclipse takes fascinating insight upon mitochondrial DNA. The family 11 aka, Sedbury Royal Mare (2x) has I2a1 to Eclipse dam, Spilletta I2a2.
When it comes to delving racing genetics and understanding what sets apart exceptional lineage from another, one can’t help and wonder what individuals are responsible. That is the question we aim to unravel.
The lineage of a stallion encompasses both triumphs and setbacks, however, it is vital not to underestimate the extraordinary individual.
TheHistoric Hooves
The yearling colt by Swynford out of Blanche. Through an injury, this colt could not be submitted at the July Sales at Newmarket, and was included in the December Sales of that year.
Many thought he would not stand the strenous preparation required by a racehorse, and he fell to the bid of 730 guineas made by Richard Dawson (seen below) who later trained for H.H. the Aga Khan. Named Blandford, he raced only a few times but managed to win the Princess of Wales Stakes at Newmarket, and other races worth 3,668 pounds. Though a good horse, his racing carrer did not presage a brillant stud career, but Dawson retired him to his Cloghran Stud near Dublin, and there he proved himself one of winning sires five times, and set up an all-time English record in 1934 of 75,707 pounds in stakes won by his stock. In addition, he sired four English Derby winners in a comparatively short stud career – Bahram, Blenheim, Windsor Lad and Trigo. It is one of the disappointments of our breeders that, through the sale of Bahram, Blenheim and Mahmoud (son of Blenheim) to the U.S.A., the early illness and demise of Windsor Lad and other misfortunes, we lost much of Blandford’s male line, our dominant classic staying blood….} The Horseman’s Year 1953
Windsor Lad – credit Wikipedia . Windsor Lad’s 4th male descendant is Panaslipper (IRE) sire of Pantoufle, 5th dam of great sire Dubawi
{Franco Varola excerpts – The breaking of classic unity, which occurred in the Swynford line (Blandford’s sire) during WW II, and from which never quite recovered, was certainly the most dramatic happening in the Thoroughbred breed during this century, and it is symbolic of the crisis in Western Society which was precipitated by the corresponding political events. In the space of a few years, an impressive chain of events took place which it would have been impossible even for the keenest soothsayer to predict: (as follows)
the forced sale by the late Aga Khan of Blenheim, Bahram and Mahmoud to America
the failure of Trigo at stud
the inconsistency of the produce of Sansovino, Swynford’s only Derby winning son
the inability of Windsor Lad to carry on stud duty (*note – Panaslipper (Ire)
the forced removal of Brantome from France during World War II
the substantial inability of Blenheim-line sires (other than Mahmoud) to re-impose classic prepotency on the other side of the Atlantic
the eventual emerigence of Donatello II as a sire of stout and professional horses, rather than brilliant and classic as might have been hoped, possibly a late vindication of the opinion of Blenheim’s trainer who regarded this horse as more stout than classic.
the inability of Gualicho, Bahram’s most impressive grandson in South America (by the Druid) to breed on, a border case between shy breeding and sterility.
the sterility of Assault (by Bold Venture by St Germans, Swynford male line), added to sterility of Twenty Grand by St Germans.
Franco Varola states: the belief that 🐴Blandford was the supreme classic sire🐴 of the Thoroughbred {…..} even after the exploits at stud of Nearco, Nasrullah, Hyperion and Ribot.}
Blandford created his own classic talent almost entirely by himself…
Varola
The Blandford Accolades’ to his Progeny
Athford (IRE) best 2yr old colt – exported to Japan
Badruddin (FR) exported to Argentina – supreme genetic ‘monster’ influence
Bahram (exported to Argentina)
Blue Skies (family 5-g D1b)
Bokbul (FR) stolen WW II
Bantome – French triple crown champion, 3x leading sire
mare, Campanula – French 2yo champion filly
Dalmary (family 5h)
mare, Harina (IRE) 2nd dam Tulyar, winner of 5 G.1
Harinero Irish Derby & St Leger winner & sire
His Grace, Coronation Cup winner. Sire of Hattons Grace a pony-sized individual and champion hurdler.
Isolater exported to US when young, multiple handicap US winner
mare, Kyloe – 1000 Guineas winner Ireland
Midstream – imported to Australia, a high-class racer over sprint and miler distances
mare, Mistress Ford -French multiple G1 winner
Pasch, sire (n.b. 3rd dam sire to Verbatim (USA)
Primero – Irish Derby and Irish St Leger winner, exported to Japan
mare, Radiant (fR) full sister to Windsor Lad, English champion juvenile filly
Trigo – English champion 3yo male
mare, Udapipur – Oaks winner and full sister to Umidwar
Umidwar leading broodmare sire & foundation sire jumpers & sportshorses (7th dam sire of What A Winter (SAF) Equus champion sprinter & Equus older male champion)
Windsor Lad
Today, Blandford’s male line continues by stallion sons and grand-sons of Monsun – his sire Kongisstuhl (GER) has 5×5 Blandford from a #family5-H.
Monsun – if that element of his (Blandford) pedigree was deemed unfashionable upon his retirement, his standing as an outcross certainly later became an asset. (Full Monsun article here)
G3 winner in Brazil – Mano de Piedra (BRZ)pedigree
French juvenile champion, G1 winner @ 2yo – Ultra, standing in France
Monsun son – Vadamos, an international performer @ 1600m – 2400m. Pedigree. Stands in New Zealand @ Rich Hill , & Coolmore
Vadamos @ Rich Hill Stud, NZ by TBL
Vadamos parading (credit TBL)
🐴Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist and a stakes performer producer from his 2 year old crop. Protectionist – stallion news here.
(we further note the Blandford male line (an Alycidon line) may still continue in Argentina (?) as current progeny (February 2023) perform. ie Wave Seattle (ARG) by the stallion Seattle Fitz (Fitzcarraldo ARG) as seen below
What influential factor which contributed extraordinary? The mit.DNA haplotype reveals D1b
D1b haplotype represents currently only around 2% of the breed, and was less than that until relatively recently, it’s remarkable that four male lines of Blandford have been extended through horses from that branch. Full Article Below.
As the Blandford signature re-establishes….it strongly suggests that a genetic explosion is in store with proviso it is calculated well. 👇👇👇👇💥
The outstanding reine-de-course broodmare 🐴Allegretta (5×3 Bahram)
🐴Kind, dam of Frankel – 5th dam by Persian Gulf by Bahram
🐴Phoenissa (5×5 Blandford) dam of Lorenzaccio (Klairon)
Reine-de-course Mare – 🐴Pocahontas 3rd dam by Blandford.
The enduring Blandford legacy carries forth, as it finds expression and sustenance through the generations of Monsun’s descendants, diligently upholding to the optimal breeding of a champion.
A D1b Haplotype relationship
Note – D1b members are families to 5g and 5h.. This appears to be a deep-rooted error, which appears to stem from the 5g/5h foundation mare . The 5g and 5h branches descend from two different daughters of Miss West. (Credit Reference here, as below). There is plus a D1b to family 38 which appears extinguished – however ‘log’ it significance. D1b has jeju, icelandic, shetland, norwegian fjord ancestral breeds to profile a metabolic efficiency to colder climate. The influence of family5h or D1b can be viewed to the New Zealand bred mare La Crique by Vadamos – 4×5 Nureyev, Sadlers Wells, Konijsstuhl.
German bred sire Waldgeist is another german line distaff and family 5-h.
The Dubawi colt, Dubawi Legend now standing as a sire has the family5-h (D1b) template thru dam distaff Lovely Pass (IRE) & with Topsider (USA) to Classic Cliche (IRE)
First Stakes winner for Triple Crown Champion JUSTIFY as Statuette wins the G2 Airlie Stud Stakes for @Ballydoyle & the Coolmore partners. Badb (FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND) was second & Matilda Picotte (SIOUX NATION) third #CoolmoreSires#HomeOfChampions
🏆Prix du Bois Longines (G3) 1.200 m – 80.000 EUR – for 2yo 🇫🇷 Chantilly
Ramatuelle (USA) (2F Justify – Raven's Lady , by Raven's Pass ) J : @lemaitre60LA T : C. Head O :Infinity Nine Horses, Ecurie Des Monceaux.. B: Yeguada Centurion SLUpic.twitter.com/PSEAXw8Tus
(n.b. #family23 (sub-branches) as by haplotype correspond with #family 21 & or with, #fam 6b,6d,6f haplotype. It would then suggest the geno Horse Chestnut (SAF) via Grey Soverign (GB) + Col Pickering (SAF) strikes @ Justify strains. In Reality #family 21 (see Yuttitham, 4×3 Baby Zip (Relaunch/In Reality) dam of Ghostzapper & City Zip)
#family21-a Baldski (USA)
The haplotype (its non-sharing with other lineages) #family6-a places Count Fleet (#fam.6-a) has #family23viz Haste (USA). Count Fleet > Mr Prospector.
The dam of colt, 3yo stakes winner, Wonderful Justice (I’m Wonderful) distaff @ 3x #family23-b
– influence @ Exclusive Native (sire of Affirmed (USA #family23-b) from dam Exclusive, her distaff has Display/4×4 Fair Play/Hastings #family21-a
Northfields (USA) (see, Ramatuelle) viz, Occupy (USA) his double-up #family23-b.
Justify sire line, aka Hennessey (USA), #family8-C is not haplotype classified to family 8 i.e. its unique or, independent. There ‘screen’ amongst pedigree influences #family 8-C incl. dams. (see Black Tiger > Bold Commander & Statuette distaff). Therefore, fixing Terlingua, Storm Cat, Royal Academy, Last Tycoon, Blushing Groom/Red God, Icecapade stem where with some variances as dominate lineage, these usually converge to Domino.
When thinking about Bloodlines of suitable dams – below are important factors to consider.
Australian Champion Sprinter and one of world’s dominant sires, Exceed and Excel (AUS), Affirmed, Into Mischief & other collective #family23-b(view here)
Though it may appear unrelated, the individuals as Pedigree ‘tightens’ by extending over unseen haplotype relationship, the genetic has a critical aggregate.
🐴🐴History & Ancestry, helpful references🐴🐴
Foundation ancestress, **Mannie Gray inbred to 3×3 Lexington, 4x4x4 Boston. Mannie Gray produced Domino “the Black Whirlwind” by Himyar.
Through an injury, this colt could not be submitted at the July Sales at Newmarket, and was included in the December Sales of that year. 
