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Thoroughbred genome diversity has been a subject of increasing study; breeders aim to balance performance traits with genetic health. In such case thoroughbred female families outside of ‘usual’ bred-lines may attract more interest.
The purchase and selection of Cool Archie is quite remarkable to a yearling judgement on ‘appeal’ https://www.ttrausnz.com.au/edition/2025-06-06/im-not-big-on-looking-at-legs-mick-malone-shares-his-insights-on-sourcing-horses scouted the good sound youngster and was purchased @ $100k.
https://catalogue.magicmillions.com.au/lot/24GPR/456
https://www.pedigreequery.com/cool+archie
Cool Archie’s sire Cool Aza Beel was Champion 2YO of his generation, securing victories in New Zealand’s Karaka Million 2YO and the Group 1 Sistema Stakes.
He stands at https://www.newhavenpark.com.au/stallions/cool-aza-beel/.
On pedigree the distaff colonial families C7, to also Sir Dapper (Vain) @ colonial-bred C25. Unfortunately, the Haplotype table appears no longer available for the public. However sight below C7 to also comparable La Chica @ f.f. 5-f, #Haplotype L2a2 foundations.
source credit: https://www.racecafe.co.nz/forums/index.php?/topic/74873-changing-pedigrees-to-reflect-new-data
Cool Aza Beel has 5×6 Vain -a American bred distaff A10. @A10 pedigree – distaff ancestral takes up, @ Tyranny by Great Tom (a Harkaway male line + Lexington & American Eclipe, further back 2x Mary Grey a phenomenal US mare and dam of Wilkes Wonder, numbered @ 2 family, (n.b. a contributor to Count Fleet via Bet Bosley (USA, thence note Mr Prospector & to Cool Archie profile thru >> Timeless Moment)
Checking out and uncovering American families has mitochondrial diversity aplenty: Mitochondrial DNA analysis links these (cited below) Thoroughbreds to 9 of 17 previously identified mtDNA clades https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-73645-9.pdf.
Clades previously described that were not represented among the North American Thoroughbreds include Haplogroups C, F, J, K, O, P, Q, and R.
In that study a single Thoroughbred was sequenced and had 5.8 million variants. The comparatively lower number of variants for Thoroughbreds is likely due to 3 centuries of selective breeding with a closed studbook as well as a bias due to the use of a Thoroughbred for the equine reference genome (EquCab 3.0). As the reference genome is based upon a Thoroughbred, some of the variation present in other breeds is likely breed specific.
reference as above
By equine references, these science starting points went at the English Thoroughbred discounting (then) the variables. It is an important peculiar point to note. Inbreeding levels have increased over time, with horses born between 2000–2020 showing higher inbreeding than those born between 1965–1986.
Selection trends indicate a shift toward breeding for speed, with a notable increase in the frequency of a genetic variant linked to sprinting ability.
Workings at pedigree places Cool Archie from a Tale of the Cat (Storm Cat) dam, Aware (Aus). Broodmare sire Tale of the Cat (USA) was a commercially successful stallion bred for speed and precocity, standing at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud.
He produced notable US progeny such as Gio Ponti, Lion Heart, and Stopchargingmaria. His influence to New Zealand strong to likes of Glamour Puss, Tell a Tale, Trusting, Falkirk, The Diamond One, Gathering & more…where he ranked 8th on the general sire list in 2008/09 and 10th on the broodmare sire list in 2015/16. Tale of the Cat passed June 2024, https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/coolmore-stallion-tale-of-the-cat-dies-at-30/. His son Battle Paint (USA) stood at Chequers Stud (N.Z) – & from memory an impressive specimen producing Battle Time, a G2 performer & stake-winners Affleck, Silent Battler. A wonderful son & stallion in Falkirk sire of H.K. Derby Fay Fay & Well Done, a Singaporean champion.
Cool Archie has 5×6 Damascus – @ Damascus, a highly competitive pedigree that maybe will never be mastered any better, it is the champions template and unmistakable how Damascus delivers to any pedigree. Study his pedigree! How I am excited by Damascus that it was the dynamo ‘perfect’ Hong Kong racehorse *Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’ Oro) whom showed just how impactful he is. It is not only about Damascus genotype but to morphological efficient, consistent tempo-gallop that marks his superior athlete frame. (n.b. Bu Medaglia D’ Oro with duplications @ 4×5 Damascus profiles G1 3yo filly, winner of the Kentucky Oaks , Good Cheer.
*Golden Sixty: 2021,2022,2023 Horse of the Year in Hong Kong 2021,2022,2023 Champion Miler in Hong Kong2021 Champion Middle Distance Horse in Hong Kong
Taking Damascus over to Cool Archie’s 7th dam we have Tom Fool/Menow/Pharamond, male-line (Cyllene) War Admiral & Teddy streamlining. It is an important established prototype to follow through at the back-line.
Menow named as Champion 2 year old colt, beat Bull Lear Bull Lea and Fightfing Fox by 4 lengths giving them weight in the Champagne Stakes and to the Futurity Stakes by four lengths from Tiger in a new world record time. (credit – Ken McLean)
@ 7x Native Dancer, the ***family 5-f in distaff which also runs to 3x Grey Flight 7D x 6D x 8D >> 2x What A Pleasure > Gilded Time, Tale of the Cat > Misty Day to Snippets.
It is a line known for ‘natural speed’ and early maturing speed.
La Chica was unraced but she produced 7 winners from 8 foals, among them Miyalo and Planetoid producing Grey Flight, a wonderful stakes-winning branch of the Family. Miyako would produce Geisha, the dam of champion Native Dancer. Ken McLean Designing Speed in the Racehorse.
More relevance to >Damascus X Native Dancer< has Sickle from Selene + Sickle & Pharamond are full brothers. Cool Archie > 4x Sickle + 4x Pharamond.
Cool Archie genotype of an outcross pedigree yet crafted subtle, subjected to the most powerful natural speed individuals.
Overall, it cannot be split nor decisive to what exactly is the Individual Type refined desirable. Yet if ‘hard-pressed’ to make such call, mine would go towards i) Sweep sire of La Chica ***(female family 5-f). ii) Sweep is also 4th dam sire Damascus. iii) Sweep is also 3rd dam sire to Semipalatinsk, 2nd dam sire of Savabeel.
Sweep a phenomenal racehorse, he was rated (1917) no. 1 sire of winning 2 year olds, and as broodmare sire created an extraordinary female line – his, substantial genetic impact from Domino, champion sprinter, nick name Whirlwind and leading USA sire with also Sweep’s genotype to 2xAlarm (Eclipse) X, 5x’s Lexington. Equally amazing to learn Domino was only 6 years of age when deceased. He sired only 20 progeny of which 8 were stake winners, amongst genetic explosive speed, Commando. Domino’s dam Pink Domino died foaling full sister Swan Song.
Something to think about.
