Knightmare’s Breeding Corner

The Freshman sires series of 2006 continues this week with two outstanding turf performers. Kitten’s Joy and Bago were top notch turf three year olds across the ocean from each other. While Kitten’s Joy helped put turf racing back into the spotlight in America Bago was winning one of the most prestigious turf races in the world. This is quite a pair hope you enjoy.  

Kitten’s Joy is by El Prado (IRE). His dam sire is Lear Fan and his dam’s dam sire is L’Enjoleur. Kitten’s Joy was probably the best your turf runner to come from America in many years. He was voted champion turf male as a three year old when he won six graded stakes. He was impressive all the way up to the 2004 Breeder’s Cup Turf. He win the grade I Secretariat and the grade I Joe Hirsch. Most of the European runners stayed home that year and it turned out to be another American turf horse that would beat Kitten’s Joy. Kitten’s Joy came back for just two races as a four year old. He won graded stakes on turf from a mile to a mile and a half.

In the early stages of the year Kitten’s Joy has thirty two year olds. He already has a two time allowance winner in the young season. That runners has Fusaichi Pegasus as the dam sire and Riverman as the dam’s dam sire. He is being sent to some very nice dam sires and should enjoy some success. His sim runners have been running mostly on the turf and his fastest runners so far have been on the turf. I suspect though he will produce some dirt runners.

Kitten’s Joy had the speed to win at a mile and the endurance to run a mile and a half. His dosage index was 1.14. He has the capability to produce well on both surfaces. His pedigree sets up well for 4X4 inbreeding to Northern Dancer. There is one other sire in the fifth generation that could also pose interesting inbreeding, Hail to Reason.  

Kitten’s Joy will probably work best with a lot of the same dam sires his grand father Sadler’s Wells has had success with. The Nasrullah line of dam sires through horses like Darshaan, Shirley Heights, and any other Never Bend line sire. Blushing Groom, Rainbow Quest, and Nashwan are other good choices all from the Nasrullah line.   

The Raise a Native line especially through Mr. Prospector should also provide several good dam sire choices. Seeking the Gold, Gone West, Machiavellian, Woodman, and Forty Niner. Affirmed, Majestic Light and even Alydar will also fit well with Kitten’s Joy. The Ribot line is another good choice of sire lines that could blend well.

Kitten’s Joy (15974) X Blushing Groom (FR) (669) X Nijinsky II (4344)

Kitten’s Joy (16974) X Machiavellian (3707) X Ribot (5300)

Kitten’s Joy (16974) X Darshaan (ENG) (1526) X Affirmed (83)

Despite the stamina Kitten’s Joy has he developed pretty quickly becoming dominant as a three year old. I suspect he will be bred to more speed than stamina so expect solid two year olds and very good three year olds.  He was a turf runner but it would not really surprise me if he becomes a very good dirt sire here in the sim. His runners will want route races and should get better with distance. 

Bago (FR) is by Nashwan. His dam sire is Nureyev and his dam’s dam sire is Mr. Prospector. Bago was European Champion Juvenile and European Champion three year old. He won eight of sixteen lifetime including five group I races. He won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe as a three year old and finished third in the same race as a four year old. He made the trip to America for the Breeder’s Cup Turf in 2005 where he finished fourth.

Bago (FR) has twenty-six two year olds as of this early part of the year. The early results are not good at all. He only has four runners that have broken the 60 speed figure mark so far none faster than a 62 speed figure. He has been bred to some very nice dam sires and has a very good pedigree himself. This is a little surprising because he was such a good two year old. He has several sires within his pedigree that would also suggest early success but maybe he will produce more late bloomers.

Northern Dancer and Mr. Prospector will be in the fourth generation of Bago’s offspring. That offers the possibilities of some nice inbreedings with nice sires. Bago will be standing in Japan so I would imagine he will see quite a few Sunday Silence mares. I am not usually a big fan of 3X5 inbreeding and that is what Sunday Silence as a dam sire will produce with Bago, 3X5 to Halo.

I think his pedigree sets up very well for sires from the Roberto line. Kris S., Lear Fan, and Red Ransom. Ribot line sires should fit well with Bago. Grandsons of Northern Dancer or Mr. Prospector will work very well as dam sires and that includes a long list of good dam sires. Storm Cat, Deputy Minister, Danehill, El Prado (IRE), Unbridled, Cryptoclearance, War Chant or Thunder Gulch.  

 Bago (FR) (16108) X Red Ransom (5208) X Sadler’s Wells (5534)

Bago (FR) (16108) X Danehill (1494) X Riverman (5349)

Bago (FR) (16108) X Alleged (166) X Sir Ivor (5888)

I really thought Bago might be a good sire of juveniles. It looks as though he will end up being a sire that is more likely to produce a late bloomer. With Mr. Prospector in his pedigree there is good enough dirt influence that Bago should throw the odd dirt runner or two. His runners will probably be best in routes on the turf when it is all said and done.  

We take a break next week from the Freshman Sires Series for a look at the Bluegrass Derby. As always if you have any questions, comments or suggestions feel free to write me at mcbwildcat@aol.com. Good luck and Good Breeding.