Astronomer Royal & Darjina (Fr)
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Andrew Caulfield, May 15, 2007–Astronomer Royal & Darjina (Fr) P EDIGREE INSIGHTS BY ANDREW CAULFIELD POULE D=ESSAI DES POULAINS-G1, i400,000, Longchamp, 5-13, 3yo, c, 1mT, 1:37.10, gd. 1--#@sASTRONOMER ROYAL, 128, c, 3, by Danzig 1st Dam: Sheepscot (SW, $153,446), by Easy Goer 2nd Dam: Escrow Agent, by El Gran Senor 3rd Dam: Viva Sec, by Secretariat O-Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor and Susan Magnier; B-ClassicStar LLC; T-Aidan O=Brien; J-Colm O=Donoghue; i228,560. Lifetime Record: 4 starts, 2 wins, 1 place, i241,241. *1/2 to Navesink River (Unbridled), GSW, $331,105. Click for the Racing Post chart or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. Having reached the sort of age where my son occasionally greets me affectionately as "Old Man," I have more than a little sympathy for those elderly stallions which tend to be overshadowed by the latest hot new stud. However, many an old dog still has plenty of life in him, and the same applies to some old stallions, as Danzig continued to prove up to and Danzig beyond his death at the grand age claibornefarm.com of 29 last year. Anyone wanting to measure the impact that this great stallion has had on European racing need look no further than the Stan James 2000 Guineas 10 days ago. Of the 24 colts which went to post, two of them-- US Ranger and Haatef--were sons of Danzig, two others were by sons of Danzig and a further eight were by grandsons of Danzig, which adds up to half the field. Although victory eluded them, they filled eight of the first 12 places. The Danzig male line also made its presence felt when France staged its version of the 2000 Guineas, the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, two days ago. This time Danzig was again responsible for two of the runners, Astronomer Royal and Dijeerr, and his sons and grandsons provided another three of the 14 contenders. This time they supplied first, third and fifth, with Astronomer Royal giving Danzig his first victory in a race which had previously fallen to three of his grandsons and one of his great-grandsons. Of course, Danzig's current Classic crop also contains Hard Spun, who impressed me considerably with his gallant front-running effort in the Kentucky Derby. Altogether Danzig has had five sons contest the 2007 Classics, which adds up to a great achievement for a stallion who was 26 years old at the time of their conception and whose crop numbers only 30 named foals. Caulfield cont. www.coolmore.com This surely proves that Danzig isn't one of those POULE D=ESSAI DES POULICHES-G1, i400,000, stallions whose results seem to decline once they Longchamp, 5-13, 3yo, f, 1mT, 1:37.20, gd. approach veteran status. After all, he was 24 when his 1--sDARJINA (FR), 126, f, 3, by Zamindar Group 1-winning sons Ad Valorem and Librettist were 1st Dam: Darinska (Ire) (GSP-Fr), by Zilzal conceived and there were four stakes winners among 2nd Dam: Daralbayda (Ire), by Doyoun (Ire) the 24 named foals conceived when he was 25. This 3rd Dam: Daralinsha, by Empery bodes well for his final crop of 27 live foals born in O/B-Princess Zahra Aga Khan; T-Alain de 2005--and for the buyers who were prepared to pay Royer-Dupre; J-Christophe Soumillon; i228,560. such enormous prices as $9.2 million and $5.2 million Lifetime Record: 3 starts, 3 wins, i285,060. for two of them. Click for the Racing Post chart or the free brisnet.com Perhaps the explanation is simply that Danzig's catalogue-style pedigree. record was simply so exceptional that breeders were prepared to maintain the standard of mare they sent him, even in his twilight years. These achievements were good enough to earn For example, the Zamindar a return ticket to Banstead Manor Stud, and ClassicStar-bred Astronomer his return became all the more urgent when his Royal is out of Sheepscot. This exceptional brother, Zafonic, died in a paddock accident stakes-winning half-sister to the in the summer of 2002 in his first year as a shuttle Florida Derby winner Vicar stallion to Australia. Zafonic had been represented in already has a Grade II winner to 2002 by group winners in Britain, Italy, Germany, her credit in Navesink River. For France and the USA, and, with a first-crop classic the record, Hard Spun is out of a winner to his credit, Zamindar was widely viewed as a Grade II-placed mare from the suitable replacement. He received support from Danzig’s son Hard Spun family of champion Little numerous top breeders in 2003, including, the Aga Horsephotos Current; the Group 3-winning Khan, Cheveley Park Stud, Darley, Gainsborough Stud Dijeerr (a brother to the Management and Shadwell, as well as from several of $9.2-million yearling) is out of a sister to a multiple France's top breeders. Grade II winner; US Ranger is out of a mare closely The Aga Khan sent three mares and he and his related to Dynaformer; and Haatef is out of a winning daughter Princess Zahra have been rewarded with sister to the Grade II winner Kayrawan. Darjina, who thrust her nose ahead at Longchamp to Or maybe Danzig has been helped by the fact that so deny Finsceal Beo a second Classic success. many of his descendants are based in Europe. As any Incidentally, Darjina, Finsceal Beo and Zenda were all dominant stallion's influence spreads through the breed, sired by sons of Gone West from Northern Dancer line an increasingly large proportion of the best young mares which create 4x4 inbreeding to the legendary broodmares are effectively denied him and his best Windfields stallion. sons. This could explain why some of Mr. Prospector's The chances are that there are more stakes winners most successful sons have struggled to maintain their to come from Zamindar's 2004 crop, which also success rate as they have become older. includes the Italian stakes winner Sweet Wind Music. Moving on to the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, this His highly regarded daughter Coquerelle is among the Classic added another chapter to the interesting life entries for next Sunday's G1 Prix Saint-Alary, the main story of Gone West's son Zamindar. trial for the Prix de Diane, having won her last three Zamindar first sired a winner of this Classic in 2002, races in fine style. when Zenda, a filly from his first crop, triumphed for One of her wins was gained at the expense of Juddmonte. Cinnamon Bay, who is also expected to step up to Unfortunately, Zamindar's stallion career had been stakes company, and San Domenico, Fan Club, Lost badly interrupted by a health issue which meant that Ark and Everlasting Fame are others with Zamindar had to miss most of his third season in 2000. above-average ability. Only one foal was born in 2001, by which time A horse like Zamindar, with a fluctuating record, is Zamindar had been switched to Florida, where he spent bound to fall prey to the whims of commercial the 2001 and 2002 seasons at a fee of only $5,000. breeders, but Juddmonte has continued to support him His first crop wasted little time in highlighting and I note that the Aga Khan has a pair of juveniles by Zamindar's potential in 2001. His first stakes winner Zamindar. One is a colt out of half-sister to Zalaiyka, Lipstick was unlucky not to collect the very valuable one of his previous winners of the French 1000 first prize in the Watership Down Stud Sales race. She Guineas. was followed by such as Zenda, Jubilation (Listed Prix The female line which produced Darjina is proving de Pontarme and later to become a Group 3 winner), one of the most successful in the Aga Khan's stud Victorian Order (Listed Prix Pelleas), Minds Locked (a book. Her fifth dam Djebellina was acquired in the late creditable fourth in the G1 Prix Jean Prat), Pertuisane 1970s as part of a large parcel of Marcel Boussac (third in the GI Garden City Breeders' Cup H.) and bloodstock, which also included her 1979 Labus filly Zargus (Balmoral H. at Royal Ascot). Darazina. The Pouliches winner is the third Classic winner to DARJINA (FR), f, 2004 emerge from this family, her predecessors being Raise a Native Mr. Prospector Daryaba and Darsi. Daryaba, the 1999 Prix de Diane Gold Digger Gone West winner, is out of Darazina's very useful daughter Secretariat Secrettame Darata. Darsi, last year's Prix du Jockey-Club winner, is Tamerett Zamindar out of Darashandeh, a mare very closely related to Northern Dancer The Minstrel Darjina's second dam, the group-placed Daralbayda Fleur Zaizafon (both mares were by Mill Reef line stallions out of the Right Tack (GB) Mofida (GB) Group 3-winning Empery mare Daralinsha). Wold Lass (GB) There is plenty of stamina in this female line and Northern Dancer Nureyev Darjina's dam, Darinska, was suited by a mile and a Special Zilzal half, even though she is by Zilzal, a brilliant miler. No *Le Fabuleux Darinska (Ire) French Charmer wonder the Prix de Diane is now under consideration GSP-Fr, 7-1-1-1, Bold Example for Zamindar's unbeaten daughter. $34,007 Mill Reef Daralbayda (Ire) Doyoun (Ire) 2Fls, 1G1SW GSP-Fr, 4-1-1-1, Dumka (Fr) ASTRONOMER ROYAL, c, 2004 $32,247 Daralinsha Empery Nearco (Ity) 8Fls, 1SW, 1GSP 10Fls, 2SW Darazina (Fr) Nearctic *Lady Angela Northern Dancer Native Dancer Natalma Almahmoud Danzig Crafty Admiral Admiral’s Voyage Olympia Lou Pad de Nom Petition (GB) *Petitioner Steady Aim (GB) Raise a Native Alydar Sweet Tooth Easy Goer Buckpasser Sheepscot Relaxing SW, 10-5-1-2, Marking Time $153,446 Northern Dancer Escrow Agent El Gran Senor 6Fls, 2GSW MSP, 12-1-4-2, Sex Appeal $22,745 Viva Sec Secretariat 15Fls, 1GSW , 1SW 15Fls, 1GSP Viva La Vivi.