Arizona

Any commercial breeder aiming to produce 2yo SWs has to seriously consider the male line. During a sadly abbreviated stallion career, Scat Daddy was responsible for no fewer than 11 2yo Group winners in Europe, in the form of , , , Sioux Nation, Acapulco, Seahenge, , Van , So Perfect, Sergei Prokofiev and . Several of these shone at Royal Ascot, where No Nay Never won the Gr.2 Norfolk Stakes. Six years later No Nay Never’s son Arizona landed the Gr.2 , having previously won a Curragh maiden by 8 lengths. He later finished second to Champion 2yo Pinatubo in the Gr.1 . Arizona’s full-sister Nay Lady Nay is also very smart, winning the Gr.2 Mrs Revere S. at three and the Gr.3 Matchmaker S. at four. Their second dam Bright Generation won the Gr.1 Oaks d’Italia, was runner-up in the Gr.1 Moyglare Stud S. as a juvenile and is also the 2nd dam of the European Champion 2yo Dabirsim (sire of Different League and Coeur de Beaute, both Group winners and Gr.1 placed from his first crop).

With his first two dams being daughters of the Champion American turf horse English Channel and the Arc winner , Arizona has a pedigree free of the most successful European stallions, such as , , Sadler’s Wells and , as well as Sharpen Up.

No Nay Never owes much of his early success to line mares. His 2020 Gr.1 winner is out of a grand-daughter of Danzig, by , and he is working very well with mares by sons of DANEHILL.

They include EXCEED AND EXCEL (broodmare sire of dual Gr.1 winner ), ROCK OF GIBRALTAR (Gr.2 scorer Land Force), (SW Servalan), FASTNET ROCK (Gr.2-placed Neverland Rock, plus Australian Gr.2 winner Need I Say More) and DANEHILL DANCER (Gr.1-placed The Irish Rover and Gr.3-placed We Go). Mares by KODIAC, CAMACHO, CLODOVIL, DANETIME and HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR should reinforce Arizona’s 2yo ability. Mares by the likes of CHOISIR, MASTERCRAFTSMAN, ZOFFANY and BATED BREATH should also suit.

The GREEN DESERT branch of the DANZIG line also has plenty to offer, as No Nay Never has a 7f Gr.3 winner out of a mare, as well as Listed winners out of daughters of CAPE CROSS and (2). OASIS DREAM is also the broodmare sire of Sioux Nation, a Gr.1-winning 2yo by Scat Daddy. Mares by , LAWMAN, DESERT STYLE and KHELEYF are other likeable options.

Fast horses from the will suit, such as daughters of , , CAPTAIN RIO and . SIYOUNI, with his dam by DANEHILL, could be especially suitable. No Nay Never’s SW All The King’s Men has a dam by PEINTRE CELEBRE and Gr.1 winner Ten Sovereigns has a second dam by THEATRICAL.

Although Arizona is inbred 4x5x4 to MR PROSPECTOR, this outstanding American stallion will be no closer than the fifth generation of Arizona’s offspring. No Nay Never is thriving with mares with MR PROSPECTOR blood.

STORM CAT is another who will be well back in Arizona’s foals. Scat Daddy’s Gr.1 winners Lady Aurelia and Harmonize were inbred 4x3 and 4x4 respectively to , therefore Arizona should be well suited to mares by the likes of , and LOPE DE VEGA.

The SADLER’S WELLS line has also had success with No Nay Never. His Gr.2-winning 2yo Shadn has a dam by SADLER’S WELLS and he has two 2yo Listed winners among his first 7 starters out of GALILEO mares. Sadler’s Wells’ full-brother FAIRY KING sired the second dam of Gr.1 winner Alcohol Free. Daughters of and HIGH CHAPARRAL are others to strongly consider.

The SHIRLEY HEIGHTS male line has quickly made its mark with No Nay Never, with his classic-placed Gr.2- winning son Wichita having a dam by DASHING BLADE.

Mares from the quick-maturing ROYAL APPLAUSE line should help Arizona pass on his juvenile ability. Daughters of ACCLAMATION, DARK ANGEL and EQUIANO would suit.

No Nay Never has a Gr.3 winner out of an INDIAN RIDGE mare and his Group winners Wichita, Land Force and Love Locket all have second dams by INDIAN RIDGE so this looks like a very favourable route.

BLUSHING GROOM’s sons RAINBOW QUEST, and collectively sired the second dams of four of No Nay Never’s black-type winners, so more BLUSHING GROOM should definitely work with Arizona.