Andrew Caulfield, November 13, 2012-Morandi (Fr) Mizzen Mast, the only to score a Grade I PEDIGREE INSIGHTS double at the Breeders= Cup, is a grandson of . B Y A N D R E W C A U L F I E L D Caro also sired Trolley Song, the best known as the dam of Unbridled=s Song. While Unbridled=s Song Saturday, Saint-Cloud, France had to be content with a couple of near misses in the CRITERIUM DE SAINT-CLOUD-G1, i250,000, Saint- Santa Anita Cloud, 11-10, 2yo, c/f, 1 1/4mT, 2:25.30, hy. championships, his 1--sMORANDI (FR), 126, c, 2, by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) brother Spanish Steps 1st Dam: Vezina (Fr), by (GB) hit the target with Little 2nd Dam: Marie de Vez (Fr), by (Fr) Mike in the Turf. Since 3rd Dam: Ordenstreue (GB), by Orsini II (Ger) then we=ve seen (i65,000 yrl >11 ARQAUG). O-Daniel-Yves Treves; daughters of Unbridled=s B-Eric Puerari & Oceanic Bloodstock; T-Jean-Claude Song represented by Rouget; J-Maxime Guyon; i142,850. Lifetime Group winners in Record: 6 starts, 4 wins, 2 places, i230,450. and Japan. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the Caro=s name also Morandi Scoop Dyga photo eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. appears in the pedigree of Morandi. This rapidly Click for the Racing Post chart or the free brisnet.com improving gray colt last week added a seven-length catalogue-style pedigree. Click for Equidia video. romp in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud to his recent The description unsung hero could almost have been 12-length victory in the G3 Prix de Conde. This coined with Caro in mind. When breeders eulogize late-season double hasn=t been achieved by many about the European turf performers who exerted such a horses, but they include The Wonder, who went on to powerful influence on American breeding during the win the Prix d=Ispahan, and a pair of Grade Is in California; Pistolet Bleu, who took 1970s and >80s, Caro tends to be overlooked in favor of the likes of , , , third in the Arc at three and impressively won the , , Riverman or even Storm Bird. Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud at four; and Poliglote, a Prix Fortunately, the big gray horse keeps on reminding us du Jockey-Club runner-up who sired the latest Arc of his many talents by cropping up in the pedigrees of winner, . Caulfield cont. numerous big winners. Caulfield cont. With Caro in Kentucky, where he was to sire , Dr. Carter, , Tejano, Winning Caro ranks alongside Lyphard, Riverman and Arctic Colors, , and , Tern as one of the French in the late European breeders turned to his sons, such as Crystal 1970s and 1980s who spent the latter part of their Palace. stallion careers in Kentucky. He arrived at Spendthrift in Homebred by Baron , Crystal 1977, in the rush to beat the ban on imports caused by Palace retired to the family=s Haras de Meautry after an outbreak of contagious equine metritis. Caro had confirming his status with a fourth in =s become a target for American breeders in the summer King George and a third in =s first Arc. He looked of 1977 following =s successes in the Poule well qualified for stallion success, as his dam Hermieres d=Essai des Pouliches and and Crystal won the Prix de Diane and his second dam Vieille Pierre Palace=s triumph in the Prix du Jockey-Club--a sequence was a half-sister to the champion French stallion . of Classic victories which brought him the sires= Crystal Palace fulfilled his potential to the extent that championship. He was re-syndicated in Kentucky for he became champion sire in 1985, but by that time he $4.6 million. too had joined the exodus of highly qualified French I still look back at Caro s racing career with = stallions. This time, though, the destination was Japan. admiration. He was sired by Fortino, a precocious Grey His greatest achievements came in the role of Sovereign colt who gained two of his juvenile broodmare sire, with one of his daughters producing successes in France over the now redundant distant of the Japanese Derby winner Tanino Gimlet (sire of the four furlongs. Fortino maintained his speed at three, outstanding ). Another daughter, Alruccaba, when he won the Prix de l=Abbaye. founded one of Europe=s most successful families. Caro=s dam Chambord could hardly have been more Another of Crystal Palace=s successful broodmare different. A daughter of a St Leger winner, she had daughters, Marie de Vez, is the second dam of Morandi. ranked among the best staying fillies of 1958, when Marie de Vez is also the second dam of the she showed she relished 1 3/4 miles or more. classic-placed Ana Marie, who defeated the males in Rather unusually, Caro showed that the mating the G2 Prix d=Harcourt over a mile and a quarter, and between his starkly different parents had succeeded in Charmo, who developed into a smart turf miler in imparting some of Fortino=s speed, together with a California. degree of Chambord=s stamina. As Morandi=s broodmare sire Bering won the Prix du Although he stood 16.3 hands, he made a winning Jockey-Club and his third dam Ordenstreue won the debut over 4 1/2 furlongs early in his 2-year-old season German Oaks, there is no shortage of stamina in the and trained on to become a Classic-winning miler at bottom half of Morandi=s pedigree. Indeed he has three. Then, at four, he confirmed his standing as a already won over a mile and a quarter in very testing top-class middle-distance performer. His final conditions, so the distance of the Prix du Jockey-Club appearance saw him finish a creditable fourth to the should present no problems for him, even though he is by Holy Roman Emperor. great in the Arc. He retired sound after The main unknown about Morandi is whether he will 19 starts, several of which were contested on very firm be as effective on much faster ground next summer. or hard tracks in those long-distant days before There is little in his pedigree to suggest he needs very watering of courses became widespread. soft ground, as Holy Roman Emperor acted on fast ground and Morandi=s broodmare sire Bering handled a wide variety of conditions. Perhaps it is worth mentioning, though, that Holy Roman Emperor=s Morandi, c, 2010 daughter Homecoming Queen relished the soft ground Danzig when she won this year=s 1000 Guineas. Pas de Nom Danehill Incidentally, when I reviewed Homecoming Queen=s His Majesty Razyana pedigree back in May, I said that I would have liked Holy Roman Spring Adieu Holy Roman Emperor to have achieved more with his Emperor (Ire) Bold Ruler first two crops. I=m pleased to say that he has since Somethingroyal L’On Vite added a pleasing number of group winners to his total, Northern Dancer Fanfreluche with Morandi and Homecoming Queen leading a team Ciboulette which also includes Ishvana, Leitir Mor, Maureen and Sea-Bird Sunday Times. Bubbling Beauty Bering (GB) Lyphard Beaune Vezina (Fr) Barbra 5Fls, 1GSW Caro Marie De Nez (Fr) Crystal Palace (Fr) Race Record Hermieres 16Fls, 1GSW *Ordenstreue Orsini II 3SW Ch. 2yo/3yo-Ger Ordinate