Andrew Caulfield, February 5, 2002 – The Roberto Line

P EDIGREE INSIGHTS his breeder John Franks, who experienced some highs and lows during the horse's racing career. When Kissin BY ANDREW CAULFIELD Kris took the GI Haskell Invitational H. in 1993, he improved his record to 13-4-3-2, with the three THE ROBERTO LINE seconds including one in the Belmont S. Remarkably, Kissin Kris made a further 22 appearances without One of my most memorable visits to a racecourse managing to win another race. This epic losing streak is dates back nearly 30 years, to York's 1972 August hard to believe in view of his second in the Travers S., meeting when the extraordinary Brigadier Gerard was his third behind Arcangues and Bertrando in the 1993 expected to extend his unbeaten record to 16 wins. Breeders' Cup Classic and his second in the Suburban Braulio Baeza, riding the Derby winner Roberto for the H. in 1995. Perhaps the losses had more to do with first time, had other ideas, though. Having helped force lack of determination than any lack of ability. the early pace, Roberto made his bid for glory as he Jorge Chavez, who partnered Kissin Kris in the headed for the five-furlong long finishing stretch and Suburban, reported, “I had so much horse and he was maintained his gallop so well that even the heroic coming so strong, but he started cheating. He wouldn't Brigadier couldn't catch him. In the process, Roberto give me everything.” sliced nearly two seconds off the track record and Although Kissin Kris clearly had his foibles (as did stunned the York crowd into virtual silence, with the Roberto), he was surely a welcome addition to the exception of a few jubilant Irishmen. stallion strength in Florida, where Kris S. sired so many Just recalling that moment makes me feel old, and good horses during the first part of his career. He was reminds me too of the unwelcome fact that several of popular in his first season in 1996 at a fee of $5,000, Roberto's best stallion sons are also well past the first attracting 88 mares for a crop of 62 named foals, but flush of youth. Kris S. is now 25; Robellino, an the next two years saw his book fall to 70 and then 51. underrated son based in England, is 24; Silver Hawk is Although his fortunes have continued to fluctuate, he 23; and Lear Fan is 21. Even Repriced, billed as “the attracted 112 mares in 2000, so his yearling crop this youngest son of the great Roberto at stud,” is now 14. year is his largest to date. Although there should still be plenty of life left in It will be interesting to see how Kissin Kris progresses Dynaformer, 17, and in Red Ransom, 15, we should over the next few years, because there are signs that perhaps be looking to see whether there are many he has ability. His first crop contained the Canadian grandsons of Roberto capable of maintaining his champion Kiss A Native and his comparatively small powerful influence in the U.S. It is slightly worrying third crop has so far produced the stakes winners that this year's Blood-Horse stallion register lists only Blissful Kiss (My Dear Girl S.), Kiss An Angel and 10 grandsons, and there are only five Grade I winners Cellars Shiraz, an unexpected winner of Sunday’s GIII among them--Kris S.'s sons Arch, Kissin Kris, Prized Herecomesthebride S. and You and I, plus Lear Fan's son Labeeb. It will also be interesting to see how Arch and At the moment, then, the task of extending the Labeeb, two other grandsons of Roberto, fare with their Roberto male line in North America seems to rest fairly first juveniles this year. Kris S.'s Super Derby winner firmly on the shoulders of Kris S. Unfortunately, Prized Arch attracted the attention of John Ferguson, a man has probably made a greater impact with his 1997 New who has paid such prices as $3,900,000, $1,200,000 Zealand crop than with his American progeny, headed and $1,000,000 for sons of Kris S. The Englishman by the Grade II winners Prized Stamp and Pisces. collected two of Arch's highest-priced yearlings at However, You and I may yet recover from a slow start $140,000 and $100,000. with his first crop, having sired eight stakes winners in his second and the Grade I-winning You in his third. Kissin Kris is based in Florida at the Franks Farm of

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