Grey Sovereign's gray tail male lineage prepotency

[Jorge]

Dear Collaborators,

One of the most intriguing reiterated traits displayed by Grey Sovereign (and his gray sons) was his ability to sire excellent male runners, who were also gray in color. This in spite of the fact that he was not a dominant homozygous gray (G/G) per se, but rather a dominant heterozygous gray (G/g). In addition, there is the fact that he was regularly crossed with solid colored mares! The projection of this sheer dominance in siring talented gray tail-male-lineages is evident when one examines the prepotent gray progeny of Fortino, Caro, Cozzene and Alphabet Soup, just to cite a few examples. There are many other Grey Sovereign strains in Europe and NA, not to even mention the grays produced in France.

We all know and are clear that racing ability is not linked with coat color genes but still it is intriguing to witness that Grey Sovereign had (and has) a special sui-generis ability to stamp his gray color everywhere. This is not seen in other gray tail-male lineages like the Native Dancers and more recently the Relaunches.

Now take for example Cees Tizzy (by Relaunch). His best male runners are not gray in color but he has sired an increasing number of respectful non-gray runners including Tiznow. Why this gray shortage one may ask? The same applies to Native Dancer, who in spite of getting several decent gray males like Native Charger, Jig Time, Dancer's Image and Restless Native (to mention just a few), there was no prepotency with their gray color. The same applies to Icecapace, Determine and Iron Ruler. The same applies to the mighty 1933 Epsom Derby winner.

Now my question. Are we dealing with a stroke of mere luck or there is some identifiable tendencies with Grey Sovereign.

I would earnestly like to read your opinions on this subject.

All the Best,

[wilf]

Well Jorge I honestly am not too much involved in colour-schemes for horses and know very little about colour dominance and ability other than the many interesting posts that you have made over the past two years, HOWEVER , I have seen many top=class runners of the grey variety from the willful Grey Sovereign line not the least would be the greatest 3yr old filly that I ever laid eyes on named Surround who was awarded Horse of the Year honours in Australia in 1977 after an unbelievable campaign that included a victory in the Cox Plate , a feat never equalled before or since by any other 3yr old filly. Its like a filly winning the B C Classic in April......? Obviously absurd , but not for a great grandaughter of Grey Sovereign through crazy Sovereign Path and equally nasty Sovereign Edition who was a great success as a stud in New Zealand.

[Jorge]

Dear Wilf,

Thank you so much for your valuable posting. Certainly, the Thoroughbred breed owes so much to Grey Sovereign and his gray tail male lineage that incredibly, people tend to bypass the fact that he was a son of the great Nasrullah ---a horse with its own legacy! But since Grey Sovereign has established his own racing and phenotypical paradigm, many people tend to forget that. Thanks again for your comments,

[CA Michael]

I've been a huge fan of Grey Sovereign since the mid-60's when he dominated the sire lists in Europe. I'm not a color impresario, but I can't help but think his inbreeding to THE TETRARCH not only accounts for the overall success of his sire line, but also its brilliance.

IN EXCESS, tail male to Grey Sovereign through Caro, is one of few dark bay stallions from this line to succeed. He is a very respected sire in California, and his progeny almost universally develop early. Personally, I believe his damside--which includes the freaky speed sires VILMORIN and SING SING--is just as responsible for this precocity as Grey Sovereign. In Excess is a fairly light boned horse, a trait prevalent in his offspring, and from what I've read about Vilmorin and Sing Sing, they shared this conformation defect. In Excess' good son INDIAN CHARLIE is an outstanding young stallion who will no doubt keep this line prominent.

Another fast offshoot--one which sadly has no representation in the U.S.--is ZEDDAAN. His early export to Japan from France shortchanged the breeding world, to be sure. An absolutely brilliant sprinter--produced by a Vilmorin mare--he was several times leading sire. In the early 80's I saw a Group 3 SW son of his, ADRAAN, run at Hollywood Park in a mile turf race. He was inbred to *Nasrullah and his full sister *Rivaz. I was so impressed with him I made inquiries about standing him in the U.S., but was outmaneuvered by an Australian group. He went on to make a great impact there but died after one season. Pity!

Grey Sovereign and his clan are notoriously bad actors; however, I own a gray grandson of Caro whose damsires are the equally hot Icecapade, Tom Rolfe, and *Nasrullah, but he is sweet as a pusycat. His foals are the same way. At present I own a son of his named REAGAN REPUBLICAN who, if you check out Grey Sovereign's photo on the pedigree query, is an absolute carbon copy of him. He will race this summer as a 3yo.

[Tairaterces]

At present I own a son of his named REAGAN REPUBLICAN who, if you check out Grey Sovereign's photo on the pedigree query, is an absolute carbon copy of him. He will race this summer as a 3yo.

Holy cow . . . . .is he gonna be three already??

Wishing you good karma and hope he wins a bunch "for the Gipper".

T

[Bettina]

Hallo,
here in Germany is the abovementioned sirelire represented by Sternkonig, tracing via Kalaglow-Kalamoun-Zeddaan to Grey Sovereign.
Sternkonig as already 2 sons at stud. Their names are Bonvivant and Kallisto (back at Gestut Rottgen, was at first sent to Hungary). Kallisto had a great start with his first small crop, see Dark Dancer, Dickens, Prokopios. Other good Race horses by Sternkonig are Simonas (gelding) and Tedo. If my memory don't fail me, he is now racing in the U.S.

In France is standing Highest Honor tracing via Kenmare-Kalamoun to GS. In this country he is a very successful sire, see his progeny at the database. Near Honor is his best offspring.

Caro's best son in my home country was Nebos from Nella da Gubbio Family (Catnip). His best offspring are Lebos (Derby winner), Laroche, Antic Boy. He was more a Broodmare Sire.

I wish everyone a Happy New Year.

Best regards, Bettina
P.S.: Kalamoun is inbred 3x3 FB/FS Nasrullah/Rivaz.

[Jorge]

Dear CA Michael,

I was under the impression that the Zeddaan (gray) lineage was represented in the US via a runner related to Keltos (1998), son of Kendor (1986), son of Kenmare (1975), son of Kalamoun (1970) son of Zeddaan (1965). Of course this must be double checked.

Keltos pedigree: http://www.pedigreequery.com/keltos

[Jorge]

Dear CA Michael,

Apparently, TEDO (GER) gr/r. C, 2002 is a sire in the US.

[thistle-c]

Dear Jorge.

I hope you have a happy and healthy new year. I know this is slightly off topic, I was given for Christmas a book about grey racehorses, it is called Grey Magic by Alan Yuill Walker. I am sure you probably have heard of this one, but if not. It is a short history of the grey thoroughbred in Racing and has short histories on many grey horses that have raced in mainly Britain and France, that trace from the stallion Master Robert.

It is more a light read than an experts book.

Regards
Christine

[Elles]

This line also produces/produced show jumpers.

[Denise]

An interesting stallion in our region who descends tail female from Grey Sovereign is Fastness(IRE.)

[Jorge]

Dear Thistle-c,

Thank you so much for the fine courtesy of keeping in mind yours truly interest in this topic. No, I haven't read about this book . Great! Please feel free to share more information on this auspicious text. All His Blessings for 2007.

[KBEquine]

Denise -- an interesting stallion in your region who descends tail-mail from Grey Sovereign is Sir Juli Go in Pennsylvania. He is primarily considered a sporthorse stallion. And his grey actually comes from his dam's sireline [Native Dancer] rather than Grey Sovereign.

His is by Rocamadour [IRE] by Royal Match [GB]. who is a chestnut, by Sovereign Path [GB] by Grey Sovereign.

[Which is why I hadn't mentioned him earlier in the string.]

[Elles]

I owned the mare Lucky on Wings, she has Royal Match in her pedigree. He is the sire of Playing for Keeps, half sister to To Agori Mou.

[Black Duchess]

@Jorge

Do you know where Tedo is standing?
I can't find him in the stallion directory from TT.