Attention New Mexico Horsemen...Searching for Your Opinion

[DKB]

Okay, New Mexico horsemen, your opinion matters!

As the 2006 Breeding Season approaches it is time to determine best breeding opportunities in the state. Therefore, I am asking you to identify your stallion choices exclusive to NM.

More specifically I am interested in your thoughts as to the better breeding stallions in the state, regardless of fee, with specific reasons as to why you think so. Do not simply list a stallion...give logical reasons in your selection.

It would also be nice to hear from you on the breeding lines (pedigrees) of the mares you would send to your perferred stud, again with specific reasons as to your choices.

This exercise can prove invaluable to many of we NM breeders...so your time and effort will be appreciated.

[bcassidy]

I like Chimes Band and Claudius. Chimes Band because I track him in the system I developed to identify stallions which outproduce the mares they cover. I liked him before he moved to New Mexico, otherwise I might never have found him as I typically wouldn't track a stallion in the southwest regional market. I live in NJ.
I like Claudius becuase I had a mare which nicked very well with him, so I sent the mare to Texas to breed to him and I love the filly I got from that mating. Both are very reasonably priced.
Hope that helps.

[jellac]

Sadly on Chimes Band = this database indicates he is recently deceased:

Died Feb.2005 after his spinal cord broke due to complications for surgery for wobbler syndrome

[jellac]

BTW - Can someone from New Mexico inform as to where (and how to make contact) with the farm/ranch that is standing CLAUDIUS for the 2006 season? Googling only tells me he was going to go to Lucky Six Ranch for 2005, but then nothing more current.....His SW son Hi Tech Man stood in Texas for 2005, I think.

[Linda in TX]

Can someone from New Mexico inform as to where (and how to make contact) with the farm/ranch that is standing CLAUDIUS for the 2006 season?

I read a post recently, maybe on this board (maybe not), that Claudius will be returning in 2006 to the same farm where he previously stood in Texas. I'll try to find that post.

[ZiaLand]

Hi DKB. Always nice to see another New Mexican on the forum.

Claudius's fate is unknown at this time. He is currently at A&A in Anthony but will be moving before the breeding season starts. He is expected to go to Texas. It's unfortunate, because this is a very nice stallion that I had hoped to breed to in 2006. He's Majestic Light x a daughter of Irish River. In limited progeny to race, he's already produced a SW of $400K+.

Chimes Band (Dixieland Band), sadly, is deceased as Jellac said. RIP.

On stallions who will be standing in NM, here are some of my opinions. Please note I'm not a bloodstock expert, just offering food for thought. I'll take a shot on the mares that I think might make a good cross, but only in general terms. It really depends on the individual's total pedigree.

Devon Lane by Storm Cat is at TNL Farms in Bernardo and is expected to stand his 2nd season in NM since returning from Vessels in California. No matter what the stats say, I feel he is the best bet in NM at this time. (And not just because I'll have two on the ground by him next spring!) He has consistantly ranked in the Top 10 Sires of 2YOs in North America for the last several months, ranking as high as #2. He's up there with Hennesey, Giant's Causeway and some of the other more well known Storm Cat sons at a fraction of the fee. His 2006 fee hasn't yet been announced yet, but it will be going up. He's had several really good 2YOs this year including SW River's Prayer who just ran 3rd to Wild Fit in the Debutante (G1) and is now training at Belmont. Also, Storming Hun, Devons Success (recent winner by 11 1/2 lengths), etc. Devon Lane is out of the Relaunch mare To The Hunt, and is half-brother to both Stellar Jayne and Starrer (millionaires). Stellar Jayne was an Eclipse nominee last year and may be up again this year. Devon Lane also sired the 3rd place finisher in the 2004 All American Futurity, so he's a promising crossover sire. He's a stoutly built gray. A variety of mares might suit him especially including Caro (Cozzene, In Excess), Mr. Prospector, and In Reality lines.

Favorite Trick is a recent arrival from the Ocala area is will be standing at JEH Farm in the Ruidoso area. He was Horse of the Year as a 2YO (the first since Secretariat) but is now being heavily marketed to QH breeders. Mares? I'm not informed enough about this stallion to answer. Possibly Bold Ruler?

Robyn Dancer at Double LL in Bosque and Saratoga Six at JEH are both established stakes sires but are approaching senior citizen status. Robyn Dancer is a son of Crafty Prospector. Personally, I'd avoid mares that would double up the Mr. Prospector (and hence Raise A Native) bloodlines. Nicks may be mares with In Reality and Damascus lines.

Avenue of Flags recently moved to A&A Farms in Anthony from Double LL. This Seattle Slew son is worth a look. If you remember the American Dream Derby TV reality series you may remember one of the Derby horses was his son, Avenue of Knowledge.

Ghostly Moves is a Silver Ghost son who has produced a very consistant regional stakes daughter, Shemoveslikeaghost. Also worth a look. I steer clear of this one because of the infamous Silver Ghost temperament.

Gone Hollywood a son of Gone West has produced regional SW Hollywood Gone. Worth a look. The farm should get with the program and get a decent photo of this guy for advertising. With limited progeny, Seattle Slew mares might be a good nick.

A couple young ones to take a good, hard look at:

Lazy Lode (ARG) this multiple G1 (Hollywood Gold Cup, etc.) millionaire son of Lode (Mr. Prospector) out of a strong South American female line (1st and 2nd BSs Babas Fables, Good Manners; lots of Tourbillon influence) is siring awesome, correct, intelligent yearlings. He's at A&A in Anthony. (I'll have a 2006 Lazy Lode out of a daughter of Hawkster). This stallion has talent, soundness and great temperament and appears to be passing on these qualities. I'd look for mares with Nashua bloodlines in particular, and look to strengthen the Tourbillon genes possibly through Damascus. Southern Halo mares might be an interesting cross with him, considering SH's success in Argentina with Good Manners. The genetics are reversed, but it might work.

The Trader's Echo is an Eastern Echo son (same sire as Swiss Yodeler) that ran in top company (Artax, Yes Its True, etc.). He had a yearling go for $31,000 at the recent Ruidoso Sale. Not too bad for an unproven regional sire. I like the Damascus over Halo and Blushing Groom lines in his pedigree. Could be versatile with a variety of bloodlines, but the jury is still out. Personally, again, I'd especially look to reinforce the Tourbillon genetics.

Others worth considering:

Prospector Jones (a top sire in NM for many years)
Devil Begone (Devil's Bag x Hail To Reason daughter)
Wild Deputy (Wild Again x Deputy Minister mare)
Elegant Cat (Storm Cat x Elegant Glance, half to Gentlemen)
Dominique's Cat (Storm Cat x Eliza [champ] by Mt. Livermore)
Alnaab (Mr. Prospector x Hail to Reason daugher)
Seacliff (Valid Appeal x Eloquack)

I may have missed a few. My list keeps getting longer. It will be interesting to see what other nice stallions move to the state before the next breeding season.

Psssst....I *hear* there might be a new arrival in the very near future. A nice son of Sadler's Wells! But I'll leave that announcement to his connections.

Laurie

[Stedfast Farm]

Laurie,

Have you been able to find out anything on Indian Runner ?

Thanks

Steve

[ZiaLand]

Stedfast,

I'm going to *try* to get over there this weekend and get some pics of Indian Runner. I'm sure the owner will be surprised at all the interest in his boy. You don't often see a Tourbillon line stallion with T in the first five!

I think Indian has a few foals on the ground, but believe they are all homebreds. I'll try to get some shots of them, too.

Laurie

[ZiaLand]

Oh yeah, that reminds me. Istintaj has my interest. A son of Nureyev and a multiple G3 winner/placer. His dam is by Riverman, 2nd dam by Luthier. His immediate female family is a little weaker than I like to see, but in general the distaff line, mainly through 3rd dam Top Twig, has produced some very talented stakes individuals in Europe, especially. I understand he's a little on the small side.

I think a Silver Hawk or Hawkster mare might be a good (possibly explosive) cross for him. A daugher of Silver Hawk (Hawkster's full sister) produced Blackhawk by Nureyev, a winner of something like $5 million US equivalent in Japan and last I heard a shuttle sire in Japan and Australia(?). A daughter of Damascus might also make an interesting cross, depending what the bottom side of her pedigree brings to the table.

Laurie

[Stedfast Farm]

That would be great. There may also be some interest in the foals. I am also looking for foals by L'Africain Bleu. He died last year but covered a few mares. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks again

Steve

[DKB]

Interesting reading the comments on Istintaj...where is standing or where is he stand? Does he have foals? If so what ages?

My assessment of him reveals he is a near perfect match for daighters of CLAUDIUS. Furthermore, his daughters, depending on the bottomside of their pedigree, might be exceptional prospects to CLAUDIUS himself.

THerefore, I would like to know more.

DKB

[ZiaLand]

Hi DKB,

Istintaj seems to fly a little under the radar. I've seen ads on him before, but they are hard to find. As far as I know, he's still at Market Demand farm. The owners are listed as Jeffery & Mary Keckley on the New Mexico Horse Breeder's stallion registry list, but no farm is listed. Here's an article from Blood-Horse from early 2004 for what it's worth.

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=20160

He is registered as a stallion in the New Mexico bred program. I checked.

Laurie

[TBLADY]

Yes, Chimes Band is gone BUT...I have a full brother for sale!

email privately for details [email protected]
He currently has a small group of 2 yr olds on the ground and ready to train.

[ZiaLand]

Steve,

I talked to my neighbor. Indian Runner and his two offspring are for sale. See my listing under "Buying/Selling". No pics yet but they promised some soon.

Laurie