Successful Sire Lines, 2007
A number of weeks ago, Authorized won the Epsom Derby by a dominating 5 lengths. He was by Montjeu, a son of the Northern Dancer stallion, Sadler's Wells; Montjeu himself won the French and Irish Derbies, as well as the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, all GR-1. Second to Authorized that day was Eagle Mountain, a son of Rock of Gibralter, who is a son of Danehill, who is, of course, by the Northern Dancer stallion, Danzig. Rock of Gibralter was out of Offshore Boom, a daughter of the Northern Dancer stallion, Be My Guest. Third in the Epsom Derby was Aqaleem, a son of Sinndar from Dalayil, a daughter of Sadler's Wells. Sinndar was by Grand Lodge, a son of Chief's Crown, who was by Danzig. Sinndar won 7 of 8 starts with 1 second, winning $2.5 million, including the Epsom Derby, the Irish Derby and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
The Irish Derby was run a few days ago and the 10 length winner was Soldier of Fortune, a bay colt by Galileo, a son of Sadler's Wells. Galileo won the Epsom and Irish Derbies. The runner-up in the Irish Derby, if I am not mistaken, was Alexander of Hales, a son of Danehill from Legend Maker, a daughter of Sadler's Wells. Running third in the Irish Derby was the favorite, Eagle Mountain, who had run second behind Authorized in the Epsom Derby.
The extent of the dominance demonstrated here by the still thriving Northern Dancer line is extraordinary. A recent comment by an American turf writer left me baffled. He was commenting on the wonderful success of the Mr. Prospector line in the American Triple Crown series. It has been truly notable. But he opined that Mr. Prospector is the more successful line in the States on dirt, while Northern Dancer's forte is grass. Well sorry, but Danzig, Lyphard, Storm Cat, El Prado and Deputy Minister have all led the end of year American earnings ranking at one time or another. Even Palace Music was up there once. The missing acknowledgment as well is of how much Northern Dancer has supported the Mr. Prospector line in the Triple Crown on the dam's side of the equation. In this year's Triple Crown, Dixieland Band and Deputy Minister were the broodmare sires that scored. Who will soon forget the final quarter of the 2007 Belmont Stakes, run under 24 seconds by both battlers, Rags to Riches and Curlin, both from Deputy Minister mares. I saw no mention of that fact in any writing about that race. In Europe, there is no question about Northern Dancer's supremacy. In North America, there is more of a contest, especially apart from the curiosity of the Triple Crown. The competition is exciting, especially with the emergence of A.P. Indy, to revive the Bold Ruler line, and with the fading of Storm Cat as he ages, but "just on grass"? I don't think so.
