Northern Dancer Herd

Farm Notes. April, 1977. Val de l'Orne was syndicated by Windfields for $2,160,000, becoming the fourth stallion syndicated for over a million by the farm in recent years. The others were Northern Dancer, $2,400,000, Tentam, $2,400,000 and Halo, $1,200,000.

Gay Jitterbug and Regal Gal, both sold as yearlings by Windfields, were Florida SW this season. Gay Jitterbug, a bay gelding by Northern Dancer from Gay Meeting, a $63,000 purchase by Jaclyn Stable, won the Appleton and Canadian Turf Handicap at Gulfstream. Regal Gal, a chestnut filly by Viceregal from Impetuous Lady, accounted for a division of the Columbiana Handicap at Hialeah.

June, 1977. Tentam's first two starters scored open victories in identical times. Silver Spook, a grey filly, posted a 3 length score in her debut, winning in :58 and one. Tentam is a holder of a world record for nine furlongs on turf. His daughter, La Voyageuse, a brown filly out of champion Fanfreluche, won by four lengths. We saw what she would go on to accomplish in an earlier posting. In her next start, she bucked shins and finished fourth in the My Dear Stakes. Silver Spook was out of Feet First, by Native Dancer and finished third in the My Dear.

The Minstrel became the second E.P. Taylor bred 3YO to win the Epsom Derby when he administered Blushing Groom his first defeat as a 3YO. By Northern Dancer out of Victoria Park's daughter, Fleur, The Minstrel is the second major European SW for his dam. The Minstrel's year older brother, Far North, won the Prix Saint Roman and Prix Omnium 11 in France. We took a more detailed look at Far North in a recent posting.

The late Nearctic, whose last crop are 3YO, was credited with SW 48 and 49 this spring (1977) when his daughter Freeze the Secret won the Nell Gwyn at Newmarket and Nordic Prince took the $50,000 Will Rogers Handicap at Hollywood Park. The son of Nearco from Lady Angela, by Hyperion, who ranks among the leading sires of SW in this century, was syndicated for $1,050,000 in 1967 (a record figure for a 13YO) and stood six seasons at Woodstock Farm before chronic lymphangitis forced his humane destruction on July 26, 1973.

Sweet Alliance, by Sir Ivor from Mrs. Peterkin, winner of the Kentucky Oaks, finished out of the money for the first time when she stumbled at the break in the Acorn, almost dislodging jockey Chris McCarron. Winner earlier of the Pocahontas, La Troienne Stakes and Jersey Belle Handicap, she, along with Northern Sea, by Northern Dancer from Sea Saga, gave Windfields a two pronged attack in major races for 3YO. Northern Sea won her first two races at Pimlico this season, then finished second in the Black Eyed Susan Stakes. She, too, we took a look at recently.

Breeder. February, 1977. E.P. Taylor breds set a record in 1976 for breeders earnings, becoming the first to go over the $3 million mark. The first thoroughbreds bred in his name came to the races in 1948. That year they had three wins and purses of $7,110. Since then they had won more than 6,000 races and their earnings through 1976 totaled over $25,000,000.

Taylor breds were closing in on another record. H.P. Whitney bred 192 SW, the all time high for a single breeder. Taylor's total now was 191. He came within a neck of the record on January 17, 1977, when Meteor Dancer, which he had bred and sold for $85,000 to Buckland Farm, lost the Busanda Stakes by that margin.

Meteor Dancer, a bay filly, 1974, by Northern Dancer from Canadian Oaks winner, Solometeor, by Victoria Park, was a small filly who would not win a stakes race in her racing career but come very close. She would finish a nose behind the winner of the Cherry Hill Stakes, and she also was second in the Searching. She showed in the $100,000 Fantasy. As a broodmare, she would produce SW Xwoni Xwoni, a bay gelding, 1992, by Track Barron.

During 1976, 13 Taylor breds earned stakes brackets for the first time. Taylor's final total, including previous SW was 18, tops among all North American breeders. Windfields believed in the mystique and performance of classical Derby winners. It included in its breeding plans such Derby winners as its own Northern Dancer and his son Nijinsky 11 as well as Empery, Foolish Pleasure, Herbager, Le Fabuleux, Majestic Prince, Secretariat, Sir Ivor and Youth. It added Snow Knight and Val de l'Orne to the roster for 1977.

In the January, 1977, Keeneland sale, Windfields sold the stallions, Northern Native, and Right Combination. Windfields bred champion, Victorian Queen, a daughter of Victoria Park, in foal to Secretariat, brought a record $310,000. The Minstrel, a son of Northern Dancer from Fleur, by Victoria Park, who had sold for $200,000 at Keeneland in 1975, was ranked fourth high at 125 lbs on the English Free Handicap. Nearctic got SW 46 and 47 in 1976. Northern Dancer had 42. Farm stablemates Bull Page, Chop Chop and Nearctic recently were inducted into the Canadian Racing Hall of Fame.

Land. November, 1976. E.P. Taylor purchased the stallion acreage of Woodstock Farm, bringing Windfields total Maryland holdings to more than 2,000 acres. Two of Europe's leading runners in 1976 were foaled at Windfields Stallion Division in Maryland. Nelson Bunker Hunt's Youth, April 12, 1973, a son of Ack Ack, winner of the French Derby and more recently third in the Arc de Triomphe, was foaled at Windfields prior to his dam being bred to Northern Dancer. This was Gazala 11, by Dark Star. Unfortunately, she would be barren to the Dancer.

George Pope, Jr.'s Hill Shade dropped J.O. Tobin, by Never Bend at the Maryland farm on March 28, 1974 and likewise was sent to Northern Dancer. J.O. Tobin was regarded as England's top 2YO. Both these mares had earlier produced champions. Hill Shade produced Mysterious, England's top 3YO filly a few seasons before. Gazala 11's first foal was French 2YO champion, Mississipian.

Hill Shade, by Hillary from Penumbra, by Imperium, foaled in 1975 the SW Fairy Dance, a bay filly by the Dancer, who would win a division of the $30,000 Matinee on turf. She would place second in $30,000 Market Basket and in a division of the $20,000 San Clemente.

A Northern Dancer yearling filly, a half sister to 1974 Kentucky Derby winner Cannonade, brought a record $200,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale. The filly, named Dance Princess, April 7, had a star and two white hinds and was out of Queen Sucree, by Ribot from Cosmah, a half sister to Northern Dancer's dam, Natalma. Dance Princess would win 2 allowances as a 3YO at a mile from 7 starts.

Among the stallions standing at the Windfields Maryland farm for 1977 were Halo, by Hail to Reason from Cosmah, at a fee of $7,500 live foal, and Tentam, $15,000 live foal. Northern Dancer stood for a private contract.

February 1977. Val de l'Orne, by Val de Loir from Aglae joined the Maryland stalllions at $15,000 live foal. He was a French champion and French Derby winner. Northern Dancer's 13 yearlings sold in 1976 averaged $105,000. Third in the General Sire list, behind What A Pleasure and Round Table, with progeny earnings of over $1,500,000, Northern Dancer was also runner up to Raja Baba on the 2YO sire list. Northern Dancer and Nijinsky 11 each had 10 Sws, behind Sir Ivor's 13 among sires of Sws. A son of the Dancer, SW Northfields, was a classic sire in Ireland while the Dancer's SW Lyphard was France's leading 2YO sire with his first crop headed by two Group 1 SW, the filly Durtal (Cheveley Park Stakes) and the colt Pharly (all age Prix de la Foret).

Seximee and Dame de Grace, both dams of classic winners, were in Northern Dancer's 1977 book. Seximee had produced !974 English 2000 Guineas winner, Nonoalco, by Nearctic. In 1975, she foaled Stradavinsky, an Irish bred bay colt by Nijinsky 11 who became a GR-111 winner. Dame de Grace gave us Red Lord, hero of the 1976 French 2000 Guineas. I don't know the results of these matings, but no SW arose from them. Perhaps there were no foals at all, as Northern Dancer left many a fine mare barren over the years.

A final note on Try My Best, the Dancer's champion 2YO colt in Europe. It seems a vicious virus struck right before the 2,000 Guineas in England which, unknown to his connections, he carried into the race, resulting in a "devastating failure". He would be syndicated to stand in Ireland for $4,000,000.

To move through the years during which Northern Dancer's champion son, Try My Best, was at stud is to find some curiosities. In 1985, we see his son, Celestial Bounty, a bay colt, 3YO from Heavenly Bounty, by Captain's Gig, becoming a SW and finishing second in the Irish 2000 Guineas, GR-1. From 1989 to 1991 is to follow GR-111 SW Pont Aven as she put up a number of stakes wins and placings. She was by Try My Best from Basilea, by Frere Basile from Gay Apparel, by Up Spirits from Brief Attire, a Windfields bred by Menetrier from Chorus Beauty. This is the same Brief Attire who produced the 2YO SW, Brief Escar, in Ontario, after she was cast off by Windfields for $300. Pont Aven would earn over $180,000, with 3 wins, 2 seconds and 4 thirds in 15 starts, all her wins and placings occurring in stakes. In 1993, Try My Best went from standing in Ireland to standing in Japan. In 1998, his 8YO bay son, My Best Valentine, out of Pas de Calais, by Pas de Seul, won the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp GR-1,.

November, 1976. Epsom Derby winner, Snow Knight, joined the ranks of stallions at Windfields, Oshawa. He was voted 1975 Eclipse turf champion in North America after a campaign of 5 consecutive stakes wins, ending with the Man o'War Stakes and the Canadian International Championship Stakes.

The success of the first two crops by Vice Regent and the horse's subsequent popularity led to an increase in his stud fee in 1977 to $2,500 live foal.

Fillies purchased by E.P. Taylor primarily as broodmare prospects were doing well at the track. Pacific Princess, a daughter of Damascus from Fiji 11, purchased for $75,000, was awarded the Delaware Oaks following the disqualification of T.V. Vixen. She had now won over $100,000 with stakes placings in the Matron, Test, Gazelle and Maskette H. A photo showed Windfields' Northern Sea winning the $75,000 Mermaid Stakes as she challenged for top 2YO filly honors. Pacific Princess's claim to fame came through her winning daughter, Pacificus, by Northern Dancer, who foaled two consecutive Japanese Horse of the Year in Biwa Hayahide, a SW grey colt, 1989, by Sharrood, and Japanese Triple Crown winner, Narita Brian, a dark bay colt, 1991, by Brian's Time.

With SW Dancing Champ, a son of Nijinsky 11, entering stud in Windfields Maryland, Taylor offered another son of that great horse to breeders in Canada for $1,500. This was Sevastopol, out of the Canadian Oaks winner, South Ocean, by New Providence. Sevastopol had bucked shins as a 2YO, and strained a tendon at 3YO. He was unraced, the first foal of his dam, whose second, the Northern Dancer filly, Northernette, was showing promise.

From 80 foals in his first three crops of racing age had come 11 Sws for Nijinsky 11. In Europe, there were 7 - Quiet Fling, Lighted Glory, Tanzor, Green Dancer, Nuclear Pulse, African Dancer and Caucasus. In America, there were 4 others - Summertime Promise, Dancing Champ, Nijana and La Jalouse. Also Caucasus, after winning the Irish St. Leger, came to the US to score in the Sunset, South Bay and Manhattan H.

Top Priced, September, 1976. Northern Sea, a filly by Northern Dancer from Sea Saga, by Sea Bird, purchased by E.P. Taylor at Keeneland in July, 1975, for $260,000 won her debut at Delaware Park last month by 8 lengths.

We will look at the top three priced yearlings sold by Windfields in 1976. First there was L'Alezane, a chestnut filly, March 5, by Dr. Fager from Northern Willow, by Northern Dancer, purchased for $101,000 by the North American Bloodstock Agency at Saratoga. Then there was Try My Best, a bay colt by Northern Dancer from Sex Appeal, by Buckpasser, sold for $185,000 at Keeneland to the British Bloodstock Agency (Ireland). Finally, there was Cabriole, a bay colt by Northern Dancer from Supper Party, by Stage Door Johnny, who went for $145,000, again to the BBA (Ireland) at Keeneland.

L'Alezane's dam, Northern Willow, had a $35,000 reserve price at her yearling sale but was left behind for Windfields. She was a light bay with a blaze extending over one eye. She would run fourth once from 4 starts for earnings of $140. Hardly a great beginning. Her first offspring, May Combination, a colt by Taylor stallion, Right Combination, was a SW at 2YO whose career was compromised by a bowed tendon. L'Alezane, which translates from the French as "the chestnut", was a dazzler in appearance, with a large long star, two white hinds and a flaxen mane and tail. Her sharp looks matched her racing ability, especially at 2YO. That year she was Canada's top 2YO filly, and indeed, Canada's Horse of the Year. Her American wins included the Schuylerville, the Adirondack and the Alcibiades. Not quite as dominant as a 3YO, she placed in the Canadian Oaks and ran third in the Queen's Plate. In a huge tragedy, she snapped her left fore in a race as a 4YO on March 7, 1979, and had to be put down. Her earnings were over $345,000.

Try My Best, April 28, was the second foal of his dam, Sex Appeal, whom we saw in a previous posting. He had two white fores and a right white hind. He would be champion 2YO colt in England, rated at 130 lbs, winning the Whitechurch Maiden, the Larkspur GR-111 and the Dewhurst GR-1. At 3YO, he would win the Vauxhall Trial GR-111, but then finish nowhere in the 2000 Guineas and be retired. He would have some impact at stud, largely through his GR-1 SW Last Tycoon, winner at the Breeders Cup, but would be overshadowed on the track and at stud by his younger brother, El Gran Senor.

Cabriole, April 22, was also the second foal for his dam, Supper Party. She was an unraced daughter of Stage Door Johnny from Nearctic's half sister, Lady Victoria, by Victoria Park Cabriole's price of $145,000 reflected the glory of his 3/4 brother, by Northern Dancer from Lady Victoria named Northern Taste. He was a major SW in France, with white markings covering most of his face and legs. He took the Prix Djebel, the Prix Eclipse, Prix Thomas Bryon and the Prix de la Foret GR-1. He had numerous other stakes placings and ran a close fourth in the 2,000 Guineas. Northern Taste had Japanese owners when he ran in Europe, and upon retirement, was a sensation at stud in Japan. Even in 2007, his daughters continue to produce Sws in Japan. Supper Party's first foal, Pro Supper, won 9 races, was stakes placed and earned about $130,000. She was by the promising Taylor stallion, Protanto, a SW by Native Dancer, who was lost to Windfields at 9YO when he foundered.

Cabriole would not win a race until he was a 4YO, when he won 3 times for about $45,000 in earnings. He had been resold as a 3YO for $35,000. He disappears into history, as did two more sons of Northern Dancer from Lady Victoria. These were stakes placed - in -Western Canada, winner Park Dancer, with 8 wins and $60,000, 1973, and Sudden Thaw, 1975, winner of 2 races, and just over $12,000. Cabriole, Park Dancer and Sudden Thaw were all lost in the brightness of a singular Northern Taste.

Jump On In, a 3YO bay filly by Jump Start from Lucky'N Loved, by Fire Maker, by unraced Fire Dancer, 1975, by Northern Dancer from Forward Gal, won her first stakes, the GR-11 Santa Ynez at Santa Anita on January 15, 2007. The purse was $150,000 and the distance, seven furlongs. Forward Gal, dam of Fire Dancer, was by Native Charger from Forward Thrust, by Jet Action, and earned champion 2YO filly honors by winning the Sorority, the Frizette and the Spinaway, with earnings of over $438,000. Curiously, as of 1991, none of her six offspring had made it to the races.

By 1991, Fire Dancer, a bay horse who stood 16.2 hands, had sired 17 Sws. Seaquay, a filly, was his highest moneymaker as a SW of over $457,000; she had some graded stakes placings as well.

Fire Maker, broodmare sire of Jump On In, won over $220,000 by winning the Withers GR-11, and running second in the GR-1 Remsen and GR-111 Tremont. He entered stud in 1991. Fire Dancer's only other graded stakes winner was Firey Challenge, a filly who took the GR-111 Prioress.

Forward Gal, a chestnut, 1968, had another foal by Northern Dancer, the mare, Free French. This mare was dam of Irish bred SW, Fly Start, a brown filly, 1979 by Run the Gantlet. Another of her offspring was Falling Star, a French bred who was stakes placed.

On January 20, 2007, Any Limit, a bay filly, 4YO, by Limit Out from Clandestinely, by Forty Niner, won the $100,000 First Lady H at Gulfstream Park for fillies and mares over 6 furlongs. Her sire, Limit Out, won 5 of 9 races, including the Jerome H GR-11, the Bay Shore GR-111 and was second in the Buick Pegasus H GR-11 and third in the Withers, GR-11. Limit Out was a bay colt, 1995, a son of Northern Flagship, 1986, from Lucky Delight, by Miswaki. Northern Flagship was a small, 15.2 hands son of Northern Dancer from SW Native Partner, by Raise A Native from Dinner Partner. Northern Flagship ran only as a 3YO in England, running second once and third once in 4 starts, for earnings of $2,895.

Because he was a full brother to the champion 3YO colt in England and France, GR-1 SW Ajdal, as well as half sibling to GR-1 Sws, Flying Partner (Hoist the Flag) and Formidable (Forli), Northern Flagship was given a chance at stud in 1990. Ajdal had to be put down after a paddock accident, leaving only one crop, who would rank a 2.78 AEI.

An unraced full sister to Northern Flagship and Ajdal, Farewell Partner, would produce GR-111 SW Lakeshore Road, a bay colt 1993 by Alleged, and the SW Secret Patner, a chestnut filly, 1996, by Rahy. Noble Sheba, another offspring of Farewell Partner, would be stakesplaced. Other famous members of this family with a Dancer connection would include the chestnut flyer, Arazi, by Blushing Groom from Danseur Fabuleux, by Northern Dancer, the colt which caused a sensation in the Breeders Cup. His three quarter brother, the GR-1 SW Noverre, a bay colt by Rahy, was another flashy member of the gang. Danseur Fabuleux, the dam, was a GR-111 placed non-winner by Northern Dancer from Fabuleux Jane, by Le Fabuleux from Native Partner.

Lost in all this is Northern Flagship's stud record. He sired Macanal, 1992, a champion 3YO colt in Germany, and SW Polaris Flight, a GR-1 winner in France, and second in the French and Irish Derbies. A total of 11 Sws were under Northern Flagship's name as sire, as of 2007. Staff Writer, Danzig, Fairy King, Dancing Count and Vice Regent all come to mind as lightly raced or unraced sons of the Dancer who had something to say at stud.

Fame. 1976, September. Northern Dancer was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame at Saratoga on August 10. He was the first Canadian bred racehorse to gain that honor.

Sons of Vice Regent, from his second crop, ran 1-2 in the Bull Page Stakes for 2YO. Pro Consul, the winner, was a chestnut colt with a white nose, May 4, from Bingo Queen, by Bing 11 and bred by Windfields. He had sold for $23,000. Runner up, Lord Lodin, was a chestnut gelding with a blaze, two white fores and a left white hind from Lady Rhody, by Golden Gloves, whose yearling price was a mere $1400. Lord Lodin would become an allowance winner. Pro Consul would go on to win or place in 8 more stakes, some on turf, and earn almost $140,000. His sire, Vice Regent, by Northern Dancer from Victoria Regina, by Menetrier, had been North America's second leading first year sire in 1975

Vice Regent's full brother, Viceregal, swung into action in the Nandi Stakes for 2YO fillies. His daughters ran 1-2. Fairly Regal, a May 31 brown filly with a star, from Fair 111, by Madoru, the Nandi winner, would become a multiple SW on dirt and turf with many stakes placings. Principle, a chestnut filly with a star, ran second; she was out of Taylor bred Queen's Law, by Queen's Own from Queen's Statute, by Le Lavandou. Queen's Law was a half sister to Taylor bred Sws Dance Act (Northern Dancer), North of the Law, (Northern Dancer), Menedict (Menetrier), Court Royal (Chop Chop), Epic Queen (Epic) and Down North (Victoria Park). Queen's Law was stakes placed herself and dam of Queen's Splendour (Impressive) and stakes placed Polar Queen (Nearctic)

Viceregal had been sold to Baron Guy de Rothschild for stud duty in France. In 1976 he was represented by the additional Sws, Taylor bred Swain, a 2YO bay colt from Sweet Story, May 11, by Candy Spots; Devon Dancer, a 3YO bay gelding out of Taylor bred Dance of Fire, by Victoria Park from Roman Dancer, by Native Dancer; Regal Quillo, a 3YO chestnut filly with a star, from Bonquill, by On and On from Quillopoly, who ran second in the Canadian Oaks and would win stakes in the USA; and Taylor bred Regal Gal, a 3YO chestnut filly with a blaze, from Impetuous Lady by Hasty Road. Regal Gal had "bad ankles" according to my notes, but would win quality stakes on both sides of the border.

Windfields breds swept the first four places in the Queen's Plate of 1976. The winner was Norcliffe, an $80,000 purchase, by Buckpasser from Drama School, by Northern Dancer. SW Military Bearing, a consistent and flashy bay colt by Vice Regent finished second. He was out of Midinette 11, by Tantieme. Confederation, a blaze faced chestnut gelding by Viceregal from Flaming Issue, by Ace Marine from Flaming Wind, by Windfields from Flaring Top (granddam of Nijinsky 11) ran the race of his life in finishing third despite various "soundness problems", again according to my notes. SW Laissez Passer, an $18,700 purchase, was fourth, despite being blind in one eye. He was a son of Northern Dancer from Lindenlea, by Double Jay. He would go on to break an ankle on August 7, 1977, racing as a 4YO.

This was the first 1-2-3-4 sweep since Windfields had done it before in 1962, as we saw in previous postings, with Flaming Page leading home Choperion, Peter's Chop and King Gorm.

La Voyageuse, September, 1975. The materials read that Fanfreluche, champion SW whose first produce was half million earner, L'Enjoleur, had a brown filly foal at foot by Tentam. We keep running into Fanfreluche which is great because she represents the best of Taylor breeding, although she was herself bred by J.L. Levesque, a regular customer of Windfields. She was by Northern Dancer from Taylor bred Ciboulette, by Chop Chop from Windy Answer, by Windfields from Reply, by Teddy Wrack This is Windfields foundation we are seeing.

Fanfreluche's brown filly was a May 8 foal, with a blaze, a right white hind and two white fores. Named La Voyageuse, she would win 26 races, as a 2YO through 6YO and be declared champion Canadian 3YO filly, champion older female, and champion sprinter. Among her stakes wins would be the Canadian Oaks, the Ontario Matron H twice, the Canadian S, the Seaway S, the Hendrie H twice and the Nearctic H against colts. She placed in American stakes, including the City of Miami as a 2YO. She also finished third in the Selima, but was disqualified and placed fourth.

To 2006, La Voyageuse would produce 12 foals, with 11 runners, 9 winners and 2 Sws. Her son, Time Bandit, by Time for a Change, a chestnut of 1996, did his best running as a 2YO, winning the GR-111 Sanford and the GR-111 Bashford Manor, with a place in the Gallery Furniture Kentucky Cup Juvenile, GR-111, and a show in the GR-1 Hopeful. Time Bandit's full sibling, Innovative, was also a SW, winning over $430,000 with 16 wins from 3YO to 7YO. La Voyageuse produced Kentucky Slew, a colt by Seattle Slew who was group placed twice in France before becoming a sire in South Africa. There was also Neeran, a filly by Fast Play, a son of Seattle Slew from Con Game, by Buckpasser, winner of over $145,000 and dam of stakes placed Chief Commander in France. La Voyageuse had a son by Mr. Prospector, Golden Voyageur, who was a winner and a sire in Chile, and another son by Seattle Slew, Seattle Hero, a winner and sire in Japan.

Another daughter of La Voyageuse by Fast Play, a half brother to Seeking the Gold, was named French Shoes, a winner and dam of French Braids, SW of the Aus-11 Silver Slipper. Finally, there is one of La Voyageuse's non winners, the placed, in 4 starts, Mr. Prospector chestnut mare, Society Lady. She is probably La Voyageuse's most important daughter, becoming the dam of Bint Allayl, a champion 2YO filly in England, a bay daughter of Green Desert, 1996. Bint Allayl won the Peugeot Lowther S GR-11 and the Queen Mary S Eng-11. Her full brother, a brown colt, 2001, named Kheleyf, won the Jersey S, Eng-111 and group 11 placed. Society Lady also has given us Nasmatt, a bay filly, 1998, by Danehill who is stakes placed.

So, "Fanfreluche had a brown filly foal at foot by Tentam", the materials read in 1975. Look how it all blossomed!

A bit of trivia from the materials. Windfields Farm owner, E.P. Taylor, bred the first stakes winners by Damascus, Majestic Prince, Nijinsky 11 and Hoist the Flag, among others. That was not a trivial accomplishment for the owners of those historic stallions.

Vice Regent, July, 1975. Vice Regent, Viceregal's unlucky brother, made an impressive start with his first 2YOs. His first performer, Minnedosa, April 26, a bay filly from Skip Over, by Fair Ruler, won April 10 and came back to win again on May 3; his second starter, Regent Sun, a chestnut filly from Sun and Wind, by Windfields won on April 17 and came back on May 30.

Pedigree note: Sybil's Sister, granddam of English Derby winner Grundy's sire, Great Nephew, is a three quarter sister of Nearctic. She is by Nearco out of Sister Sarah, whereas Nearctic is by Nearco out of a daughter of Sister Sarah. Actually, Great Nephew's dam, Sybil's Niece and Nearctic have the same pedigree ingredients, but in a different order. Sybil's Niece is by Admiral's Walk who is by Hyperion. Sybil's Niece is out of Sybil's Sister, who is by Nearco from Sister Sarah. Nearctic is by Nearco from Lady Angela who is by Hyperion from Sister Sarah.

September 1975. E.P. Taylor bought two important yearling fillies. Northern Sea, by Northern Dancer from Sea Saga, by Sea Bird, was a $260,000 Keeneland purchase. Sweet Alliance, by Sir Ivor from Mrs. Peterkin, by Tom Fool, would cost $65,000. The latter filly would win the Kentucky Oaks, and foal Shareef Dancer, an Irish Derby winner by Northern Dancer, and a record stallion syndication.

It was revealed that Windfields had sold Minsky for $800,000 to Japanese interests, and Viceregal for $500,000 to French breeders in the fall of 1974.

Getting back to the magical fillies, Northern Sea, with a large star snip and four white feet, would win the Test Stakes GR-111 among others, and run second in the Frizette GR-1, the Selima GR-1 and others as well. As a broodmare, Northern Sea would give us Southern Halo, by Halo, runner-up in the Super Derby GR-1 and the Swaps GR-1 and, next to Sunday Silence, Halo's most important son at stud. Southern Halo had his greatest success by far in Argentina, where he sired the following GR-1 winners, mostly fillies: the fillies Cadeaux, Wally, Southern Spring, Gouache, Orca, Southern Filly, Numeraria, Overspeed, La Costa Azul and the colts Hangar, El Compinche, Rockville and Brisque. In North America, where he stood for a short time, Southern Halo sired the very promising stallion, and game runner, More than Ready, from Woodman's Girl, by Woodman. More than Ready has stood in both the north and the south. In Australia, he has sired the GR-1 winners Benicio, Perfectly Ready and Carry on Cutie.

Northern Sea was also dam of allowance winner, Taylor bred Excellent Lady, a brown filly by Smarten. Excellent Lady had a wonderful son in the gallant campaigner, General Challenge, a flashy chestnut son of General Meeting. The gelding won the Pacific Classic GR-1 as a 3YO, the Santa Anita Derby GR-1 and the Santa Anita Handicap GR-1 as a 4YO. He earned close to $3 million. In 1998, Excellent Lady foaled Notable Career, a brown filly by Avenue of Flags and winner as a 2YO of the Oak Leaf S GR-1 and the Landaluce GR-111. A gorgeous full sister to General Challenge, Western Hemisphere, another chestnut with lots of white, became another SW for her dam, as well as being graded stakes placed.

Bamboozle, September, 1974. The Windfields materials showed a photo of Northern Dancer's 3YO chestnut daughter, Northern Gem, winning the Fred Darling Stakes GR-111 in England in a head to head battle to the wire. Among the best of her generation in the British Isles, she had since the photo was taken captured the Pretty Polly GR-11. Windfields bought her sister in blood, by Nijinsky 11, at Saratoga for $170,000. She would be named Caught in the Act.

The dam here is SW Bamboozle, by Alcide from Claudette, by Chanteur 11 from Nearly, by Nearco. Northern Gem was a February 27 Virginia bred with a big blaze who sold for $92,000 at Saratoga, and later for 108,000 guineas in her 3YO year. Besides the two stakes races mentioned which she won, Northern Gem placed second in the Prix de la Cote Normandie, beaten a nose, the Prix Eugene Adam GR-11, the Irish 1,000 Guineas GR-1, the Champion Stakes GR-1 and the Sun Chariot GR-11. She ran third in the St Hughes S as a 2YO, and won an allowance race in the USA as a 4YO. As a 3Yo in England, Northern Gem was ranked fourth highest filly with 130 lb from 8 to 10 furlongs. In France she ranked sixth at 128 lb.

As a broodmare, Northern Gem carried her quality along. Her 1979 chestnut filly, Dreaming Away, by Sir Ivor was second highweighted 3YO German filly, and was a GR-111 SW. Her 1980 bay colt by Hoist the Flag, Colonial Flag, was a GR-11 SW in Australia. Northern Gem had, I believe, a son by Secretariat, Government Program, who was stakes placed.

Windfields yearling purchase of the 3/4 sister also was a chestnut with a blaze, April 6, 1973. Caught in the Act had a win and a second from 4 starts as a 3YO, to earn $4,800. She too was a Virginia bred. Her first foal, Waskom, 1978, was a colt by Taylor stallion, Snow Knight and unraced. Then came Implication, a 1979 colt by Taylor stallion, Tentam, who would win 3 races to 6YO in England. Next, Kingswick, a colt by King's Bishop would have 4 wins to 5YO in England as well. Then came 1981 Headache Hill, a filly by Tentam who would be unplaced in 1 start as a 3YO. Next was Turn to Halo, a colt 1982 by Taylor stallion, Halo who would place at 2YO for $7440. Then came Be My Master, a colt 1983 by Master Willie, unraced to catalogue time. Her yearling by Foolish Pleasure was a May 19, 1984 colt. Her weanling for 1985 was a bay colt by Smarten.

Windfields was persevering with Caught in the Act, breeding her to stallions they owned, or stood, or both, who they thought might achieve success with Northern Dancer or Nijinsky 11 mares. The contrast between Caught in the Act and her three quarter sister, Northern Gem, could not be starker, either as runners or as broodmares.