by David Manser

(Continued from page 2)

STUD RECORD

Isinglass possessed the ideal pedigree, conformation, racetrack ability and temperament to make a successful stallion. As a winner of the Triple Crown there was a great deal of expectation about his stud career. Some critics have concluded that he was a disappointment at stud,  given that he was mated with the best mares in England and Ireland. An examination of his stud record, however, when viewed from the perspective of his impact on the long-term development of the Thoroughbred,  reveals a vastly different result.

When examining Isinglass in terms of his ability as a sire of sires,  it would be reasonable to say that other stallions of his generation were more successful.  This certainly does not equate to saying that he produced no sire sons of merit. His best sire sons included John O'Gaunt, Louvois, Louviers,  Star Shoot and Kilglass. While conceding that this is a short list of his best sire sons,  given that he was at stud for almost 18 seasons, their impact is a better measure of his success as a sire of sires.


JOHN O'GAUNT 1901 (Isinglass - La Fleche by St. Simon)

While considered somewhat of a disappointment on the racetrack,  given that his dam had won the Oaks, 1000 Guineas and St Leger,  and Isinglass was also a triple Classic winner, John O'Gaunt nevertheless gained notoriety at stud as the sire of Swynford - and to a lesser extent,  his brother Harry of Hereford. He also sired Kennymore - (2000 Guineas) - Mandy Hamilton - dam of Supremus, damsire of Menow - and Mary Gaunt - dam of Abbot's Speed, damsire of Prince Chevalier.

I believe that John O'Gaunt was able to benefit from the duplication of genetic material of the Camel / Brown Bess and the Camilla / Everlasting connections on both sides of his pedigree. 

Swynford (John O'Gaunt - Canterbury Pilgrim) produced Blandford out of the White Eagle mare Blanche. Blandford went on to establish the sire dynasty which passed via Blenheim to many top modern stallions. As well as Blandford,  Swynford produced Sansovino (Derby), Tranquil (1000 Guineas and St Leger), Keysoe (St Leger), Saucy Sue (1000 Guineas and Oaks), Ferry - sister to Sansovino - (1000 Guineas) and Bettina (1000 Guineas). He was the leading sire in 1923 and leading broodmare sire in 1932. 

Harry of Hereford gained his spot in the limelight as the sire of Annette K (out of Bathing Girl by Spearmint) the dam of Brushup - dam of War Admiral (by Man O'War).

The pedigree of these two brothers have a very clever pattern on the distaff side. Their third remove shows :

     Hermit (Newminster - Seclusion)
     Thrift (Stockwell - Braxey)

     The Palmer (Beadsman - Madame Eglantine)
     Lady Audley (Macaroni - Secret)

This creates a re-introduction of Newminster, Stockwell and Secret directly. In addition, Beadsman re-introduces Tramp, Muley, Miss Letty and Touchstone. Madame Eglantine re-introduces Bay Middleton, Priam, and Octaviana, Lady Audley re-introduces Secret (also dam of Silence). All of these additional infusions were key elements in the pedigree of Isinglass. 


LOUVOIS 1901 (Isinglass - St Louvaine by Wolf's Crag)
LOUVIERS 1906 (Isinglass - St Louvaine by Wolf's Crag)

Louvois won the 2000 Guineas and Prince of Wales Stakes and was a minor placegetter in the Derby. His best son, St Louis (out of Princess Sterling by Florizel II) also won the 2000 Guineas. Like Isinglass, St Louis was also a lazy individual.

Louviers won the Coventry Stakes. His best son Landgraf (out of Ladora by Ladas) won the Deutches Derby, the Henckel Rennen, the Union Rennen and the Grosser Hansa Pries. He,  in turn,  established a major sire dynasty in Europe through his best son, Ferro. 


STAR SHOOT 1898 (Isinglass - Astrology by Hermit)

Star Shoot had an undistinguished racing career which was cut short by a wind infirmity. He was sold to the United States as a 3 year old and went on to be the champion sire in 5 seasons. His best son was the US Triple Crown winner Sir Barton (out of Lady Sterling by Hanover). Another son, Uncle (out of The Niece by Alarm) sired Hurakan - the dam of Stimulus. The daughters of Star Shoot were good broodmares. 


KILGLASS 1910 (Isinglass - Kilkenny by Ormonde)

Kilglass was a son of Isinglass with multiple infusions of Pocahontas on the distaff side. His dam, Kilkenny, was blessed with being by one of the greatest racehorses of all time, Ormonde. He was by Bend Or out of Lily Agnes (by Macaroni). Once again we see the Bend Or - Macaroni nick in combination with a direct descendant of Miss Agnes. Bend Or - a Stockwell line sire - brought in Pocahontas. Kilkenny's dam was Bryonia (Speculum - Hedge Rose by Neptunus). Hedge Rose was out of the Stockwell mare,  Woodbine. 

Kilglass produced Grignouse (out of Simper by Sempronius). Sempronius was by Wisdom by the Rataplan sire, Blinkhoolie, out of the Stockwell mare, Aline. This placed Pocahontas 3x3 in the pedigree of Wisdom. The dam of Sempronius was Hamptonia (Hampton - Feronia by Thormanby). Her sire, Hampton, was out of Lady Langden by Rataplan's son, Kettledrum. Her dam, Feronia was by the Stockwell mare, Woodbine). This placed Pocahontas 5x4 in the pedigree of Hamptonia.

Grignouse was the dam of La Grelee (by Helicon).


While a good case can be mounted to show that these 5 sons of Isinglass all certainly made an important contribution to the development and improvement of the modern Thoroughbred, his daughters made an even greater impact. Since there will always be more opportunity for daughters rather than sons of a stallion to go to stud - a ratio of around 10 : 1 in the general population - I consider that a measure of his success as a stallion is incomplete without reference to his daughters. It is only through his daughters that a stallion is able to pass on his X chromosome, and the quality inherent in that genetic material will determine to a large degree his success at stud - it has normally had the opportunity to prove its worth on the racetrack by this stage. Being, as a general rule, more numerous than sire sons,  a stallion's broodmare daughters would be collectively expected, all things being equal, to produce a significantly higher number of successful progeny. 

However, in the interim, some of these daughters will get to prove their worth on the racetrack, while others will remain unraced for a variety of reasons. There is no automatic correlation between success on the racetrack and success as a broodmare. Sceptre (Persimmon - Ornament by Bend Or) was perhaps the most accomplished evidence of this fact. She is the only filly to ever win the 1000 Guineas, 2000 Guineas, the Oaks and the St Leger - a female equivalent to the achievements of Isinglass - and yet at stud her results were disappointing. Even the union of Isinglass and Sceptre,  from which there would have been enormous expectations,  produced a moderate performer in Coronation IV. Conversely, some of the best performers on the racetrack were from unraced (or even hopelessly unraceable) mares. It is this uncertainty from the genetic "spin-of-the-wheel" which makes breeding Thoroughbreds so challenging, absorbing, and if the ultimate success is achieved, exhilarating.

Isinglass produced 2 daughters which were successful in the Classics of their year. Cherry Lass (out of Black Cherry by Bendigo) won the 1000 Guineas and Oaks. She was from an illustrious family and was a half sister to Blanche - dam of Blandford. Glass Doll (out of Fota by Hampton) won the Oaks. 

Interestingly, in the pedigree of both these Classic winners, there is via their damsires Bendigo and Hampton, an important presence of Rataplan. In the case of Bendigo,  this came both from his sire,  Ben Battle (by Rataplan) and his dam, Hasty Girl (by Lord Gough - himself the product of the Rataplan mare Battaglia). Hampton (Lord Clifden - Lady Langden) was the product of a Kettledrum mare. Kettledrum was perhaps the best son of Rataplan. 

At stud,  the broodmare daughters of Isinglass proved to be very successful matrons. Included in the list of the most important of these were,  alphabetically, Cornfield, Goody Two Shoes, Isette, Lady Lightfoot, Lygie, Samphire, St Claire II and Vain Duchess. Their record is worthy of some examination, as these mares have produced either Classic winners themselves or have been the catalyst for the development of subsequent horses of substantial merit. 


CORNFIELD 1904 (Isinglass - Landrail by St Serf)

Cornfield was the dam of Love in Idleness (by Bachelor's Double) which won the Oaks. Like Isinglass, Love in Idleness was blessed with both stamina and good speed. At stud she produced Gay Lothario (by Gay Crusader) which, after a undistinguished racing career in England, was purchased to stud in Australia. He proved to be a very good sire in Australia and is best remembered as the sire of Tranquil Star (out of Lone Star by Great Star).

Tranquil Star raced for 7 years competing in 111 races and winning 23 races, including a host of what would now be classified as Group 1 races. Her record includes : Caulfield Cup, W.S. Cox Plate, L.K.S. McKinnon Stakes, VRC St Leger, C.M. Lloyd Stakes, William Reid Stakes, Memsie Stakes, Alister Clark Stakes, Cumberland Stakes, AJC St George Stakes and the Edward Manifold Stakes. She was a tough competitor and remained sound throughout her career.


GOODY TWO SHOES 1899 (Isinglass - Sandal by Kisber)

The pedigree of Goody Two Shoes deserves some comment,  as this was a phenomenal example of breeding back on the dam side to the greatest strength in the sires pedigree. Sandal was by Kisber, out of Shoestring. Kisber was by Buccaneer, out of Mineral (the dam of Wenlock - making Buccanner and Wenlock half brothers) which placed Mineral 4x3 in the pedigree of Goody Two Shoes. Buccaneer was by Wild Dayrell, out of a Little Red Rover mare ex Eclat. Wild Dayrell (Ion - Ellen Middleton by Bay Middleton) and Little Red Rover (Tramp - Miss Syntax by Paynator) were 
descendants of Web's 2 daughters Filagree and Trampoline, respectively,  thereby introducing Everlasting again.

Shoestring was by Knight of the Garter, out of Bowstring. Knight of the Garter was by Melbourne's son, The Prime Minister, out of Rosa Bonheur (by Touchstone out of Boarding School Miss - half sister to Pocahontas). Bowstring was by The Flying Dutchman's son, Tom Bowstring, out of a Toxopholite mare ex Miss Whip. Toxopholite is a grandson of Decoy - the dam of Flatcatcher - his sire, Pantaloon, was by Castrel, a full brother to Selim.

Miss Whip (The Provost - Miss Whip by Jerry) also has an interesting pedigree build up. Her maternal grandsire was Smolensko - a grandson of Maria, dam of Waxy. Her dam (also Miss Whip) was out of a mare named Georgiana (Woful - Shepherdess). Woful was a full brother to Whalebone, Whisker and Web. Thus,  the tail female of Goody Two Shoes introduces a fourth full sibling of the union of Waxy and Penelope. 

While this genetic bonanza was untapped on the racetrack, Goody Two Shoes produced 2 offspring which had a profound impact on the Stud Book. These were Charles O'Malley (by Desmond) and Simon's Shoes (by Simon Square). Both Desmond and Simon Square were sons of St Simon (Galopin - St Angela). St Angela was by King Tom (Harkaway - Pocahontas).  This then brought the 3 best sons of Pocahontas (Stockwell, Rataplan and King Tom) together in the pedigree of both Charles O'Malley and Simon's Shoes. In addition, the dams of both sires brought in a tail female descendant of Miss Agnes. In the case of Desmond,  there is a direct tail female to Miss Agnes via L'Abbesse Jouarre - Festive - Piercy - Fair Agnes - Little Agnes - Miss Agnes. In the case of Simon's Shoes,  his dam Sweet Marjorie (Kendal - St Marguerite) traces via Kendal - Windemere - Miss Agnes. Both Kendal (via Bend Or - Doncaster - Stockwell) and St Marguerite (via Devotion by Stockwell) trace to Stockwell.

Charles O'Malley produced some very good daughters, which was hardly surprising, given the number of infusions of Pocahontas in his pedigree and the tail female of his sire running to Miss Agnes. Charlebelle (Oaks) and Zinovia (Cambridgeshire Stakes) were his best performer on the racetrack. His best broodmare daughter was undoubtedly Malva (out of Wild Arum by Robert Le Diable). Malva produced Blenheim and His Grace (by Blandford - making them 4x4 to Isinglass), Frankly (by Franklin), King Salmon (by Salmon Trout) and Lily of the Valley (by Tetratema). Collectively, these 5 horses produced too many top class horses to even mention the most important in an article of this size.

Simon's Shoes was far from successful on the racetrack - in fact she was never placed. However, at stud she was clear proof that exceptional quality latent genes which do not surface on the racetrack can still express themselves in the breeding barn. Her two most important offspring were Carpet Slipper (by Phalaris) and Dalmary (by Blandford).

Carpet Slipper was a very moderate performer on the racetrack with her 6 starts in relatively poor quality races yielding a solitary win. At stud, she produced 6 daughters of consequence with all proving to be as moderate as herself on the racetrack and lacking the ability to transmit any of the genetic quality inherent in her pedigree, and thereby failing to establish a strong branch of this family. Her best progeny was her son Windsor Slipper (by Windsor Lad) which won the Irish Triple Crown - 2000 Guineas, Derby and St Leger - with ease.

Dalmary was far better performed than her half sister on the racetrack, being victorious in the minor Yorkshire Oaks. She was the dam of 8 daughters and 1 son. Amongst her daughters, Gold Mary (by Solario) and Jennydang (by Colombo) produced some good progeny without being exceptional,  while Miss Know All (by Rhodes Scholar) produced the very good Le Sage (by Chamossaire). However, from a breeding perspective the best daughter was unquestionably Rough Shod (by Gold Bridge).

Rough Shod produced the well above-average sires and brothers Lt Stevens and Ridan (by Nantallah) - the latter being successful in the Florida Derby - and their sister, Moccasin. Her "crowning glory" came with the production of their sister, Thong. From Thong the very strongest lines to the current Classic winners have descended through both her sons and daughters,  particularly via Special and Thatch (both by Forli). 


ISETTE 1910 (Isinglass - Brielle by Galopin)

Isette was another Isinglass daughter rich in infusions of Pocahontas. Apart from those coming in via Isinglass, her dam Brielle (Martagon - Briar-Root by Springfield) had an additional 3 sources. These came via Martagon - a son of Bend Or and thus a Stockwell line sire - and Briar-Root (Springfield - Eglentyne by Hermit). Springfield was by the Stockwell son, St Albans, while Eglentyne descends from the Rataplan mare, Rigolboche.  Martagon was a product of the successful Bend Or - Macaroni nick and was also a direct descendant of Miss Agnes.

At stud, Isette produced Sweet Music (by Harmonicon) which was the dam of Caruso (by Polymelian). Polymelian (Polymelus - Pasquita) himself had infusions of Pocahontas coming in through all 4 quarters of his second remove. Caruso was the sire of Imperatrice (out of Cinquepace by Brown Bud). Imperatrice was the dam of Somethingroyal (by Princequillo) which produced Secretariat (by Bold Ruler).

The immediate pedigree of Imperatrice reveals a large number of infusions of Pocahontas via both her sire and dam. 


LADY LIGHTFOOT 1910 (Isinglass - Glare by Ayrshire)

Lady Lightfoot was a moderate performer on the racetrack but was another daughter of Isinglass blessed with multiple infusions on her dam side through both her own sire and dam. Glare (Ayrshire - Footlight) was a member of the distinguished Paradigm family, having descended through Paraffin. Her sire, Ayrshire, had a very interesting pedigree as he was by Hampton, out of the exceptionally well bred Galopin mare, Atalanta - the grand daughter of the Stockwell mare, Woodbine. 

Ayrshire had within his first 5 removes an incredible 4 sets of full brother / sister combinations. These were Stockwell and Rataplan, Newminster and Honeysuckle, Voltigeur and Volley and finally Lanercost and Otsina. With each of these combinations being produced by an exceptional dam,  the line breeding possibilities via Ayrshire are extraordinary.

Footlight (Cremorne - Paraffin) was inbred 4x4 to Pocahontas via both her sire and dam. Cremorne was out of the Rataplan mare, Rigolboche, while Paraffin was by the Stockwell son, Blair Athol.

At stud, Footlight gained notoriety as the dam of Prince Palatine (by Persimmon). Persimmon contained Pocahontas on both sides of his pedigree,  being by St Simon out of the Hampton mare, Perdita II. Her dam was Hermione (by Young Melbourne -  he being 2 removes from a Glencoe mare) - out of  La Belle Helene,  a daughter of St Albans by Stockwell. This brought in an additional strain of Everlasting through Glencoe.

Prince Palatine founded the sire dynasty which descended via Rose Prince - Prince Rose - Princequillo. A remarkable number of top class horses were produced by this sire line and it remains today as a source of great quality.

Continued,  page 4

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