If it Ain't Broke Don't Fix It

There is an oft-repeated story attributed to Warren Buffet’s time at the helm of Lehman Brothers during the US mortgage crisis. The day after an enjoyable lunch with one of the company’s senior executives, it was suggested to the canny investor that they try another restaurant. Buffet reportedly asked the executive why, given that the cuisine was so delicious at their initial lunch, they should run the risk of going somewhere that might not prove equally as satisfying. Although possibly lacking spontaneity, it’s an apt analogy when it comes to breeding. If a mare has produced an elite athlete by a particular sire, does it not behove the breeder to replicate the mating? It’s an interesting question, one which has been partially answered by an article published by breednet.com.au that reveals who the latest foal is by, and who their last cover was to, of this season’s Group 1-producing mares in Australia and New Zealand. Whilst generally instructive, there are several mares that stand out due to their breeders ‘sticking to the knitting’, including two that are owned by leviathan owner-breeders Bob and Sandra Peters. Truly Special (Jeune), the dam of ill-fated Gr1 Kingston Town Stakes winner Truly Great (Dundeel) has a foal at foot by Dundeel and was served by the High Chaparral sire-son again last year. Ditto Arcadia (Redoute’s Choice), the Peters-owned dam of champion mare Arcadia Queen (Pierro), whose past two mating shave been to Pierro. Also adhering to a successful pattern reflected by a foal at foot and a subsequent 2020 mating, were the respective dams of world champion sprinter Bivouac (Exceed and Excel), multiple Group 1 winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock), Streets of Avalon (Magnus), Rock on Wood (Redwood), Amarelinha (Savabeel) and Mr Quickie (Shamus Award). Champion Verry Elleegant’s dam Opulence (Danroad) wasn’t covered in 2019 but is back in foal to Zed (Zabeel) again.

Mr Quickie's dam is a multiple repeat visitor to Shamus Award (pic: Mark Gatt)