The entrance onto centre-stage by Count Dubois in 2006 was as magnificent as it was spectacular. In January services to the young stallion changed hands at public auction for a mere R2500, six months later a similar event attracted bids of over R100.000. The frenzy was caused by the continued exploits of colts and fillies from his first and second crop, as they stocked the trophy cabinets with Gr1 and other silverware. One year on the euphoria persists, thanks to the performance of a triumvirate of colts who are rated among the best 3yo’s of 2007. Biarritz, State Crown and Zeeno. Noblesse oblige.

If topclass performers is what we are after, then the pedigrees of Count Dubois and of the dams of his best runners may give clues how to achieve stardom. Count Dubois is inbred to close genetic relatives Secrettame and Sir Gaylor. Secrettame is the dam of Gone West (grandsire of Count Dubois, through Zafonic), and is a daughter of Secretariat. The latter is out of the same dam as Sir Gaylord. Several other highclass offspring of Zafonic carry the double as well, notably his champion son Xaar, a successful sire in his own right.

The pedigree of Secretariat’s daughter Secrettame could well be the anchor. She brings together Bold Ruler and Princequillo from Secretariat, Tom Fool and Bull Lea from her damsire Tim Tam, and her grandam Mixed Marriage, an influential mare in her own right and a noted Court Martial genetic sibling.

At stud, Gone West has responded well to what is elsewhere in this volume referred to as GG-factors, groups of closely related ancestors, who combine and recombine close up in subsequent pedigrees. The effect is an affinity between what appear at first glance to be unrelated lines in a pedigree. Closer scrutiny tells a different story. Modern GG-group horses are Gone West, Danzig, Sharpen Up, Hail to Reason, His Majesty/ Graustark. There are many others, their backgrounds made up of crosses of Royal Charger, Nasrullah, Teddy, Hyperion, Fair Trial, Tudor Minstrel, Panorama - on and on. many of the lines can be found universally, in all pedigrees of all horses. Skilful combination and manipulation of affinities can give an edge.

The dam of Biarritz (and his Gr3 winning full sister Countess Corlia) is Australian mare Corlia’s Bid. She’s by Danzig sire Polish Patriot, and inbred to very close genetic relatives Successor and Bold Bidder. Successor is the sire of Polish Patriot’s grandam Miss Protege. The latter turns out to be a close genetic relative of Secrettame and Sir Gaylord, forging a 4x5x4 bond in the pedigree. The bottom female line, through the mare Liberal Lady, is a veritable treasure trove of GG-factors. Liberal Lady’s background reveals her to be a Mixed Marriage genetic equivalent. From this family background also come stallions Red Ransom and Indigo Magic.

State Crown packs a punch through his damsire Fine Edge, a son of Sharpen Up (by Atan, son of Mixed Marriage). Sharpen Up is best known as the sire of successful sires Kris and Diesis, who are from the same female line as Count Dubois. In fact, the grandams of the trio (Soft Angels, Milly Moss) are genetic equivalents. Perhaps Sharpen Up is a key influence in the State Crown scenario, too. To lend credence to this, the mare Sun And Shade (half sister to the dam of Count Dubois) bred successful sire Dagger’s Drawn from a mating to Diesis. A daughter of Madame Dubois bred 2006 Epsom Derby placed Hala Bek, a son of Diesis. And a half brother to Count Dubois, Massif Centrale (TFR 106), is by Selkirk (Sharpen Up). Also interesting to note that Sharpen Up’s grandam Chambiges shares a host of common lines with Primera, damsire of Legend of France in Count Dubois. Incidentally, the cross of Count Dubois with Fine Edge mares has had only two runners to date, the other highclass sprinter Count du Luc.

Zeeno’s third dam is by Golden Thatch, whose dam Abella is a Mixed Marriage equivalent. Remote, perhaps, but relevant.

The dam of Champion 2yo filly of 2006 Asylum Seeker is by Northfields (half brother to Sir Gaylord’s son Habitat in Count Dubois). The next dam Much Admired is by Be Glorious, a son of Bold Bidder - the Secretariat genetic sibling connection again.

Gr3 winning filly Ethics, who was exported to Australia, is out of a mare by Del Sarto, a son of Bold Bidder. The third dam is by Casabianca, whose dam Abelia is a Mixed Marriage genetic sibling.

Interesting to note that the Bold Bidder links mentioned all appear in combination with Ribot - a reinforcement of the genetic sibling relationship between Ribot’s dam Romanella with Princequillo (second damsire of Bold Bidder, damsire of Secretariat).

The pedigree of Madame Dubois, dam of the Count, gives another angle to exploit. Her grandam Milly Moss is by Crepello, son of Donatello, to whom Madame Dubois is inbred. The other line comes from Alycidon, second damsire of Legend Of France. The latter is by Lyphard, is inbred to Court Martial and carries Donatello. That strongly resembles the pedigree of Elliodor, a son of Lyphard, inbred to Court Martial, and his dam a sister to Busted, by Crepello (Donatello). Crepello also leads to Milly Moss, the grandam of Count Dubois.

Elliodor might make an interesting companion for Count Dubois.

MATING SUGGESTIONS