Author
Andrew Caulfield writes a weekly column for the Thoroughbred Daily News on pedigree analysis, a fascination which crystallised during the 12 years he spent as one of the principal writers at Timeform, where he was responsible for researching the pedigrees of all the two-year-olds. A former editor of The Thoroughbred Breeder, Pacemaker and The European Racehorse, he was also The Sporting Life's bloodstock correspondent for 12 years, He also wrote a weekly racing column for Japan's Gallop magazine for 20 years. More recently his principal role has been as a bloodstock consultant, primarily for Juddmonte Farms. During his 20-year association with Juddmonte, the farm's star performers have included Frankel and Kingman, winners between them of three Cartier Horse of the Year awards. There have also been two winners of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, three of the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, as well as winners of the 2,000 Guineas, 1,000 Guineas, Derby, St Leger, Belmont Stakes and several French and Irish classics.
In terms of make and shape, Dubawi may not be everyone's idea of the ideal Thoroughbred. He's medium sized, compact and muscular, without the size and scope which plenty of breeders look for. But here is a case of handsome is as handsome does.
Three days ago, we saw a legendary trainer record his 14th Triple Crown success after a 13-year hiatus with a colt partnered by a comeback jockey whose last Triple Crown successes came in 2001. In such extraordinary circumstances, there's every chance that the personalities will steal the show from the actual horse. Fortunately the colt...
Having won his first sires' championship in 1990, Sadler's Wells had to give best to Caerleon the following year, but then the extraordinary Coolmore stallion reeled off an unprecedented sequence of 13 titles.
Jim Bolger's outstanding record as a trainer has shown time after time that he is not hidebound by convention. If a horse appears to be ready to run, he is happy to run it, even if other trainers would hesitate because of the animal's bloodlines.
O-Richard <a href="https://www.hillndalefarms.com/barnes " class="horse-link" target="_blank">Barnes</a>; B-Grangecon Stud; T-Patrick Prendergast; J-Chris Hayes; ,34,026. Lifetime Record: SW & GSP-Ire, 8-4-2-1, ,92,844. *3/4 to Sarah Lynx (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), GISW-Can, GSW-Fr, $1,101,404.
As Rydilluc started to fade entering the final eighth of the Blue Grass S., it looked pretty certain that the Keeneland Grade I would fall to a son of one of the stallions which joined the Lane's End Farm roster for the 2009 season. Would it be <a href="http://www.hillndalefarms.com/curlin/ " class="horse-link" target="_blank">Curlin</a>, whose son Palace Malice was the first...
Toussaud (El Gran Senor), Kentucky's Broodmare of the Year for 2002, may have died in 2009, but the charismatic daughter of El Gran Senor is still making her presence felt.
The Kentucky Derby and A.P. Indy haven't been made for each other, at least so far. Of course 1992's Horse of the Year appeared to have the Churchill Downs classic at his mercy until a badly bruised foot forced him onto the sidelines, but he has yet to make amends as a stallion. The closest...
When I looked at the pedigree of Govenor Charlie, the latest colt to earn points towards a Kentucky Derby start in Sunday's GIII Sunland Park Derby, I decided it was just as well that I hadn't been asked to advise the colt's breeder, Mike Pegram. If I had, I would have had serious qualms about...
Some 10 years ago, I pointed out in this column that Unbridled's Song's career had mirrored that of his sire Unbridled in several ways.
Much as I admire More Than Ready as a racehorse and a sire, I pointed out towards the end of 2010 that his record lacked a Grade I winner in the Northern Hemisphere. I'm pleased to say that he didn't take long to correct that omission. Buster's Ready took the Mother Goose S. in June...
So extraordinary were Northern Dancer's achievements as a stallion that it is easy to forget that he wasn't the only distinguished stallion son of Nearctic. E.P. Taylor's son Nearco was also responsible for the top European miler Nonoalco, who sired the European Guineas winners Melyno (Ire) and Katies (Ire), and Explodent, who numbered Exbourne and...
