This is going
to be a series of articles tracing some famous female families forward
to the present day.
I will attempt to show by using empirical
evidence that far from there being some consistent and powerful gene
being passed up the female line that the outcomes are inconsistent and
depend a great deal on the quality of stallions that subsequent mares
saw.
The first thing to notice is that there is an
extraordinary number of horses that trace back in female decent to La
Troienne. I do not suppose I have them all, hopefully I have
nearly all
the better one's, but 20,000 tracing back is still a large number.
Don't be surprised if we keep seeing La Troienne descendent group
winners for many years to come.
|
BABY
LEAGUE |
BEE ANN MAC |
BELLE HISTOIRE |
BELLE OF TROY |
BESIEGED |
BIG EVENT |
BIG HURRY |
BLACK HELEN |
BUSINESSLIKE |
Total |
| Gr1 |
38 |
0 |
6 |
10 |
2 |
4 |
41 |
17 |
15 |
133 |
| Gr2 |
30 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
32 |
9 |
8 |
87 |
| Gr3 |
39 |
0 |
11 |
3 |
6 |
6 |
36 |
13 |
16 |
130 |
| Listed |
68 |
4 |
4 |
9 |
12 |
10 |
55 |
23 |
23 |
208 |
| Stakes |
101 |
13 |
38 |
14 |
21 |
22 |
81 |
68 |
51 |
409 |
| Total |
4332 |
604 |
1118 |
700 |
829 |
877 |
6139 |
2958 |
2247 |
19804 |
Certainly not all lines are the same!
Bee Ann Mac certainly did not inherit much off La
Troienne. The only top horses with her on the dam tail are Out he
Window f 1964 by and Let Me In f 1966. Both are by Clem out of
Exclusion by Shut Out.
Here's the same data as percentages.
|
BABY LEAGUE |
BEE ANN MAC |
BELLE HISTOIRE |
BELLE OF TROY |
BESIEGED |
BIG EVENT |
BIG HURRY |
BLACK HELEN |
BUSINESSLIKE |
All |
| Gr1 |
0.9% |
0.0% |
0.5% |
1.4% |
0.2% |
0.5% |
0.7% |
0.6% |
0.7% |
0.7% |
| Gr2 |
0.7% |
0.3% |
0.3% |
0.0% |
0.2% |
0.1% |
0.5% |
0.3% |
0.4% |
0.4% |
| Gr3 |
0.9% |
0.0% |
1.0% |
0.4% |
0.7% |
0.7% |
0.6% |
0.4% |
0.7% |
0.7% |
| List |
1.6% |
0.7% |
0.4% |
1.3% |
1.4% |
1.1% |
0.9% |
0.8% |
1.0% |
1.1% |
| SW |
2.3% |
2.2% |
3.4% |
2.0% |
2.5% |
2.5% |
1.3% |
2.3% |
2.3% |
2.1% |
| Other |
93.6% |
96.9% |
94.5% |
94.9% |
94.8% |
95.1% |
96.0% |
95.6% |
95.0% |
95.1% |
If there is any really consistent figures it is how
often failure occurs. Over 95% of horses with La Troienne on the
tail will not win black-type. Here's the graph
of the above data.
 And the following
chart is a close up of the successes
My contention is that even the 5% success (not nearly as
good as a top sire) may be down to the fact that some kind of popularity
or belief in the power of the La Troienne line has made people fork out
for the better stallions. i.e. it is perceived that the line is powerful
and thus worthy of spending 50k on for a stud fee.
Let's look at the 135 Gr1 winners (or equivalents)
generation by generation.
1st Generation:
Black Helen mare 1932 by Teddy.
Bimelech colt 1937 by Teddy.
(without Teddy and Black Toney would I be writing about LaT today?)
2nd generation:
|
BUSHER |
Mare |
1942 |
War Admiral ex Baby League by
Bubbling Over |
|
BRIDAL FLOWER |
Mare |
1943 |
Challenger ex Big Hurry by Black
Toney |
|
BUSANDA |
Mare |
1947 |
War Admiral ex Businesslike by Blue
Larkspur |
|
HALL OF FAME |
Gelding |
1948 |
Shut Out ex Big Event by Blue
Larkspur |
|
SEARCHING |
Mare |
1952 |
War Admiral ex Big Hurry by Black
Toney |
|
COHOES |
Horse |
1954 |
Mahmoud ex Belle of Troy by Blue
Larkspur |
|
HARMONIZING |
Gelding |
1954 |
Counterpoint ex Baby League by
Bubbling Over |
Here we have daughters of La Troienne by top stallions in
Blue Larkspur, Black Toney and Bubbling Over. Then these mares get to
see stallions like War Admiral, Mahmoud etc and so it is little wonder
success follows. One mare, that is not in the list but accounts
for most of the Baby League success, is Striking 1947 (she's by War
Admiral so not too tardy a pedigree!)
3rd generation:
|
BUT WHY NOT |
Mare |
1944 |
Blue Larkspur ex Be Like Mom by
Sickle |
|
RENEW |
Mare |
1947 |
Blue Larkspur ex Be Like Mom by
Sickle |
|
JET ACTION |
Horse |
1951 |
Jet Pilot ex Busher by War Admiral |
|
BUREAUCRACY |
Gelding |
1954 |
Polynesian ex Busanda by War Admiral |
|
FRANCIS S |
Horse |
1957 |
Royal Charger ex Blue Eyed Moma by
War Admiral |
|
HITTING AWAY |
Horse |
1958 |
Ambiorix ex Striking by War Admiral |
|
THE AXE II |
Horse |
1958 |
Mahmoud ex Blackball by Shut Out |
|
BATTER UP |
Mare |
1959 |
Tom Fool ex Striking by War Admiral |
|
AFFECTIONATELY |
Mare |
1960 |
Swaps ex Searching by War Admiral |
|
BUPERS |
Horse |
1961 |
Double Jay ex Busanda by War Admiral |
|
STRAIGHT DEAL |
Mare |
1962 |
Hail To Reason ex No Fiddling by
King Cole |
|
BUCKPASSER |
Horse |
1963 |
Tom Fool ex Busanda by War Admiral |
|
PRICELESS GEM |
Mare |
1963 |
Hail To Reason ex Searching by War
Admiral |
Nearly all of these are by top class stallions.
Also the mares that are working are the one's by War Admiral.
4th Generation:
|
WA-WA CY |
Horse |
1959 |
Tom Fool ex BooGooloo by Nasrullah |
|
POKER |
Horse |
1963 |
Round Table ex Glamour by Nasrullah |
|
BOLD AND BRAVE |
Horse |
1963 |
Bold Ruler ex Bases Full by Ambiorix |
|
DESTRO |
Mare |
1963 |
Ribot ex Ingenuity by My Request |
|
REGAL GLEAM |
Mare |
1964 |
Hail To Reason ex Miz Carol by
Stymie |
|
PERSONALITY |
Horse |
1967 |
Hail To Reason ex Affectionately by
Swaps |
|
AUTOBIOGRAPHY |
Horse |
1968 |
Sky High II ex King's Story by Bold
Ruler |
|
BOUCHER |
Horse |
1969 |
Ribot ex Glamour by Nasrullah |
|
TRUE KNIGHT |
Horse |
1969 |
Chateaugay ex Stealaway by Olympia |
|
ALLEZ FRANCE |
Mare |
1970 |
Sea-Bird ex Priceless Gem by Hail To
Reason |
|
VICEREINE |
Filly |
1971 |
Free Ride ex Regalita by Ribot |
|
LANDSCAPER |
Horse |
1972 |
Herbager ex My Boss Lady by Bold
Ruler |
|
EFFERVESCING |
Horse |
1973 |
Le Fabuleux ex Sparkling by Bold
Ruler |
|
DESIREE |
Mare |
1973 |
Raise A Native ex Straight Deal by
Hail To Reason |
|
OBRAZTSOVY |
Horse |
1975 |
His Majesty ex Azeez by Nashua |
|
RELAXING |
Mare |
1976 |
Buckpasser ex Marking Time by To
Market |
|
HULA DRUM |
Colt |
1981 |
Marceau ex Hula Bend by Never Bend |
|
HULA CHIEF |
Horse |
1982 |
Marceau ex Hula Bend by Never Bend |
|
POLISH NAVY |
Horse |
1984 |
Danzig ex Navsup by Tatan |
As one would expect the stallions being used are
diversifying more. Nevertheless most are of these successes are
when the mares went to the likes of Ribot, Hail To Reason, Buckpasser,
Danzig etc etc. The stallion here that looks weaker than the
others is Sky High but he's a son of Star Kingdom.
Things diversify quite a bit from here to the future so
I'll just list the Gr1 winners so that interested people can research
them.
5th Generation
|
BUFFLE |
Colt |
1963 |
|
NUMBERED ACCOUNT |
Mare |
1969 |
|
ROYAL GLINT |
Colt |
1970 |
|
SPLENDID SPRUCE |
Colt |
1978 |
|
SUPER DIAMOND |
Gelding |
1980 |
|
HERO'S HONOR |
Horse |
1980 |
|
ADORED |
Mare |
1980 |
|
BASIE |
Mare |
1981 |
|
AL MAMOON |
Horse |
1981 |
|
TIGRILLO |
Colt |
1982 |
|
CUTLASS REALITY |
Horse |
1982 |
|
OUTSTANDINGLY |
Mare |
1982 |
|
SELDOM SEEN SUE |
Mare |
1983 |
|
QUALIFY |
Colt |
1984 |
|
CADILLACING |
Mare |
1984 |
|
TEJANO |
Horse |
1985 |
|
EASY GOER |
Horse |
1986 |
|
ZOMAN |
Colt |
1987 |
|
PLEASANT TAP |
Horse |
1987 |
|
LA GUERIERE |
Mare |
1988 |
|
HULASTRIKE |
Colt |
1989 |
|
EASY NOW |
Mare |
1989 |
|
SEA HERO |
Horse |
1990 |
|
LOVE DANCE |
Filly |
1991 |
|
GO FOR GIN |
Horse |
1991 |
|
BAIL OUT BECKY |
Mare |
1992 |
|
ORDWAY |
Horse |
1994 |
|
TABOO |
Filly |
1995 |
|
VIVID ANGEL |
Mare |
1995 |
|
TWEEDSIDE |
Filly |
1998 |
|
FIERY FRED |
Gelding |
1998 |
6th generation
|
NASTY AND BOLD |
Horse |
1975 |
|
PRIVATE ACCOUNT |
Horse |
1976 |
|
BEAU'S EAGLE |
Horse |
1976 |
|
DANCE NUMBER |
Mare |
1979 |
|
CAERLEON |
Horse |
1980 |
|
APALACHIAN AFFAIR |
Mare |
1980 |
|
VISION |
Horse |
1981 |
|
MY BIG BOY |
Gelding |
1983 |
|
GREEN PEACE |
Colt |
1984 |
|
SPLENDID ANN |
Mare |
1984 |
|
BRAVERY |
Mare |
1984 |
|
EASTERN ECHO |
Horse |
1988 |
|
SUPER STAFF |
Mare |
1988 |
|
LITE LIGHT |
Mare |
1988 |
|
SENOR TOMAS |
Gelding |
1989 |
|
WAR CHEST |
Colt |
1990 |
|
PRAIRIE BAYOU |
Gelding |
1990 |
|
STROLLING ALONG |
Horse |
1990 |
|
HYRAT |
Colt |
1997 |
|
MORE THAN READY |
Horse |
1997 |
|
MOZART |
Horse |
1998 |
|
SCORPION |
Horse |
1998 |
|
TEN MOST WANTED |
Horse |
2000 |
|
EL TIO MINGO |
Colt |
2001 |
7th generation:
|
PROUD APPEAL |
Horse |
1978 |
|
PRINCESS ROONEY |
Mare |
1980 |
|
LOUIS LE GRAND |
Horse |
1982 |
|
EL PLATINO |
Colt |
1984 |
|
ASSATIS |
Horse |
1985 |
|
TURGEON |
Horse |
1986 |
|
LADY SHIRL |
Mare |
1987 |
|
RHYTHM |
Horse |
1987 |
|
SCAN |
Horse |
1988 |
|
SCUFFLEBURG |
Horse |
1989 |
|
PROSPECTOR'S DELITE |
Mare |
1989 |
|
FLAGBIRD |
Mare |
1991 |
|
TIKKANEN |
Horse |
1991 |
|
PIKE PLACE DANCER |
Mare |
1993 |
|
RUNUP THE COLORS |
Mare |
1994 |
|
GAILY EGRET |
Filly |
1995 |
|
REDATTORE |
Horse |
1995 |
|
FAVORITE FUNTIME |
Filly |
1997 |
|
CORAY |
Filly |
1997 |
|
WOLF WHISTLE |
Colt |
1998 |
|
HONOR IN WAR |
Colt |
1999 |
|
BRIGHT SKY |
Filly |
1999 |
|
TALI'SLUCKYBUSRIDE |
Filly |
1999 |
|
LOVING NEW |
Filly |
2000 |
|
SKY MESA |
Horse |
2000 |
|
SMARTY JONES |
Horse |
2001 |
|
RACING TO WIN |
Colt |
2002 |
|
ROJIZO |
Colt |
2002 |
|
REINA MUSICAL |
Filly |
2003 |
8th Generation:
|
FLAGSHIP UBERALLES |
Colt |
1994 |
|
TOMISUE'S DELIGHT |
Mare |
1994 |
|
HERITAGE OF GOLD |
Mare |
1995 |
|
MINESHAFT |
Horse |
1999 |
|
OFFICER |
Horse |
1999 |
|
BISHOP COURT HILL |
Colt |
2000 |
|
DISTANT WAY |
Colt |
2001 |
|
SHAKESPEARE |
Colt |
2001 |
|
IN THE GOLD |
Filly |
2002 |
|
FOLKLORE |
Filly |
2003 |
My take is that La Troienne was fortunate to see some of
the best stallions of her day. Her daughters also had the same benefits.
There was plenty of success and this bred some kind of myth that the
family was a sure winner. The myth is still with us and there are
to be fair plenty of top class horses being born each year with La
Troienne on the dam tail. It's just that you won't find many that
are not very well bred!
George William Smith,
has developed his own index for calculating genetic value and the
average for the La Troienne offspring is greater than 73. A
typical stallion pedigree would be 70+. The average horse around 62.
Update 2016
There have been 33 Gr1 winner from 2000 to 2017 so the line with many thousands of foals is performing worse than average. Of these 33 (see below) it seems that the LaT daughters were mainly by Blue Larkspur and then their daughters mainly by War Admiral. On top of this many of the Gr1 winners have excellent broodmare sires
close up in their pedigrees.
|
Sire |
B-M Sire |
2 B-M Sire |
3 B-M Sire |
|
Pen. B-M Sire |
Through |
Last B-M Sire |
LaT Daughter |
FLY LEXIS FLY 2008 |
Badge of Silver |
Silver Charm |
Red Ransom |
Naskra |
.. |
Better Self |
Best Side |
Blue Larkspur |
Belle of Troy |
TEN MOST WANTED 2000 |
Deputy Commander |
Criminal Type |
In Reality |
First Landing |
.. |
Better Self |
Best Side |
Blue Larkspur |
Belle of Troy |
STEPHANIE'S KITTEN 2009 |
Kitten's Joy |
Catienus |
Red Ransom |
Naskra |
.. |
Better Self |
Best Side |
Blue Larkspur |
Belle of Troy |
DANCE CARD 2009 |
Tapit |
Editor's Note |
Devil's Bag |
Al Hattab |
.. |
Jamestown |
Betteefarlee |
Bubbling Over |
Baby League |
IN THE GOLD 2002 |
Golden Missile |
Groovy |
Hold Your Peace |
Duck Dance |
.. |
Challenger II |
Bridal Flower |
Black Toney |
Big Hurry |
HOME SWEET ASPEN 2008 |
Candy Ride |
Groovy |
Clever Trick |
Forward Pass |
.. |
War Admiral |
Busanda |
Blue Larkspur |
Businesslike |
SKY MESA 2000 |
Pulpit |
Storm Cat |
Affirmed |
Round Table |
.. |
War Admiral |
Busanda |
Blue Larkspur |
Businesslike |
COMMA TO THE TOP 2008 |
Bwana Charlie |
Stormy Atlantic |
Big Pistol |
Tanthem |
.. |
Blenheim |
His Duchess |
Blue Larkspur |
Businesslike |
LEAR'S PRINCESS 2004 |
Lear Fan |
Carson City |
Riverman |
Forli |
.. |
Blenheim |
His Duchess |
Blue Larkspur |
Businesslike |
NICKNAME 2013 |
Scat Daddy |
Borrego |
Major Impact |
Relaunch |
.. |
Blenheim |
His Duchess |
Blue Larkspur |
Businesslike |
PRETTY CITY DANCER 2014 |
Tapit |
Carson City |
Riverman |
Forli |
.. |
Blenheim |
His Duchess |
Blue Larkspur |
Businesslike |
| CARRIAGE TRAIL 2003 |
Giant's Causeway |
Seeking The Gold |
Deputy Minister |
Hoist The Flag |
.. |
War Relic |
Narrative |
Blue Larkspur |
Belle Histoire |
| HER SMILE 2008 |
Include |
Capote |
Fappiano |
Shecky Green |
.. |
War Relic |
Narrative |
Blue Larkspur |
Belle Histoire |
| KILLER GRACES 2009 |
Congaree |
Old Trieste |
Skywalker |
Wild Again |
.. |
King Cole |
No Fiddling |
Black Toney |
Big Hurry |
| ALWAJEEHA 2005 |
Dixieland Band |
Seattle Slew |
Dayjur |
Affirmed |
.. |
King Cole |
No Fiddling |
Black Toney |
Big Hurry |
| DANGEROUS MIDGE 2006 |
Lion Heart |
Seattle Slew |
Affirmed |
Hail To Reason |
.. |
King Cole |
No Fiddling |
Black Toney |
Big Hurry |
| ICON PROJECT 2005 |
Empire Maker |
Lord At War |
Secretariat |
Hail To Reason |
.. |
War Admiral |
Searching |
Black Toney |
Big Hurry |
| ELATE 2014 |
Medaglia D'oro |
Distorted Humor |
AP Indy |
Northern Dancer |
.. |
War Admiral |
Searching |
Black Toney |
Big Hurry |
| LITTLE BELLE 2005 |
A.P. Indy |
Mr Prospector |
Nureyev |
Hoist The Flag |
.. |
War Admiral |
Striking |
Bubbling Over |
Baby League |
| GIROLAMO 2006 |
A.P. Indy |
Mr Prospector |
Northern Dancer |
Buckpasser |
.. |
War Admiral |
Striking |
Bubbling Over |
Baby League |
| GOT LUCKY 2011 |
A.P. Indy |
Deputy Minister |
Mr Prospector |
Northern Dancer |
.. |
War Admiral |
Striking |
Bubbling Over |
Baby League |
| DISTANT WAY 2001 |
Distant View |
Cozzene |
Nureyev |
Buckpasser |
.. |
War Admiral |
Striking |
Bubbling Over |
Baby League |
| SMARTY JONES 2001 |
Elusive Quality |
Smile |
Foolish Pleasure |
Herbager |
.. |
War Admiral |
Striking |
Bubbling Over |
Baby League |
| FROST GIANT 2003 |
Giant's Causeway |
Gone West |
Seattle Slew |
Northern Dancer |
.. |
War Admiral |
Striking |
Bubbling Over |
Baby League |
| FLEET INDIAN 2001 |
Indian Charlie |
Afleet |
Restless Native |
Bold Ruler |
.. |
War Admiral |
Striking |
Bubbling Over |
Baby League |
| SUPER SAVER 2007 |
Maria's Mon |
A.P. Indy |
Mr Prospector |
Northern Dancer |
.. |
War Admiral |
Striking |
Bubbling Over |
Baby League |
| DICKINSON 2012 |
Medaglia D'oro |
A.P. Indy |
Mr Prospector |
Nureyev |
.. |
War Admiral |
Striking |
Bubbling Over |
Baby League |
| PERFECT SHIRL 2007 |
Perfect Soul |
That's A Nice |
Native Heritage |
The Axe |
.. |
War Admiral |
Striking |
Bubbling Over |
Baby League |
| BLUEGRASS CAT 2003 |
Storm Cat |
A.P. Indy |
Mr Prospector |
Northern Dancer |
.. |
War Admiral |
Striking |
Bubbling Over |
Baby League |
| MR. SIDNEY 2004 |
Storm Cat |
A.P. Indy |
Mr Prospector |
Hoist The Flag |
.. |
War Admiral |
Striking |
Bubbling Over |
Baby League |
| CALLBACK 2012 |
Street Sense |
Forest Wildcat |
A.P. Indy |
Mr Prospector |
.. |
War Admiral |
Striking |
Bubbling Over |
Baby League |
| SHAKESPEARE 2001 |
Theatrical |
That's A Nice |
Native Heritage |
The Axe |
.. |
War Admiral |
Striking |
Bubbling Over |
Baby League |
| FOLKLORE 2003 |
Tiznow |
Storm Cat |
Fappiano |
In Reality |
.. |
War Admiral |
Striking |
Bubbling Over |
Baby League |
Many of the lines through daughters like Bee Ann Mac, Black Betty, Besieged are now defunct.
Adrian Parry Copyright 2017 |