Parallel Series

We’ve frequently mentioned, in this and other columns, varieties of what we call “Parallel Patterns.” There are variations, but a general description would be where a sire and a mare or broodmare sire are bred on a similar cross (we also have inversion of this, which we’ve christened “Reverse Parallel Patterns”). (More…)

A Perfect Show

With the Australian racing season winding to a close, the final stakes race of the winter was run at Eagle Farm last Saturday with the Glenlogan Park-owned mare Perfect Feeling claiming the listed Tattersalls Mile.

Perfect Feeling is a daughter of (More…)

One Horse Wonders

Looking through some recent results, we noticed that another nicking program had rated Elite Squadron – who took the May 3 Churchill Downs Stakes (gr. II) – as an A++ nick. A cross check with TrueNicks revealed that Elite Squadron is rated D. Naturally, we wondered what could have caused such a discrepancy. (More…)

To Region or Not to Region

We were recently forwarded an e-mail containing an advertisement from another pedigree consultancy that mentioned “… other pedigree information services that attempt to dazzle you with vast database resources without discriminating the information that matters from the information that doesn’t ….” It also asserts that it chooses not to include the results of restricted stakes — even though that can include such valuable and prestigious races as the Canadian Queen’s Plate or the Japanese Derby.

Without conjecturing whether or not this refers to TrueNicks, it is certainly the case that TrueNicks has “vast database resources.” However, TrueNicks — developed by industry professionals with extensive international experience in all aspects of racing and breeding — certainly knows how to sort and provide the information that matters.

In any case, the comments do raise some interesting points. (More…)

Reader Q&A: Inbreeding to Alydar

• Jeri from New York asked: I’m pleased to see Empire Stud signed up! Could you ask Alan Porter if there is any value to tying to inbreed to Alydar. I do not see his name come up in pedigrees anymore and I have mare by Western Expression whose bottom has Alydar mate of third dam. I may be going back to far, but I could not help but think of the great horse himself.I met Mr. Porter at McMahon’s a few years ago with my young children in tow. We bred our first race horse on his say. He is yet to win but just turned 3 and the trainer and owner had him in 52000 open races at 2. I wish they stuck with the lower New York races!
   

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Written by Alan Porter | March 31st, 2008

Research is a Mare Owner’s Best Investment

• Amy from Lexington asks Alan: I work for a small farm in Lexington and have been helping to plan matings. I really enjoy pedigree research and learning all the theories behind different nicks / crosses inbreeding / outcrossing, etc. The main problem I have run into had been finding a way to figure out what lines broodmare sires cross with. I was hoping you could shed some light on finding a good approach to look at a mare’s sire and gather information on what that horse has accomplished as a broodmare sire, and with what lines he has made those accomplishments. I would appreciate any advice you can give me. (More…)
  Written by Alan Porter | March 27th, 2008

Compare and Contrast

It has been a little over two months, ten weeks to be precise, since we launched TrueNicks into the marketplace and the response has been nothing short of overwhelming. With a large roster of stallions subscribed to the complimentary subscription service that allows users to generate their own ratings via either this Web site or www.StallionRegister.com, we have seen some outstanding activity from users throughout the world. Obviously there are a lot of breeders out there that want the latest information to make their breeding decisions!

We are always looking to improve what we offer our customers and in the next few months you will see a range of products that will be launched for yearling buyers, stallion owners, and broodmare owners alike — all based on the feedback that we have received from our customers. It would be remiss not to mention that a lot of the feedback we have been receiving compares and contrasts TrueNicks against other pedigree nick rating systems in the marketplace. (More…)