IT'S ALL IN THE FAMILY

Sheikh Mohammed’s star Australian two-year-old colt, Sepoy (Elusive Quality), pictured left, became only the fifth horse to win the both the top juvenile prizes when adding the Golden Slipper (Gr 1), run at Rosehill last weekend, to his Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1) win at Caulfield.

This was a huge achievement for the Darley operation who not only had Sepoy’s dam, the Danehill daughter, Watchful, but they also stand the sire Elusive Quality (Gone West). When you take a look at the pedigree of Sepoy (click here to view the pedigree) it is easy to see why Sheikh Mohammed chose to send Wachful to Elusive Quality. Watchful is an own-sister to the Queenland Derby (Gr 1), Camarena (Danehill), whose Elusive Quality 2004 produce, Camarilla, was a dual graded stakes winner at two which included the Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr 1) at Randwick. The next dam, Canny Miss is a 3/4-sister to Golden Slipper (Gr 1) winner Canny Lad and Australian Gr 1 winner Canny Lass.

Moving back to the cross that Sepoy is bred on. Elusive Quality has produced four stakes winners, all in Australia, to Danehill daughters. The success of this cross really produces some very interesting line breeding. This is due to both Sepoy’s and Elusive Quality dam sires being bred along the same lines. Elusive Quality’ dam-sire, Hero’s Honor, is bred on a Northern Dancer/Graustark cross while Danehill Sepoy’s dam-sire is also by a Northern Dancer sire and out of a daughter by His Majesty, who is an own-brother of Graustark (both by Ribot and out of Flower Bowl). Added to this is the fact that this mating also creates line-breeding to Natalma, which has been so productive when involved with the Danehill line. However it would suggest that this cross is not as 'electric' as would think as there are 98 foals of racing age bred on the cross and only 35 are winners of which just four are stakes winners (4%).

However one thing is for sure this cross has worked for the this family and I am sure Watchful will re-visit Elusive Quality in the coming covering seasons, despite having been sold by Darley for Aus$55,000 at the 2009 Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale to Emirates Park Pty Ltd. Sepoy is the first winner for her dam having had Reset (Zabeel) filly, Twitcher, in 2006, who was un-raced and an Elusive Quality colt, Cautious Time, in 2007, who was placed third twice.

Watchful has a 2009 a colt by Dubai Destination (Kingmambo), having missed to Eavesdropper (Kingmambo) during the 2009 covering season, and visited Domesday (Red Ransom) during the last breeding season. CWC