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PEDIGREE HANDICAPPING The Influence of Blushing Groom by Tim Holland The recent news of the death of 1988 Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) winner Kahyasi (Ile De Bourbon) served as a reminder as to the wide-ranging, international influence of the great sire Blushing Groom (Fr). Indeed, Kahyasi, who also won the Irish Derby (Ire-G1), was out of Kadissya, a foal of the first crop sired by the French-bred champion. From 17 crops, Kahyasi was responsible for 52 stakes winners. And while he produced males such as Enzeli, who won the Ascot Gold Cup (Eng-G1); Grand Prix de Paris (Fr-G1) winner Khalkevi; and American champion steeplechaser Hirapour (Ire), Kahyasi's female offspring were overall more successful. Indeed, daughters Zainta and Vereva both won the Prix de Diane (Fr-G1) (French Oaks) and Choc Ice took Canada's E. P. Taylor S. (Can-G1), and it is as a broodmare sire that Kahyasi's glowing legacy will most likely be carried on. Indeed, his daughter Hasili (Ire) is one of the greatest broodmares of all time through producing six Grade/Group 1 performers. Other daughters have produced Hong Kong Derby (HK-G1) winner Helene Mascot, who previously raced in Europe under the name of Salford Mill (Peintre Celebre); Group 1 winner Linngari (Indian Ridge), who was a Group 1 winner and a champion in both Italy and Germany; and, importantly, Zarkava (Zamindar), who has to-date won all five of her starts, including the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (Fr-G1) and the Prix de Diane. Trained in France for the Aga Khan by Francois Mathet, Blushing Groom finished third in his debut before winning his next five races and earning the title of champion two-year-old in France. Four of these wins were Group 1 events, including the Grand Criterium in which he defeated the champion English juvenile J. O. Tobin, who would defeat Seattle Slew in the Swaps S. (G1) the following year and become champion sprinter in America as a four-year-old. In 1977, Blushing Groom added a fifth Group 1 to his resume via the one-mile Poule d'Essai des Poulains before being sent to England for an attempt at the Epsom Derby. As a son of sprinter Red God, many suspected that the 12-furlong trip would find him out and those fears were realized when Blushing Groom failed to stay, but he still managed to finish a very respectable third behind The Minstrel. After finishing a close second to the brilliant filly Flying Water (Fr) in his next start, the Prix Jacques le Marois (Fr-G1), Blushing Groom was retired to stud at Gainesway Farm where he would spend his stallion career. Kadissya was not the only filly from Blushing Groom's first crop that would have a lasting influence on the Thoroughbred breed as Blush With Pride was also one of that group. An outstanding racehorse with the Kentucky Oaks (G1) among her victories, Blush With Pride proved her worth equally as a broodmare. The most accomplished of her five stakes-placed or better performers was Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister), who won the Demoiselle S. (G2) and was second in the Acorn S. (G1). Like her dam, Better Than Honour has excelled as a producer with Belmont S. (G1) winners Jazil (Seeking The Gold) and Rags To Riches (A. P. Indy) as well as Casino Drive (Mineshaft), who was forced to miss the hat-trick attempt in the final leg of the Triple Crown this year due to an 11th-hour foot injury. Blush With Pride is also the dam of Fillies' Mile (Eng-G1) second Maryinsky (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), who is also proving herself as a top-class broodmare. Indeed, her first foal, Peeping Fawn (Danehill), won the Irish Oaks (Ire-G1) and Nassau S. (Eng-G1), and Maryinsky's second foal, Thewayyouare (Kingmambo), captured the Criterium International (Fr-G1) last year. A third filly from Blushing Groom's first crop that would become a successful broodmare was Too Chic, who won the Maskette S. (G1) and placed second in the Alabama S. (G1). Her first foal was 1987 Ashland S. (G1) winner Chic Shirine (Mr. Prospector), who would produce Tara Roma (Lyphard), winner of the Ladies H. (G2), who in turn is the dam of Go for Wand H. (G1) heroine Serra Lake (Seattle Slew). Too Chic's second foal, Queena (Mr. Prospector), also counted the Maskette among her three Grade 1 wins and was named champion older mare of 1991. Queena is responsible for Brahms, winner of the Hollywood Derby (G1). In all, Too Chic is, within three generations, responsible for no less than nine graded winners. The success of Blushing Groom's first crop was not restricted to fillies as Canadian champion three-year-old and Travers S. (G1) winner Runaway Groom was also among his first foals. With 71 black-type winners to his name, Runaway Groom proved himself among Blushing Groom's best sons at stud through siring the likes of Grade 1 winners Wekiva Springs and Down the Aisle, and 1994 champion sprinter and Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Cherokee Run. The latter is continuing the Blushing Groom male line by siring promising young sires Yonaguska, Kafwain and During as well as last year's champion two-year-old War Pass. Much of the success of Runaway Groom's offspring has been achieved on the dirt and the same might be said of another son of Blushing Groom, sprinter Mt. Livermore, whose biggest win came in the Carter H. (G2) and finished third in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) in his last start before joining his sire at Gainesway. Mt. Livermore passed his speed on to many of his offspring and is responsible for top sprinters Housebuster and Orientate. The former earned the title of champion sprinter in 1990 and again in 1991. After Orientate won the Breeders' Cup Sprint in 2002, a grandson of Blushing Groom was named champion sprinter in America for the fourth time in a 13-year span. Runaway Groom and Mt. Livermore were both descended from American, dirt and speed favoring female families which may explain the abundance of pace and precocity of the majority of their offspring. However, many of Blushing Groom's foals were out of turf and distance orientated families and would thus need time to be at their best. Such was the case with Nassipour, a foal from Blushing Groom's second crop, who was out of a mare by Aureole, winner of the 1954 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. and a strong stamina influence. Nassipour was at his best as a five-year-old when he won the Rothmans International S. (G1), after which he stood stud in New Zealand and sired Let's Elope (NZ), one of the best mares ever to race in Australia. A giant chestnut, Let's Elope took the two most important races in Australia, the Caulfield Cup (Aus-G1) and the Melbourne Cup (Aus-G1), before coming to race in America where she passed the post first in the Beverly D. S. (G1) only to be disqualified for interference. Rainbow Quest, who died last summer at age 26, was Blushing Groom's best runner from his 1981 crop and is one of his most influential sons to stand at stud. As a two-year-old, the Khaled Abdulla-owned colt was mature enough to finish second in England's top juvenile event, the Dewhurst S. (Eng-G1), and at three was second in the Irish Derby and third in the French equivalent. However, as a four-year-old, Rainbow Quest would prove his best with wins in the Coronation Cup (Eng-G1) and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1), inheriting the latter, Europe's most prestigious event, on the disqualification of the previous year's winner Sagace (Fr). With his books never exceeding 75 mares, it is remarkable that Rainbow Quest sired more than 100 stakes winners and more notable that about 10.5 percent of his foals earned black type. Being out of a mare by the Prix du Jockey Club winner *Herbager may explain Rainbow Quest's stamina, and he passed it on to his best runners, including Quest for Fame, who won the Epsom Derby before shipping to America to capture the Hollywood Turf H. (G1) as a five-year-old. Other notables by Rainbow Quest include a pair of 1 3/4-mile St. Leger S. (Eng-G1) winners Millenary and Nedawi; Japanese champion Sakura Laurel; Saumarez (GB), who emulated his sire by winning the Arc; and the likes of Raintrap (GB), Fiji (GB), Sunshack (GB) and Urgent Request (Ire). While Quest for Fame has had a measure of success as a sire, mainly in Australia, Rainbow Quest's most successful son at stud is Spectrum, who was one of his sire's few offspring to be best at a mile which he proved in winning the Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1). Spectrum's best produce is Golan (Ire), who won the Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. (Eng-G1). However, it is through his daughters that Rainbow Quest's impact is at its strongest. Indeed, he was England's champion broodmare sire in 2003 and 2004, and has been represented by many top class runners, including Epsom Derby winners in North Light (Ire) and Kris Kin; Two Thousand Guineas winner Footstepsinthesand (GB); 2008 Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1) victress Look Here (Hernando [Fr]); and Group/Grade 1 winners Powerscourt (GB), Rakti and Meteor Storm (GB) (Bigstone [Ire]). Blushing Groom's influence is also seen strongly through his son Rahy, who was a stakes winner and Group1-placed in England before winning the Bel Air H. (G2) stateside. Foaled in 1985, Rahy has sired nearly 80 stakes winners, including the outstanding performers Fantastic Light, Serena's Song, Dreaming of Anna, Tranquility Lake, Noverre and Tates Creek. However, though Fantastic Light and Noverre have made reasonable starts to their stallion careers, it seems that Rahy's influence will also be seen at its greatest through his female offspring. Indeed, his daughter Mariah's Storm is the dam of the Giant's Causeway as well as two full brothers, the useful sire Freud and Roar of the Tiger, who is already showing promise as a freshman sire this year. Rahy is also the broodmare sire of last year's leading first season stallion, Posse, and top class runners and young sires Grand Reward, After Market and Even the Score as well as the Grade 1-winning fillies Megahertz (GB) (Pivotal) and Rutherienne (Pulpit). The international influence of Blushing Groom was extended to South America when Candy Stripes was exported to stand at stud in Argentina. A foal of 1982, Candy Stripes raced in France, where he was second in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, and his first top-class offspring was champion stayer Seaborg (Arg), winner of three Group 1 events in Argentina. Two years later, Different (Arg) represented Candy Stripes as champion older mare in her homeland before being sent to North America, where she garnered both the Spinster S. (G1) and Beverly Hills H. (G1). However, Candy Stripes fully caught the attention Northern Hemisphere racing world through Leroidesanimaux (Brz), who won three Grade 1 races and was an unlucky second in the 2005 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1), and Horse of the Year Invasor (Arg), winner of the 2006 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). With Leroidesanimaux and Invasor just starting their stallion careers, Candy Stripes has a chance to be most influential through his sons. Like so many of Blushing Groom's colts, however, he has already proved his influence through his daughters. Indeed, he is the broodmare sire of Candy Ride (Arg) (Ride the Rails), who was a champion miler in Argentina before coming to California to win the Pacific Classic (G1). Standing in Kentucky, Candy Ride has his first runners this year and, while one would not expect them to be overly precocious, they have made a good start with two winners to date. Baillamont, who won the Prix Ganay (Fr-G1), and Al Bahathri were in the same crop as Candy Stripes. The latter won six of her 12 starts, including the Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) and the Coronation S. (Eng-G2), and has excelled as a broodmare. Her best offspring is Haafhd (Alhaarth), winner of the Two Thousand Guineas and the Champion S. (Eng-G1). Blushing Groom's most remarkable year as a sire was in 1989 when he was not only represented in America by the champion older horse Blushing John, but was also the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland largely through siring the winners of both the Epsom Derby and Oaks. The impeccably bred Nashwan, who is out of The Queen's 1981 champion two-year-old filly Height of Fashion (Fr), won the Epsom Derby and compiled a superfecta (with the Two Thousand Guineas, Eclipse S. [Eng-G1], and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. in addition) that no other horse has ever won in the same season. Upon the conclusion of his racing career, Nashwan stood in England until his relatively early death in 2002, but he did sire Arc winner Bago (Fr); Swain (Ire), who won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. on two occasions; and 1996 champion turf mare Wandesta (GB). As a broodmare sire, Nashwan is represented by Royal Highness (Ger), who took last year's Beverly D., and his daughters are also responsible for the likes of Maraahel (Alzao), Shakis (Ire) (Machiavellian), Sun Boat (GB) and Solvig. Snow Bride completed Blushing Groom's Derby/Oaks double in dramatic fashion as she finished second past the post but was placed first upon the disqualification of the heavy favorite, Aliysa (Ire). Snow Bride, who is out of the English three-year-old champion filly of 1982, also won the Musidora S. (Eng-G3) and the Princess Royal S. (Eng-G3) but, despite her racing achievements, is best remembered as a broodmare. Indeed, her second foal was Lammtarra (Nijinsky II), who is the only horse to win the Epsom Derby, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. and the Arc in the same year. Interestingly, Lammtarra was one of just eight foals produced from the match of the last English Triple Crown winner, Nijinsky II, with Blushing Groom mares. Winged Victory, winner of the Fort Lauderdale H. (G3), also came from this nick as did the winning Wedding Vow, who is the dam of Grade 2 winner and sire Broken Vow (Unbridled). Conversely, 28 foals were produced from matching Blushing Groom with mares by Nijinsky II and six of these matings resulted in stakes winners, including the exceptional champion Sky Beauty, a winner of nine Grade 1 races in New York. This cross also produced the unraced mare Blushing Promise, whose only foal is Carson City (Mr. Prospector), winner of the Sapling S. (G2) and a leading sire as well as being the broodmare sire of 2006 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Barbaro. Probably the most breathtaking performance by any offspring of Blushing Groom was that of Arazi when he won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Churchill Downs in 1991. A winner in six of his previous seven starts, Arazi was exceptionally mature for a two-year-old and proved his brilliance in the Juvenile when circling the field in impressive fashion and drawing off to win by nearly five lengths after breaking from the 14 post and being eased late by rider Patrick Valenzuela. The following year, Arazi was made the heavy favorite for the Kentucky Derby but, with the advantage of his maturity over his rivals diminished, he was exposed as a good but not outstanding three-year-old. Initially standing at stud in England before being sent to America and eventually Australia, Arazi proved disappointing as a sire although he was responsible for Congaree, who won five Grade 1 races, including the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1), and was third in the Kentucky Derby. However, like so many of Blushing Groom's sons, Arazi is proving himself as an exceptional broodmare sire. Indeed, his daughters have already produced the likes of Electrocutionist (Red Ransom), winner of the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1); last year's Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) heroine and champion turf mare Lahudood (GB); and Spinning Queen (Spinning World), winner of the Sun Chariot S. (Eng-G1). Blushing Groom's retirement to stud coincided with the beginning of the explosion of the internationalization of Thoroughbred racing, and his influence has been seen strongly in Europe, North and South America, Australia and also in the Far East, where he is the broodmare sire of Mayano Top Gun and T. M. Opera O. The former won eight of his 21 starts, including the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) (Jpn-G1), and was named Horse of the Year in 1995. T. M. Opera O won 14 races, including the Japan Cup (Jpn-G1), and was also Horse of The Year while bankrolling more than $16 million. While Blushing Groom was the leading broodmare sire in England in 1988 and again in 1995, he never made the top place in the American lists. He was, however, among the top 25 broodmare sires for seven straight years between 1995 and 2001, and the highest position he attained was 10th in 1998, largely due to Awesome Again (Deputy Minister). A late developing colt out of Primal Force, who won four of her eight starts, Awesome Again was carefully handled by his trainer Patrick Byrne as a four-year-old to be unbeaten in six races, including his last start over one of the best Breeders' Cup Classic fields ever assembled. Two years later Primal Force would prove that Awesome Again was no fluke when another son, Macho Uno, won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) earning the daughter of Blushing Groom the title of Broodmare of the Year.
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