Zenyatta - Who to breed to ?

[Lakeway]

I read somewhere that the Nick with A.P. Indy looks very good, but unfortunately his fertility has been declining the last couple of years. Do you take the chance?

Any other ideas???

[mariasmon]

IMHO, it's idiotic not to at least try w/ A.P. while you still can. God willing, Giant's Causeway and Medaglia d'Oro will still be available long after he's done.

[serenassong]

IMHO, it's idiotic not to at least try w/ A.P. while you still can. God willing, Giant's Causeway and Medaglia d'Oro will still be available long after he's done.

Absolutely. That was one of the reason's that my girl went to Mr.P first, he was getting up there at the time.

Should be interesting to see when all is said and done

[FlowerEssence]

Probably the wrong thread, but with Indy's declining fertility that seems to be a not-very-well-kept secret, why was he getting advertised during the BC broadcast? I was a little surprised to see that. Maybe it was an old commercial, but they still wanted to generate interest in their farm and didn't want to pay for a new one?

Oh and to be on -topic, I thought I heard Smart Strike when she was "retired" last year.

[ComicalCat]

Probably the wrong thread, but with Indy's declining fertility that seems to be a not-very-well-kept secret, why was he getting advertised during the BC broadcast? I was a little surprised to see that. Maybe it was an old commercial, but they still wanted to generate interest in their farm and didn't want to pay for a new one?

Oh and to be on -topic, I thought I heard Smart Strike when she was "retired" last year.

Smart Strike would be quite a bit of Mr. P inbreeding. 2 x 4 I think. Too close for his fragility.

A Tiznow foal might take too long to mature, but that wouldn't be a bad thing considering what the Moss's and Sheriffs did for Z herself.

Medaglia would be nice and would likely get some decent precosity.

Just so long as it isn't Giacomo!!!!

[Retrospectiv]

If I were the Mosses I'd play the wait and see game with Indy. Assuming they don't try her right out of the box mid-February, they should be able to get a guage on his fertility within a few weeks when the 1st mares bred to him can be pregnancy checked.

If his mares are catching, I can see them giving him a cycle or two with her (assuming she vets clean reproductively herself).

Shame Storm Cat is no longer breeding as I'd actually like to have seen her go to him. SC produced more precocity than Indy and I think it would have been a nice match.

[JD]

Probably the wrong thread, but with Indy's declining fertility that seems to be a not-very-well-kept secret, why was he getting advertised during the BC broadcast? I was a little surprised to see that. Maybe it was an old commercial, but they still wanted to generate interest in their farm and didn't want to pay for a new one?

Oh and to be on -topic, I thought I heard Smart Strike when she was "retired" last year.

I saw that- maybe they were advertising for a certain big mare in particular...

[Diver52]

I brought up Smart Strike last year and I don't mind the inbreeding to Mr P as I think we're dealing with fairly sturdy individuals here. I don't know how she matches up with Candy Ride or Indian Charlie--I think they're both going to have huge careers with their better mares--but IC is 16.3 and I might prefer a slightly smaller stallion.

I'm probably the only one who doesn't really like Giants Causeway. He can certainly sire a fine horse but he SHOULD, with the incredible books he gets. And I think his AEI/CI is horrible, although I know the validity of those figures can be disputed.

[Allspice]

^ I think the AEI/CI loses some of it's validity when the stallion is being bred to 200+ mares a year. He gets a good percentage of stakes winners, with about half of them winning graded stakes. And how many stallions can consistently get three or more G1 winners a year?

That said, I would love it if they gave Galileo a try. <3

[katewerk]

With her size, soundness and the minimal presence of Northern Dancer in her pedigree, I'd be thinking hard about her long range potential as matriarch of outstanding outcross stallions, and narrow the field accordingly.

[seahawkgal]

I really like the cross with Blame.
Maybe that will happen some day.

[DDT]

If she were mine I would try for Bernardini, the hypo looks verrrrrry interesting to me.

DDT

[Secretariat Forever]

Afleet Alex....if he was bigger...he might need a latter or two.

[islandgirl45]

Probably the wrong thread, but with Indy's declining fertility that seems to be a not-very-well-kept secret, why was he getting advertised during the BC broadcast? I was a little surprised to see that. Maybe it was an old commercial, but they still wanted to generate interest in their farm and didn't want to pay for a new one?

Oh and to be on -topic, I thought I heard Smart Strike when she was "retired" last year.

Life Is Sweet was retired this spring and went to Smart Strike.
I read something last year that quoted John Shirreffs as saying he would recommend sending Zenyatta to Sea The Stars.

[Secretariat Forever]

Life Is Sweet was retired this spring and went to Smart Strike.
I read something last year that quoted John Shirreffs as saying he would recommend sending Zenyatta to Sea The Stars.

God I hope not him.

[Squeaky]

What about Curlin? Or some tough sound Australian sire?

[Allspice]

^ Ooo Zabeel (or one of his sons, like the undefeated Reset) or Encosta de Lago! That would be interesting.

[Secretariat Forever]

What about Curlin? Or some tough sound Australian sire?

unproven

[middleground]

In my fantasy world, I'd breed her to Monsun or Cape Cross.

But I think the A.P. Indy/Smart Strike choices are probably the most realistic. I think she's a good physical match for Candy Ride and Pulpit. I also think she's a good match with Invasor, but that would depend, of course, on his having some success at stud.

[Langfuhr]

Galileo, Galileo, Galileo!