July 1st, 2007

STALLIONS continue a series of profiles on horses beginning stud duties this spring.

Among them is the son of Silver Buck, Classic Endeavor.

Classic Endeavor had a long racing career in America where he earned the tag of New York’s Iron Horse, with 16 wins and more than $A1.3million to his credit. Classic Endeavor raced mainly in America’s strongest racing arena where his wins where on the principal tracks of Belmont Park, Aqueduct and Saratoga over distances that ranged from 1600m-1900m.

In the twilight of his racetrack career, Classic Endeavor strung together five successive wins including two front running efforts in two Group 3 events at Aqueduct, the Queens County Handicap and the Stuyvesant Handicap. 

In an earlier campaign embracing 11-starts in six months, he won seven races – missed five in succession by a nose – and finished second three times. Any horse that can put together two sequences of this quality on major tracks must be a very sound and competitive performer.

After his win in the Group 3 Excelsior Breeders’ Cup at Aqueduct, his trainer said, “I really loved his pedigree and I knew he was going to be sound and consistent.”

The toughness and durability of Classic Endeavor isn’t surprising for these are qualities are dominant on both sides of his pedigree.

His paternal grandsire Buckpasser, one of America’s greatest racehorses, winning 25 of 31 outings, including setting a world record for a mile, was a tragic loss when he died at 15, but he left very good horses including five champions. One of his best sire sons is Silver Buck, the sire of Classic Endeavor and world champion Silver Charm.

Other Buckpasser sires include Bucksplasher (sire of American Breeders’ Cup Turf winner and champion turf performer Bucks Boy), L’Enjoleur, Buckaroo (sire of Kentucky Derby hero Spend a Buck), Bukfinder, Norcliffe and Pass the Glass.

Significantly, Norcliffe (Horse of the Year Canada), Bucksplasher (the sire of Buck’s Boy) and L’Enjoleur (Horse of the Year in Canada twice) are all from mares by Northern Dancer, a sire who does not appear in Classic Endeavor’s pedigree. This omission could make the Ilala Stud acquisition very valuable as an outcross for Northern Dancer, including all the descendants of Danehill sires.

At the same time, as Danehill’s grandam is by Buckpasser, the Classic Endeavor matings with this dynasty would result in an inbreeding to this tremendous source.

Buckpasser has a fantastic broodmare sire record with his daughters producers of 130 stakes winners, including Easy Goer, El Gran Senor (sire of Al Hareb and Rodrigo de Triano), Polish Precedent (sire of Rakti and Pilsudski), Private Account (sire of Personal Ensign and Personal Flag), and sires like Woodman, Miswaki, Try My Best (sire of Last Tycoon), Spectacular Spy and Foxhound.

Classic Endeavor is one of three stakes winners from Bold Juana, a mare by John Alden, a stakes winner and sire of 18 stakes winners by Speak John. Another son of Speak John’s that has had influence in Australia is Hold Your Peace, the sire of Breeders Cup Juvenile winner and prominent sire Success Express.

Bold Juana is a sister to another iron horse in Little Bold John (ex Little Bold Sphinx by Bold Ambition), a winner of a massive 38 races. In addition she is a three-quarter sister to Run Alden (by John Alden and 14 wins), Ameri Run (18 wins) and Run John Run (five wins).

The family that spawned Classic Endeavor goes back two centuries in American history with influence through Habitat. Classic Endeavor also has three doses of Nearco in his pedigree.

Standing at a fee of $16,500 (inc gst) and embracing a free return if no live foal, Classic Endeavor shares the roster with Amalfi, Eagle Rise, Filante, Techrio, Vice Admiral and Sippin’ Bourbon at Fraser’s property.