Anyone who saw the duel between champion Takeover Target and Honor in War (USA) as they fought out the finish of the Villiers Stakes-Gr.2 down the tough Randwick straight was left in no doubt about the courage of both competitors. If the winner Honor in War passes on his speed and his will to succeed, then there’s no doubt this winner of 11 races up to Gr.1 level now coming into his second season at Ilala Stud, will make a big impact on the Australian breeding scene.

   THESE days when thoroughbred pedigrees are dominated by Pharos and his male line descendants, notably via Northern Dancer and Nasrullah, people tend to forget that Fairway, a brother to Pharos, had a similar impact with his descendants half a century ago.
  Petition, by Fairway’s son Fair Trial and from Art Paper, a daughter of Artists Proof (Gainsborough) was the Leading Sire in England in 1959 (his son Petingo gaining the same honour in 1979), and it is from Petition’s male line that Ilala Stud’s gutsy Gr.1 winner Honor in War (USA) descends. 

 Tough and sound, Honor in War (Lord at War-Catumbella by Diesis) is a rare example of his sire line today, although in Australia Fairway once was plentiful and examples of his male line include Champion Sire Wilkes (FR) (by Court Martial), sire of Vain, John’s Hope and Wenona Girl; Seventh Hussar (FR) (Queen’s Hussar), sire of Denise’s Joy and Always Welcome; and Matrice (Masthead (GB)), sire of Pago Pago, Taj Rossi, Toltrice and Manihi (sire of Manikato). Many Australian broodmares have several lines of Fairway and they could provide good line breeding subjects with Honor in War. Note too that Fair Trial is from Lady Juror (Son-in-Law-Lady Josephine by Sundridge), a half-sister to Mumtaz Mahal (The Tetrarch), whose descendants include Nasrullah, Royal Charger and modern day broodmare marvel Eight Carat (GB).
  Because he is free of Northern Dancer and Mr. Prospector (a male line descendant of Phalaris, sire of Pharos and Fairway) - but has many pedigree links to both horses - he should also prove a perfect foil for mares carrying these stallions in their pedigrees. He looks ideal for mares by Danehill (USA) and his sons - especially as his dam is by Diesis (Sharpen Up), a line that has worked well with Danehill. Honor in War, whose closest duplication is a 5f,6mx6m to Hyperion, should also suit daughters of Woodman (USA) and Rhythm, both Mr. Prospector sons who descend from La Troienne as does Honor in War; also mares by Sir Tristram (from Hyperion’s family) and his sons, Star Way (GB), and broodmares from the Halo and Roberto lines.
  However before we take a closer look at the pedigree of this $US140,000 Keeneland yearling bred by Mill Ridge Farm and W. Lazy T. Inc, we should examine the race record of this talented performer who won both his starts at two and was still winning as an eight year-old. Honour in War won six of his first eight starts, the final three in succession and culminating with the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic-Gr.1 (9f) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day, May 3, 2003. Owned by former pro football player Will Wolford, along with partners and racing for the 3rd Turn Stables, the four year-old was trained at Louisville by Paul McGee, ridden by David Flores and started at 24/1. Honor in War’s time of 1:46.67 for the Turf Classic was the second fastest for the event in 20 years and was just outside the track record best of 1:46.34.
  “It’s great that his first stakes win could be a Grade One,” said McGee. “I’m not too surprised because he has been doing well, but I guess I’m pleasantly surprised.”
  Following a sixth next start in the Manhattan Handicap-Gr.1, Honour in War won the Arlington Handicap-Gr.3 (10f) as favourite, wearing down Della Francesca in the straight and then holding off a determined Better Talk Now to score by a neck. Unplaced next time out in the Arlington Million-Gr.1, he was then second in the Keeneland Turf Mile-Gr.1 behind Perfect Soul before going for a break.
  He started his 2004 campaign in April with a fourth in the Maker’s Mark Mile-Gr.2, was fifth in the Turf Classic-Gr.1 and then again runner-up in the Turf Mile-Gr.1 at Keeneland behind Nothing To Lose (Perfect Soul unplaced). He would win three more times, a Listed event at 8.5f and Allowance events at 9f and 8f, before being sold to an Australian syndicate in late 2006, initially for stud duty. These plans subsequently changed and the seven year-old chestnut made a return to the track in late 2006 when five runs saw him show glimpses of form when fifth of 10 in the St George Stakes-Gr.2 (1800m) in February 2007 and third in the Listed JRA Plate in April.
  Given a spell after that effort, and sent to Chris Waller by his syndicate (including Emerald Thoroughbreds and Dynamic Syndications), he ran fourth over 1300m first up on December 15, 2007 and then won the Villiers Stakes-Gr.2 (1400m) on protest from Takeover Target, after being a nose second past the post when Takeover Target took his running in the final 200m. The two veterans staged a battle royal and Honor in War again had his head in front one stride past the post. It made racing fans sit up and take notice of the import as it isn’t often eight year-old entires are still racing in top company with such honesty and courage. His time of 1:21.54 was just a tick outside Grand Armee’s track record of 1:21.06. Although he didn’t win again in four subsequent starts, Honor in War retired as the winner of 11 races and nine placings and earnings of $1.837m and covered 53 mares in his first season at Ilala, the Scone stud operated by George and Felicity Fraser.
  “I have had my eye on this fellow for a while now, and the fact that we have secured him for stud duties in the Hunter Valley gives him the best possible start to his career, and provides another excellent mating option for the owners of Northern Dancer line mares,” George Fraser said when announcing the horse would stand at Ilala.   “We want to offer breeders the chance to access tough, durable bloodlines that perform at Group level. Honor in War is the complete package, completely free of Northern Dancer, and a top-flight turf horse on two continents. I could not be more pleased at being able to give Honor in War his start on the next phase of his career.”
  Honor in War is by Lord at War (ARG) (General-Luna de Miel by the Ribot son Con Brio), a horse inbred 5mx4f to Petition (and 6m,6fx5m to Fair Trial), 4mx5f to Hyperion and with a 6m,6mx6f cross of Teddy (a horse from the same family as Hyperion’s sire Gainsborough). A very good racehorse, he was rated Champion Miler in Argentina, winning the Gran Premio Internacional Joaquin S. de Anchorena-Gr.1 and undefeated in three starts in that country. Taken to the US, he won four of six starts at four, including the Goodwood Handicap-Gr.3, Native Diver Handicap-Gr.3, Citation Handicap-Gr.3, which he took by three lengths while setting a new track record. The following year he added three further stakes wins, including a second Goodwood Handicap-Gr.3 along with the San Antonio Handicap-Gr.1 and Santa Anita Handicap-Gr.1.
  His “exotic” pedigree, to US breeders at least, meant he began his stud career on a modest fee and attracted equally modest mates, but he proved a success, siring 45 stakes winners among his 226 winners (60% of runners), including other Gr.1 winners John’s Call (dam by Be My Guest) and La Gueriere (her dam Lady Winborne by Secretariat is the third dam of Honor in War), and Group scorers Lord of Warriors (also from Lady Winborne) Mighty (dam by Mr. Prospector), Patton (Seattle Slew), Lady At Peace (Nijinsky), Trip (Forty Niner), Watch (Timeless Moment), War Thief (Timeless Moment), Ioya Two (Naskra), Only To You (Logical), Don’t Be Silly (Quack), Added Asset (Stutz Blackhawk), Krieger (Affirmed), Lord Joe (Mr. Prospector), Road of War (Pappa Steve), Lady Dora (Runaway Groom), Cuando Puede (Affirmed), Ascutney (Verbatim) and Must Be War (Naskra).
  His daughters have already produced 39 stakes winners among their 362 winners of $52.8m, including Kentucky Derby-Gr.1 and Preakness Stakes-Gr.1 winner War Emblem (Our Emblem), Santa Anita Derby-Gr.1 winner and 2009 Kentucky Derby runner-up Pioneer of the Nile (Empire Maker), 2008 US Breeders’ Cup Classic-Gr.1 and Ascot Queen Elizabeth II Stakes-Gr.1 winner of $A5.4m Raven’s Pass (Elusive Quality (USA)), and other Gr.1 winners No Matter What (Nureyev),Tali’sluckybusride (Delineator), Citronnade (Lemon Drop Kid), Purim (Dynaformer) and Primaly (Alydeed).
  Lord at War’s sire General was bred in France and although he won the Prix Thomas Byron-Gr.3 at two, he failed to live up to his ability (he is reported to have beaten Blushing Groom and Exceller in a track gallop and was thought superior to both). General’s dam Mercurial is a daughter of Pan II (FR) (Atys), a horse who stood a couple of seasons at Lionel Israel’s Segenhoe Stud before his sale back to Europe and is the dam sire of the flying Zephyr Bay. General’s sire Brigadier Gerard (Queen’s Hussar-La Paiva by Prince Chevalier) is generally regarded as one of the greatest racehorses of modern times, earning a Timeform rating of 144 when rated Champion Miler in 1972 (he was rated 141 at three when Champion Miler and Champion Three Year Old Colt in 1971).
  He was Timeform Horse of the Year in 1971 and 1972 and his 144 rating is the highest ever awarded by this respected publication (Dancing Brave, Shergar, Dubai Millennium and Vaguely Noble were all rated 140 and Mill Reef 141). Bred by John Hislop and a descendant of famed mare Pretty Polly, he won 17 of 18 starts, 16 in succession. His victories included the Middle Park Stakes at two; the 2000 Guineas-Gr.1, in which he defeated Mill Reef, Sussex Stakes-Gr.1 and Champion Stakes-Gr.1 at three; and the Eclipse Stakes-Gr.1, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes-Gr.1 and Champion Stakes-Gr.1 at four.
  A handsome, correct horse standing 16.2 hands, he was at his best on firm tracks and sired 24 stakes winners, only two, the St. Leger-Gr.1 winner Light Cavalry, and the Champion Stakes-Gr.1 winner, Vayrann, scoring at the elite level. His daughters produced 277 winners (16SW), four at Gr.1 level and including the NZ-bred Caulfield Cup-Gr.1 winner Affinity (by Zamazaan (FR)), NZ-based sire King’s Island (IRE) (Persian Bold), Mary Linoa (l’Emigrant) and Antiqua (Lypheor). The NZ Gr.2 winner Batavian (Straussbrook) is also out of a Brigadier Gerard mare.
   His sire Queen’s Hussar (March Parch-Jo Jo by Vilmorin) won seven of 21 starts including the Lockinge Stakes-Gr.1 and Sussex Stakes-Gr.1. The English 1000 Guineas-Gr.1 and French Oaks winner Highclere is his other notable runner and established a wonderful family, while talented handicapper Seventh Hussar (FR) stood in Australia and is best remembered as the sire of champion Denise’s Joy (founder of an outstanding modern family) and Gr.1 winners Always Welcome and Hussar’s Command, while a daughter Ruby, is the dam of champion sprinter/miler and leading sire Rubiton (Century).
  His sire March Past (Petition-Marcellete by William of Valence) was tough, sound and genuine and transmitted these attributes. He was a handy juvenile who trained on to win the 16-runner Wokingham Stakes at Ascot by three lengths with top weight of nine stone and the Greenham Stakes at Newbury before a successful stud career. Petition, rated the second best juvenile colt of 1946 behind Tudor Minstrel after winning the Richmond Stakes and Gimcrack Stakes, was injured at three but came back to win the Eclipse Stakes at four. The Leading Sire of 1959 in the UK, his best runners included the outstanding filly Petite Etoile and star miler Petingo, who unfortunately died in 1976, aged 11 and won the UK Sires’ title posthumously in 1979.
  One of Petition’s daughters Petitioner (out of the Oaks winner Steady Aim by Felstead) is the second dam of Danzig (and Danzig responds well to inbreeding to Petition). Petition’s fourth dam is the great mare Sceptre (Persimmon-Ornament by Bend Or), while Honor in War’s second dam Benguela is by Little Current, whose eighth dam Splendid (Sheen) is a half-sister to Sceptre.
  Honor in War’s dam Catumbella won twice in the US and is a daughter of Champion UK Two Year Old Diesis (Sharpen Up-Doubly Sure by Reliance), winner of the Dewhurst Stakes-Gr.1 and Middle Park Stakes-Gr.1 and a wonderful sire for Mill Ridge Farm in Kentucky, where Honor in War was born. A brother to Champion European Sire Kris and to a former Newhaven Park sire Keen (GB), Diesis left 14 Gr.1 winners, including Halling (sire), Diminuendo, Ramruma, Magical Fantasy and Elmaamul (sire) among 82 stakes winners, and his 482 winners (64.2% of runners) earned more than $56m.
  His daughters have produced 17 Gr.1 winners among 709 winners (75SW) of $80.16m led by Coolmore’s Arc de Triomphe winner Dylan Thomas (by Danehill (USA)), classic winner Crimplene (by another shuttler in Lion Cavern (USA)) and tough US turf star Cetawayo (by Danehill’s dam sire His Majesty). His daughters have also produced Gr.1 winners by Alleged, Nureyev, Doyoun, Dynaformer, Galileo, Grand Lodge, Royal Academy, Jade Robbery, Sir Tristram (Isolda), Not for Sale, In The Wings and Dayjur. The Gr.2 winners Churchill Downs (Danehill), Strategic Prince (Dansili), Multidimensional (Danehill), reinforce Danehill’s attraction to this line and it’s worth remembering that Danehill Dancer (IRE) is out of a mare by Sharpen Up.
  Sharpen Up is a grandson of Native Dancer, while Honor in War has a second Native Dancer line via Little Current, a horse carrying a 4mx3f cross of Native Dancer’s sire Polynesian, a grandson of Hyperion’s half-brother Sickle (Phalaris-Selene by Chaucer). Sickle and his brother Pharamond (great-grandsire of Buckpasser) are bred on the same cross as the brothers Pharos and Fairway (Phalaris-Scapa Flow by Chaucer).
  Although they are back in the pedigree, this line breeding (reinforced every time you introduce Northern Dancer or Mr. Prospector for example) could be one of the keys to success for Honor in War, and it’s worth noting that his two lines of Native Dancer are not from the “usual suspects” Natalma (a daughter) and Mr. Prospector (a grandson via Raise a Native).
  Honor in War’s second dam Benguela won two races and produced seven winners and is by the Belmont Stakes-Gr.1/Preakness Stakes-Gr.1 winner Little Current, a son of champion Sea-Bird (who also hails from the family of Gainsborough and Teddy).
  Next dam, the Gr.3-placed Lady Winborne (Secretariat), is a half-sister to French Horse of the Year Allez France (Sea-Bird-Priceless Gem by Hail to Reason), whose 13 wins included the Arc de Triomphe, French 1000 Guineas and French Oaks and whose son Air de France (Seattle Slew) did such a wonderful job from limited opportunity at Joe O’Gara’s Tobermory Stud (his daughters would provide an interesting cross with Honor in War).
  Lady Winborne’s 13 foals to race were all winners, two at Gr.1 level, La Gueriere (Lord at War) and the sire Al Mamoon (by the In Reality son Believe It, whose dam Breakfast Bell is a daughter of Buckpasser and Reveille by Star Kingdom). She also produced the Gr.3 winner Lost Soldier (Danzig), Listed winner Born Wild (Wild Again) and HKGr.3 winner Lord of Warriors (Lord at War).
  Honor in War’s fourth dam Priceless Gem (Hail to Reason-Searching by War Admiral) also produced the unraced Noble Bijou (USA) (Vaguely Noble), a Champion Sire in NZ and another who looks a good match with Honor in War. Fifth dam Searching won 12 stakes and became an outstanding producer, while her dam, the Selima Stakes winner Big Hurry, is a daughter of Black Toney and the wonderful La Troienne by Teddy.
  There is a huge list of quality descendants emanating from this Big Hurry branch of the La Troienne clan and names to look out for include Easy Goer, Caerleon, Belong To Me (USA) and Hero’s Honor (damsire of Elusive Quality).
  Good looking, courageous and with a first class race record, Honor in War is not so much an outcross to the Australian broodmare band as a “kissing cousin”, and the many familiar names in his pedigree will provide a winning link for breeders wishing to take advantage of his genetic excellence. He looks great value in his second season at just $7700 for the first 40 mares booked (was $11,000).

Permalink| Sep 30, 2009

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