You’ve got to be impressed! Over a period of two days in Dubai, Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms’ A.P. Indy horse Indygo Shiner has been the name of the game.
On Thursday, his son My Indy (Arg) won the G3 Maktoum Challenge, and on Friday his daughter So Shiny (Arg) won the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas! My Indy (Arg) had also won an earlier version of the Maktoum Challenge, too, which was G3, too.
As you can see, both horses were bred in Argentina, which is where Indygo Shiner began his career at stud. From his first crop of 3-year-olds in Argentina in 2008, he was represented by the winners of three of Argentina’s classic races! His son Tecla Shiner (Arg) won the G1 Argentinean Derby, his son Mi Amiguito (Arg) won the G1 2000 Guineas, and his daughter Miss Match (Arg) won the G1 Oaks. He also sired the G1 winner Garatero (Arg).
What’s interesting is that in Argentina My Indy (Arg) was not even as good as some of these horses and he still beat an international field in Dubai, and you can say the same thing for So Shiny (Arg), who was G1-placed in Argentina but not a SW.
Seriously, folks, Indygo Shiner’s start at stud has been nothing short of sensational, but because he’s considered a stallion from Argentina (he was bred in America), he only stands for $7,500 at Hill ‘n’ Dale! With these two SWs in Dubai added to the mixture, he was some kind of bargain. I say was because I imagine 2009 seasons to him are now harder to find than a 10% down mortgage!
Here’s the $64,000 question. What do these horses, except for Tecla Shiner (Arg), have in common? That’s right! Look at the amazing nick with Indygo Shiner and Southern Halo!!! (Click Werk to see the nick ratings and pedigrees). Haras La Quebrada, which stood both Indygo Shiner and Southern Halo, obviously found a magic formula in this emerging mega-nick, but there’s more!
What I have found is that there are many good racehorses (especially A.P. Indys) inbred to Buckpasser, but very few good stallions with Buckpasser inbreeding.
However, when A.P. Indy stallions produce foals with both Buckpasser AND Northern Dancer inbreeding, the results are phenomenal. Let’s take a closer look at some unrestricted SWs by A.P. Indy stallions who have inbreeding to Buckpasser AND who have Northern Dancer somewhere in their pedigrees:
Big Booster (by Accelerator; 4×3 Northern Dancer)
Funny Joke (by Indygo Shiner; 4×4 Northern Dancer)
Garatero (by Indygo Shiner; 4×4 Northern Dancer)
Jump On In (by Jump Start; 5×4 Northern Dancer)
Mi Amiguito (by Indygo Shiner; 4×4 Northern Dancer)
Miss Match (by Indygo Shiner; 4×4 Northern Dancer)
My Indy (by Indygo Shiner; 4×4 Northern Dancer)
Sir Whimsey (by Jump Start; 5×5 Northern Dancer)
Great Hunter (by Aptitude; 3×4 Northern Dancer)
(Click Werk to view pedigrees and nick ratings)
For more on Indygo Shiner, go to Sid Fernando’s must-read blog by clicking this link