UK researcher assistance

[JBL 0]

 

We have an opportunity for further genetic research, if we can provide hair samples from horses that are tail male to the Byerley Turk and Godolphin Arabian. If samples were provided from around the world, this would provide a wide genetic base.

“Any research that could bolster the case for preserving these two lines would be invaluable. It may only amount to a small part of the genetic puzzle, but great outcomes are rarely achieved BT giant steps.” Suzi Prichard-Jones

If you can help in any way please message

Suzi Prichard-Jones

Home - Suzi Prichard-Jones

 

[Palatable 38]

Well that's a good challenge for the forum. Unfortunately I think that may be a tough ask apart from the odd Notnowcato or Dream Ahead import.

I could be wrong but I think the last Byerley Turk male line stallion to stand in NZ was Danelove and he seems to have stopped siring in 2005. Given the proliferation and marketability of his sire Centaine's broodmares there may still be some of those broodmares alive as Centaine lived passed the turn of the century. Krona, a son of Icelandic, lived a long time (died in 2014) but his last offspring look like they date to 2003. Former champion Crested Wave and Ahonoora's son Ball Park scraped into this side of the century too, but I don't know of any others. Disappointing that this line could be flourishing under Better Boy/Century, and to a lesser degree Rarity, Blakeney, Luthier and Levmoss and then die out in a couple of decades.

Godolphin Arabian's male line probably petered out earlier apart from a little son of Warning called Soviet Flash that was at stud until 2008. Again there were some fine Godolphin-line stallions in the 20th century here, Summertime, Sobig, Vice Regal. But too many of their sons were either poor (e.g. Accountant) or not popular enough and they were gone by the late 90s. Dream Ahead son Sensei was an option to restart things here but he has landed in Queensland instead.

I think our oldest "alternative" male stallion line in NZ currently belongs to a random little uncommercial son of Al Akbar called Hezanakbar (b. 2006) (who has no death registered but may not still be alive) but he passes back through the greats Princequillo and St Simon as far as Eclipse's son King Fergus (b.1775) where his Darley Arabian line splits off from the now near-universal Pot-8-0s (b.1773).

I presume the King Fergus line may not be too far from joining Byerley Turk and Godolphin Arabian in southern hemisphere extinction. All of this is a shame if only because a lot of the names above share a common trait, I genuinely think Centaine, Vice Regal, Sobig, and Success Express/Al Akbar added something special as broodmare sires (Winx being the best but not the only example).

 

 

[Nasrullah 180]

Byerley Turk sire line

The Byerley sire line persisted by producing a major sire every few generations, whose sons would create branches of their own. Most of these branches have died out over the course of time. The line of descent to the present day is as follows:

• The Byerley Turk (~1680) sired Jigg in 1705, who sired Partner in 1718, who sired Tartar in 1743, who sired Herod in 1758. Herod was the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland from 1777 to 1784
• Herod sired Highflyer in 1774, leading sire in Great Britain from 1785-1796. Highflyer's line persisted for many generations but died out in the first half of the 20th century
• Herod also sired Florizel born in 1768, who sired Diomed (1777). Diomed would become a foundation sire of the American turf. In turn, Diomed sired Sir Archy who was the first great "sire of sires" in the United States. A few generations later through Sir Archy's line came Lexington who became the leading sire in North America sixteen times in the mid-19th century, but his sire line died out in the late 20th century
• Herod's line continued through Woodpecker, foaled in 1773, who sired Buzzard (1787). Buzzard founded several sire lines that flourished in the 19th century, most of which withered away in the 20th century
• Buzzard's sire line continued through Selim, foaled in 1802, who was leading sire of 1814. Selim produced yet another flourishing sire line, most of which died away by the mid 20th century
• Selim's sire line continued through Sultan, born in 1816. Sultan was leading sire 6 times
• Sultan in turn sired Bay Middleton (1833), who was leading sire in 1844 and 1849. Bay Middleton sired several sire sons but most of his line died out by the middle of the 20th century.
• Bay Middleton's sire line continued through The Flying Dutchman, born in 1846. The Flying Dutchmen sired several sons whose lines gradually died out over the course of the 20th century.
• The Flying Dutchman's line continued through Dollar in 1860, who sired Androcles in 1870, who sired Cambyse in 1884, who sired Gardefeu in 1895, who sired Chouberski in 1902, who sired Bruleur in 1910, who sired Ksar in 1918.
• Ksar was a two-time winner of the Arc de Triomphe and the leading sire in France for 1931. Ksar sired Tourbillon in 1928
• Tourbillon was three-time leading sire in France. His son Djebel, born in 1937, won the Arc de Triomphe and 2,000 guineas
• Djebel sired My Babu, who also won the 2000 Guineas. The My Babu sire line persisted for several generations, leading to Cirrus des Aigles, a Group 1 winner as late as 2014. Unfortunately, Cirrus des Aigles was gelded so the My Babu sire line is on the brink of extinction.
• Djebel also sired Clarion, born in 1944, who, though less successful than My Babu on the track, is the best hope for the survival of the Byerley Turk sire line
• Clarion sired Klairon in 1952, whose son Luthier would lead the french sire list four times. Luthier's sire line continued for a few generations but seems to have died out
• Klairon also sired Lorenzaccio in 1965, who in turn sired Ahonoora in 1975
• Ahonoora proved a very successful sire, with offspring including: Don't Forget Me (2000 Guineas), Dr Devious (Epsom Derby), and Indian Ridge.
• Indian Ridge in turn has several sons and grandsons still at stud. In North America, the Indian Ridge line has hopes in Canada via Legal Jousting and the United States via Final Row.
• Inchinor, another son of Ahonoora; sired Notnowcato in 2002.

[Vivaldi 0]

I sent a mare to Sensei. Fingers crossed for a foal in 2022

[Berri 2,131]

Bermadez, a horse I part own, has as a direct descendent a 1698 Byerley Turk mare.