In recent weeks the breeding forum have been discussing the pros and cons of putting a sprinter to a stayer or the reverse. Yet todays pedigrees are never black and white. I feel in most instances the mix is already there.

We only have to look at the modern day Champion Australian sire Danehill. A winner of 4 races including a G1 over 1200m (6f) he couldn’t carry his speed up to the 1600m of the 2000 Guineas. Yet he was inbred to the dam of Northern Dancer a winner of the Kentucky Derby (10f) 2000m. At stud in Australia the majority of his progeny have been sprinters or milers with the likes of Redoute’s Choice (Blue Diamond S 1200m, Caulfield Guineas 1600m), Flying Spur (Golden Slipper 1200m), Merlene (Golden Slipper 1200m), Danzero (Golden Slipper 1200m), Danarani (Flight S, 1000 Guineas 1600m) & Dashing Eagle (1000 Guineas, Flight S 1600m).

Yet he also produced middle distant stayers like Elvstroem (VRC Derby, Caulfield Cup), Dane Ripper (W S Cox Plate 2000m), Blackfriars (VRC Derby 2500m, Norman Robinson S 2000m), Arena (VRC Derby 2500m, Canterbury Guineas 1900m), Danewin (Mackinnon S, Sprint Champion S, Caulfield S, Rosehill Guineas 2000m & placed 2nd in the AJC & VRC Derby’s over 2400 & 2500m), Nothin’ Leica Dane (VRC Derby 2500m, Spring Champion S 2000 & 2nd Melbourne Cup, Sydney Cup 3200m), Danerdri (AJC Oaks 2400m 2nd AJC Derby 2400m & VRC Oaks 2500m), Joie Denise (QTC Oaks 2400m) etc.

In Europe he has sired the likes of Desert King (Irish Derby), Dyland Thomas (Irish Derby), Tiger Hill (Preis von Baden 2400m (twice) and a total opposite to himself when he sired the stout Westerner (11 wins inc Ascot Gold Cup 4000m, Prix du Cadran (twice) 4000m, Prix Royal Oak 3100m, Prix Gladiateur 3100m, Prix de Barbeville (twice) 3100m, Prix de la Porte de Madrid 2400m & 2nd Arc de Triomphe 2400m). So stout is Westerner he has been retired as a National Hunt Stallion yet his sire only won over the sprint trip of 6f (1200m).

In Australia we have seen this before with another coming to mind being Biscay a wonderful speed merchant at 2 and 3 years. He won 6 races from 4f (800m) to 6f (1200m). Looked upon as perhaps too limited to be a sire he served very few mares in his first few seasons at stud. Yet two of his best sons where produced in this period. Bletchingly and Zephyr Bay were true sons of their speedy father. Bletchingly won 4 of his 5 starts including The Galaxy (then run over 1000m). Zephyr Bay won 9 races up to 1200m inc running course records in both the Oakleigh Plate & Expressway Stakes.

Yet Bletchingly, Zephyr Bay and Biscay himself have all sired middle distance stayers and appear in our middle distance stakes winners pedigrees right up till this season. In fact all three sprinters have sired classic winners with Champion Kingston Town (1000m to 3200m) being the supreme example. Biscay’s daughter Bounding Away also showed like comfort over various distances with her wins including the Golden Slipper S 1200m, Blue Diamond S 1200m, Orlando Classic 1500m, Champagne S 1600m, Flight S 1600m, AJC Oaks 2400m.

Another son of Biscay the Golden Slipper winner Marscay has also shown this ability to get both speed or staying type horses being the broodmare sire this season of the brilliant Haradasun and the more grinding Eremein who has already won an AJC Derby 2400m.

Look at the winners of G1 races like the Melbourne Cup 3200m with Makybe Diva being a supreme stayer winning the last three runnings. A daughter of Desert King a son of Danehill. Likewise the last three runnings of the Golden Slipper for fast early maturing 2yo’s and you find Miss Finland, Stratum & Dance Hero all by sons of Danehill.

Yes they all have female lines yet that only underlines that our speed and staying lines have mixed. Miss Finland’s 2nd dam is the English Oaks winner Moonshell. While Dance Hero comes from the New Zealand Belle family which produced Asgard (Australasian Champion S, WA Derby, Tulloch S etc).

Quest for Fame is another good example. His 5 wins included the English Derby 2400m, Hollywood Turf Hcp 2400m, San Luis Obispo Hcp 2400m yet when crossed with Australasian mares he has sired Viscount (AJC Sires Produce S, Champagne S, George Main S etc), Unworldly (Flight S, Tea Rose S), Dracula (Champagne S, George Main S) three outstanding milers.

All told the modern pedigree can offer up a sprinter (Iglesia) or stayer (Yippyio) both out of the Marscay mare Yodells. Or Pantani (SA Derby, Adelaide Cup) and St Basil (Stradbroke Hcp) both from the Marscay mare Dewamar. Commands (Missile S, The Galaxy) and Danewin (Doomben Cup Rosehill Guineas, Mackinnon S) both from Cotehele House. Octagonal (Australian Derby, WS Cox Plate) and Mouawad (Futurity S) both from Eight Carat.

Zabeel should also be taken in to account. He won 7 races inc Australasian Guineas 1600m, Craiglee S 1600m. A fast son of Sir Tristram. While at stud he has sired some sprinter milers yet the vast majority of his progeny have been stayers.