Published by the Californian husband and wife team Ron and Ellen Parker, the monthly magazine has a broad spectrum focussing on breeding and racing thoroughbreds and is available by subscription only.

The March 2003 issue complimented the New Zealand breeders on their aptitude to apply linebreeding principles to advantage and paid a special reference to the expatriate New Zealand mare Final Destination (O’Reilly-Logical Miss, by Sound Reason), who recently created a big impression in winning the Group II Buena Vista.

Final Destination won the New Zealand One Thousand Guineas and Bayer Classic before her North American departure last term. The mare was a fine example “of how the New Zealanders use linebreeding and inbreeding to build pedigrees,” the editors wrote.

Like most progressive columnists the Parkers appraised Final Destination’s female tail line, which traces to the 1907 mare La Francaise representing the No 11d family. This strain is allied with the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Nasram while Final Destination’s fifth dam Arentelle, is a half sister to upmarket La Mirambelle, who incidently had a son In The Purple at stud in New Zealand.

Other notables in the Final Destination immediate family are Deux Pour Cent (Grand Prix de Paris) and Le Glorieux (Japan Cup).

The authors extol the linebreding patterns carried by the ex- New Zealander with the third and fifth remove cross involving the half brothers Bold Reason and Never Bend (both ex Lalun), the strong influence involving the half brothers Nearco and Niccolo Dell’Árca and four lines allied with the La Troienne clan.

The editors looked at possible consorts for Final Destination, favouring sires with Carr de Naskra blood. This would bring in duplications allied with the Nasram and those multiple La Troienne factors.

Sadly there was only limited access to such blood for the Kiwi mare in the USA at present, the editors felt.

Ellen Parker has played a vital role in global linebreeding research. Breeding enthusiasts would be aware that key males in the breed, who pass on certain desirable aptitudes are known as “chefs de race.” Ellen Parker made her contribution by devising the female equivalent, the key matrons known as the “reines de course.” (The queens of the turf).

Mrs Parker has not been to Australia or New Zealand but has a fairly sound grip in bloodlines Down Under, and is strongly allied with our TesioPower bloodline computer movement.

As a footnote the Final Destination breed was imported to New Zealand by Waharoa settler Peter Setchell through the 1966 English mare Pacaya (Psidium—Stevia, by Supreme Court).

To Zephyr Bay she left Society Bay, who took the Noble Heights Stakes, the Edward Manifold Stakes and Veure Stakes at Moonee Valley.

Another daughter Sacaya produced the fine staying mare California-owned Duanette’s Girl, by Balmerino.

Duanette’s Girl won the Trentham Stakes, the New Zealand St Leger Stakes and was placed in the Auckland and Wellington cups.