In earlier times bloodline pursuits didn’t exert much influence in developing the breed. There was far greater emphasis on the physical or phenotype.

New Zealand’s prime position in pedigree research resulted from the tireless and unstinting activities undertaken by the London born Aucklander Harold Hampton.

It wasn’t an easy task for Hampton, whose evangelical fervour for his subject, received little support from the industry’s establishment. He was pretty much shunned for a time.

However, he had many disciples, who attended his monthly breeding forums at Auckland, and later at Levin. With these followers, many of whom represented the younger generation, a new focus on pedigree appreciation was developed.

The older folk, often very cynical about Hampton’s philosophy in upgrading thoroughbred families, gradually left the business through retirement or death and a new order emanated.

The new element had their interest whetted by the new technology acquired with programs such as our TesioPower unit, which enhanced pedigree research.

So New Zealand, with Australia leading the chase, led the advance into bloodline reform.

The quality involved in thoroughbred auction catalogues expressed the new developments with most major studs pursuing the chance to better their thoroughbred product.

Mismatings became fewer and fewer.

However, in the last few years the Northern Hemisphere breeding fraternity have taken a really active interest in pedigree research and the major catalogues in Europe and North America have been subsequently upgraded.

In this arena, fewer and fewer risky unions are clogging up the catalogues. Some gorgeously planned matings are nowadays seen to advantage over the Equator.

Just last week Russian Rhythm (Kingmambo—Balistroika, by Nijinsky II) won the English 1000 Guineas with a mouth watering pedigree dominated by excellence.

To begin with she came from a super female line coming through her illustrious sixth dam Sister Sarah. In linebreeding lore, a quality female tail line can upgrade aptitude when it is duplicated elsewhere in the family tree. Russian Rhythm has two further Sister Sarah lines carried through Nearctic (Northern Dancer’s sire).

There are sex balanced linebreeding duplications in the first six removes involving Native Dancer (three times) Nasrullah and his half sister Sun Princess, Nearco, Fair Trial and Bull Dog. It is a risk free pedigree, unlikely to leave plodders.

The 2000 Guineas winner Refuse To Blend (Sadlers Wells—Market Slide, by Gulch) doesn’t boast such a spectacular family tree but he hails from a wonderful female line through the No 10a mare Queen Mary.

There are lovely duplications involving Nasrullah/Sun Princess, Native Dancer, Hyperion and Polynesian. He reads nicely and obvously somebody went to some care to plan his mating.