At times he clutters up pedigrees with his presence because he seemingly pops anywhere and everywhere.

Such is his influence that he regularly breaks all the linebreeding guidelines, yet has the flair to upgrade thoroughbred families through means, which thwart other key thoroughbreds.

For thoroughbred breeding students he can be a wretched nuisance as they strive to improve their stock.

For many breeders and pedigree buffs the easiest way to handle Northern Dancer is to keep him at bay.

But now we have a champion for the Northern Dancer cause in the recent Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva (Desert King—Tugela, by Riverman).

Makybe Diva carries four Northern Dancer presences in a most orderly position in his bloodline’s fourth remove.

Often the tendency is to steer away from Northern Dancer when he’s duplicated several times.

Too much Northern Dancer isn’t always desirable, many believe.

But Makybe Diva can give breeders confidence to utilise Northern Dancer to advantage.

Within his fourth generation Makybe Diva carries four Northern Dancer presences.

They are present through the Northern Dancer son Danzig; through the Northern Dancer half sister Spring Adieu; through the Northern Dancer son Nureyev and through the Northern Dancer daughter Rambushka.

These are four orderly duplications to emphasise that Northern Dancer, when handled with care, can play a major and special role in upgrading thoroughbred families.

Breeding folk often do Northern Dancer an injustice by bad mouthing him.