Eminent bloodstock authority Alan Porter recently analysed the pedigree of Lazer Sharp, the Group 1 2007 SAJC South Australian Derby winner sired by ZARIZ. Passages of the article provide some helpful pointers to broodmare owners and prove to be the first item for discussion this month…

Porter began the essay explaining that Lazer Sharp did not hit his straps until he was produced over a distance of ground…

“It took Lazer Sharp some time to reveal his true abilities. In fact he didn’t win a race until his seventh start, and even after that it took him another five outings to follow up. Significantly, however, that second win — in a Class 1 Handicap at Cranbourne — came over 2025m, which marked only the third time that Lazer Sharp had ventured further than a mile.”

Porter added that Lazer Sharp only got better the further he raced despite his sire being best remembered as a brilliant short-course galloper…

“Following a third over a similar distance in the MVRC Tranquil Star Handicap, Lazer Sharp stepped up again in distance, and in his next two starts, both at 2500m, he captured the VRC St. Leger by six lengths, and then returned 11 days later to take the South Australian Derby (G1) as favourite.

“It’s not surprising that it took Lazer Sharp’s connections some time to stretch him out, as he is a son of Zariz, a Mukaddamah (by Storm Bird) horse who was an excellent three-year-old sprinter, capturing the Heritage Stakes, BTC Club Sprint (G3), Up and Coming Stakes (G2) and San Domenico Stakes (G2).

An acclaimed pedigree expert, Porter then went in to some detail regarding Lazer Sharp’s bloodlines…

“Lazer Sharp is a horse with a very interesting pedigree pattern, one which probably explains the upgrading in his ability. His paternal grandsire, Mukaddamah, is by a son of Northern Dancer out of a mare by Never Bend. Lazer Sharp’s dam is by a son of Sadler’s Wells, who is by Never Bend out of a mare by Bold Reason, a half-brother to Never Bend (Never Bend is by Nasrullah, and Bold Reason by a grandson of Nasrullah’s three-parts-brother, Royal Charger, so they are actually more closely related than that). This gives Mukaddamah and Sadler’s Wells very similar genetic backgrounds.

“Never Bend and Bold Reason combine Nasrullah or Royal Charger over Djeddah (a grandson of Tourbillon inbred to the sisters Durban (dam of Tourbillon) and Heldifann, who in turn are grand-daughters of the great tap-root mare, Frizette). Zariz is out of a mare by Tolomeo, a son of Lypheor. That horse is by Northern Dancer and his dam is by Sing Sing (third dam a sister to Durban and Heldifann) out of a mare inbred to Tourbillon. So Lypheor combines Northern Dancer and inbreeding to the Frizette family, as does Mukaddamah and Sadler’s Wells.

“Just for good measure, Mukaddamah’s third dam, Natasha, is by Nasrullah from the Frizette family. With all this Nasrullah and Royal Charger in the background, it’s probably significant that Lazer Sharp’s third dam is by Pindi, who is out of Nasrullah’s sister, Malindi. And, just to finish off, we can also note that Lazer Sharp also has the brothers Noholme II and Todman 5 x 4.

The stud received a very informative correspondence from New Zealand during last month, bringing to light the fact that MARWINA’s female family had produced another potential top-liner.

The correspondence began…

“Marwina’s family has a very good 2yo racing in New Zealand currently.

“This chestnut colt’s name is Russian Conquest and last weekend he won the Listed AuRC Great Northern Foal Stakes, his third win in six starts and he also has a 2nd.

“He is from the second crop of St. Petersburg, a son of Nureyev, from a mare by Woodman out of Audimco, full-sister to Marwina.”

The author, Dean, then made the very interesting points…

“There are interesting similarities in his pedigree to the very good galloper Into The Night (1998 gelding), who was by Rhythm out of Marshow, another full-sister to Marwina.

“Rhythm is a brother-in-blood to Woodman, both by Mr. Prospector, and Rhythm’s dam is by Northern Dancer (sire of Nureyev) from a full-sister to the dam of Woodman.” 

Dean concluded… “It will be interesting to see if he [Russian Conquest] can add to this early promise.”