It’s finals day. Timely to remember two Kiwi horses who won 3yo Breeders Crowns and are now at stud here – Changeover and Tintin In America, both at Nevele R.
Two quite different horses and both offering a lot to New Zealand and Australian breeders.
Changeover is a big powerful fellow (16hh) who was okay as a 2yo but really blossomed at 3yo – 5yo into such a tough stayer who always gave his best, a Cups winner. In The Pocket out of a Vance Hanover mare. Standing at NZ$4000. Good fertility.
Tintin In America, smaller type (15.1), incredible speed and mentally assertive and tough. He was outstanding at 2yo and muscled up as a 3yo and 4yo to become a very consistent competitor in top races, including winning 5 Group 1 races. His win in the Messenger and 2nd to Monkey King in the Auckland Cup hinted of things to come, but he was retired due to a reoccurring injury. McArdle out of an In The Pocket mare. Standing at NZ$2250. High fertility.
Both these sires have solid proven maternal lines and are well positioned to cross with a range of mares. Of course there is a prevalence of In The Pocket and Falcon Seelster blood in our broodmare pool that rules out some mares for Tintin In America (although I wouldn’t be averse at trying a Falcon Seelster mare) but makes him very suitable for others – I’d love to see some Armbro Operative, Badlands Hanover and Live or Die mares heading his way – and Art Major or Perfect Art mares could suit. And mares that carry Soky’s Atom/Albatross in their bottom line. His maternal family loves great old blood – Breath Of Spring, Old Maid etc.
Zenterfold, Tintin’s dam, is medium sized herself and throws foals of different sizes; small foals are not a feature of the wider family (also his sire McArdle is 16hh), so I would not expect him to necessarily leave smaller types. But I do believe he will bring speed to the party, as it is in his genetic makeup from several different sources.
These are two great horses from our recent racing past. It has never been easy for outstanding local racehorses to convert themselves into top commercial sires here – but I would love to see these two stallions get a damn good chance to do so.
b4breeding 
[…] that might settle a few worries about Tintin leaving small foals! As readers of my blogs will know, I made that point some time ago. Tintin may be well suited to bigger mares, but more for the ‘kick’ he could give them […]
Hi what are your thoughts for TINTIN over a Trump casino mare.?
Peter
That’s a son of Falcon Seelster (which of course this family seems to click with). But I don’t think, personally, I could recommend anything unless I knew the full breeding of the mare, as you will see from my blogs that I place quite a bit of emphasis on maternal lines, not just x factor but they do an important job in under pinning strengthens for future progeny. Give me the full breeding of your mare, and I would be happy to give my opinion.