Note: correction to this article – the correct photo for the Tintin colt Zee Dana is now shown on this page. My bad!
Dave Kennedy (of “Dana” named horses fame) has bred four mares to Tintin In America – “I have 2 of 32 in his first crop and 2 of 32 in second crop also. So thought having 6.25% of both his crops in NZ must be pretty good lol,” he writes. Dave was a member of both the ATC 06 and 08 syndicates, which is one reason why he has supported Tintin and Changeover as a breeder.
The other reason he sent his mares to Tintin In America was the quality Tintin showed as a racehorse – the sort of attributes you want in a sire: the ability to keep improving, the ability to run consistently good times, and to compete (and win) at an elite level.
I can’t believe that people forget his first real run in top open company running Monkey King so close from so far back in the Auckland Cup. Also that his last 3 starts ever were 3 wins as a 4yo and 2 were Group Ones and he was early favourite for NZ Cup when his career was over [due to injury]. Maybe they are worried his feet worries are hereditary. But in my opinion he’s the forgotten horse of the siring ranks.
On type, how are Tintin’s foals shaping up so far?
For Dave, the omens are good.
I’m sure Tintin can inject a some of that with his own speed and both McArdle and In the Pocket in the blood. This was my reason behind breeding two in his first year. Some speed and get up and go with the Ready To Run in mind. His sale [as a sire] only paid for one service but I had a big cumbersome Dream Away mare that needed a speed injection and I also had a mare that crossed well with McArdle as I raced Dana Mac from the mare. Even though the ready to run was gone [cancelled] I was so impressed to see the colt free legged pace at speed with his mother. That and the look of him and the filly that followed that I thought I would send some of my better mares to him with the idea that they might have a better chance of making the sales.
The mares Dave Kennedy has sent to Tintin In America are
- OK Deb
- Samantha Franco
- Squidgy
- Zwish
I’ve seen a few of the pics you showed and also Brian [West]’s one and I must say he throws very nice foals and a lot are reddish bays with long blazes. 2 of mine are splitting images in that way and the 3rd (the one who was going to the Ready To Run) was reddish bay also with only star. The 4th is brown/black like its mum. They are going more bay as they get older.
Dave has kindly sent in this photo of the 2yo filly Snowy Dana (with the blaze) which Dave says “broke in nice too but too early to tell as waiting for 2nd prep still”, and below is also the 2yo colt Zee Dana currently for sale via Greg Payne who has described him as “a lovely balanced horse with speed and staying power..”
Dave has taken a good punt on Tintin as a sire, but for good reason. For more information about Tintin In America contact Nevele R Stud – or leave your thoughts or questions in the “leave a comment” option at the end of this blog.
[…] Dave Kennedy went over for the sale – congratulations Dave! Not just on the sale price (which of course comes down quite a bit by the time it reaches Dave’s hands!) but on the confidence you placed in Tintin In America. Dave was part of the syndicate that raced Tintin. Read more here. […]
Zee dana qualified at shep tonight winning his trial tonight for nathan jack.
replay can be seen on shepparton hr website & on their youtube channel
[…] Dana is a colt from Tintin In America’s first crop, so a 2yo now. He was bred by Dave Kennedy who made quite a comitment to the sire, and got some nice payback when Zee Dana was taken over to […]
[…] nice field, and a tough ask for Zee Dana (Tintin In America x Zwish, Dave Kennedy the breeder) – drawn wide, top 2yos drawn […]