b4breeding

It looks like shaping up as a battle of the Mach Three sons, in the same way that several sons of Christian Cullen are going head-to-head as sires in New Zealand.

Auckland Reactor vs Sir Lincoln. If you look at these things as a contest.

Both have very impressive records, but struck niggles and health issues that led to lost opportunities at critical moments.

Sheer brilliance with flaws, vs talented professional with niggles.

It’s a bit like trying to compare Lady Gaga and Adele. Or Brad Pitt and Colin Firth. lol

The temptation is to go with the one you most admired on the racetrack. But as a breeder, my focus won’t be on a close examination of their race or stakes statistics but more on the attributes they showed,  and even more importantly family genetic strengths PLUS what would suit my mare in regard to both of those things.

Let’s have a quick squizz at these two boys. The Direct Scooter sire line legacy here is via In The Pocket, and mainly his son Christian Cullen. In North America the Direct Scooter sire line has survived through Matt’s Scooter, and mainly his son Mach Three.

The sons of Mach Three are in the same position of sons of Christian Cullen – exciting prospects, some already showing huge potential but – a bit like the story of In The Pocket himself – it will depend on the opportunities they get, including whether the mares on offer (geographically and at the time) are what each one needs to really establish himself as a top sire.

The Direct Scooter line has a reputation for leaving speed, often early speed. Some people call it a “hot headed” line, but that’s probably the flip side of having an injection of “want to go”.

Mach Three raced very successfully as a 2yo. And of course with a reputation as a horse with early speed himself, he would attract many mares looking for exactly that quality: speed – which they may not have in large doses themselves. It’s not surprising, then, to find lines with toughness coming up in his mares’ pedigrees – Live Or Die, Cam Fella and his sons, and Beach Towel of course. None of these horses were slow, but their mares tended to be more staying types, tough types rather than sprinters. Falcon Seelster mares also fall into that category – as a generalisation.

Auckland Reactor did not race as a 2yo. But in the next year won the Sires Stakes 3yo Final against Fiery Falcon, Benny Mac, Cavalier, Ohoka Arizona and Steve McQueen. He would have been a big lanky 2yo and wisely not pushed.

Sir Lincoln raced but did not win as a 2yo, but was well represented in the Young Guns Heats of his year – with a 3rd, 4th, 4th, and 6th to the likes of Smiling Shard, Five Star Anvil and Devil Dodger before firing off his 3yo season with a win in the Sires Stakes 3yo Final. His 3yo opposition including Courage To Rule, Smiling Shard, Russeley Rascal, Gomeo Romeo and Kotare Mach.

Auckland Reactor won 11 of 11 starts as a 3yo. Sir Lincoln won 8 of 18.

Auckland Reactor has a reputation of brilliance, and the ability to be super-fast. But did he sometimes win more by dominating through his reputation? Did others sit back in awe and let him get his way? And when he was challenged, was there sometimes a weakness? At times there were nagging doubts, and in this industry the critics are quick to pounce if a champion turns out to have hooves of clay sometimes.

Sir Lincoln has a reputation of strength, but his niggles meant there were times when he underperformed in races, and disappointed. There was always a reason. But he didn’t stamp his dominance on top fields in the way you really wanted him to do. He is an extremely handsome, well conformed horse, but lacks the dashing, exciting aura that Auckland Reactor had.

Do either of them come from a family strong enough to give thoughtful breeders reassurance?

That’s the big question. If Sir Lincoln’s dam Clare De Lune (by Beach Towel) clicks so well with Mach Three – the same Mach Three x Beach Towel cross of Somebeachsomewhere – that is one thing to ponder on. Her filly Lincoln’s Megastar won just last night, first up and impressive. But Clare De Lune’s lack of real success with any other sire leaves me asking some important questions. Is this a family going places, an engine room that is cranking up power? Or is it serendipity – a happy coincidence of a specific nick that works well, a narrow window of opportunity that may relate to a particular mix rather than compatibility with a wider pool of sires and (for Sir Lincoln) mares?  Clare De Lune’s first foal by Bettor’s Delight could not get a win in 48 starts. And the 2012 foal to Rocknroll Hanover is her only other live foal deviation from Mach Three to date. Even though there may well be non-genetic reasons for these outcomes, one thing breeders do look for (or should look for) in a mare is her ability to leave successful foals by several different sires which indicates what some call a “double copy” mare, or perhaps a mare that is calling some important shots in the genetic roll of the dice and really adding value.

Ray Chaplin from equineexcellence.biz in Australia has looked at the same issue for Somebeachsomewhere and his super son Captaintreacherous (by an Artsplace mare) and has a warning for breeders who are latching on to copying that as the next generation cross. Copying successful matches may not be the oracle it appears. You can get a copy of his very interesting article by contacting him at equineexcellence.biz – the link is on my home page.

An interesting note is Cam Fella appearing in both Sir Lincoln’s pedigree and Somebeachsomewhere’s pedigree in a similar role.  (Mach Alert, Mysta Magical Mach and others also has Cam Fella but in a different position so in my humble view maybe not contributing in the same way. )

Auckland Reactor’s family has a stronger look to it in terms of producing qualifiers and winners. Atomic Lass had wide ranging matches for progeny and overall deserved her prize as Broodmare of the Year. That is exactly the “double copy” type indicators I was referring to above.  There are a couple of active branches of Atomic Lass’s family now from her fillies, and Tony Parker is doing a great job in managing this family’s fortunes – although I wonder if the success of Auckland Reactor and the subsequent matching of several different mares from the wider family to Mach Three is more for commercial reasons or pedigree matching reasons or a combination of both. Personally, I believe each branch starts to add complexities to the equation and it is not as obvious as going to the same sire. Having said that, the October Brown filly by Mach Three from the Badlands Hanover sister to Auckland Reactor (Twilight Beauty) looks a promising type. Devil Dodger, May Fly and Silence Is Golden (a beautiful Grinfromeartoear mare who will be the best producer from this family I predict) are others recently or currently making their name. And Mr Parker is an extremely astute breeder!

Where would I go – Sir Lincoln or Mach Three? I imagine the price difference will not be great. Sir Lincoln will be marketed on his “Somebeachsomewhere” cross and his handsome conformation. Auckland Reactor on his brilliance and fantastic public aura.  It’s a choice I delight in seeing, two classy customers with something to offer, both of which individual breeders need to assess carefully in regards to their own mares – rather than their own preferences for the horse they saw racing.

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