SAFFRON WALDEN
BAY (1996) by Sadler's Wells ex Or Vision
What do Adlerflug, Authorized, Cima De Triomphe, Damson, Frozen Fire, Hurricane Run, Magical Romance, Motivator, New Approach, Nightime, Proportional, Scorpion, Sixties Icon, Soldier Of Fortune, Teofilo and Vintage Tipple have in common? They are, in fact, all European classic stars and/or juvenile Group 1 winners of recent seasons who were sired by a son of Sadler’s Wells. And what’s more, each of those Sadler’s Wells stallions had been a Group 1 winner on the track, just like Saffron Walden.
Saffron Walden’s considerable potential was obvious before he ever reached the racetrack. His half-brother Dolphin Street (by Bluebird) had won the Group 1 Prix de la Foret and Group 2 Prix Maurice de Gheest and had been runner-up in the Group 1 July Cup. His year-older full-sister Insight had won a listed and Group 3 contest in France as the colt was heading for the sales ring at Goffs. He made 1,200,000 guineas and then his sister went on to become a classic-placed Grade 1 winner.
Saffron Walden was runner-up in the Group 3 Killavullen Stakes on his only outing as a two-year-old and was widely expected to become a leading classic contender. And he did not disappoint as he added his name to the roll of honour for the Irish 2,000 Guineas. Both Barathea and Entrepreneur are mile classic winners by Sadler’s Wells and who have sired more than one European Group 1 winner, while King Of Kings is one who has got his Group 1 winners in Australia (including one from a Sharpo mare).
Sadler’s Wells is now retired but his string of Group 1 winners grew again in 2008 with the addition of Septimus to his roll of honour. But the really big boost this past year to the pedigree of Saffron Walden was the emergence of Henrythenavigator (by Kingmambo) as a multiple Group 1 star. One of the outstanding European racehorses of the season, he rounded off his career with an honourable second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic and he is now joining the stallion team at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
Henrythenavigator is out of Sequoyah (by Sadler’s Wells), a Group 1-winning full-sister to Group 1 scorer Listen and a sister-in-blood to Saffron Walden. Sequoyah is also the dam of classic-placed pattern winner Queen Cleopatra (by Kingmambo). Brigid and dual stakes winner Or Vision (by Irish River), the dams of Sequoyah and Saffron Walden respectively, are full-sisters.
The Kingmambo-Sadler’s Wells cross has been producing excellent results but the reverse, a Sadler’s Wells-Mr Prospector line cross has also worked very well. Indeed mares from the Mr Prospector (by Raise a Native) line have been responsible for the Sadler’s Wells Group 1 winners Black Sam Bellamy, Galileo, Johann Quatz and Refuse To Bend. If you go back a step and consider the Group 1 winners who were by Sadler’s Wells and from a Raise a Native-line mare, then Entrepreneur and King’s Theatre are added to the list.
Similarly, Red Rocks (by Galileo), Mamool (by In The Wings) and classic winners Motivator (by Montjeu) and Frozen Fire (by Montjeu) are examples of Group 1-winning sons of Sadler’s Wells stallions who have been produced from Mr Prospector-line mares, while Tobougg (by Barathea) and Artie Schiller (by El Prado) represent mares from the broader Raise a Native line.
The most popular and publicised cross for Sadler’s Wells is Darshaan (by Shirley Heights) mares; this has resulted in Group 1 winners Ebadiyla, Greek Dance, High Chaparral, Islington, Milan, Quarter Moon, Septimus and Yesterday. If you add in Sadler’s Wells Group 1 winners who were produced from mares by Shirley Heights, his sire Mill Reef and also the classic-winning Mill Reef stallion Doyoun, then this list grows to include Alberto Giacometti, Alexandrova, Daliapour, In The Wings, Subtle Power. Go back another step, to Mill Reef’s sire Never Bend, and also Never Bend’s other powerful line through Riverman, and you can add Carnegie, Insight, Listen, Saddex, Sequoyah and, of course, Saffron Walden.
When looking at the Group 1 winners sired by Sadler’s Wells stallions we find that Magical Romance (by Barathea), Montare (by Montjeu) and Damson (by Entrepreneur) have been produced from mares representing the Shirley Heights branch of the Never Bend line - he is the broodmare sire of the first two and the sire of the broodmare sire of Damson. And it is worth noting that Last Tycoon (by Try My Best), a good Northern Dancer-line stallion produced from a Mill Reef mare, is the broodmare sire of three of the Northern Hemisphere Group 1 winners to have been sired by a Sadler’s Wells stallion. They are Adlerflug (by In The Wings), King’s Drama (by King’s Theatre) and Vintage Tipple (by Entrepreneur).
What makes the good results of mares representing both the broad Raise a Native and Never Bend lines particularly interesting in looking at Saffron Walden is that both these stallions appear once each in the third and fourth generations of his pedigree. Using mares from these lines will produce inbreeding to these influential stallions.
It is, perhaps, no surprise therefore that his top-priced European yearling has been a €72,000 colt out of Ezilla (by Darshaan). The mare is a full-sister to Ebaziya, the stakes-winning dam of Group 1 winners Enzeli (by Kahyasi), Edabiya (by Rainbow Quest) and Ebadiyla (by Sadler’s Wells). The colt, now named Ezaffron, was bought by Jim Ryan and this Irish Derby entrant is in training with Jim Bolger.
Another of Saffron Walden’s leading European sales horses is his€40,000 filly out of Flaming Song (by Darshaan), bought by Jim Bolger. This half-sister to two pattern winners is also inbred 4x5 to Never Bend. But another stallion in the dam’s side of her pedigree catches the eye; Kris (by Sharpen Up).
In addition to the outstanding southern hemisphere performer King’s Chapel (by King Of Kings), Group 1 winners by Sadler’s Wells stallions and produced from Sharpen Up-line mares are Sixties Icon (by Galileo), Fidelite (by In The Wings), Soldier Hollow (by In The Wings) and Zanzibar (by In The Wings). Similarly, the Sadler’s Wells Group 1 winners Doyen, Moonshell and Quiff represent this cross. Multiple Group 1 star Lush Lashes (by Galileo) also has this line in her pedigree.
With this in mind it is hardly a surprise that the stakes-placed, winning filly from Saffron Walden’s first European crop is Foundation Room, a daughter of the Kris mare Bellagio Princess. She comes from the immediate family of Group 1 winning miler Balisada (by Kris) and of excellent racehorse turned good sire Inchinor (by Ahonoora).
Dr. Sieglinde McGee
SADLER’S WELLS - Gr1 WINNERS
name |
broodmare sire |
sire of broodmare sire |
2nd dam’s sire |
3rd dam’s sire |
Brian Boru |
Alleged |
Hoist The Flag |
Star Appeal |
Vimy |
Dream Well |
Alleged |
Hoist The Flag |
Northfields |
Relko |
Linda’s Lad |
Alleged |
Hoist The Flag |
Riverman |
Empery |
Salsabil |
Artaius |
Round Table |
Welsh Pageant |
Crepello |
In Command |
Auction Ring |
Bold Bidder |
Sound Track |
Premonition |
Intrepedity |
Bold Ruler |
Nasrullah |
Princequillo |
Balladier |
Luna Wells |
Breton |
Relko |
Alcide |
Abernant |
Beat Hollow |
Dancing Brave |
Lyphard |
Mill Reef |
Busted |
Ebadiyla |
Darshaan |
Shirley Heights |
Ela-Mana-Mou |
Dan Cupid |
Greek Dance |
Darshaan |
Shirley Heights |
Homeric |
Diatome |
High Chaparral |
Darshaan |
Shirley Heights |
Kris |
Hugh Lupus |
Islington |
Darshaan |
Shirley Heights |
Homeric |
Diatome |
Milan |
Darshaan |
Shirley Heights |
Assert |
Sheshoon |
Quarter Moon |
Darshaan |
Shirley Heights |
Crystal Palace |
Zeddaan |
| Septimus |
Darshaan |
Shirley Heights |
Northern Dancer |
Court Martial |
Yesterday |
Darshaan |
Shirley Heights |
Crystal Palace |
Zeddaan |
Old Vic |
Derring-Do |
Darius |
Vimy |
Court Martial |
Aristotle |
Desert Wine |
Damascus |
Sadair |
Nasrullah |
Ballingarry |
Desert Wine |
Damascus |
Sadair |
Nasrullah |
Daliapour |
Doyoun |
Mill Reef |
Abdos |
Venture |
Prince Of Dance |
English Prince |
Petingo |
Val de Loir |
Charlottesville |
Entrepreneur |
Exclusive Native |
Raise a Native |
Dead Ahead |
Ribot |
Scenic |
Foolish Pleasure |
What A Pleasure |
Raise a Native |
Mossborough |
Fatherland |
Forli |
Aristophanes |
Nantallah |
Gold Bridge |
Leggera |
General Assembly |
Secretariat |
Ballymore |
Le Levanstell |
Refuse To Bend |
Gulch |
Mr Prospector |
Grenfall |
Cyclotron |
Barathea |
Habitat |
Sir Gaylord |
Runnymede |
Nimbus |
Dance Design |
Habitat |
Sir Gaylord |
Kythnos |
Never Say Die |
Gossamer |
Habitat |
Sir Gaylord |
Runnymede |
Nimbus |
King Of Kings |
Habitat |
Sir Gaylord |
Crowned Prince |
Abernant |
Sligo Bay |
Halo |
Hail To Reason |
Herbager |
Cohoes |
French Glory |
Hard To Beat |
Hardicanute |
Fine Top |
Admiral Drake |
Kayf Tara |
High Top |
Derring-Do |
Jimmy Reppin |
Majority Blue |
Opera House |
High Top |
Derring-Do |
Jimmy Reppin |
Majority Blue |
Insight |
Irish River |
Riverman |
Raise a Native |
Bold Lad |
Listen |
Irish River |
Riverman |
Raise a Native |
Bold Lad |
Saddex |
Irish River |
Riverman |
Northfields |
Sir Ivor |
Saffron Walden |
Irish River |
Riverman |
Raise a Native |
Bold Lad |
Sequoyah |
Irish River |
Riverman |
Raise a Native |
Bold Lad |
Commander Collins |
Kenmare |
Kalamoun |
Djakao |
Klairon |
Doyen |
Kris |
Sharpen Up |
Mill Reef |
Levmoss |
Moonshell |
Kris |
Sharpen Up |
Mill Reef |
Levmoss |
Sholokhov |
Lord Gayle |
Sir Gaylord |
Home Guard |
Lorenzaccio |
Muncie |
Luthier |
Klairon |
Tom Fool |
Hyperion |
Braashee |
Malinowski |
Sir Ivor |
Aggressor |
Vilmorin |
Imagine |
Master Derby |
Dust Commander |
Tulyar |
Nasrullah |
Black Sam Bellamy |
Miswaki |
Mr Prospector |
Lombard |
Espresso |
Galileo |
Miswaki |
Mr Prospector |
Lombard |
Espresso |
Johann Quatz |
Miswaki |
Mr Prospector |
Lyphard |
Buckpasser |
Fort Wood |
Pretense |
Endeavour |
Swaps |
War Admiral |
King’s Theatre |
Princely Native |
Raise a Native |
Crafty Admiral |
Spy Song |
Runyon |
Queen’s Hussar |
March Past |
Jimmy Reppin |
Native Dancer |
Powerscourt |
Rainbow Quest |
Blushing Groom |
Stage Door Johnny |
Roan Rocket |
Northern Spur |
Rheingold |
Faberge |
Welsh Pageant |
Crepello |
Carnegie |
Riverman |
Never Bend |
Sunny Boy |
Norseman |
Cloudings |
Rusticaro |
Caro |
Prince Chevalier |
Arctic Star |
Masad |
Sassafras |
Sheshoon |
Mincio |
Sound Track |
Perfect Soul |
Secretariat |
Bold Ruler |
Exclusive Native |
Crimson Satan |
Quiff |
Selkirk |
Sharpen Up |
Lyphard |
Cyane |
Alberto Giacometti |
Shirley Heights |
Mill Reef |
Habitat |
Primera |
Alexandrova |
Shirley Heights |
Mill Reef |
Ahonoora |
Pharly |
In The Wings |
Shirley Heights |
Mill Reef |
Sea Hawk |
Panaslipper |
Subtle Power |
Shirley Heights |
Mill Reef |
Luthier |
Tom Fool |
Playful Act |
Silver Hawk |
Roberto |
Icecapade |
Tom Rolfe |
Chief Contender |
Sir Ivor |
Sir Gaylord |
Traffic Judge |
Mr Busher |
El Prado |
Sir Ivor |
Sir Gaylord |
Tom Fool |
Mahmoud |
Darazari |
Top Ville |
High Top |
Abdos |
Venture |
Montjeu |
Top Ville |
High Top |
Tennyson |
Zeddaan |
Yeats |
Top Ville |
High Top |
Sparkler |
Santa Claus |
Poliglote |
Val de l’Orne |
Val de Loir |
Sir Gaylord |
Cambremont |
Saddlers’ Hall |
Val de Loir |
Vieux Manoir |
Charlottesville |
Persian Gulf |
SADLER’S WELLS STALLIONS - Gr1 WINNERS (Northern Hemisphere)
Horse |
Sire |
broodmare sire |
sire of broodmare sire |
2nd dam sire |
third dam sire |
New Approach |
Galileo |
Ahonoora |
Lorenzaccio |
Match |
Grey Sovereign |
| Lush Lashes |
Galileo |
Anabaa |
Danzig |
Arazi |
Kris |
Imperial Beauty |
Imperial Ballet |
Arctic Tern |
Sea-Bird |
J O Tobin |
Secretariat |
Act One |
In The Wings |
Baillamont |
Blushing Groom |
Persepolis |
Mr Prospector |
Medaglia d’Oro |
El Prado |
Balijumper |
Damascus |
Silent Screen |
Restless Wind |
Yavana’s Pace |
Accordion |
Burslem |
Nebbiolo |
African Sky |
Milesian |
Soldier Hollow |
In The Wings |
Common Grounds |
Kris |
Caerleon |
Hoist The Flag |
Meisho Samson |
Opera House |
Dancing Brave |
Lyphard |
Sun Prince |
Fortino |
| Cima De Triomphe |
Galileo |
Danehill |
Danzig |
Crystal Palace |
Claude |
Teofilo |
Galileo |
Danehill |
Danzig |
Majestic Light |
Victoria Park |
Damson |
Entrepreneur |
Darshaan |
Shirley Heights |
Silver Shark |
Wild Risk |
Sixties Icon |
Galileo |
Diesis |
Sharpen Up |
Law Society |
Northern Dancer |
Zanzibar |
In The Wings |
Diesis |
Sharpen Up |
Northern Dancer |
Rough’n Tumble |
Tante Rose |
Barathea |
Distant Relative |
Habitat |
High Top |
Run The Gantlet |
Soldier Of Fortune |
Galileo |
Erins Isle |
Busted |
Lord Gayle |
Home Guard |
| Proportional |
Beat Hollow |
Generous |
Caerleon |
The Minstrel |
Le Fabuleux |
Motivator |
Montjeu |
Gone West |
Mr Prospector |
Sharpen Up |
Buckpasser |
Silver Patriarch |
Saddlers’ Hall |
Grey Dawn |
Herbager |
Tom Rolfe |
Princequillo |
Kutub |
In The Wings |
Habitat |
Sir Gaylord |
Tudor Melody |
High Hat |
Singspiel |
In The Wings |
Halo |
Hail To Reason |
Herbager |
Cohoes |
Nightime |
Galileo |
Indian Ridge |
Ahonoora |
Bluebird |
Thatching |
Corre Caminos |
Montjeu |
Kendor |
Kenmare |
Bellypha |
Prince Taj |
Adlerflug |
In The Wings |
Last Tycoon |
Try My Best |
Lombard |
Espresso |
King’s Drama |
King’s Theatre |
Last Tycoon |
Try My Best |
Sir Ivor |
Bold Lad |
Vintage Tipple |
Entrepreneur |
Last Tycoon |
Try My Best |
Bustino |
Tudor Melody |
Endless Hall |
Saddlers’ Hall |
Law Society |
Alleged |
Northern Dancer |
Secretariat |
Scorpion |
Montjeu |
Law Society |
Alleged |
Kalamoun |
Levmoss |
Kitten’s Joy |
El Prado |
Lear Fan |
Roberto |
L’Enjoleur |
Prince John |
| Montmartre |
Montjeu |
Linamix |
Mendez |
Mendez |
|
Red Rocks |
Galileo |
Machiavellian |
Mr Prospector |
Fairy King |
Riva Ridge |
Artie Schiller |
El Prado |
Majestic Light |
Majestic Prince |
Nantallah |
Dark Star |
Tobougg |
Barathea |
Majestic Light |
Majestic Prince |
Secretariat |
Buckpasser |
Central Park |
In The Wings |
Relkino |
Relko |
Ballidar |
Aggressor |
Fidelite |
In The Wings |
Sanglamore |
Sharpen Up |
Top Ville |
Reliance |
Authorized |
Montjeu |
Saumarez |
Rainbow Quest |
Lyphard |
Val de Loir |
Magical Romance |
Barathea |
Shirley Heights |
Mill Reef |
Ahonoora |
Pharly |
Montare |
Montjeu |
Shirley Heights |
Mill Reef |
Pharly |
Sir Ivor |
Asi Siempre |
El Prado |
Silver Hawk |
Roberto |
Sir Ivor |
Bagdad |
Borrego |
El Prado |
Strike The Gold |
Alydar |
Raise A Cup |
Herbager |
Hurricane Run |
Montjeu |
Surumu |
Literat |
Sharpen Up |
Sheshoon |
Winged Love |
In The Wings |
Top Ville |
High Top |
Reliance |
Botticelli |
| Frozen Fire |
Montjeu |
Woodman |
Mr Prospector |
Northern Dancer |
Exclusive Native |
Mamool |
In The Wings |
Woodman |
Mr Prospector |
Far North |
Dr Fager |
DOLPHIN STREET (half-brother to SAFFRON WALDEN) - SOME NOTABLE WINNERS
name |
form* |
broodmare sire |
sire of broodmare sire |
2nd dam’s sire |
3rd dam’s sire |
Miss Potential |
G1W |
Crested Wave |
Crozier |
Royal Randwick |
Minuit |
Road To Success |
G1W |
Haulpak |
Dignitas |
Beau Sovereign |
Sostenuto |
Spinning Hill |
G1W |
Century |
Better Boy |
Kaoru Star |
Novalis |
Magnifier |
G2W |
Mustin Lake |
Fappiano |
Privilege |
Polmak |
Dolphin Jo |
G3W |
Belligerant |
Without Fear |
High Value |
Better Boy |
Sonda |
G3W |
Caerleon |
Nijinsky |
Forli |
So Blessed |
Beyond Dispute |
SW |
O’Connor |
Star Of Heaven |
Todvega |
Tudor Warning |
Dolydille |
SW |
Home Guard |
Forli |
Lorenzaccio |
Crocket |
Fappiano’s Son |
SW |
Mustin Lake |
Fappiano |
Without Fear |
Romantic |
Molly-O |
SW |
Prince Rupert |
Prince Tenderfoot |
So Blessed |
Alcydion |
Sao |
SW |
Gay Mecene |
Vaguely Noble |
Prince Tenderfoot |
Le Fabuleux |
Scabiun |
SW |
Warning |
Known Fact |
Sadler’s Wells |
Crepello |
Bowman’s Crossing |
G1P |
Valiyar |
Red God |
Star Appeal |
Jimmy Reppin |
Neptune’s Journey |
G1P |
African Sky |
Sing Sing |
Roan Rocket |
Chamossaire |
Garden In The Rain |
G2P |
Nebos |
Caro |
Espresso |
Darius |
Zigotto |
G2P |
Kenmare |
Kalamoun |
Mississipian |
Spy Well |
Berlioz |
SP |
Valiyar |
Red God |
Star Appeal |
Jimmy Reppin |
Bodfari Street |
SP |
Handsome Sailor |
Some Hand |
Sharpo |
So Blessed |
Carlton Conquest |
SP |
Arch Sculptor |
Habitat |
Without Fear |
Faux Tirage |
Mastermind |
SP |
Irish River |
Riverman |
Lyphard |
Empery |
Medigating |
SP |
Persepolis |
Kalamoun |
Ashmore |
Mossborough |
Meridian Star |
HK-G1P |
Tate Gallery |
Northern Dancer |
Twig Moss |
Hunka Papa |
Pride Of Dingle |
SP |
Rainbow Quest |
Blushing Groom |
Be My Guest |
Roan Rocket |
Sea Storm |
€140,000 |
Kings Lake |
Nijinsky |
Kalamoun |
Vandale |
Quiet Times |
€106,000 |
Sayf El Arab |
Drone |
Superlative |
Roan Rocket |
Pulau Pinang |
€82,000 |
Gulf Pearl |
Persian Gulf |
Kings Bench |
Fairway |
Raggtime Toon |
€79,000 |
Last Tycoon |
Try My Best |
Lomond |
Royal And Regal |
Playful Dane |
€73,000 |
Danehill |
Danzig |
Auction Ring |
Roan Rocket |
Street Life |
€75,000 |
Last Tycoon |
Try My Best |
Caracol |
Ragusa |
Dolphin Star |
€66,000 |
Flash Of Steel |
Kris |
Absalom |
Crepello |
* all euro amounts are approximate
