Saddle Horse Report’s 21st Annual WC Sire Rating
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
by Bob Funkhouser
To start the new year breeders turn their attention to how they can raise the next crop of world’s champions and Saddle Horse Report has been pleased to provide its World’s Champion Sire Rating as a tool to help those breeders see just what bloodlines are siring the best of the best.
Points are given to the sire of each horse that ribbons in a performance or in hand class at the World’s Championship Horse Show. Championship classes (excluding Kentucky County Fair Championships) are given a larger point value. Those points are tallied to determine the Overall Top 20 Living Sires and we also break it down by the Top 10 in each division: five-gaited, three-gaited/park, fine harness, pleasure and in hand.
Stallions that were alive on Jan 1 in the year of the rating are considered "Living Sires" and unfortunately, the Top 10 lost a few valuable sires on into the season, namely Santana’s Charm and Callaway’s Blue Norther. Another Top 20 Sire and also another Callaway Hills world’s champion producer, CH Caramac died at the end of 2008, putting him on the Deceased Sire Rating for the first time this year. Caramac finished second, behind the legendary Supreme Heir who has topped the ratings all five years he’s been on it.
We are decades removed from the days of Anacacho Shamrock and Valley View Supreme and Wing Commander and Supreme Sultan, but the blood of those stallions and their heirs, which at one time was called the "Golden Cross," still dominates the pedigrees of the Top 20 World’s Champion Sires. In fact, our five-time #1 Overall World’s Champion Sire, CF First Night Out, is a great grandson of Valley View Supreme on his top side and Wing Commander on his bottom side. Blythewood’s number one man has proven the Golden Cross is still viable in 2009.
The Valley View Supreme line that came down through Supreme Sultan and then Sultan’s Santana was responsible for a good portion of this year’s rating. Santana had two sons in the Top 20, Santana’s Charm and Gypsy Santana. Santana’s Charm, who was #3 himself, is the sire of Sir William Robert who tied stablemate Attache’s Thunderbolt for #2 Overall. Attache’s Thunderbolt happens to be out of a Valley View Supreme daughter.
Several of the Top 20 sires have been here a while and therefore are getting up in age so it’s good to see a new generation starting to leave its mark. There were five father/son combinations in the Top 20: Santana’s Charm and Sir William Robert, Harlem Globetrotter and CH Harlem Town, I’m A New Yorker and Belle Reve’s Renaissance Man, in addition to Callaway’s Blue Norther and Deep Blue.
The two biggest moves up the rating belonged to Willowbank stablemates. Ten-year-old Sir William Robert moved from eighth to tied for second with his other stablemate, Attache’s Thunderbolt. Because of having a small number of get as his breeding career has just begun, seven-year-old Undulata’s Nutcracker wasn’t in the Top 20 last year and finished fifth this year. One of two sons of CH Caramac in the Top 20, Nutcracker sired more world’s champions (9) than any other sire represented in the Top 20 this year.
For the fifth time, the bay son of World’s Grand Champion CH Night Prowler and the New Yorker daughter, Happy Twenty-First topped the overall rating for living sires. Standing under the direction of Anne Neil at the famed Blythewood Farm, CF First Night Out continues a heritage of standing top stallions that began with her father, David Neil, many years ago. Besides being number one overall, First Night Out placed in the Top 10 of three of the five divisions, including being tied at number two among five-gaited sires. His stars in the gaited division included Junior World’s Champion Of Champions Our First Class Day TS, Stallion World’s Champion I’m First and Amateur Mare World’s Champion Ava Gardner.
Moving up a spot from last year, Attache’s Thunderbolt tied with stablemate Sir William Robert for the number two overall ranking. Willowbank’s senior sire scored Top 10 titles in all four of the performance divisions, placing second in both the five-gaited (tied) and three-gaited sections. Sired by World’s Champion Attaché and out of Sweet Sharon Supreme, Thunderbolt was represented by Reserve World’s Grand Champion Five-Gaited Attache’s Crown Royal, one of three ribbon winners in the big stake sired by Thunderbolt. Amateur Mare Reserve World’s Champion Most Definitely Diamonds had a great year, while Thunder’s Fair Lady was just getting started with a Three-Year-Old Reserve World’s Championship. In the walk-trot ranks he was represented by Ladies World’s Champion Of Champions Heavenly Thunder and Three-Gaited Pony World’s Champion Of Champions CH The Attaché Orchid, among others.
A twice world’s champion himself and son of Amateur Five-Gaited World’s Champion Of Champions Santana’s Charm, Sir William Robert made his own return to the show ring to garner the Reserve World’s Champion Fine Harness Stallion/Gelding title. He moved up nine places on the overall rating to tie for number two. Owned and bred by C. Thomas Galbreath, Sir William Robert was number one among the fine harness and in hand sires with get like World’s Champions With Style And Grace and HS Dignitary and Reserve World’s Champions Hillcroft Crown Jewel. Sir William Robert’s in hand stars included the sensational World’s Champion Sir Clarence Ronald, World’s Champion Sir Radiant Knight and World’s Champion I Am The Storm.
The first ever and one of only two stallions to ever win the Amateur Five-Gaited World’s Champion Of Champions title, Santana’s Charm was third overall in his last appearance on the live rating. A son of Sultan’s Santana and Vanity’s Belle, Charm had Top 10 finished in all four performance divisions with his highest ranking being third among the five-gaited and pleasure sires. Longtime number one man for Bridget Parker, Charm is the sire of the 2009 three-year-old sensation Marc Of Charm as well as Ky County Fair Five-Gaited Grand Champion Ashlyn’s Voodoo Charm. I’m Royalty Too and I’m Something Wicked also scored big points in the five-gaited division. Tremendously Charming won his qualifier and was Reserve World’s Champion Of Champions in the Adult Country Pleasure division to lead the way for Charm in that section.
A former number one sire, Callaway’s Blue Norther was fourth overall this year for Tony Weldon’s Callaway Hills. Sired by Five-Gaited World’s Grand Champion CH Will Shriver and out of Royally Blue, World’s Champion Callaway’s Blue Norther was the number one five-gaited sire for the eighth consecutive year. What an accomplishment that was at this level. When you sire stars like World’s Champions Callaway’s Born To Win and Callaway’s Don’t Sass Me as well as Reserve World’s Champion Callaway’s Karla and a host of other top ribbon winners like A Whole Different Story, The Inside Story, Callaway’s Banner Headline, Callaway’s Carnival In Rio, Callaway’s Winning Ways and Same Time Next Year it’s easy stay number one in the gaited division.
No stranger to making headlines no matter what the scenario, Undulata’s Nutcracker made his presence felt for the first time in the Top 20 Overall Rating at number five. Owned by Swanson & Jampsa LLC and standing at Willowbank, this son of World’s Champion CH Caramac and The New York Times daughter Christmas In New York ERB has been high on the In Hand division rating the past few years but with his oldest get just now hitting the young horse performance divisions he landed among the Top 20 in grand fashion. Leading the way for Nutcracker was Junior Three-Gaited World’s Champion Of Champions Soquili’s Georgia Kracker and World’s Champions Zagnut, Don’t No Nuttin’, Blue Train, Nuttin’ Doing, Nuttin’ To Lose, Military Secret, Alde Mar’s Crystal Pistol, and Safecracker. How many other stallions have this kind of impact by the age of seven?
A multi-titled world’s champion in his show days and a son of two multi-titled world’s champion performers (Harlem Globetrotter x CH Town Dance by CH Yorktown), it comes as no surprise that Tim O’Brien’s CH Harlem Town is among the top sires at number six overall. World’s Champion Of Champions CH She’s My Desire and CH Brookhill’s King Of Kool were joined by world’s titleholders Samantha Jones, Brookhill’s Who’s Your Daddy, Mirror Me and CH Ninety-Eight Degrees.
Long a member of the Overall Top 10, former five-gaited champion Periaptor (CH Courageous Admiral x Eliana) finished at number seven for the Susan Loose family and manager Rob Tanner. Periaptor had ribbon winners in all four performance divisions with his best showing coming in the three-gaited/park division with World’s Champion Brookhill’s Glam Slam and Reserve World’s Champion Twice Nightly joining a host of ribbon winners.
Another mainstay among the elite sires, Merchant Prince finished eighth overall and first among three-gaited/park sires. A former World’s Champion ASR Three-Year-Old Fine Harness Futurity winner, Merchant Prince is by Mountain Highland Memories and out of Happy Valley Farm’s former three-gaited world’s champion, CH Buck Creek’s Precious Princess. Born and raised at Bit Hutcheson’s Happy Valley Farms, Merchant Prince earned his top rating with World’s Champion Of Champions CH Marching Orders, and Reserve World’s Champions Be Advised and Simbara’s Cara Mia leading a long list of top ribbon winners from the three-gaited/park divisions.
Nearly all the Top 10 sires were world’s champion performers themselves and the ones who weren’t did not show due to injuries. I’m A New Yorker is one of those world titleholders at number nine. Owned by George and Linda Nash and standing under the direction of Fred Sarver, the son of New Yorker and Sentimentalist had his best showing in the five-gaited division with World’s Champion Freaky Links and Reserve World’s Champion Joe Fabulous racking up the points with ribbon winners Twilight Maxamillion, Naughty, Henry Hudson, White Lotus, and Fashion Avenue.
As athletic a gaited performer as they come, Belle Reve’s Renaissance Man rounds out the Top 10 just one spot behind his sire, I’m A New Yorker. Renaissance Man is owned by Belle Reve Farm and stands at Alliance Stud. Event though he was a gaited star, Renaissance Man earned most of his points in the three-gaited/park divisions with World’s Champions Belle Reve’s Loud & Clear and Master And Commander as well as Reserve World’s Champions Angel Innocence and third place finisher Bob Bobaloo.
(SA) Tornaado((SA) Vidas Yokozuna x (SA) Keepon Sarah Lee) continues to be a player in the Top 20, moving up eight places to number 11. Owned by James Orr and managed by Fred Sarver, Tornaado made his impact in the three-gaited and fine harness divisions and it all starts with the undefeated Junior Exhibitor 14-17 Three-Gaited World’s Champion Of Champions A Travelin Man. Reserve World’s Champion Size Me Up and Kalarama’s Twister also added to the cause.
From his Pennsylvania farm Dick Kearney has given many world class show horses to the industry through his flaxen mane and tail stallion Catalyst. The son of Manhattan Supreme and Lakeview’s Captured Angel is a Kearney product on both sides of the pedigree and he finished twelfth this year, while still scoring points in all four performance divisions. World’s Champion Catalyst Commander, Reserve World’s Champion Catalyst Merry Lee, Colonel Hoss, Catalyst Blonde Ambition, The Paper Girl JJW and Heads Will Turn were among those garnering points for Catalyst this year.
Tied with Catalyst was the long running world’s champion sire and performer Harlem Globetrotter. This popular black stallion has done it all and continues to give us new stars each year from Joan Hamilton’s Kalarama. Sired by New Yorker and out of the great producer Putting On Airs, a Mr. Magic Man daughter, Harlem Globetrotter had reserve world’s champions Prom Dress and Kalarama’s McSuper in the three-gaited division, and World’s Champion Harlem’s Miss Abigail and twice Reserve World’s Champion Harlem’s Worldly Lady in the pleasure division among his ribbon winners for 2009.
Also very popular with the crowds during his show days, former World’s Champion Five-Gaited Stallion Desert’s Supreme Memories was 13th on the overall rating for owner Bobbie Rassieur. He was number six among five-gaited sires with get like World’s Champion Of Champions Bono and World’s Champion Enchanting Memories. In the three-gaited division, Desert’s Supreme Memories is the sire of the sensational three-year-old Real Action.
There was a string of former world’s champion performers in this section of the rating and number 14 Designed was one of them. He too comes from world’s champion families as he is by World’s Champion CH Caramac out of Reserve World’s Champion Sultan’s Dianna. Owned by and standing at Judy and Roy Werner’s Redwing Farm, Designed has made a strong impact in his short time in the breeding shed. One of only three stallions in the Top 20 to have points in all five divisions, Designed’s strongest showing was number eight in the three-gaited/park division. Of course leading the way there was Ladies Amateur Three-Gaited World’s Champion Of Champions Glenview’s Excelalante! His reserve world’s champion in the gaited division was Undulata’s Christmas In The City.
The name Castle Bravo evokes memories of a leg-waving powerful stallion triumphing in the three-gaited division with Mitch Clark. Owned by and standing at the Mitch Clark Stables, the son of World’s Grand Champion CH Sky Watch and the great producer Yorkshire Pudding, Castle Bravo is best known for siring Fine Harness World’s Grand Champion Castledream. He also had reserve world’s champion Work It in the harness division.
It’s Hammertime (The Manipulator x Love Trilogy) had has share of fans when he was showing in harness and he seems to be passing that trait along to his get. The number 16 sire in the Top 20, the Tony Diamond owned stallion was carried by the junior fine harness sensation of 2009, World’s Champion Of Champions It’s Dan The Man. In the three-gaited ranks The Road Less Traveled had a great year to go with two strong thirds at Louisville.
Jim Stewart’s Gypsy Santana has given us both performance and in hand stars and continues to do so from his Missouri home. The son of Sultan’s Santana and Kalarama’s Gypsy Lady (the dam of WC Gypsy Supreme) sired such stars as World’s Champion Special Dark, Santana Snow, Tom Hanks, Gypsies Tramps and Thieves, Gypsy’s Bragging Rights, Santana’s Gypsy Gal, A Cinderella Story, and Out Of Reach to rank number 17.
Next among the Top 20 was a newcomer to the list, Deep Blue. Owned by Fox Grape Farms, Inc., Deep Blue is a son of World’s Champion Callaway’s Blue Norther out of WC Yorkshire Pudding, the dam of World’s Champion Castle Bravo. His second dam is Putting On Airs BHF, the dam of World’s Champion Harlem Globetrotter. Deep Blues stands at Copper Coin Farm and sired World’s Champion Mr. Center Stage, Reserve World’s Champion Alicia Silverstone, Reserve World’s Champion Imagine My Surprise, Paranormal, and Deep Blue Secret to command his first appearance in the Top 20.
Deep Blue was followed by former Three-Year-Old Five-Gaited World’s Champion Family Jewels at number 19. Owned by Lorrie Floyd, Family Jewels made a niche siring top gaited ponies including this year’s Triple Crown Five-Gaited Pony Champion Billy Jewel. Reserve in Louisville’s championship was another Family Jewels sired star, Jewels For A Lady.
My Magical Moment tied Family Jewels at number 19. Under the direction of Danette Musselman’s Queenwood Stables, LLC, this son of Sultan’s Santana and My Flame finished number 10 among the three-gaited/park sires. In that division My Magical Moment was represented by World’s Champion and Reserve World’s Champion Of Champions Liberty’s Magic as well as Reserve World’s Champion He’s A Jim Dandy and ribbon winner A Rift In Time.
Rounding out the Top 20 was former Five-Gaited World’s Grand Champion (SA) Zovoorbij Commander In Chief. Sam Webster’s pride and joy is sired by (SA) Pexid El Nino and was led in the point standings by World’s Champion Of Champions League Of Nations. Strike Up The Lights also added to the cause.
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