Zenyatta  a True Champion Mare. 

Do champion race mares make champion broodmares? Those who have been following my investigations might consider it is an Australian/NZ issue. I can assure you that it is not. The “‘Curse” is operating elsewhere. Zenyatta is an American champion mare. She was victorious in 19 out of 20 starts. Her only loss was a second in her final race when trying for her second Breeders Cup Classic. She was already the only mare to win the Classic, but the second attempt was just a bit too far. Dropping out last, as was her usual way of racing, she flew home but failed by a neck After winning $7.304m  it is time for a new career.

The Breeding Performance of Zenyatta

Zenyatta has been bred to most of the major American sire lines. The results to date have not been encouraging

I cannot fault the breeding plans undertaken for Zenyatta. The PRI scores indicate that the progeny should be competitive racing at stakes level. The breeders have given every chance to this champion race mare to become a champion broodmare. The only problem I see is that crosses to Forli on the dam’s side do not work well, and this must be causing problems. It is surprising that all of the major sire lines chosen seem to be affected. Certainly, the five best horses carrying Forli genes on their dam’s side had no problem “overcoming” it. Bad luck seems to have got in the way of good plans.

                                 Zenyatta with Candy Ride filly

 I suggest the way forward would be to find a stallion which crosses well with Forli and check that he is still compatible with the rest of the female pedigree. This stallion may not be fashionable but neither was Nathaniel before he met up with Concentric and produced Enable. Should she win her third Arc, Nathaniel, Enable and John Gosden will be even more famous.