The Breeding Performance of Let’s Elope
We are investigating the phenomenon or myth of the nexus between champion race mares and champion brood mares. The breeding performance of Let’s Elope can provide some insight. A gifted racehorse that had her moments of fame in the spring/autumn 1991-1992. Four G1 victories: Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, McKinnon Stakes and Australian Cup. She went to America but her exploits there did not reach that of her Australian deeds. She began her stud career in America. Let’s Elope visited consecutively the best available stallions from the three most influential sire lines of her time. There is nothing better than Danzig, Storm Cat and Seeking the Gold (Mr Prospector). Her breeding record is set out below:
How do we interpret these results?
Firstly the six runners all won at least one race. I have a mare that also has six winners out of six runners, but she was purchased for $3750. Looking at the list of stallions served by Let’s Elope it is not a case of the best to the best, more like the best to Superstars! There are only two SW (G2) wins in the progeny so you would have to say the breeding failed to deliver. A contrary view has been expressed. The PRI scores show that these stallions were unlikely to produce serious winners.These scores are calculated after the event and the information may have been different in 1996-2008. However, it is my experience that once the data reaches a statistical significant level, the PRI values don’t change much.
What would we expect?
A useful bench mark for a champion mare at stud is Urban Sea (Miswaki-Allegretta). Urban Sea won the 1993 Arc de Triomphe, She produced 7SW who amassed 26 SW between them including 14 G1 in America, France, England and Ireland. One of her sons,.Sea the Stars also won the Arc and Galileo is another son with two Derbies and super sire status. to his credit.
Closer to home we could mention Toltrice (Matrice-Tolaldo) who between 1972-1974 won 7 races graded then as Pr. Included was all the fillies classics in Melbourne in 1972 and the G2 Phar Lap stakes in Sydney 1973. It is my recollection that she was third in the Doncaster in 1974. Toltrice produced 5SW who won 16 Black type races between them including a G1. Toltrice was the dam of two separate winners of the Memsie Stakes, Tolhurst (1980) and Almurtajaz (1989).. G1 status is now held by the Memsie Stakes.Very impressive.