Shanghai Bobby did not come out of nowhere to win the Eclipse Award—after all, he hails from the most powerful barn in America, that of trainer Todd Pletcher. But from a pedigree standpoint, Shanghai Bobby does not hail from a family of proven stock… and so, as the saying goes, he will have to make his own pedigree. So far, so good.
The horse who has altered the course of Walmac Farm stallion Henny Hughes’ career-to-date and is 2012 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner and champion 2-year-old filly Beholder.
Storm Cat added to his long list of achievements by becoming the world's leading broodmare sire for 2012.
Henrythenavigator found success on both sides of the Atlantic during his racing career, winning multiple Group 1 events in Europe before finishing a close second in the richest race in North America. As a stallion, he has found similar success early in his stud career, siring a Grade 1 or Group 1 winner on each side of the pond to reign as the leading North American freshman sire for 2012.
Harlan’s Holiday is a record-setting juvenile sire. That is likely something few would have anticipated when the horse retired from racing in 2004, but he now stands tall in the company of such greats as Bull Lea, Roman, Nasrullah, Bold Ruler, Alydar, Danzig, Capote, and Tapit – all former holders of the juvenile earnings record.
Giant’s Causeway regained his spot at the top of the general sires list after finishing fourth to Distorted Humor in 2011, having led the list in 2009 and 2010.
The American operation of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Darley will hold a series of online auctions for nominations to sires Medaglia d’Oro, Hard Spun, and Lonhro for the 2013 breeding season.
Dashing Blade, one of Germany’s leading sires and the broodmare sire of champion Stacelita, has been pensioned by Gestut Etzean due to old age and arthritis.
Forestry, the sire of Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford, will shuttle to Claudio Pizarro's Haras El Catorce in Peru this summer for the Southern Hemisphere breeding season.
Canadian champion and classic winner Eye of the Leopard has been retired and will enter stud at Calumet Farm in Lexington, Ky.
