Harness: Danger zone approaching for the Western Ideal line

Western Ideal is probably the best overall son of Western Hanover, and certainly his line extender, having accomplished an unprecedented feat by siring two racing and/or breeding superstar sons in Rocknroll Hanover and American Ideal in his first crop.

It is rare when two significant stallions emerge from the same crop, as one has to go back to the pacing crop of 1980 which featured Cam Fella (Most Happy Fella) and No Nukes (Oil Burner). But in 2002, Western Ideal managed both of the above named in the same crop.

Fast forward to 2023 and the questions become: Where are they now and what does the future hold for the proud No Nukes-Western Hanover-Western Ideal male line?

As for Western Hanover, that question may be answered somewhere down the road when his great grandson champion Bulldog Hanover sees his first sons and daughters hit the track. Bulldog Hanover is by Shadow Play, he by Western Hanover’s son The Panderosa, so it’ll be interesting to see what develops there. Bulldog Hanover serviced 73 mares prior to his record-setting 2022 racing season and undoubtedly the quality and quantity of this year’s crop will increase proportionately.

As for Western Ideal, in the eyes of many, his number-one son Rocknroll Hanover passed on at the tender age of 11 in 2013, thus his opportunities for a legitimate successor son are limited. As it is, Rocknroll Hanover has left Rockin Image as the dominant Indiana Pacing stallion, but he is more of a local hero rather than a national one. He has other stallion sons like Pet Rock, Time To Roll and Rockin Amadeus, but again they’re regional stallions and unlikely line extenders.

Rocknroll Hamover’s first crop contained a potential line extender in Horse of the Year Rock N Roll Heaven, but that brilliant colt has confined his major stallion exploits Down Under rather than as we might say “Up Over” in America. Still to be heard from in Rocknroll Hanover’s last crop is two-time Down Under Horse of the Year and multi-millionaire King Of Swing (Twist And Twirl-Artsplace), but thus far there’s been no talk of his shuttling to these shores.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

As for American Ideal, who has dominated the New York breeding season at Blue Chip Farms until the arrival of Huntsville (Somebeachsomewhere) at Cameo Hills, he has left noticeable sons in Heston Blue Chip and He’s Watching, although the former has yet to account for a truly significant offspring other than Fulton, last year’s Pennsylvania Sires Stakes champion. In that the brilliantly named Fulton (Heston Blue Chip-Bettor Be Steamin) is just getting started, having qualified in 1:52 1/5 (finishing second at The Meadowlands) for his 3-year-old season, his progress will be monitored and undoubtedly will attract some better mares for sire Heston Blue Chip down the road.

The diminutive He’s Watching does have a potential line extender in the normal-sized Tattoo Artist, and while that one will undoubtedly get a siring opportunity at some point, he has a ways to go before before attracting the caliber of mares that a line extender should expect.

Actually, Tattoo Artist may represent one of the last opportunities for the American Ideal branch from Western Ideal, unless a truly major son happens along in what has to be considered his waning stallion years. One potential candidate could be American Courage. While still racing, he was collected and serviced some mares for Blue Chip Farms in New York.

Interestingly enough, Rocknroll Hanover’s ultimate legacy may occur via a maternal side-door, similar to the way Speedy Crown endured through maternal grandson Muscles Yankee. Whereas they might have looked different standing still, one could readily see the similarities between Muscles Yankee and grandsire Speedy Crown in motion, and Perretti Farms aptly promoted him as such.

Rocknroll Hanover’s maternal grandson Papi Rob Hanover will receive every opportunity for siring success, primarily due the exploits of his “sire of sires” Somebeachsomewhere, whose sons Captaintreacherous, Huntsville, Downbytheseaside and Stay Hungry, have proven exceptional sires. Thus there’s every reason to think Papi Rob Hanover will follow suit.

Interestingly enough trainer Brett Pelling, who had both, told me that Papi Rob Hanover is more like Rocknroll than Rocknroll was. By that he meant Papi Rob Hanover as a 2-year-old reminded him of his maternal grandsire Rocknroll Hanover than his sire Somebeachsomewhere. Of course the horse may have changed somewhat at age 3 but he’s certainly not the first to be more like a grandparent than a parent. How that will impact his siring career remains to be seen, but the maternal “similarity” with Speedy Crown sure didn’t hurt Muscles Yankee.

As for that Cam Fella extension from the Most Happy Fella line, the amazing Bettor’s Delight by Cams Card Shark is still going strong with potential line extenders Bettor’s Wish and Tall Dark Stranger still to be heard from.

No line goes on forever but hopefully there is still more to be heard from when it comes to Western Ideal.