Shiyam didn't run badly and looks a surefire winner next time out, unless they aim him at Royal Ascot, where it might be a bit tougher.
I find it fascinating that the hardy staying stalwart, High Line, continues to turn up in big winner's pedigrees. He wouldn't survive as an entire horse these days let alone go to stud and be used as a flat sire.
He wasn't even by Hyperion but one of Hyperion's good but not outstanding sons (High Hat). High Hat probably has two claims to fame, the first that he was bred by Winston Churchill and the second that he was one of the few horses to beat Petite Etoile. His son High Line was trained by Derek Candy and won as a 2yo over 7f. He reappeared as a 3yo and became a warm outsider for the Derby after winning the race which later became the Predominate Stakes and now the Cocked Hat Stakes. Unfortunately he had an injury before the Derby and didn't get back to the racecourse until the St Leger. Well he got there but played up at the stalls and was withdrawn. He did run twice after that and won the Jockey Club Cup over 16f.
As a 4yo he won the Jockey Club Cup again and also the Aston Park Stakes beating Intermezzo, who had won the St Leger in which High Line didn't start. He also won the Group 2 Geoffrey Freer Stakes, his highest rated win.
He was probably at his best as a 5yo winning the Geoffrey Freer again as well as his 3rd Jockey Club Cup. He then went to stud. He was reasonably successful and probably his best horse was Master Willie, who finished 2nd in the Derby and won the Eclipse.
Today he wouldn't get a look-in. Then stallions often only covered 40 mares a year, so breeders were forced to look around more. Now with stallions covering a 150+ mares regularly there's not the space for the High Lines of this world.
I write this because the Oaks winner traces back to the very useful Lucayan Princess (who herself was the dam of Warrsan, Needle Gun and Luso all Group 1 winners). But of course every year we get Juddmonte racing horses who trace back to their super mare Hasili, who was out of High Line's daughter Kerali.
I think we need tough horses like High Line. He ran 17 times, winning 9 races and being placed in 7. Instead we get stallions who have run a handful of specially selected races, so that their unbeaten records are not tested.
I find it fascinating that the hardy staying stalwart, High Line, continues to turn up in big winner's pedigrees. He wouldn't survive as an entire horse these days let alone go to stud and be used as a flat sire.
He wasn't even by Hyperion but one of Hyperion's good but not outstanding sons (High Hat). High Hat probably has two claims to fame, the first that he was bred by Winston Churchill and the second that he was one of the few horses to beat Petite Etoile. His son High Line was trained by Derek Candy and won as a 2yo over 7f. He reappeared as a 3yo and became a warm outsider for the Derby after winning the race which later became the Predominate Stakes and now the Cocked Hat Stakes. Unfortunately he had an injury before the Derby and didn't get back to the racecourse until the St Leger. Well he got there but played up at the stalls and was withdrawn. He did run twice after that and won the Jockey Club Cup over 16f.
As a 4yo he won the Jockey Club Cup again and also the Aston Park Stakes beating Intermezzo, who had won the St Leger in which High Line didn't start. He also won the Group 2 Geoffrey Freer Stakes, his highest rated win.
He was probably at his best as a 5yo winning the Geoffrey Freer again as well as his 3rd Jockey Club Cup. He then went to stud. He was reasonably successful and probably his best horse was Master Willie, who finished 2nd in the Derby and won the Eclipse.
Today he wouldn't get a look-in. Then stallions often only covered 40 mares a year, so breeders were forced to look around more. Now with stallions covering a 150+ mares regularly there's not the space for the High Lines of this world.
I write this because the Oaks winner traces back to the very useful Lucayan Princess (who herself was the dam of Warrsan, Needle Gun and Luso all Group 1 winners). But of course every year we get Juddmonte racing horses who trace back to their super mare Hasili, who was out of High Line's daughter Kerali.
I think we need tough horses like High Line. He ran 17 times, winning 9 races and being placed in 7. Instead we get stallions who have run a handful of specially selected races, so that their unbeaten records are not tested.
