Rinaldo Del Gallo, III
By: Rinaldo Del Gallo, III
When I looked at the racing program for the JOCKEY CLUB LOCAL H. PRESENTED BY MINISTRY OF CULTURE on the Saudi Cup undercard, it kind of blew my mind. The million dollar race restricted to horses born in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has four horses from the nearly dead St. Simon sire line, and one with a damsire from that line. These St. Simon sire line horses are children of the great Pleasant Tap.
If you know anything about common famous horses in the thoroughbred, you probably would know that the undefeated ST SIMON (GB) br. H, 1881 {11-c}, who won 9 times in 9 starts, is very common in pedigrees. Every thoroughbred today has him appearing in their pedigree on multiple occasions. St Simon was champion sire in GB/Ireland nine times, and Champion Broodmare Sire in GB/Ireland six times. While admittedly it is an unfair comparison because he was born much later, I suspect there is much more St. Simon in pedigrees than Phalaris, from whom over 95% of thoroughbreds of today descend in tail male.
By way of comparison, let us look at the highly influential Northern Dancer. According to Wikipedia, “Nearco’s grandson Northern Dancer, another enormously influential sire, has fifteen crosses to St. Simon in the first eight generations of his pedigree.” By way of comparison, both Northern Dancer and his damsire (Native Dancer) descend tail male from Phalaris, but those two appearances are to be compared to the fifteen appearances of St. Simon. My point being that while there is little left of the St. Simon sire line, he has had a colossal influence on the breed rivaling that of Bend Or, if not outright surpassing it.
Long ago, it was commonly said that all Darley Arabian sire line horses go back to ECLIPSE (GB) ch. H, 1764 {12}, all Godolphin Arabian sire line horses go back to MATCHEM (GB) b. H, 1748 {4} and all Beyerley Turk sire line horses go back to HEROD (GB) b. H, 1758 {26}. While still technically true, it is deceiving for the most recent ancestor for all descendants of the Godolphin Arabian is probably IN REALITY (USA) b. H, 1964 {21-a} and stopped being Matchem long ago. For the Beyerley Turk, once a thriving sire line and at one time arguably the dominant sire line in the early development of the breed, the sire line is damn near non-existent. The most recent common ancestor of all living Beyerley Turk descendants is often held out to be HEROD (GB) b. H, 1758 {26} or “King Herod.” But today, what is left of the Byerley Turk sire line has a latest common ancestor in AHONOORA (GB) ch. H, 1975 {1-m}: this Byerley Turk was once a thriving branch with all manner of extensive branches.
But because the St. Simon sire line is extant, the most recent common ancestor of the Darley Arabian sire line is no horse of late—it still Eclipse, born way back in 1764. Eclipse had a number of sons and a number of branches that eventually waned. One of Eclipse’s sons was POT8OS (GB) ch. H, 1773 {38} of which 95% of all thoroughbreds descend in tail male descent. Pot8os properly spelled is “Pot” and then 8 “0’s” for Potoooooooo, thought up by a clever lad, and that name is just damn funny. It probably is a blessing that such a cheeky name turned out to be one of the breed’s most important sire. Eclipse had another son I would like to mention, KING FERGUS (GB) ch. H, 1775 {6-x}, and from King Fergus St. Simon descends in tail male.
St. Simon’s tail male descendants include many great horses in the United States. These St. Simon sire line horses include HOURLESS (GB) blk/br. H, 1914 {4-i}(Belmont and multiple other states), ROYAL TOURIST (USA) b. H, 1905 {A5}(Preakness and other stakes, sired by a full brother to English Triple Crown winner Diamond Jubilee), GEORGE SMITH (USA) blk. H, 1913 {10-d} (Many stakes races including Kentucky Derby), COVENTRY (USA) blk. H, 1922 {2-a}(his only win was in the Preakness, broke down in Withers), PAUL JONES (USA) br. G, 1917 {24} (one of a handful of geldings to win the Kentucky Derby), ESPINO (USA) br. H, 1923 {9-f} (Lawrence Realization, Saratoga Cup, ½ to Bull Lea, important sire), VITO (USA) b. H, 1925 {8-k} (Belmont), DANGEROUS (USA) ch. H, 1922 {6-a}(Travers); BOUNDING HOME (USA) br. H, 1941 {1-k} (won Belmont, wrecked Pensive’s chance at Triple Crown), WAIT A BIT (USA) ch. H, 1939 {4-r}(many stakes including triple dead-heat in the Carter Handicap making an epic photograph).
Other St. Simon sire line horses include: GALLANT MAN (GB) b. H, 1954 {5-e}(Belmont, Travers, Jockey Gold Cup and many other stakes), PRINCEQUILLO (GB) b. H, 1940 {1-b}, JOHN HENRY (USA) br. G, 1975 {8-c}(hall of fame), GO FOR GIN (USA) dkb/br. H, 1991 {1-x})(Kentucky Derby, 2nd Preakness and Belmont), CELTIC ASH (GB) ch. H, 1957(foreign born that won the Belmont), CANONERO (USA) b. H, 1968 {4-n}(Kentucky Derby and Preakness), ROUND TABLE (USA) dkb/br. H, 1954 {2-f}(Hall of Fame), STAGE DOOR JOHNNY (USA) ch. H, 1965 {1-l}(Belmont, a rare source of British Triple Crown winner Common in modern pedigrees); SUMMING (USA) b. H, 1978 {1-g}, EPITOME (USA) b. M, 1985 {8-c}(two year old champion filly, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies).
Video below: St. Simon tail male descendant wins the first Arlington Million, the first horse race to offer a million dollar purse.
I had thought that the great sprinting gelding WHITMORE (USA) ch. G, 2013 {8-k} might be the last great St. Simon. His sire is PLEASANTLY PERFECT (USA) b. H, 1998 {16-a}(Breeder’s Cup and Dubai World Cup). Pleasantly Perfect’s sire is PLEASANT COLONY (USA) dkb/br. H, 1978 {5-a}(Wood, Kentucky Derby, Preakness).
Other St. Simon sire line horses include, KEY TO THE MINT (USA) b. H, 1969 {2-n}(Travers, Whitney, Woodward and many others), JAVA GOLD (USA) b. H, 1984 {9-b}(Travers, Marlboro Cup, Whitney), PROUD TRUTH (USA) ch. H, 1982 {8-g}(Breeder’s Cup Classic); PROVE OUT (USA) ch. H, 1969 {4-c}( One of Allen Jerkens’s “giant killers”: Defeated SECRETARIAT and COUGAR in the Woodward S., RIVA RIDGE in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, and FOREGO in an allowance. His dam was a full sister to Assault); HILL PRINCE (USA) b. H, 1947 {9-b}(Preakness, Hall of Fame), COUGAR (CHI) dkb/br. H, 1966 (Champion 1972 Turf Horse); COLONIAL AFFAIR (USA) b. H, 1990 {13-b}(Belmont, Jockey Gold Cup, Whitney and others), PLEASANT TAP (USA) b. H, 1987 {1-x}(Suburban, Jockey Gold Cup, surprisingly 2nd in both the Breeders’s Cup Sprint and Breeders’ Cup Classic, proving some horse can do it all), GATO DEL SOL (USA) gr. H, 1979 {A1}(Kentucky Derby). And we should not forget the great RIBOT (GB) b. H, 1952 {4-l} and his sons ARTS AND LETTERS (USA) ch. H, 1966 {1-c}(Hall of Fame) and TOM ROLFE (USA) b. H, 1962 {9-h}.
Video below: Pleasant Tap drives hard but just couldn’t catch AP Indy in the 1992 Breeder’s Cup Classic.
And there was Tom Rofe’s son HOIST THE FLAG (USA) b. H, 1968 {5-i}(champion 2 year old), who in turn sired ALLEGED (USA) b. H, 1974 {2-s}(won Arc twice, 9 wins in 10 starts), ALBERT THE GREAT (USA) b. H, 1997 {16-h}(Jockey Gold Cup and many others), GALLANT BLOOM (USA) b. M, 1966 {4-d}(Hall of Fame filly), KONA GOLD (USA) b. G, 1994 {5-f}(Breeder’s Cup Sprint), JEWEL PRINCESS (USA) b. M, 1992 {23}(Breeders’ Cup Distaff and much more); PRINCESS ROONEY (USA) gr. M, 1980 {1-x}(Hall of Fame, Breeders Cup Distaff, Kentucky Oaks many others), MISS ALLEGED (USA) b. M, 1987 {5-i}(Breeder’s Cup Turf), SHARED ACCOUNT (USA) b. M, 2006 {8-c}(Breeder’s Cup Turf and others), and BEHRENS (USA) b. H, 1994 {1-c}(Gulstream Park Handicap twice, 2nd Dubai World Cup), MY JULIET (USA) dkb/br. M, 1972 {6-a} (Hall of Fame), ELKRIDGE (USA) b. G, 1938 {2-u}(Hall of Fame Steeplechaser), RUN THE GANTLET (USA) b. H, 1968 {5-g}(Champion Turf Horse 1971) and MATE (USA) ch. H, 1928 {22-a}(Preakness, American Derby when it was a big race, many others).
Video Below: Miss Alleged beats the boys in the Breeders Cup Turf
As extensive as this list is, it is by no means remotely exhaustive of great stakes winning St. Simon sire line horses, and it has an exclusive American focus. The St. Simon sire line thrived in Europe and Australia.
Simon’s run has been a hell of a run, with 7 Kentucky Derby winners, 10 winners of the Coaching Club Oaks, 14 winners of the Arc D’ Triomphe, 7 winners of the Epsom Derby, 23 winners of the Melbourne Cup, 15 winners of the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby), 12 winners of the French Oaks, 7 winners of the 2,000 guineas, 18 winners of the 1,000 Guineas, 15 winners of the Doncaster Cup, 14 winners of the Grand National, 18 winners of the Grand Prix de Paris (about 1 ½ miles for 3 year olds), and 20 winners of the St. Leger. As St. Simon was a distance horse (at least in his last year), winning the 20 furlong Ascot Gold Cup and the 21 furlong Goodwood Cup. He also won the 12 furlong Epsom Gold Cup, long discontinued but then prestigious. It makes sense that at greater distances, more of his descendants would win.
THE JOCKEY CLUB LOCAL H. PRESENTED BY MINISTRY OF CULTURE
Which brings me to the Saudi Cup Car—wow! There is the great horse PREMIUM TAP (USA) b. H, 2002 {5-f},. When Premium Tap was four, he won the Clark Handicap (G1,9F) (NSR), the Woodward Stakes (G1,9F), the Albert The Great S. (8.5F)(named after a St. Simon sire line horse), and Kings Cup (KSA).[KSA=Kingdom of Saudi Arabia], and was third in the Breeder’s Cup Classic (G1,10F). When Premium Tap was 5, he won the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (KSA,12F), Crown Prince Cup (KSA,12F) and was 2nd in the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1,10F). As it turns out, there are four—count them four—horses sired by Pleasant Tap in the JOCKEY CLUB LOCAL H. PRESENTED BY MINISTRY OF CULTURE, race 1 on the Saudi Cup Card. AAN ALAWAAN (SDA) ch. C, 2017 {5-j}(20-1)( $832,833 earnings in 18 starts), the mare ROOQA (SDA) b. M, 2018 {22-d}, AELAM BELADI (SDA) b. C, 2019 {5-h}(40-1). The five year old gelding Amtae I cannot find in pedigree query dot come, but is listed as being a son of Pleasant Tap and and “also eligible).
But that’s not it for the St. Simon sire line on this card! Not only are there four horses sired by Pleasant Tap, there is ALMOBEER (SDA) b. H, 2018 {2-d}(4-1), who is the son of the unraced and deceased OFFICIAL VISIT (USA) dkb/br. H, 1999 {23-b}, who in turn was sired by Hall of Fame Horse PLEASANT COLONY (USA) dkb/br. H, 1978 {5-a}.
Making the case even more of a rarity, QORBAH (SDA) b. F, 2019 {8-f}, who has Pleasant Tap as a damsire and St. Simon line Java Gold as the sire of her second dam, has FLASHY BULL (USA) gr. H, 2003 {9-f} for a sire. Flashing Bull, the son of Hall of Famer Holy Bull, is the last (or more accurately almost the last) of the PLAUDIT (USA) b. H, 1895 {21-a} sire line.
Another horse, Wadhy’ah, has Pleasant Tap as a damsire, who I also cannot find in the pedigree query database. It is damn near impossible to find a race card with one horse that has a sire or damsire from the St. Simon sire line. I thought I was going to see my last St. Simon sire line horse watching Whitmore—frankly, it was a reason that I was a fan of the horse. On this Saudi card four horses are a son or daughter of Premium Tap, and one has Premium Tap as a damsire. I am in kind of disbelief that this happened—I thought it impossible.
Horses sired by Premium Tap, from St. Simon sire line
#9 ROOQA (SDA) b. M, 2018 {22-d}(30-1)
#12 AELAM BELADI (SDA) b. C, 2019 {5-h}(40-1)
#17 AAN ALAWAAN (SDA) ch. C, 2017 {5-j}(40-1)
#21 Amtae (KSA) (cannot find in pedigree query dot come), though I can find dam NORTHERN BELLE (USA) dkb/br. M, 2006 {2-n})(40-1).(Also eligible.)
Horses sired by Official Visit (Official Visit is an unraced son of Pleasant Colony), from St. Simon sire line
#2 Almobeer (KSA)(4-1) ALMOBEER (SDA) b. H, 2018 {2-d}. Has a record of Life 21 5 4 4 $569,440. He is 3 sire by 5 dam His Majesty (the son of Ribot). His 4th dam is RAZYANA (USA) b. M, 1981 {2-d}, the son of Danehill. His 6th dam NATALMA (USA) b. M, 1957 {2-d} is the dam of Northern Dancer.
This makes 5 entrants from the St. Simon sire line.
Horses damsire is by Premimum Tap
#11 Wadhy’ah (KSA)—I cannot find the pedigree. I can find his dam MALAKIAH M, 2011 {2-s} by Premium Tap.
Horses in the Plaudit sire line
# 14 Maenawy (KSA)(30-1)—not listed in pedigree query dot come but sire listed as Macho Macho. I see the dam TRUE TAILS (USA) b. M, 2002 {2-s}, but Maenway is not listed as a foal. He is supposedly four. MACHO MACHO (USA) gr. H, 2009 {8-f} won the West Virginia Derby and was sent to Saudi Arabia. While progeny is listed at pedigree query dot come, this progeny is not listed.
# 16 Qorbah (KSA) 20-1, QORBAH (SDA) b. F, 2019 {8-f}—sired by Flashy Bull, son of Holy Bull. Damsire is Pleasant Tap.
Both Maenawy and Qorbah descend from the Plaudit tail male via Holy Bull.
CONQUERING ELK (USA) ch. H, 1987 {A2} was the last of the Lexington sire line—a freak of sire line that extended about 87 after a Lexington sire line horse won a major race-that is truly rare. One thing the one million dollar JOCKEY CLUB LOCAL HANDICAP on the Saudi Cup undercard shows us, the St. Simon sire line has not had its Conquering Elk moment. As Yogi Berra said, “It ain’t over ‘till it’s over.”
With five St. Simon line horses and a Plaudit sire line horse, I will feel like this is a race card from the 50’s or 60’s. I think it’s a cool card and it’s great to see these rare pedigrees.
