Best In Show may be the most important influence in the breed at present. She was by the Alibhai stallion, Traffic Judge and was a good winning the Group 3 Comely Stakes. She was out of a Mr Busher mare called Stolen Hour, who herself was a quality broodmare. She produced the stallion, Journalist who stood in the US, as well as a mare called Stolen Date who in turn went on to produce a stallion called Taufan, the sire of the upset Caulfield Cup winner, Taufan’s Melody. Best In Show though had an interesting pedigree that no doubt played a significant part in her success. The pedigree features duplications of Rock Sand, St Simon, Fair Play and a mare called Plaisanterie who was the dam of Childwick, but more importantly the second dam of the excellent stallion Tracery. Tracery in turn produced a daughter called Teresina who is the dam of Alibhai and a very influential mare in her own right.
Best In Show's Progeny
However it was Best In Show’s progeny that made the biggest impact, and she was named the US Broodmare of the Year in 1982. She was a prolific breeder, with 17 named foals. Rather surprisingly, Blush With Pride was her only Stakes winner, but her progeny’s influence goes much further than this. One son of Best In Show, Geilgud was sent to Australia and performed with moderate success, siring 10 stakes winners before being sent to Japan in 1989. Her direct Australian and NZ influence comes from the fact that she was bred to Sir Ivor on a number of occasions. Given the success of Sir Tristram, her daughter, Show Lady produced a daughter by Nijinsky called Dancing Show who was purchased by Cambridge Stud in NZ. Dancing Show’s first named foal in NZ was Umatilla who won seven of his thirty-eight starts including the Group 1 Karrakatta Plate in WA as a 2yo as well as placings in the Pago Pago, Blue Diamond, Lightning and Newmarket.
Continuing Influence
Dancing Show’s third foal, Hurricane Sky was perhaps even more influential winning a Blue Diamond and an All Aged Stakes at Group 1 level. Again, though it is the daughters of the family that continue to excel. Dancing Show is the dam of Show Dancing who produced Group 1 winners Al Maher and Salameh, but it is another daughter, Shantha’s Choice that has changed the shape of Australian breeding by producing Redoute’s Choice. She also produced Platinum Scissors and Superior Sateen, as well as Group performed fillies Sliding Cube and Monsoon Wedding.
Best In Show's International Influence
Internationally the family is responsible for a long list of current Stakes Winners and successful stallions. Names like Spinning World, Denon, Falak, Telesto, Masterclass, Domesday, Dr Johnson, Try My Best and the ill-fated He’s No Pie Eater all hail from the might mare, Best In Show. It is a family that has adapted to conditions throughout the world, and features some of the best stallions available. In the case of Peeping Show, and Redoute’s Choice among others, it is interesting to see how well the Best In Show family works with other great mares such as Natalma who is so prevalent in Danehill’s pedigree. With Xaar for example, the Blue Hen mare Somethingroyal is at the forefront, while his half brother, Masterclass sees both Selene and Alcibiades prominent.
Ross Prowd - Ross Prowd is a freelance racing journalist in Australia, as well as being a renowned pedigree expert. He writes weekly for Australia's ...
