Just a few days after I had written an article on the aptly named He’s Remarkable, I took a call from a client enquiring as to how I rated another impressively named stallion, Highly Recommended. It didn’t take me too long to figure out that here was another excellent stalllion prospect. Also coincidentally, both stand at a more than reasonable $4000.
Any Group 2 winning son of super sire Fastnet Rock from a prolific black type producer would appeal as a stallion prospect but this horse has the advantage – again similarly to He’s Remarkable – of having a pedigree which should complement our most successful bloodlines.
Danehill crosses strongly with Sir Tristram, Sadler’s Wells and Snippets and there’s no shortage of these bloodlines hereabouts. I would not be at all worried about duplicating Sir Tristram as it has already worked in New Zealand via Fastnet Rock, as evidenced by the 2000 Guineas winner Rock ‘n’ Pop. Moreover, there are some very strong sources of Sadler’s Wells here: Montjeu (especially) and High Chaparral have been outstanding all over the planet and we also have some well credentialled Galileo daughters.
The broodmare sire I really like for Highly Recommended is Pins. As mentioned above, Snippets is one of the first influences you would look for if you were promoting any Danehill line horse, but I think that Pins could be something special in this regard. He’s got the Grey Sovereign line already duplicated in Highly Recommended’s dam and he also provides Star Kingdom via Kaoru Star. This is just what one would want to complement the Biscay duplication already present in Berkley Stud’s new stallion.
If more evidence was needed, then it’s worth noting that the best of all Suggestive’s notable progeny is by, you guessed it, Snippets.
Finally, two of our planet’s leading stallions – Mr Prospector and Halo – are absent from Highly Recommended’s pedigree. There’s nothing wrong with outcrossing and any mare featuring either or both these stallions also is worth seriously considering for Canterbury’s latest stallion acquisition.
