Sanfoin and My Girls!

Sainfoin was the 1890 Epsom Derby winner. He started 11 times and won 4. He was a successful stud who produced the English Triple Crown winner, Rock Sand. And he's felt very strongly in thoroughbred lineage. My girls are related to him through his best connections. Violet carries him multiple ways, especially through Nasrullah whose Nearco has Sainfoin and whose Mumtaz Begum has Sainfoin's full sister, Sierra. Of course, Violet also has Rock Sand. Both Hailee and Violet carry Sainfoin through his daughters, who were bred to Fair Play and produced our darling Man o' War! Sainfoin was pretty studly because he was a 3X3 cross to Stockwell!

Mumtaz Begum, Mumtaz Mahal and My Girls!

Violet is related to the mother-daughter team, Mumtaz Mahal and Mumtaz Begum, the granddam and dam of Nasrullah, respectively. MB won her maiden race and then another small race, but was put to stud as a 3-year-old. She was barren the first season, produced Sun Princess her second season, and Nasrullah her fourth season!

Her mom was called the "famous flying gray filly" and was the fastest horse England had ever seen up to that point, except for her dad, The Tetrarch! She was scorching. She beat horses when she was carrying 28 pounds more than they were. She "raced the field off its feet" routinely. She liked to canter way way out front at the end of her races, romping and skipping 10 lengths ahead. She was bred by Lady Sykes of Sledmere Stud and sold for a record high to the Aga Khan. She became one of the most influential mares of the 20th century, and certainly was a foundation mare for the Aga Khan. Her final race record was 10: 7-2-0 and her babies were awesome. She passed away in France at the age of 24. Here's a picture of MM, but look at the Thoroughbred Pedigree link for a picture of her sleek, thin, svelte daughter MB, mom of Nasrullah!.

These girls were all that and a bag of chips. They are true Blue Hens! You can see their suaveness in my lovely Violet!
http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/MumtazMahal.htm#MumtazBegum
or
http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/MumtazMahal.htm
or
http://thoroughbredchampions.com/biographies/mumtaz.htm
or
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumtaz_Mahal_(horse)

Kentucky 2007: Blenheim's Grave

Here's is Blenheim's gravestone. He is among the many important stallions who lived at Claiborne Farms. He was purchased by the Aga Khan even though he only topped out at 15.3 and was straight in his front pasterns! As a 2 year-old for the Aga Khan, he raced 7: 4-3-0. And then ended his race career with a 10: 5-3-0 record.

As a sire, he was fabulous. He produced Mumtaz Begum the dam of Nasrullah. In 1936, the Aga Khan sold him for $250,000 to the American syndicate headed by A.B. Hancock, Sr. of the wonderful institution, Claiborne Farms. Among his greats, Blenheim sired Whirlaway (1941 Triple Crown Winner), and Jet Pilot (1947 Kentucky Derby winner). In the United States, Blenheim lives through his Nasrullah and Mahmoud lines. And in Europe, he lives through Crepello and Alycidon!