Deep Impact sireline to change the breeding landscape in New Zealand.

The sons and grandsons of Japanese wonder stallion Deep Impact have had a hard row to hoe in Australia against the myriad of local speed sires that prevail.
Tosen Stardom and Mikki Isle have pioneered the way along with an assist from Real Steel and now the newbies Saxon Warrior and Fierce Impact.
The rekindling of the Turn-To / Hail To Reason / Halo paternal sireline has also seen a refreshing resurgence of a bloodline that was beginning to wane in the wake of the utter dominance of the Phalaris sireline predominantly via Northern Dancer.
In New Zealand, the impact has been far more far-reaching than in Australia and far more immediate.
It begs the question, for how long has the New Zealand broodmare genepool been hanging out for this new bloodline injection?
Rich Hill Stud's Satono Aladdin has led the way here through class sons Tokyo Tycoon and Sacred Satono, so much so that at this present moment in time he has rocketed to a clear lead in the 2022-23 2YO Sires Premiership Table*.
It is acknowledged that this could change as Tokyo Tycoon's victory in the Group 1 Sistema Stakes is currently under RIU judicial review.
But the exciting aspect is that the Deep Impact influence shapes as promising to say the very least and is far from one dimensional with Satono Aladdin's daughter Pennyweka recently being a decisive winner of the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks ( 2400m ) at Trentham.
Watch out Savabeel, there is some truly serious competition looming on the near horizon!
And now we have another son of Deep Impact in Novarra Park's Staphanos landing his first Group 1 winner from his very first crop in gritty Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes ( 1400m )  winner the filly Pignan.
Right amongst these successful results we have Windsor Park Stud announcing they have secured Profondo ( another son of Deep Impact ) to commence Stud duties also in 2023. 
What a time to capitalise on this sudden groundswell!
The win of Pignan last weekend was yet another feather in the cap for highly respected former Trackside breeding show presenter and Nearco Stud head representative Adrian Clark and his astute judgment at selecting Group 1 winning fillies at a very tender young age.
Pignan's Group 1 success follows closely on the heels of Clark's success with Jennifer Eccles in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks just a couple of seasons ago.
These two results tell us that Clark not only looks for "value" in his investments but is also prepared to do the "hard yards" in terms of putting a lot of time into studying the pedigrees of these young fillies even going back beyond the immediate generational levels readily available at first glance.
So what do we see in Hirondelle's ( the dam of Pignan ) breeding match with Staphanos?
We firstly see speed being placed underneath Staphanos. A bit like a Storm Cat mare being bred to Deep Impact to produce Satono Aladdin.
Hirondelle is by Sepoy ( a Mr Prospector / Danzig cross stallion ) and out of a Pins mare.
But more than this, Hirondelle possesses an "engine room" ( or breeding core )that is based on the blisteringly quick Lunchtime, being bred on a 5x4 reverse-sex cross to Lunchtime.
Interestingly, it is at these two generational levels that the pedigree gurus Hampton and Harper were both in agreement were the most effective positions in a pedigree.
Ably supporting this speed feature, Hirondelle also holds 3 lines of Star Kingdom which are favourably sex-balanced through the latter's famed sons Biscay and Kaoru Star as well as his daughter Ritmar who features as the dam of Taipan II, 4th damsire of Hirondelle.
What then did the breeding match of Staphanos and Hirondelle offer to their daughter Pignan?
It presented Pignan with a potential "engine room" ( or breeding core ) for starters seeing her bred on a 7x7 reverse-sex cross to Kentucky Derby runner-up Native Dancer better known as a sprinter. Native Dancer was labelled "The Flying Grey" with his racing style being likened to a modern day Chautauqua notable for dropping to the rear then producing memorable barnstorming last to first home straight finishes.
Native Dancer is also one superior male ancestor that is soughtafter in multiple presences to underpin modern day pedigrees with his speed influences.
Pignan's pedigree also sees her carrying linebreeding to the sharp male class influence Sir Ivor at 6x6x6 through his Lady Rebecca ( herself a daughter of large heart mare Pocahontas ) featuring in Staphanos via Deep Impact and Ivory Wand as well as son Sir Tristram, the latter two present in the pedigree of Hirondelle.
Sir Ivor is a highly influential male forebear and an excellent presence to have in balance in any pedigree.
Finally, Pignan possesses what is known in breeding circles as Filly Factors.
These are found via two daughters of a superior male ancestor and through a son and a daughter of a superior female ancestor.
The great Secretariat provides Pignan with two daughters at 7x6 namely via Six Crowns ( in Staphanos ) and Secrettame ( in Hirondelle ) whilst bluehen Natalma is present in her pedigree via son Northern Dancer and daughter Spring Adieu ( found behind Danehill in Sepoy, sire of Hirondelle ).
As a quick last mention, Pignan is also balanced to Bold Ruler at 7x7 through his son Secretariat and a rare daughter Laredo Lass ( granddam of French Deputy in Staphanos ).
Luigi Muollo, owner of Novarra Park where Staphanos stands, is already on record as saying that he was not expecting this stallion to leave 2YO Group 1 winners and that his progeny would excel once they got to 1600m and beyond as 3YO's and upwards so Pignan is real testimony of what can be achieved with speed mares' under Staphanos and the Deep Impact sireline in general.
Successful jockey Irishman Joe Doyle's first words on dismounting last Saturday at Awapuni was that he cannot wait until Pignan steps over more ground next season and with a damsireline that includes Pins, Zabeel, Zamazaan, Taipan II and Summertime why shouldn't he and Adrian Clark be full of confidence as to what the future holds.
​May it be one of deep impact!   
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