Goldikova and Zenyatta are large heart kissing cousins

Goldikova and Zenyatta are very similar; kissing cousins from a large heart perspective.

“Large heart genes resonate very strongly all across Zenyatta’s bloodlines, making her an extremely strong candidate for possessing a larger than average sized heart.

Another powerful aspect genetically speaking, is the tail female occurrence of Hamburg, which backs the lineup with Glencoe daughters, and the almighty Lexington/Glencoe daughter nick.”

Another article of interest about Zenyatta is here.

On to Goldikova.

By Anabaa, out of Born Gold, Goldikova sports a Northern Dancer sire line, and a Nasrullah sire line on her dam’s side. She is inbred to Northern Dancer 3S x 4S, Nearco 5S x 5D x 6D, and Riverman 4s x 4d.

Since Riverman is in an X position, we’ll start with him. For X factor wonks/geeks, I recommend reading pedigrees from right to left, bottom to top. If you can start from 7 – 9 generations out, that’s even better. You will get a much better tally in your brain about the X factor possibilities handed over to an individual, and with that notion, you may see just where those possibilities dovetail themselves with the sireline. Based upon the repetition of known X factor horses, probabilities may be calculated (personally, I love to see the X chromosome connection (from the distaff side) made with the second or third sire (of the sire)).

Personally, I read male and female pedigrees the same way, and then consider the dam line of the female’s sire after the initial reading. In this way, I can calculate the dam’s influence and the sire’s influence separately. This becomes important in my own research, and in my own determination about which lines may exert ‘dominance’ when the conceptual, fetal and foal develepmental environmental conditions are ideal.

Back to Riverman on Goldikova’s dam’s side. He sired his champion daughter (winner of 7 out of 14 starts, including the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe) Gold River, out of a mare named Glaneuse. Riverman himself was by Never Bend (Nasrullah x Lalun), and out of River Lady.

Immediately, four X factor horses jump out of River Lady’s pedigree, all in X factor positions. Man O’ War, Blue Larkspur, Count Fleet and Buckup. Through the famous mare Buckup, we have Domino times two. One instance through Sweep, and one through Running Stream…

Sun Teddy is also in an X position. He is rather humble, but carries tremendous possibilities through his broodmare sire Sun Briar, his 2^nd broodmare sire Whisk Broom, his 3^rd broodmare sire Yankee, and his 4^th broodmare sire Hastings (the grand sire of Man O’ War).

These horses are genetically supported by Never Bend’s sire line. The instance of Blue Larkspur in tail female position of Never Bend may have ushered the Blue Larkspur X factor of River Lady into prominence; or, perhaps Mumtaz Begum of Never Bend’s sire, Nasrullah, attracted the expression of Domino (through Buckup) or similar genes through Whisk Broom or Yankee from the Sun Teddy line…

Previous articles have exposed the explosive capability of the Lexington/Glencoe nick. This highly charged element is abundantly present in the pedigrees of Zenyatta and Goldikova. I suspect that this nick plays a very important part in her tremendous ability. It is important to note that whether this nick is in the X position or not, it has had a tremendous influence for decades.

NOTE: although Man O’ War’s large heart possibilities primarily stem from Hermit and Pocahontas, he does carry this famous nick in his sire line through his 3^rd sire Spendthrift. Secretariat was also a huge recipient of the Lexington/Glencoe nick through Nearco, Nasrullah, and Bold Ruler. His dam side carried a large dose of the Glencoe daughter, Pocahontas, which served as a synergistic compliment…Hermit (X) was also dispersed throughout Secretariat’s pedigree…

As stated earlier, Riverman’s daughter, Gold River, was out of a mare named Glaneuse. Glaneuse’s pedigree highlights none other than Nearco as her 3^rd broodmare sire. Nearco carries the Lexington/Glencoe nick in X position through his 3^rd dam Sibola. Sibola also presents a line of Hermit X.

Through her sire Snob, Glaneuse possesses Rialto (2^nd broodmare sire of Snob), a horse often overlooked. He brings a mare named Value to the fore, and her name indicates the nature of her contribution. By Hanover and out of Keepsake, she offers Onondaga, a champion two year old out of Susan Beane. Susan Beane was by Lexington, and out of the Glencoe daughter, Sally Lewis. Great find.

Goldikova’s 2^nd broodmare sire is Lyphard, who brings in a dominant force of Pocahontas in most of his X lines.

Goldikova’s broodmare sire, Blushing Groom offers an interesting balance of Rialto. This time through a Rialto son, Wild Risk. X lines through Wild Risk primarily offer Pocohantas.

Another ‘Blushing Groom’ X chromosome possibility exists. The powerful Lexington/Glencoe nick through Lady Josephine on its way to Tudor Minstrel, Blushing Groom’s 2nd broodmare sire.

Right now, there is a tremendous sanctioning of power. And there’s more to come.

Through Anabaa, Goldikova’s sire, there is a duplication of Riverman, which ups the ante for expression. Anabaa’s line supports the L/G nick through his 3^rd broodmare sire, Kashmir (Lady Josephine on the top and bottom, non-X and X respectively).

Through Anabaa’s 4^th dam Bergame, another Rialto X possibility is found, and another Nogara (dam of Nearco) X through Niccolo Dellarca…

Through Anabaa’s broodmare sire, Gay Mecene: Sir Gaylord and Missy Baba. Shouldn’t have to say any more than that, but Sir Gaylord is of course out Secretariat’s dam, Somethingroyal (Hermit and Pocohantas Xs), and Missy Baba proudly serves up another Lady Josephine through the ‘flying filly’, Mumtaz Mahal (My Babu line). Another high dose of Pocahontas X lines are also present.

So, when we talk about ‘X chromosomes’, and what they might contain, we find that there are too many possibilities to enumerate. This is why it is easier to follow stallions, since they only have one. And that’s the one they pass along to their daughters. Anabaa may have passed the incomparable L/G nick X, but even then, either it is the Glencoe X (which produced Pocahontas), or it is the Lexington X…

It might be interesting to theorize the following: since we know that the combination of Lexington and Glencoe was tremendously successful in the past, it may be interesting to postulate that it is just as successful today.

What if Anabaa gave Goldikova a Lexington X, and Born Gold gave her a Glencoe X? When those two chromosomes combine, it seems we can expect something marvelous. It has been said (also in theory), that the Y chromosome is actually a degraded copy of the X chromosome. Perhaps, in a horse like Secretariat, the recent ‘echo’ of Lexington (Y) called out to the vitally strong Glencoe X. Who knows?

In any case, the L/G nick presents in too many great horses to be ignored. Combined with the forces of Hermit and Pocahontas, many remarkable horses have been created. In this way, Zenyatta and Goldikova are kissing cousins. Along with others.

Secretariat’s daughter, Lady’s Secret was another shining example.

This mare, an incredibly talented race mare, won over 3 million dollars in the 1980′s. Dainty and small, she was a dominant force, beating the country’s best males. She weighed approximately 900 pounds, diminutive in stature perhaps, but a heavyweight in willpower and soul.

Great Lady M, Lady’s Secret’s dam, may have had two L/G female nick X chromosomes: one from My Babu, and one from Discovery through Native Dancer. If this was so, Lady’s Secret would have inherited one of those L/G X chromosomes, and one of the X chromosomes from Secretariat (Hermit X or Pocahontas X from Somethingroyal). Whichever of those X chromosomes expressed more fully, is the root of the mystery in the genetic portion of the story.

The other mystery is ‘why’. Why does this gene, present in most (if not all) thoroughbreds, express itself more fully in one, and not the other? Environment undoubtedly plays a part. Earlier, I stated that there is a ‘conceptual’ environment. This is the place where the will of the horse plays a role in creation.

I’m not referring to the emotional state of the horse, although this is extremely important. It includes relative feelings of security and contentment. Not talking about the physical state of the horse either, because general health in this regard is considered a no brainer.

I’m talking about the horse’s ability to think; to measure, to understand his or her own Nature, and the ability to express that Nature to its fullest potential. I’m talking about the horse’s awareness of his or her own tendencies, talents, and needs. I’m talking about their sentience.

Lady’s Secret loved to run. She loved to compete. She loved what she was doing. This she did willingly and freely like her mother, and her father.

She was retired to the breeding shed at 5 and died the following year due to the complications of foaling.

Perhaps she just wanted to keep running. I realize that for many in the industry, the longest homestretch of all is the one where we might consider the thoughts and feelings of an animal. I mean, how can we do that when we don’t speak the same language? How do we do that when so much money is on the line?

It brings me to a final burning point. Breeding the best to the best alone may preserve the genetic power of the breed, but in order to truly honor the co-creative process a conscious choice must be present; for the horse. It’s part of the formula that is consistently and sadly neglected.

Breeding theories and systems have their place. But what about intuition? What about that deeper more subtle voice that floats around in quantum packages? What would happen if we tapped into that?

Call me crazy, but in my opinion, the most powerful, positive force in all of Nature would be unleashed, changing the lives of our horses and us, forever. Maybe that’s part of Zenyatta’s and Goldikova’s message…