On the eve of the Eclipse Awards, when weeks of argument about the superiority of Zenyatta and Blame will come to end, the most pressing question is … who will the big mare be bred to.
My expectation is that the short list is something like this: AP Indy, Smart Strike, Distorted Humor. Someone will shortly ask, “What about Giant’s Causeway?” I don’t especially like him for this mare, but many might.
Bernardini is good enough but doesn’t yet have enough proof on the racetrack to satisfy some. Why would anyone send a mare of this quality to a stallion who isn’t fully proven?
So it’s a very short list.
My own preference, if the mare and the choice were mine (and obviously aren’t), is Galileo. He has the class, he had exceptional cruising speed and begets this, he had outstanding closing speed and begets this, and he is a good, medium-sized, sound horse. Hard to fault, isn’t he?
Now we await the formal announcement. The envelope please.
bloodstock in the bluegrass 
I am still pitching for Zen to be bred to Curlin so the respective foals out of Zen and Rachel have a chance to duke it out mano a mano on the track like their dams did not do.
Although I understand the emotional appeal of that option, it wouldn’t work for me. Need the proven stallion. And I really like Curlin too. Maybe they should both be bred to Galileo!
If I were the Mosses, I would take a long look at Malibu Moon. It’s an A++ nick and who had a better 2010 than this guy?
Now that is an interesting suggestion! Adds speed, not limited for scope, has generally good balance. Very interesting.
Knock would be that his colts can be somewhat too heavy, needs a really careful match for weight … although I suspect Zenyatta would more than compensate for that, not being a grossly made horse herself.
Candy Ride!!!! A hell of a sire (proved it mostly with low class mares) and the stud fee is a freakin steal!! (only if breeding to race is the idea, for commercial purposes I´d go your way)
Personally, I just cannot imagine the Mosses selling one of the Big Mare’s foals.
Candy Ride is certainly getting serious speed, but how would he match a mare as big as Zenyatta? Gives me pause.
Agree with you, Galileo is the ideal choice. Moreover, she can be shipped there and back courtesy of Guinness’s Brewery, which gave them an open invitation.
Can there be any doubt she will be bred to a horse at Lane’s End? That is why she is there. Will not be Curlin – conflict of ownership.
If Malibu Moon, why not A. P. Indy? Maturity and size? Breed the best to the best and hope for the best. Scope, stamina, and class combine, and with the relationship, the nick may be there as well. Additionally, the age difference fits with some theories as well. Performance weighs in with genetics.
Has there been any further mention of Sea the Stars? Last year it was reported that the trainer was recommending him. This report was from last April:
” . . . I would love her to go to Sea The Stars,” Shirreffs told the Daily Mail. “That’s the choice I think the owners should take and I would recommend.”
Indian Charlie could be a really good match I think. He has the speed and physical soundness to match Zenyatta’s strength and compliment her stamina. Curlin would be an interesting match but I don’t think they’ll chance in on an unproven sire.
what about Tiznow? Is it a A nick?
If you’re curious, you can try the nick at http://www.enicks.com for free.
Zenyatta’s second foal by PIVOTAL.. will murder
all that crap in the Kentucky Derby of 2016.
Yours., etc..
E B.
I agree with Galileo, esp. 1st year. No foal by side and she hasn’t been at the farm long enough for the anxiety of travel to effect her. He is exceptional! With that said however, At A.P. Indy’s age one would regret not getting a foal by him. One of, if not the highest quality producing overall sire in the world today. Racehorse sire, sire of sires and broodmare sire to boot.
Alas, it was an unproven (albeit promising) first-crop sire, Bernardini. Surprising to me, especially given the excellent opinions expressed in this blog.