Sire Speed/Stamina Characteristics 2009

The following table classifies many of the current and recent top sires according to the predominant qualities of speed and/or stamina they transmit to their progeny.  An assignment to a category does not imply aptitudinal prepotence.  That is reserved for chefs-de-race.  Rather, the classification reflects the general character of their runners.  In many cases, the speed or stamina seen may derive from prepotent ancestors in their own pedigree; therefore, the category in which a sire appears does not correlate necessarily with where the sire might be assigned to a chef-de-race aptitudinal group.  Nevertheless, the classifications are a guide to the typical performance traits of the sire's runners, where speed is associated with shorter races, and stamina with longer races and, quite often, turf.  The table may be a useful guide in cases where chefs-de-race do not appear close up in a pedigree.   In those situations, making a mental adjustment to the Dosage Profile can be helpful in better understanding the aptitudinal makeup of the horse in question.  The five categories may be thought of as as points on a speed-stamina spectrum ranging from Dominant Speed to Intermediate Speed to Balanced Speed to Intermediate Stamina to Dominant Stamina.  Individual classifications may change from year to year, especially for the younger sires, as the number of their progeny stakes wins increases.