November 2011

Always A Virgin covered 143 mares in his first season at Pepper Tree Farm in 2010 and with these mares having commenced foaling, the resulting foals have got tongues wagging.

From the moment the first of his foals’ started arriving at Pepper Tree Farm it became obvious that Always A Virgin was leaving something pretty special …. a magnificent type with instant energy and natural athleticism. It is like they knew they were born to run from day one.

This initial Stud observation was soon to be endorsed by breeders throughout all corners of Australia who have been quick to pick up the phone and provide their own glowing feedback on the stunning qualities of their own Always A Virgin foals.

One Sydney breeder telling us that he breeds both thoroughbreds and standardbreds and that his Always A Virgin foal is the best foal he has ever bred from both codes.

So where is this apparent natural athleticism and likely precocity coming from that is being passed onto his foals?

The answer to our question is more likely to lie in two areas; one an obvious one and the other a little less obvious.

Always A Virgin’s paternal sireline features his own sire Western Ideal and grandsire Western Hanover, both world-renowned for leaving precocious natural running early types ( two and three year olds ) whilst his great grandsire No Nukes was himself a very explosive two year old with blistering top end speed.

At the same time, one should not underestimate the influence of his direct maternal bloodlines where grandam, the talented grey mare Keystone Wallis, in particular, was an excellent juvenile pacing 1.55.3 as a two year old and amassing US$618,256 winning a number of races at Mohawk, Canada as a two year old including the Champlain Stakes.

Likely Breeding Crosses for Always A Virgin.

Always A Virgin carries male lines of No Nukes, Western Hanover and Gene Abbe so will appreciate mares possessing female lines of these influential forebears.

He also carries female lines of Albatross ( two ), Abercrombie, Bret Hanover, Big Towner and Overtrick hence will appreciate mares possessing male lines of these predecessors.

Mares carrying Big Towner, Albatross, Overtrick or Adios in their direct paternal sireline will afford reverse-sexing opportunities in any resultant foals by Always A Virgin.

Mares containing the presence of the broodmare gems Adora and her daughter K Nora ( Life Sign’s family ) should work well with Always A Virgin as should mares containing the presences of Wendy Hanover and daughter Wendy Sue Hanover ( Walton Hanover’s family ).

Both of these female presences should mesh favourably with Always A Virgin’s paternal bloodlines featuring Western Ideal and Western Hanover respectively whilst further back Oil Burner through Diana Streak offers an instant genetic connection to the direct maternal bloodlines of Mach Three so his daughters may also provide an attractive mating option with Always A Virgin.

Always A Virgin’s direct maternal family traces to Molly ( U39 ) by Hamlet. This is also the direct maternal family of the Abercrombie stallion Golden Greek making mares containing his presence an obvious linebreeding opportunity to Always A Virgin whilst the stallion Smog, who features as the damsire of Wilcos Kosby, makes mares by the latter obvious genetic matches to Always A Virgin.

Ken Mackay Premier Pedigrees November 2011.