Pedigree Dynamics News Blog

One family that just keeps on giving is the Almahmoud line. The grand-dam of the legendary NORTHERN DANCER via her daughter Natalma, she is also grand-dam to the sire sensation in HALO. Natalmas grand-daughter Razyana counts DANEHILL amongst her four stakes winners. Almahmoud also heads the family of top racehorses and stallions MACHIAVELLIAN, AL SAMER, EL MOXIE, ARCTIC TERN, ORPEN and DIATRIBE. But its not only this lines stallions that are contributing to the Australian gene pool. A US-bred mare from this line, the stakes placed Needham Star (by Mt. Livermore) is helping to keep this family active in Australia. The dam of four to race for four winners, her offspring includes Tour Guide, a son of Flying Spur and now the winner of eight races. His most recent triumph was this week on the Geelong Cup card, when he recorded a gritty win as favourite, under the guidance of Damien Oliver. His trainer Gillian Heinrich has him nominated for the Blue Ribbon Foundation Sprint at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day. The mating of Needham Star with Flying Spur creates strong line breeding to Almahmoud. Flying Spur carries Danehill and a duplication of Northern Dancer. Needham Star is not only a direct descendant of Almahmoud, but her damsire Arctic Tern is a grandson of this icon. Needham Stars 3yo filly by Giants Causeway has recently won in South Africa and she has a Fastnet Rock colt to represent her at next years yearling sales. We have for sale her two year old filly by Rock of Gibraltar. Her mating carries similar line breeding to Almahmoud. Like Flying Spur, The Rock offers Danehill and a duplication of Northern Dancer to Needham Stars strong genetic background. This attractive correct fillys tabulated pedigree lights up like a Christmas tree and after her racing career, she will be an asset to a discriminating breeders mare band.