LOOKING to breed a stayer?

Then what do we need to do to get one. Start with a stay, is the answer.

First off, one must have a broodbitch, or a broodbitch line that is already strong. Some sires do have the ability to get stronger types, but generally if you want to breed stayers, it is best if you start with a female line that already breeds stayers.

To show just what we mean, we'll go through the pedigree of some of the best stayers this country has seen in the past year.

BLUE LORIAN

(Surf Lorian-Winsome Bluebird)

A multiple Group winner, he held his own among the best stayers in the land for the past couple of years.

His sire Surf Lorian gets strong stock.

His dam Winsome Bluebird (Lansley Bale-Winsome Duchess) was a Richmond 618m winner on the track.

Her dam Winsome Duchess was a multiple 720m winner at Wentworth Park.

Blue Lorian was also line-bred to West Cape 3x4 and while he was a sprinter, there is no doubt West Cape could easily have run 700m if he had been tested.

At stud West Cape sired a number of high class stayers.

SEEK AND DESTROY

(Surf Lorian-Miss Hanify)

Another Group winning stayer by Surf Lorian who is line bred to West Cape 3x4.

Seek And Destroy's dam Miss Hanify (Allegro Jet-Pale Mist) is also the dam of brilliant sprinter Hanify's Impact.

While Miss Hanify was primarily a sprinter, she was tested a number of times over 600m. She was placed at Albion Park but was a 620m Casino winner twice.

It is interesting that her dam Pale Mist (Leon Mal-Brindle County) was a half sister to the multiple city winning bitch Arenia Miss. At stud, Arenia Miss produced (to Solve The Puzzle) the champion staying bitch Miss Grub.

BOBBY BOUCHEAU

(Bombastic Shiraz-Dallas Gypsy)

The multiple Group 1 winning stayer, he is by a sire noted for getting strength in his offspring (unless they carry a duplication of speed influence Malawi's Prince).

His dam Dallas Gypsy (EJ's Douglas-Advert) was lightly raced but she did win over 600m at The Meadows.

Her dam Advert was an exceptional Group class stayer who won over 720m at Wenty Park, 725m at The Meadows, 715m at Sandown etc etc and was a Group finalist a number of times.

Advert was a half sister to star sprinter Head Honcho, but significantly their dam Fitzroy Lass was a daughter of Roy Trease sire of four-time Sandown Cup winner Bold Trease.

No greater stayer has lived.

DASHING CORSAIR

(Malfoy-Rose Flamenco)

The marvel. His Group 1 National Distance victory will be remembered forever. His sire Malfoy was a top class stayer winning the Gleeson & Tonta and running a track record. Malfoy's offspring, what few there are, run distance. His own damline to Many tricks and Miss Cruise is all strength.

Dashing Corsair's second dam Rose Regal is line bred to the three-quarter sisters Harper Valley and champion staying bitch National Lass. Harper Valley's litter sister National Lee was a world record holder over distance.

SLICK LEE

(Brett Lee-Goodoo Mate)

Has been a force in distance racing for the past year or more winning the Wentworth Park Gold Cup and making a number of Group finals.

His dam Goodoo Mate (Bandanna Prince-Stallatto Star) is not commercially bred but she has claims to fame. She was a Wenty Park sprint winner.

Her dam Stallatto Star (Star Title-Century Sally) was a sister to Solo Title who won over 735m and 600m at The Meadows. Another brother Skipper won the Stayers Championship at Penrith.

Bandanna Prince, damsire of Slick Lee, was a litter brother to Reckless Abandon the Wentworth Park distance track record holder who has produced the classy Frosty Fruits who in turn produced the classy stayer Pulp.

ECHELON and GRANDUER

(Mogambo-Off Springer)

The litter brothers are Group class and with the pedigree they have it is a wonder either of them ever won a sprint race at all.

Zarbo, dam of their sire Mogambo, was a top class stayer and downed Malfoy in the AWM Distance Championship, and ran a country distance record.

She is also the dam of Lady Arko a city distance track record breaker runner-up to Dashing Corsair in the Nat Distance final.

Off Springer (Flying Penske-Skullring) was a Sandown 715m, Wangaratta 650m and Warragul 699m winner. Her dam Skullring was primarily a sprinter winning 17 races but she did win over 600m at Geelong. Skullring is also second dam of Bling It On and Where's Hannibal both of who show great strength.

Off Springer has as her fourth dam Harper Valley the genetic sister to champion stayer National Lass and litter sister to record breaking stayer National Lee.

PILLOW TORQUE

(Big Daddy Cool-Abbadale Gold)

A city track record breaker and Group winner. Most of her littermates can stay as well.

Her dam Abbadale Gold was a top class WA stayer and heavily line bred to the champion stayer Bay Road Queen 4x5.

Abbadale Gold also carries star SA stayer True Temptation in her sire's female line.

Big Daddy Cool has always been able to get a stayer. Among his best have been Satanic Cash, Forty Twenty and Varvatos. That double-up of Bay Road Queen in the pedigree of Abbadale Gold and a reinforcement of it via Big Daddy Cool's sire Just The Best was always going to provide strength.

SATANIC CASH

(Big Daddy Cool-Satanic Miss)

The superstar of SA racing who dominated distance racing on his home tracks and held his own wherever he went.

His dam Satanic Cash (Go Wild Teddy-Patchwork Gem) was bred to sprint and she won 35 races including the SA St Leger. Her dam Patchwork Gem won three races and one was over 530m at Gawler. She too has Harper Valley in her damline.

SHIMAGUNI

(Primo Uno-Messines)

A sensational stayer she won the AWM Distance Cship and Chairman's Cup.

She is in-bred 4x4 to Famous Portrait who was a star stayer during her race career. Famous Portrait was also line-bred to broodbitch great Dinah Jet the dam of Take A Bow and Fairbairn Lady.

Fairbairn Lady produced Ragsie the champion stayer of his time.

It's no wonder Shimaguni could stay.

These are just a few examples, but they tell a story of strength producing strength. There are always exceptions to every rule. But when chasing strength, strength is a good place to start.