2016 Kentucky Derby Pedigrees: Zulu

Zulu, best of the rest behind Mohaymen in the Fountain of Youth (G2), is among the notable sons of Bernardini on the 2016 Kentucky Derby trail. Shagaf has just been the subject of a pedigree profile, while Greenpointcrusader is due for his own soon.

Bernardini figured to be a classic sire. By Hall of Famer A.P. Indy, himself a son of 1977 Triple Crown legend Seattle Slew, Bernardini reigned as the champion 3-year-old colt of 2006 after garnering the Preakness (G1), Travers (G1), and Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1).

Off to a fast start with his first crop, Bernardini sired multiple Grade 1-winning millionaires Stay Thirsty and To Honor and Serve. Stay Thirsty came close to giving Bernardini a classic success in the 2011 Belmont (G1), and went on to become the first of his sire’s back-to-back Travers winners. Alpha, involved in the 2012 Travers dead-heat, likewise ranked as a multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire.

Bernardini has also sired such high-class fillies as Rachel’s Valentina (daughter of Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra), currently on the Kentucky Oaks (G1) trail, Cavorting, Dame Dorothy, and New Zealand champion 2-year-old filly Ruud Awakening. Indeed, his offspring have had turf success abroad, as evidenced by five-time Australian Group 1 scorer Boban.

Zulu is an example of the Rasmussen Factor of inbreeding to superior females. In his case, he sports a 3x3 duplication of Broodmare of the Year Weekend Surprise, the dam of both of his grandsires – A.P. Indy and Summer Squall.

A $900,000 Fasig-Tipton Florida March 2-year-old, Zulu is the fourth stakes performer produced by his dam, the Summer Squall mare Temporada. She is responsible for Illinois-bred star Third Chance, victorious in five restricted stakes and also graded placed in the Arlington-Washington Lassie (G3); multiple Canadian stakes scorer Banner Bill; and Illinois stakes-placed Stormy Afternoon.

Temporada’s influence is extending to South Africa, where her daughter Temple Goddess (by A.P. Indy’s son Pulpit) has produced two black-type performers, led by Group 2 winner My Sanctuary. Might that be the inspiration for Zulu’s name?

Zulu’s sire and broodmare sire are both Preakness winners. Summer Squall, who took the 1990 Preakness, has sired 1999 Kentucky Derby and Preakness-winning Horse of the Year Charismatic, champion filly Storm Song, 2005 Kentucky Oaks heroine Summerly, and millionaire Summer Colony. Champions Summer Bird and Stevie Wonderboy are out of Summer Squall mares.

Temporada’s dam, Lemhi Go, romped in an off-the-turf renewal of the 1 1/2-mile La Prevoyante (G2) in 1993. Her other graded coup came in the 1992 Arlington Matron (G3). As her name implies, she is by champion older horse Lemhi Gold, himself a son of redoubtable stamina influence *Vaguely Noble.

Zulu descends from the same female line as potential Derby rival Gun Runner. Zulu’s seventh dam, Gallita, is a full sister to Gun Runner’s sixth dam, Hall of Famer Gallorette. Gallita has established her own branch of the family. Aside from producing champion 2-year-old colt Nadir, Gallita is the ancestress of Grade/Group 1 winners Northern Baby, Local Talent, Mashaallah and Folk Art.

Going further back, here’s what I wrote about Gallorette’s family:

Gallorette’s family includes 1935 Triple Crown winner Omaha and his full brother Flares, successful in the Ascot Gold Cup and Champion S. in England; champion filly Jacola, dam of 1947 Belmont-winning champion Phalanx; and 1939 Kentucky Derby and Belmont star Johnstown, who would eventually join Omaha in the Hall of Fame. In 1962, Decidedly became the third Kentucky Derby winner from this line.

 

Pedigree information courtesy of Brisnet.com (products 105E and 750, respectively).

Photo courtesy Leslie Martin/Adam Coglianese Photography.