Thoroughbred history is full of examples of small stallions overcoming their size for stellar stud careers, but a perception still lingers that size makes the sire. Farms are often reluctant to state that a stallion is under 16 hands due to the associated stigma.
In his book Breeding the Racehorse, renowned breeder Federico Tesio emphasised the importance of stallion selection.
“Selection is the element which has made the greatest contribution to developing the thoroughbred,” he said. “Good with good gives good, bad with bad gives bad, good with bad gives half and half.
“Selection is the element which has made the greatest contribution to developing the thoroughbred." - Federico Tesio
“(Because a stallion has multiple offspring per year and a mare only one), the selection of the male is nature’s own method of preventing a deterioration of the species. Consequently, only the best males are used for breeding.”
Because of the attributes a stallion is expected to pass on to a foal, when breeders and studmasters are selecting their stallions, they might be guided by what they want the resulting foals to look like.
Initial bias
Leading bloodstock agent Sheamus Mills believes it all comes down to the market’s desire for yearlings to be a certain size, and time and time again he has seen the industry’s deck stacked against smaller stallions in the early stages of their careers.
Bloodstock agent Sheamus Mills with trainer Mick Price
“When they first retire to stud, I’ve definitely seen a real bias against those smaller stallions,” he said. “I think it’s a result of the yearling market. If you take a small yearling to a sale, you’re going to be crucified. The same is probably true at the other extreme as well, although a horse is never likely to become overly big when they’re still a yearling.
“It’s a real anomaly in this game. History has shown that size has nothing to do with how likely a stallion is to succeed. You only have to regard Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) at the moment.
“It’s a real anomaly in this game. History has shown that size has nothing to do with how likely a stallion is to succeed." - Sheamus Mills
"There have been plenty of absolute midget stallions who have been outstanding. It doesn’t make a lot of sense, but there are a few things in the industry that don’t make sense.
"In the past, people might have been breeding horses in order to improve the breed and things like that, whereas now everyone is breeding to make money. The struggle that small stallions face at the beginning of their careers is just one of a number of strange things that result from that.”
Snitzel stands at 15.3hh
Historical considerations
Even before the commercial considerations of the modern era, size was viewed as a prized asset in a stallion – dating all the way back to the 18th century, when the legendary Eclipse (GB) (Marske {GB}) towered over his peers.
In some cases, stallions with imposing physical presence have lived up to those looks with stud careers to match. Galileo (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}) is a tick over 16 hands, and he has followed an outstanding racing career with a breathtakingly dominant reign at Coolmore Stud.
His own exceptional sire Sadler’s Wells (USA) (Northern Dancer {Can}) was also over 16 hands, while other luminaries such as Nijinsky (Can) (Northern Dancer {Can}) and Mr Prospector (USA) (Raise A Native {USA}) stood at 16.3 and 16 hands respectively. More Than Ready (USA) (Southern Halo {USA}) is 16 hands.
Outstanding American stallion Dynaformer (USA) (Roberto {USA}), who sired Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro (USA) but also excelled with turf horses including Melbourne Cup hero Americain (USA), was 17 hands.
In this part of the world, Cambridge Stud’s mighty Zabeel (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) was an imposing individual, while Danehill (USA) (Danzig {USA}) and his champion son Redoute’s Choice each topped over 16.1hh.
The legendary Zabeel was an imposing individual.
Overcoming their stature
However, despite a lack of size providing a barrier to success that can deter some buyers and studmasters, countless smaller stallions have overcome their small stature to achieve outstanding success at stud.
"I actually think small size can be a benefit in our racing conditions," explains agent Damon Gabbedy.
"Horses that mature to a smaller size tend to be more precocious as they're faster to mature, can handle more work as there is less stress on the joints, and can be nimble around our turning tracks."
"I'm a big fan of small stallions and buying their neat but strong progeny."
The influential pair of Northern Dancer (Can) (Nearco {Ity}) and his son Danzig (USA) stood at 15.2 and 15.3 hands respectively, while Danzig’s son War Front (USA) is also 16 hands.
Agent Damon Gabbedy is a fan of smaller stallions
Australia’s current record-breaking superstar Snitzel stands at 15.3, alongside his two other highest-priced barnmates who stand under 16hh - Not A Single Doubt (Redoute’s Choice) and Dundeel (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
"Their records alone are enough to dispel any bias in the marketplace against smaller stallions." - John Messara
John Messara, who stands the trio at Arrowfield, rejects the notion that a stallion’s size has any bearing on their prospects.
“When I look at a stallion prospect and think he’s ‘too small’, I only have to look at Arrowfield’s current roster to caution myself,” he said.
“Champion sire Snitzel, leading sire Not A Single Doubt and our rising star Dundeel are all around 15.3 hh, and their records alone are enough to dispel any bias in the marketplace against smaller stallions.
“The same is true of big stallions, even though we might think that Australia’s circular racetracks and generally firm surfaces would tend to work against them. Redoute’s Choice (Danehill {USA}) and Flying Spur (Danehill {USA}) were both 16.2 hh, and both were sensational Group 1 winners at two as well as champion sires.
“If I have learned nothing else during my 40 years in racing and breeding, it is that size is not an indicator of a stallion’s ability to impart the qualities we seek in a racehorse.”
