Alan Porter Analysis

Grade two performer Flashstorm is by Leading Sire and famed sire of sires Storm Cat, out of a half-sister to millionaires Geri and A.P. Arrow, from an outstanding family.

Flashstorm is bred on a similar cross to Storm Cat’s son, Forestry, sire of such as classic winner Shackleford and world-highweight Discreet Cat. Like many Storm Cat line stallions Forestry has crossed very well with mares with mares descending from Mr. Prospector through Fappiano, with Shackleford out of a mare by Unbridled, three stakes winners, one graded out of mares by Quiet American, and a stakes winner of a mare by Cahill Road (a brother to Unbridled, and three-quarters brother to Pentelicus, himself broodmare sire of a Storm Cat line grade one winner). Other branches of Fappiano to have produced stakes winners for Storm Cat line stallions include Cryptoclearance (sire of Victory Gallop, and grandsire of Candy Ride), Rubiano, Roy and Sefapiano. The cross of Storm Cat line stallions with sons and grandsons of Unbridled has also produced takes winners from daughters of Unbridled’s Song, Grindstone (sire of Birdstone), Commanchero and Red Bullet. We could also considering other sources of Unbridled, such as Broken Vow, Buddha, Drewman, Eddington, Even the Score, Empire Maker, First Defence, Half Ours, Malabar Gold, Rockport Harbor, Songandapraver, Spanish Steps and Werblin.

Numerous other branches of the Mr. Prospector line have enjoyed success under Storm Cat line stallions with similar backgrounds to Flashstorm, among them Carson City (who would be very good here, as he brings in Nijinsky II – a close relative to Storm Bird and Far North, who are both in the pedigree of Flashstorm – and who can be introduced through City Zip, Flying Chevron, Lord Carson, Five Star Day, Cuvee and Pollard's Vision); Banker’s Gold (who is out of a Nijinsky II mare) and his sire, Forty Niner (who is also available through Coronado’s Quest, Distorted Humor, Gold Fever – who might be particularly interesting – Gold Case, Roar, Twining, End Sweep, Trippi, Editor’s Note, Tactical Advantage and Luhuk); Smart Strike; Gone West (sire of Speightstown – who would give inbreeding to Storm Cat – Elusive Quality, Grand Slam, Mr. Greeley, Proud Citizen, Pembroke and in Florida, Dance Master and Double Honor, who both appear interesting on pedigree); Kingmambo (sire of Lemon Drop Kid); Conquistador Cielo and his son, Marquetry (sire of Artax), Formal Gold (by Black Tie Affair, a son of Miswaki), Smoke Glacken (by Two Punch) and Woodman. It might also be worth trying mares descending from Seeking the Gold, sire of Mutakddim, Petionville and Cape Town.

Mr. Prospector is by Raise a Native, and the Majestic Prince/Majestic Light branch of that line should also prove particularly worth introducing, particularly through Maria’s Mon (sire of Monarchos, Strong Contender and Latent Heat). Raise a Native might also be brought in through Alydar, with sources including Saratoga Six, Benchmark, Jeblar and Turkoman.

There are a number of stakes winners by stallions bred similarly to Flashstorm out of Northern Dancer line mares. Particularly appealing is the Nijinsky II branch, and we can note two stakes winners for Forestry out of mares by that horse’s grandson, Strawberry Road, who should be very good here. Other promising sources of Nijinsky II including Royal Academy and his brother Encino, Sword Dance, Sky Classic, Shadeed, Alydeed and Seattle Dancer.

Storm Cat line stallions with a background similar to Flashstorm have also sired stakes winners out of mares descending Northern Dancer through Danzig and sons Belong to Me, Dayjur and Katowice, with other sources that have provided stakes winners for Storm Cat line stallions including Anabaa, Danehill (a brother to Eagle Eyed), Boundary, Chief’s Crown, Langfuhr, Pine Bluff and Polish Navy.

By Storm Cat line stallions bred similarly to Flashstorm, there are stakes winners out of mares by Northern Dancer’s grandson Deputy Minister, and his sons French Deputy and Victory Speech, with other stakes producing versions of the Storm Cat/Deputy Minister cross coming through Awesome Again, Dehere (who should work well here, and is sire of Graeme Hall), Silver Deputy and Touch Gold. We can also note a stakes winner from a mare by Louis Quatorze (sire of Repent). Northern Dancer’s sire, Nearctic, has also worked with similarly-bred stallions through Icecapade’s sons Clever Trick (sire of Phone Trick) and Wild Again (sire of Free At Last, Milwaukee Brew, Offlee Wild, Vicar, Wild Escapade, Wild Event and Wild Rush).

The cross of Storm Cat line horses with a similar background to Flashstorm with Hail to Reason line mares has produced stakes winners from the Halo, Roberto and Stop the Music branches. From the Halo line this includes stakes winners from daughters of More Than Ready (by Southern Halo), Devil’s Bag (sire of Devil His Due, Twilight Agenda, Abaginone and Diablo) and Saint Ballado (sire of Captain Bodgit, Sweetsouthernsaint, Yankee Victor, Straight Man and Flame Thrower). Mares by Jolie’s Halo and Halo’s Image might also work. From the Roberto branch of Hail to Reason, there is a Forestry stakes winner out of a mare by Red Ransom, and the Storm Cat line has done well with most branches of Roberto, including by Kris S. (sire of Arch, Prized, You and I, Rock Hard Ten and Kissin Kris), Dynaformer, Lear Fan and Silver Hawk. Introducing the Stop the Music branch through Cure the Blues and his sons American Chance and Take Me Out also looks worthwhile.

The cross with Damascus through Gilded Time (sire of Old Topper) and Private Account (who could be introduced through Private Terms and his son, Afternoon Deelites, Personal Flag, Corporate Report, Secret Hello, Unaccounted For and Valley Crossing) has also proved to be a successful one for Storm Cat line stallions with similarities to Flashstorm.