Bar The Devil*

 Bar The Devil was a fast and versatile competitor winning against top-class competition at distances ranging from 525 to 750 yards. He won the 2007 Paddypower.com 600 and the 2008 John J. Casey 575 Consolation. He ran second in the 2007 Boylesport Dundalk Int'l 550, a Group 1 event, and made the finals of the 2006 Irish Derby, the 2007 Irish St. Leger, the Ladbrokes 600 and the Champions Stake, five Group 1 finals in all. He is from a terrific litter that includes Holyromanemperor, winner of the Group 2 2007 Droopys Kewell Diamond Stakes at Shelbourne Park, an appropriate result for a Droopys Kewell nephew, and he made the final of the Group 1 Munster Derby at Clonmel. He raised  eyebrows at Shelbourne Park when he ran a blistering 29.54 in the first round of the 2007 Irish Derby.

Unlike most Australian dogs in Ireland who are imported after their racing careers are over, Head Bound* was imported to Ireland as a pup to race, but a gracilis injury forced his early retirement. Two full brothers from a previous litter, Hotshow Ben and Hotshow Sam, both made Group 1 finals in Australia. Ben stands at stud in Ireland where he has produced 2007 Carling Puppy Classic winner Sibsey Showtime, and Sam stands in Australia where he has produced three-time Group 1 finalist Buddy Rich. Head Bound* has two fairly famous  half brothers, Brett Lee and Big Daddy Cool who have sired a large number of Group 1 finalists themselves.

Their dam Sobbing Sal was tremendous race bitch, winning the 1996 Geelong Cup at Beckley Park and the Tweeds Head Galaxy final at Border Park, and ran second in the Scheppes Melbourne Cup final. She was no less spectacular as a brood, one of Australia’s all-time best. Her sister Hot Show Deb, 2000 Victoria Brood Bitch of the Year, produced as well with Group 1 winners No Intent, Hotshow Vintage, Sideshow Dancer, Sideshow Lad, Delicate Deb, Banzini, and Top Show Belle. Wee Sal is the sister of Highly Blessed, one of Australia’s all-time greats who won multiple Group 1 finals. It would not be an exaggeration to say that this is the top-producing damline in Australia.

Head Honcho is Australia’s Sire of Sires. His productive sons include the all-conquering Top Honcho*, as well as Honcho Classic*, Go Wild Teddy, Dave's Mentor*, Split the Bill*, No Intent, and Cry Havoc.

In addition to Bar The Devil and Holyromanemperor, Staceys Delight produced Ardera Spice, runner-up in the Group 1 I.G.B. National 750 final at Shelbourne Park. Note that she is by Royal Impact*, a Cry Havoc son who is yet another fine offspring of Wee Sal. Stacey’s Delight is the littermate of Droopys Kewell, winner of two Group 1 events, the 2001 Produce Stakes at Thurles, and the 2001 Champion Stakes at Shelbourne Park, and made the finals of two more, the 2001 Irish Derby and the 2000 National Puppy Stake. He is currently Ireland’s number three sire with the likes of Droopys Maldini, Droopys Marco, and Si Senor to his credit. His sister Tinys Bud ran second to her brother in the 2001 Champion Stake and also made the final of the 2001 Irish Derby. A half-brother, Zigzag Stewart, won the Group 1 English Cesarewitch at Oxford. Not surprisingly, Perrys Pusher was named Ireland’s Brood Bitch of the Year for 2001. Further back, note that Murlens Toe is the litter sister of Murlens Slippy, winner of the Group 1 1987 Guinness 600, runner-up in the 1986 Irish Derby, and a 1986 English Greyhound Derby finalist. They are very closely related to Fortress*.

Bar The Devil’s damsire, the late Larkhill Jo, has been the premier Irish-bred sire in Ireland and the UK for the past several years, peaking at #2 in the Irish Sire Standings in 2003. In addition to Droopys Kewell, his progeny include racing sensations, Valentia Citrate* (exported to Australia), Climate Control, Like A Shot, Yeah Man, Ahane Lad* (also exported to Australia), Disguised, Larking About* and many, many others. His sire, the great Staplers Jo, was the Irish Stud Dog of the Year in 2000 and 2001.

Through Staceys Delight, Bar The Devil descends directly from the great Maythorn Pride via Slight Chill whose line in the U.S. produced track record smasher WW Apple Jax, Bluffs Run star B’s Royal Tim, Wheeling star Flying Hydrogen and Derby Lane Million winner Flying Stanley, all currently at stud. Top sires Fortress* and Dodgem By Design descend from other branches of the Maythorn Pride line.

Bar The Devil’s pedigree combines bloodlines that have been productive at the very highest level on three continents. He could sprint or stay and should be useful with U.S. bitches that have a wide array of racing aptitudes. The quality of the components of his pedigree present a number of interesting linebreeding ideas to intensify common elements in a brood’s pedigree.

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