Holmes: El Dorado Can Be Next Black Shiraz

DARYL Holmes admits it might be his last throw of the dice, but he just had to give it a try anyway.

The “throw of the dice” is Daryl giving his top class galloper El Dorado (Mepunga Blazer-Gold Vein by Djays Octane) his chance at stud.

And, no one knows better just what is needed to make it in the stud game than 77-year-old Daryl Holmes.

Daryl, you see, is the man who put his faith in Black Shiraz (Ginger-Dark Horizon) way back in the mid-1990s a dog who went to stud at $300 after just 12 race starts for seven wins and four placings.

His only unplaced effort was fourth to hall of famer Flying Amy in the Gold Coast Cup in 1995 after Black Shiraz had to be “patched up” to get to the track for the final.

Black Shiraz, of course, became a stud great siring such superstars as Bombastic Shiraz, Primo Uno, Elgrando, Hotshow Vintage, November Fury, Cyrus The Virus, Stately Bird, Pacific Sky … the list is virtually endless.

“The thing in Black Shiraz's favour was that so many Victorians knew just how fast he was,” said Daryl. “He got 100 bitches in his first 12 months and from his first 12 matings he sired two Group 1 winners.”

So, when Daryl Holmes says he is giving El Dorado his chance at stud because he believes he is the most tenacious and best temperament dog he has ever had, a fanatical chaser and from a damline that keeps tossing up stars, he shows he has great faith in him.

“I am so confident he will throw on,” said Daryl. “He and Black Shiraz are very similar dogs in their temperament and chase. His temperament is the most significant thing about him.

“But, what a chaser he has always been.”

El Dorado retires to stud off a career of 59 race starts for 25 wins and 16 placings earning $224,810. He ran third in the G1 Rookie Rebel and was a finalist in the G1 Melbourne Cup and The Phoenix. 18 of his wins were remarkably at The Meadows and Sandown. He was indeed a special race dog.

“He won his heat of the Melbourne Cup in the fastest time of the heats and he thrashed dogs like Kelsey Bale, Shipwreck and Photo Man,” said Daryl.

“But, he was also very strong and his run home times have always been enormous.”

Unfortunately, El Dorado broke his leg when falling at Sandown late last year.

“It was unfortunate because his previous four or five runs were among his best,” said Daryl.

Gold Vein's reproductive abilities are demonstrated by her quality progeny with El Dorado littermates Barista Chick 38 starts 19 wins, Sandown 29.63 Traralgon 19.49,24.84,27.60 Warragul 22.43, 25.67, Striker 28 starts 10 wins, Sandown 29.45, 34.27 Ballarat 37.95, Traralgon 27.85, Curator 22 starts 7 wins Sandown 29.30, The Meadows 34.26 Gold Vein also the dam of top bitches Sweet Petit, Sandown 29.41, Black Gemstone, Meadows 29.95 and Pepita, Sandown 29.32. 

“It's a great damline,” said Daryl. “His dam Gold Vein won nine and $47,000, her mother Pah Leeze is a litter sister to that great dog Nolen, and Gold Vein is also the dam of Pepita (by Bernardo) a finalist in the Group 1 Sapphire Crown.”

Pah Leeze is also the dam of Sharp Diamond (3rd G1 Super Stayers, finalist G2 Laurels).

Daryl Holmes says El Dorado's pedigree has similarities to Black Shiraz. “He had a mother with a strong outcross influence and so does El Dorado who has Djays Octane as his damsire,” he said.

A son of the great Barcia Bale dog Mepunga Blazer, himself a fine stud dog, El Dorado is an obvious choice for daughters of Fernando Bale. Consider the number of bitches available to El Dorado for this cross … endless.

And, the Mepunga Blazer/Fernando Bale cross is already proven via G1 Sandown Cup winner Korda and NZ staying star Blazin Master.

A reinforcement of Wheeler bloodlines will work wonders with El Dorado. His sire Mepunga Blazer is the sire of Titan Blazer who is from a daughter of Dyna Tron, and so is G1 Sapphire Crown third and G1 Australian Cup finalist Shima Classic.

El Dorado is bred on the proven Hallucinate/Where's Pedro cross coming in 4×4, but he also has a double of the US great HB's Commander.

He will be right for daughters of US star Superior Panama who has done so extraordinarily well when linked with Djays Octane in the US.

The Flying Penske cross in Djays Octane also allows for daughters of that great sire Aussie Infrared, and Schillaci's sire Hard Style Rico, to be mated with El Dorado.

The fact El Dorado's mother Gold Vein has produced a G1 class race bitch from a mating to Bernardo means his daughters are naturals for El Dorado. Bernardo daughters will be particularly suited to El Dorado. Any such mating will duplicate Premier Fantasy and this cross is found in Bernardo's star daughter Baby Jaycee.

Fabregas daughters too should be considered for El Dorado. That great WA litter that includes emerging stud dog Sunset Spitfire is by Mepunga Blazer from a daughter of Fabregas and they, like El Dorado, have Collision in their dam.

Furthermore, Gold Vein to Fabregas produced Sweet Petit (Pink Diamond and Snow Queen Winner and Black Gemstone, winner at The Meadows in 29.95. 

Daughters of Whiskey Riot could provide a special cross for El Dorado. He is by Fernando Bale and from a daughter o Collision. Doubling Collision is a highly proven cross. The dams of champion She's A Pearl and current star sprinter Morton are both in-bred to Collision.

West On Augie is by Fernando Bale form a daughter of Cosmic Rumble and the latter's dam Spiritual Rumble is a half sister to Collision. Daughters of West On Augie are naturals for El Dorado.

As Daryl Holmes says: “This dog's race record, tenacious chasing habits and temperament are fabulous. And, his damline superb. Great stud dogs have great damlines.

“I'm confident he wil get some nice bitches.”