NickingSOURCE: Frank Mitchell, Nicking: proven formula fails more often than not, Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred, February 2000 If it worked for them, it will work for me. That pretty much sums up nicking - the theory of copying the mating of a successful horse to produce another successful horse. Nicking theorists believe there is a benefit to the crossing of certain horses or sire lines and successful crosses can be repeated. The most popular nick in recent times has been the Mr. Prospector/Northern Dancer nick. An example of the Mr. Prospector/Northern Dancer nick is Fusaichi Pegasus. Unbreakable
Polynesian
Black Polly
Native Dancer
Discovery
Geisha
Miyako
Raise a Native
Teddy
Case Ace
Sweetheart
Raise You
American Flag
Lady Glory
Beloved
Mr. Prospector
Nearco
Nasrullah
Mumtaz Begum
Nashua
Johnstown
Segula
Sekhmet
Gold Digger
Reigh Count
Count Fleet
Quickly
Sequence
Bull Dog
Miss Dogwood
Myrtlewood
Fusaichi Pegasus
Nearco
Neartic
Lady Angela
Northern Dancer
Native Dancer
Natalma
Almahmoud
Danzig
Crafty Admiral
Admiral's Voyage
Olympia Lou
Pas de Nom
Petition
Petitioner
Steady Aim
Angel Fever
Turn-to
Hail to Reason
Nothirdchance
Halo
Cosmic Bomb
Cosmah
Almahmoud
Rowdy Angel
Rasper II
Rambunctious
Danae II
Ramhyde
Tulyar
Castle Hyde
Bold Irish
Like all breeding theories, nicking has its supporters and detractors. Supporters argue it is an indispensable part of their breeding program while detractors say it is but a small piece of a much larger puzzle. The principles of breeding to type, considering conformation faults, and balancing attitude and racing character should carry equal, if not more, weight than nicking statistics. Common sense and good horsemanship should play a larger role than theory. |