Pedigrees 360 – What Makes a Blue Hen?

Tara Madgwick - Friday June 17

The star of the show at Royal Ascot on Day 3 was blue-blooded young stayer Kyprios, who became the third Group I winner from his blue hen dam Polished Gem when taking out the Group I Ascot Gold Cup, so we thought it might be interesting to see if the new Pedigrees 360 software could shed some light on the genetic magic behind this exceptional family.

A homebred for Moyglare Stud, four year-old Galileo stallion Kyprios is the final foal from revered matriarch Polished Gem, who has had 10 foals to race and all are winners, eight of them stakes-winners as listed below:

Kyprios (Galileo) G1

Search for a Song (Galileo) G1

Free Eagle (High Chaparral) G1

Custom Cut (Notnowcato) G2

Sapphire (Medicean) G2

Valac (Dark Angel) G3

Falcon Eight (Galileo) Listed

Advertisement

Amma Grace (Galileo) Listed

A winner over 7f at Leopardstown at two from just five starts, Polished Gem is a full sister to Group I winner Dress to Thrill, who was a much better racehorse on the track, but has failed to match the deeds of her sister as a broodmare.

The Pedigrees 360 profile on KYPRIOS reveals he has three very rare components to his pedigree.

1. He has four clusters 'off the charts', a pattern very rare in modern racehorses

2. His dominant ancestor back to nine generations is TEDDY, quite extraordinary to see 19 duplications of TEDDY in a modern day horse

3. His dam, the blue hen POLISHED GEM, also has an extraordinary profile, also having three clusters 'off the charts'. Other blue hens that also have three or four clusters off the charts include SOMETHINGROYAL, LA TROIENNE, and DANCING SHOW

You can see from the chart below that POLISHED GEM has high duplications of not just one or two but FOUR dominant ancestors TEDDY, FAIR PLAY, SPEARMINT, and AJAX, unheard of in modern mare pedigrees. It does explain her potency, and it's not just with GALILEO, she has also produced the Group winner SAPPHIRE by MEDICEAN which is a completely different sireline.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Vendors Count Down to Historic NZ National Yearling Sale
Some of the most respected names in the New Zealand thoroughbred industry will be out in force at Karaka over the next few days during the milestone 100th edition of the National Yearling Sale.
Breeding To Win- 2026 G3 Blue Diamond Preview Fillies
The road to the Blue Diamond is paved with big dreams and their reality is put to the test this Saturday when the babies of both sexes step out in the 1000m Blue Diamond Previews and if you love a filly with a big pedigree read on!
Inglis Challenge Moves to Wagga Gold Cup Carnival
The 2026 edition of the $200,000 Inglis Challenge for 2YOs will be run on Wagga Gold Cup Day at the Murrumbidgee Turf Club (MTC) on Friday May 1.
Hedged Wins G2 Australia Stakes – Track Record
A stakes-winner at Sandown on Boxing Day and then down the track at his next start when unplaced, connections elected to ‘roll the dice’ on talented Capitalist sprinter Hedged and give him his shot in the $350,000 Group II MVRC Australia Stakes (1200m) and were well rewarded.
Hello Youmzain 2YO Set to Star for Sharrock
Saturday is shaping to be a busy day for Allan Sharrock, with stakes assignments both at home and away for the New Plymouth trainer.
I Am Invincible Half-Sister To G1 Winner Manaal Breaks Maiden
Fourth on debut back in August, Michael Freedman’s 3yo I Am Invincible filly Rajwa was required to fight late, but the half-sister to G1 winner Manaal (Tassort) had too much in hand, breaking her maiden at Canterbury on Friday night for breeder/owner Emirates Park.
Inglis Millennium Order of Entry
Inglis have released an order of entry for the $2million Inglis Millennium to be run on February 7 at Randwick and two of the horses in the Top 20 won barrier trials at Warwick Farm on Thursday morning.
First Stakes Success For Spirit Of Boom Mare Liquor
The outsider of four runners in Friday night’s Listed GCTC Goldmarket (1100m) for Queensland’s Champion trainer Tony Gollan, 6yo Spirit Of Boom mare Liquor gave nothing else a chance, charging clear after leading throughout to record her first black type victory.
Yulong Invest in Another Star Kiwi Filly
Yulong Investments have furthered their position among New Zealand’s racing ranks this week with the purchase of eye-catching Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) winner Ohope Wins.
Kinnaird Looking to Extend Te Akau Dominance
The Karaka Millions twilight meeting is always a key focus for Te Akau Racing, and they are set to have another strong hand in this year’s edition.