We have, for a long time now, been able to talk about there being two major branches of the mighty Danzig (by Northern Dancer) sire line, and there are no signs yet that those Danehill and Green Desert lines may be dimming. There was, however, always the possibility that one of his late sons might step forward to join that pair, and both Hard Spun and War Front emerged as the likeliest contenders.

It is still a bit early to claim either is the progenitor of a line, but with Group/Grade 1-siring stallions The Factor and Declaration Of War among his early sire sons, and his current freshmen including the promising War Command, the signs are positive that Claiborne Farm’s Grade 2-winning sprinter War Front may indeed achieve the feat.
​
Due Diligence is another of his talented sons, achieving a 120 rating from Timeform as a three-year-old despite never winning in pattern company, and the Whitsbury Manor Stud resident has been a popular choice with breeders. There are 79 in his first crop.

He began his career in the USA and was an eight-length debut winner over five and a half furlongs on turf at Saratoga in mid-August of his juvenile season. He was beaten by that same margin when fourth to subsequent Grade 1 star Bobby’s Kitten in an eight-and-a-half-furlong Grade 3 at Belmont Park on his only other outing for the Todd Pletcher stable, and a few months later he crossed the Atlantic to join the team at Ballydoyle.

He was third in a seven-furlong listed contest at Dundalk first time out, followed a six-furlong Naas handicap score with an easy listed success over that course and distance almost three weeks later, and then chased home Slade Power in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. That was to prove a career highlight as he finished unplaced in four runs at four, on his return from a lengthy absence.

A $190,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale graduate whose dam, Bema (by Pulpit), won an eight-and-a-half-furlong listed contest at Aqueduct, Due Diligence is out of a half-sister to the dam of mile Grade 2 scorer Dancinginherdreams (by Tapit) and to the grandam of this year’s Group 1 2000 Guineas runner-up Tip Two Win (by Dark Angel).

His grandam, Dhaka (by Icecapade), is one of three stakes winners out of Cloudy Day Sunny (by Buckaroo), who is a winning half-sister to Grade 1 Oak Tree Invitational Handicap and Grade 1 Hollywood Invitational Handicap scorer Both Ends Burning (by Nalees Man), and so comes from a branch of the family of New Zealand champion Sangster (by Savabeel) whose Group 1 wins include the Victoria Derby.

If you go back another generation then you will find that Star Game (by Pia Star) – the fourth dam of Due Diligence – was a half-sister to Grade 1 Swaps Stakes winner Hyperborean (by Icecapade), who was somewhat closely related to Dhaka.

Due Diligence looks a likely candidate to get most of his juvenile winners in the second half of the season and to become a source of horses who prove best in the broad five to 10-furlong range as three-year-olds and older horses.

DUE DILIGENCE (USA) - b.2011 - War Front - Bema, 3 wins inc Lackan Stakes (L), 2nd Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Gr1), 3rd Patton Stakes (L). Sire in England. First foals in 2017.

YEARLINGS CATALOGUED
​Bc - Ahwahnee (by Compton Place)     Tatts IRE     September     not sold
Bc - Amazed (by Clantime)     Tattersalls     October     95,000gns
Bc - Amber Heights (by Kyllachy)     Tattersalls     October     800gns
Bf - Amitola (by Choisir)     Tattersalls     October     
Bc - Aubrietia (by Dutch Art)     Goffs UK     August     not sold
Bc - Audrey Brown (by Mind Games)     Goffs     February     €1,000 (p/s)
Bc - Audrey Brown (by Mind Games)     Goresbridge     July     not sold
Bc - Audrey Brown (by Mind Games)     Goffs     November     
Bc - Belle Of Honour (by Honour And Glory)     Tatts IRE     September     not sold
Bc - Bling Bling (by Indian Ridge)     Goffs     October     withdrawn
Bc - Brick Tops (by Danehill Dancer)     Tatts IRE     September     €30,000
Bf - Bright Morning (by Storm Cat)     Tattersalls     October     
Bc - Chicklade (by Firebreak)     Tatts IRE Ascot     September     £10,000
Bf - Chili Run (by Hurricane Run)     Tattersalls     October     2,000gns
Bc - Crystal Moments (by Haafhd)     Tatts IRE     September     €14,000
Bc - Delantera (by Lawman)     Arqana     August     €30,000
Bf - Diapsaon (by Mull Of Kintyre)     Tattersalls     October     ​
Bc - Dubai Legend (by Cadeaux Genereux)     Tattersalls     October     not sold
Bc - Elysee (by Fantastic Light)     Tatts IRE     September     not sold
Brc - Eve (by Rainbow Quest)     Tatts IRE     September     €3,000
Bc - Fifty (by Fasliyev)     Goffs     November     
Bf - Free Entry (by Approve)     Arqana     August     €5,000
Bc - Frequent (by Three Valleys)     Tattersalls     October     
Bf - Frozen Princess (by Showcasing)     Tatts IRE     September     €5,000
Bc - Her Honour (by Shamardal)     Tattersalls     October     
Bf - Jollification (by Acclamation)     Tattersalls     October     
Bc - Jules (by Danehill)     Tatts IRE Ascot     September     £3,500
Bc - Kointreau (by Desert King)     Arqana     August     €16,000
Bf - Kozmina Bay (by Notnowcato)     Goffs     November     ​
Bc - Lady Sledmere (by Barathea)     Tattersalls     February     not sold
Bc - M’selle (by Elnadim)     Tatts IRE Ascot     September     not sold
Bc - Malelane (by Prince Sabo)     Goffs UK     August     £20,000
Bc - Midnight Pearl (by Woodman)     Goffs UK     August     £2,500
Bc - Miss Meticulous (by Bahamian Bounty)     Tattersalls     October     
Bc - Molly Mello (by Big Shuffle)     Tattersalls     October     
Grc - Moss Likely (by Clodovil)     Tatts IRE     September     not sold
Bf - Motheeba (by Mustanfar)     Osarus     September     €9,000
Bf - Nizhoni (by Mineshaft)     Goffs UK     August     £10,000
Bf - Nolas Lolly (by Lomitas)     Tattersalls     February     2,200gns
Bc - Our Faye (by College Chapel)     Goffs UK     August     £35,000
Bc - Peyto Princess (by Bold Arrangement)     Tattersalls     October     23,000gns
Bf - Phantom Spirit (by Invincible Spirit)     Tattersalls     October     
Bc - Primo Lady (by Lucky Story)     Tattersalls     October     65,000gns
Bc - Queens Park (by King’s Best)     Tattersalls     October     
Bf - Random (by Shamardal)     Goffs UK     August     not sold
Bc - Red Mischief (by Red Clubs)     Goffs UK     August     £30,000
Brc - Risk A Look (by Observatory)     Goffs UK     August     £16,000
Bf - Roodle (by Xaar)     Tattersalls     October     not sold
Bc - Rosa Luxemburg (by Needwood Blade)     Goffs UK     August     £3,000
Bf - Satsuma (by Compton Place)     Goffs UK     August     £35,000
Bf - Serene Dream (by Oasis Dream)     Goffs     February     €1,000
Bc - Shifting Moon (by Kheleyf)     Goffs UK     August     
Bc - Silent Secret (by Dubai Destination)     Tattersalls     October     40,000gns
Grf - Skiing (by Sakhee’s Secret)     Goffs UK     August     not sold
Bc - Small Fortune (by Anabaa)     Goffs UK     August     not sold
Bf - Solfilia (by Teofilo)     Goffs     February     €5,000 (p/s)
Bf - Solfilia (by Teofilo)     Goffs     October     €15,000
Bc - Spritzeria (by Bigstone)     Goffs UK     August     £10,000
Bf - Starbotton (by Kyllachy)     Goffs     February     €3,000
Bf - Strawberry Leaf (by Unfuwain)     Goffs     November     
Bc - Sugar Beet (by Beat Hollow)     Tattersalls     October     
Bf - Sunny York (by Vale Of York)     Tattersalls     October     
Bc - Sweet Alabama (by Johannesburg)     Tatts IRE     September     not sold
Bf - Szabo’s Art (by Excellent Art)     Goffs UK     August     £10,000
Bc - Tafawut (by Nayef)     Tattersalls     October     
Bc - Think Snow (by Giant’s Causeway)     Goffs     October     not sold
Bf - Three Ducks (by Diktat)     Tattersalls     October     
Bc - Triveni (by Lando)     Goffs UK     August     £4,000
Bc - Unwrapit (by Tapit)     Goffs UK     August     £10,000
Bf - Weisse Socken (by Acclamation)     Goffs UK     August     £22,000
Bf - Yankee Belle (by Yankee Gentleman)     Tatts IRE Ascot     September     not sold

Danzig (by Northern Dancer) was one of the world's greatest stallions and there are two major branches of his line dominant in Europe, those forged by Danehill and Green Desert.

It is too early yet to know a third one might develop from among his final sons to go to stud, but with an ever-growing list of pattern winners on both sides of the Atlantic, and with his initial stallion sons including notable second-crop sire The Factor (Grade 1 winner in his first crop) and freshman Declaration Of War (sire of Group 3 winner Actress), there is a chance that War Front could achieve that feat.

War Command was among his early racing stars in Europe and the Timeform 120p-rated juvenile star was one of the most popular new stallions of 2015, covering 152 mares at Coolmore Stud. His first foals made up to 100,000gns.

He made a winning debut over seven furlongs at Leopardstown in early June, took the Group 2 Coventry Stakes by six lengths, added a three-length score in the Group 2 Futurity Stakes and rounded off the year with defeat of Cable Bay in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes. His only defeat that year was a shock third-place finish to Sudirman in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes.

War Command ran only three times as a three-year-old, earning a Timeform rating of 119 despite not making the frame in any of those appearances. His best placing was fourth behind Kingman in the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes at Ascot, in which he was beaten by three and three-quarter lengths.

A half-brother to the Group 3 Prix de Conde scorer Naval Officer (by Tale of The Cat), War Command is the best of nine winners out of the Grade 2 E P Taylor Stakes scorer Wandering Star (by Red Ransom), a full-sister to the dam of New Zealand's 2011/12 juvenile champion and subsequent classic star Rollout The Carpet (by Holy Roman Emperor).

His grandam, Beautiful Bedouin (by His Majesty), was an unraced daughter of the Prix Jacques le Marois heroine Gris Vitesse (by Americo) and that made her a half-sister to the dual Derby-placed pattern scorer and leading sire Silver Hawk (by Roberto).

Having a successful stallion in the family augurs well for War Command's prospects – especially when that classic sire is somewhat closely related to his dam, Wandering Star – and, of course, this is added to the attraction of him being a Group 1-winner by a leading son of Danzig.

War Command looks like a leading candidate for 2018's champion freshman sire title race and, if he lives up to the promise of his pedigree, he could become a source of classic and other top performers at around eight to 10 furlongs.

WAR COMMAND (USA) – b.2011 – War Front – Wandering Star, 4 wins inc Dewhurst Stakes (Gr1), Futurity Stakes (Gr2), Coventry Stakes (Gr2), 3rd Phoenix Stakes (Gr1). Sire in Ireland. First foals in 2016.

YEARLINGS CATALOGUED:
​bf - Abama Lady (by Mr Greeley)     Goffs     Feb     €1,500
bf - Abama Lady (by Mr Greeley)     Goffs     Oct     €30,000
bf - Acts Out Loud (by Mr Greeley)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €7,500
bc - Aguinaga (by Machiavellian)     Tattersalls     Oct     withdrawn
bc - Aguinaga (by Machiavellian)     Tattersalls     Nov     6,000gns
bc - Alland (by Teofilo)     Goffs     Sept     €50,000
bc - Amor Fatal (by Kheleyf)     Goffs UK     Aug     not sold
bc - Amzara (by Montjeu)     Goffs     Feb     withdrawn
bc - Archina (by Arch)     Goffs UK     Aug     £26,000
bf - Areeda (by Refuse To Bend)     Tattersalls     Oct     140,000gns
bf - Art Fair (by Alzao)     Goffs     Oct     withdrawn
bc - Asgardella (by Duke Of Marmalade)     Goffs UK     Aug     not sold
​bc - Asgardella (by Duke Of Marmalade)     BBAG     Oct     €15,000
bf - Attracted To You (by Hurricane Run)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €50,000
bc - Aurelia (by Rainbow Quest)     Tattersalls     Oct     ​33,000gns
bf - Boundless Joy (by Montjeu)     Goffs     Feb     withdrawn
bf - Boundless Joy (by Montjeu)     Goffs     Oct     €8,500
bf - Causeway Queen (by Giant's Causeway)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €35,000
bc - Celestial Dream (by Oasis Dream)     Goffs UK     Aug     £26,000
bc - Chantry (by Galileo)     Tattersalls     Oct     not sold
bc - Chatham Islands (by Elusive Quality)     Goffs     Sept     €60,000
grf - China In My Hands (by Dark Angel)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €35,000
bc - Dandia (by Teofilo)     Goffs     Feb     not sold
bf - Darsan (by Iffraaj)     Goffs     Oct     €5,500
bf - Deora De (by Night Shift)     Tattersalls     Oct     14,000gns
bc - Divine Grace (by Definite Article)     Tattersalls     Nov     10,000gns
bc - Divisme (by Elusive Quality)     Tattersalls     Oct     52,000gns
bf - Doctors Nurse (by Kingmambo)     Arqana     Aug     €55,000
bf - Drifting Mist (by Muhtathir)     Tattersalls     Oct     40,000gns
bf - Dundel's Spirit (by Invincible Spirit)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €42,000
bc - Emeralds Spirit (by Rock of Gibraltar)     Tattersalls     Oct     not sold
bc - Fabulouslyspirited (by Selkirk)     Osarus     Sept     €30,000
bc - Fikrah (by Medicean)     Goffs UK     Aug     £40,000
bc - Final Opinion (by King's Theatre)     Goffs     Sept     €14,000
​bf - Flying Finish (by Priolo)     Tattersalls     Oct     not sold
bf - Foreplay (by Lujain)     Goffs UK     Aug     £92,000
grc - Glowing Star (by Clodovil)     Tattersalls     Oct     32,000gns
bc - Glympse (by Spectrum)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €11,000
bc - Gold Bubbles (by Street Cry)     Goffs     Sept     €100,000
bf - Hairicin (by Hurricane Run)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €16,000
bc - Hi Katriona (by Second Empire)     Goffs     Sept     €26,000
bf - Highindi (by Montjeu)     Goffs     Feb     ​not sold
bf - Highlindi (by Montjeu)     Goffs     Sept     ​€40,000
bc - Histoire De Jouer (by Kaldounevees)     Arqana     Aug     €35,000
bf - Holy Alliance (by Holy Roman Emperor)     Goffs     Oct     ​withdrawn
bc - Icing (by Polar Falcon)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €19,000
bf - Intapeace (by Intikhab)     Goffs     Sept     not sold
bc - Kotdiji (by Mtoto)     Goffs     Sept     €62,000
bc - Laka (by Oasis Dream)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €27,000
bc - Lana Girl (by Arch)     Arqana     Aug     €135,000
bc - Lesotho (by Excellent Art)     Goffs     Sept    not sold 
bf - Lisselan Diva (by Barathea)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €18,000
bc - Lumiere Noire (by Dashing Blade)     Tattersalls     Oct     withdrawn
bc - Lumiere Noire (by Dashing Blade)     Tattersalls     Nov     withdrawn
bc - Mackenzie's Friend (by Selkirk)     Goffs UK     Aug     £30,000 (p/s)
bf - Mad About The Girl (by Excellent Art)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €10,500 (p/s)
bf - Madhulika (by Marchand De Sable)     Arqana     Aug     not sold
bc - Means Of Assent (by Empire Maker)     Arqana     Aug     not sold
bf - Megaspiel (by Singspiel)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     withdrawn
bf - Megaspiel (by Singspiel)     Tattersalls     Nov     14,000gns
bf - Minnie Hazel (by Excellent Art)     Goffs UK     Aug     £3,500 (p/s)
bc - Miss Crystal (by Montjeu)     Goffs UK     Aug     £22,000
bc - Monzza (by Montjeu)     Tattersalls     Oct     not sold
bc - Mooching Along (by Mujahid)     Goffs UK     Aug     £95,000
grf - Morning Jewel (by Dalakhani)     Goffs     Sept     not sold
bc - Natural Choice (by Teofilo)     Goffs UK     Aug     £26,000
bc - New Plays (by Oratorio)     Goffs     Sept     ​withdrawn
bf - Nizhoni (by Mineshaft)     Tattersalls     Oct     33,000gns
bf - Nouvelle Lune (by Fantastic Light)     Tattersalls     Oct     not sold
bf - Olvia (by Giant's Causeway)     Arqana     Aug     €60,000
bc - Paradise Place (by Compton Place)     Goffs UK     Aug     £18,000
bc - Parsley (by Zebedee)     Goffs UK     Aug     £75,000
bc - Pearl Magic (by Speightstown)     Tattersalls     Oct     42,000gns
bf - Pina Colada (by Sabrehill)     Goffs     Sept     €16,000
bc - Ponte Sanangelo (by Authorized)     Arqana     Aug     €42,000
bf - Portrait of A Lady (by Peintre Celebre)     Goffs     Sept     not sold
bf - Princess Patsky (by Mr Greeley)     Goffs UK     Aug     £42,000
bf - Regatta (by Layman)     Arqana     Oct     not sold
bf - Regency Girl (by Pivotal)     Goffs UK     Aug     £95,000
bc - Retiens La Nuit (by Grand Slam)     Arqana     Oct     not sold
​bf - Samya (by Invincible Spirit)     SGA     Sept     €70,000
bf - Silkenveil (by Indian Ridge)     Tattersalls     Oct     16,000gns (p/s)
bf - Skysweeper (by Hurricane Run)     Arqana     Aug     €30,000
grc - Sopran Enery (by Montjeu)     Tattersalls     Oct     withdrawn
​bf - Star of Gibraltar (by Rock of Gibraltar)     Goffs UK     Aug     £40,000
bf - Starchy (by Cadeaux Genereux)     Goffs     Sept     ​€3,000
bf - Starlight Princess (by Mastercraftsman)     Tattersalls     Oct     4,000gns (p/s)
bf - Strawberry Fledge (by Kingmambo)     Goffs     Sept     €300,000
brc - Summer Bliss (by Green Desert)     Tattersalls     Oct     not sold
bc - Tina Donizetti (by Monsun)     Tattersalls     Oct     38,000gns
bc - Todber (by Cape Cross)     Tattersalls     Oct     52,000gns
bf - Tohaveandtohold (by Pivotal)     Tattersalls     Oct     40,000gns
bc - Xarzee (by Xaar)     Goffs     Sept     ​€12,000
bc - Zeyran (by Galileo)     Goffs UK     Aug     £32,000

A leading turf juvenile who won the classic trial Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at three, Soldat is a son of the hugely popular War Front (by Danzig), a stallion who has a leading profile in both the USA and Europe. This could make him a candidate to get some talented horses on both continents.

He stands at Woodford Thoroughbreds in Florida, he covered 124 mares in his first season and 112 in his second. His earliest sales yearlings met with mixed response, but there was a $155,000 Ocala filly among them.

Soldat is out of Le Relais (by Coronado's Quest), who is an unraced half-sister to Canadian Grade 3 scorer Mulrainy, and her dam Malbay (by Apalachee) was a talented juvenile in that country. The Grade 2 American Derby winner Pine Dance (by Pine Bluff) appears under a branch of the fourth generation of the pedigree, but there is nothing to give us an indication of Soldat's sire potential.

SOLDAT (USA) – b/br.2008 – War Front – Le Relais, 4 wins inc Fountain of Youth Stakes (Gr2), With Anticipation Stakes (Gr3), 2nd Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (Gr2), Pilgrim Stakes (Gr3). Sire in USA. First foals in 2015.

YEARLINGS CATALOGUED (updated)
c – Accent (by Pulpit)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     not sold
c – Allegation (by Closing Argument)     Keeneland     Sept     $130,000
f – An Absolute Ten (by Rock Hard Ten)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
c – Ardara (by Arch)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     $20,000
f – Baldomera (by Doneraile Court)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     $155,000
c – Bari's Pulpette (by Pulpit)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     withdrawn
c - Bari's Pulpette (by Pulpit)     Fasig-Tipton KY    Oct    $13,000
c – Bella Couture (by Pulpit)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     $6,000
f – Blue Rage (by Horse Chestnut)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     $1,200
c – Can Rianne (by Gulch)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     not sold
f – Cheyenne Queen (by Yonaguska)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     $3,500
f – Dandy Dulce (by Dixieland Heat)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     $100,000
c – Days Like This (by Congrats)     Keeneland     Sept     $35,000
f – Demetra's Love (by Tamayaz)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     withdrawn
c – Doloris (by Yes It's True)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     $30,000
f – Energizing (by Smarty Jones)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     $1,000
f – Gale Warning (by Unbridled's Song)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     withdrawn
f  - Gale Warning (by Unbridled's Song)     Fasig-Tipton KY    Oct    $2,500
c - Glass Hat (by Dehere)     Fasig-Tipton KY    Oct    not sold
c – Gold Lady (by Elusive Quality)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     withdrawn
c - Gold Lady (by Elusive Quality)     Fasig-Tipton KY    Oct    not sold
c – Goodgollymissdolly (by Pleasant Tap)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     $3,700
f – Grazettes Muchacha (by D'Wildcat)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     withdrawn
c – Gulch Affair (by Gulch)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     $12,000
f – Hong Kong Lake (by Friends Lake)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     $2,000
f – Indy Crown (by Shaniko)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     not sold
f – Lady Trippi (by Trippi)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     $6,000
c - Montessa (by Montbrook)     Fasig-Tipton KY    Oct    $6,000
f – My Favorite Rose (by Favorite Trick)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     $2,500
c – Oakwood Park (by Strong Hope)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     withdrawn
c – Pearl Esque (by Peace Rules)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     not sold
f – Perfectly Wild (by Forest Wildcat)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     $4,000
f – Point Me Home (by Point Given)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     $7,000
c – Polka Dot Miss (by Pentelicus)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     $6,500
f – Praviana (by Tapit)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     $1,000
c – Princess Quinn (by Grand Slam)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     withdrawn
c – Rebooted (by Mr Greeley)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     not sold
f – Rein In Avaricity (by Include)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     $7,500
c – Revengeful Pleasure (by Stephen Got Even)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     $65,000
c – Romantic Cuvee (by Cuvee)     Keeneland     Sept     $80,000
c - She's A Goldmine (by Smart Strike)     Fasig-Tipton KY    Oct    $30,000
c – Sky's Honor (by Double Honor)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     $3,000
c – Starship Shrew (by Shakespeare)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     not sold
f – Storm Mesa (by Sky Mesa)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     $100,000
f – Suite Ten (by Rock Hard Ten)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     not sold
c – Taker Home (by Vindication)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     $6,500
f – Tapisdontlie (by Tapit)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     not sold
f - Thunder Way (by Thunder Gulch)     Fasig-Tipton KY    Oct    $25,000
c - Treasured Freedom (by Open Forum)     Fasig-Tipton KY    Oct    ​$10,000
c – Trolley's Last (by Fusaichi Pegasus)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     $5,200
f – Unicorn Kid (by Lemon Drop Kid)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     withdrawn
f – Wild Mocha (by Medaglia d'Oro)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     withdrawn

Claiborne Farm stallion War Front (by Danzig) has established himself as a major sire in North America and in Europe and he is joined at that famous Kentucky base by his Grade 1-winning son Data Link. Having covered 121 mares in his first season and 122 in his second, this popular horse will not be short of representatives.

His stakes-winning dam Database (by Known Fact) won six times from three to five years of age and his stakes-placed sibling Wiki (by Arch) got eight wins at four and five. His dam's dual stakes-winning full-sister Vespers won six times from three to six years of age, getting her listed wins at eight and nine furlongs, and that mare's star son also showed his best later in life.

Hymn Book (by Arch), whose career earnings fell just marginally short of the $1 million mark, won eight of his 26 starts, he was a Grade 1-placed dual stakes winner at five, took the Grade 1 Donn Handicap over nine furlongs at Gulfstream Park at six and was multiple Grade 2-placed at seven.
 
Third dam Songlines (by Diesis), a multiple stakes winner who was placed in the Grade 2 Diana Handicap and Grade 2 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes, did all of her winning from three to five, and her high-class sprinting half-brother Binalong (by Known Fact), a Grade 2-placed multiple stakes winner, won eight times from two to five years of age.
 
Their sibling Badawi (by Diesis) was a stakes-placed sprinter in England and it is she who has provided the most notable two-year-old in the family. The lightly-raced Badminton (by Zieten) won the Listed October Stakes over seven furlongs as a three-year-old, but at two she was runner-up in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York and finished third in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket, both races won by Carry On Katie.
 
It seems likely that quite a few of Data Link's progeny will find their way to Europe, given how popular his sire is here, but although War Front is often associated with top juveniles, this stallion won just one of his four starts at that age, three from four at three, and his blacktype form came at four and five. This does not mean that he will fail to get some talented two-year-olds, but it may suggest that his progeny will be less precocious than those of his own sire.

DATA LINK (USA) – b.2008 – War Front – Database, 8 wins inc ​Maker's 46 Mile Stakes (Gr1), Citation Handicap (Gr2), Monmouth Stakes (Gr2), Canadian Turf Stakes (Gr3), 2nd Maker's 46 Mile Stakes (Gr1), Bernard Baruch Handicap (Gr2), 3rd Canadian Turf Stakes (Gr3). Sire in USA. First foals in 2015.

​YEARLINGS CATALOGUED (updated)
f – A Bit of Pressure (by High Yield)     Keeneland     Sept    not sold
f – Antinous (by Street Cry)     Keeneland     Sept    $3,000
c – Arch Enemy (by Arch)     Keeneland     Sept    $65,000
c – Archetype (by Arch)     Keeneland     Sept    $5,000
c – Auntie Boo (by Fusaichi Pegasus)     Keeneland     Sept    $18,000
c – Beautiful Affair (by Rock Hard Ten)     Keeneland     Sept    $18,000
c – Blazing Whip (by Street Boss)     Keeneland     Sept    not sold
f – Busy Listening (by Dehere)     Keeneland     Sept    $5,000
c – Caller Trust (by Trust N Luck)     Fasig-Tipton NY     Aug     $35,000
c – Celtic Gift (by Van Nistelrooy)     Keeneland     Sept    $9,000
c – Croon (by Indian Charlie)     Keeneland     Sept    $155,000
f - Desi Girl (by Silver Train)     Fasig-Tipton KY    Oct    withdrawn
f - Devoted Gal (by Greeley's Galaxy)     Fasig-Tipton KY    Oct    $6,200
c – Dignified Air (by Grand Slam)     Keeneland     Sept    $50,000
c – Dixie Crisp (by Dixieland Band)     Keeneland     Sept    $6,000
f – Dynamite Dame (by El Prado)     Keeneland     Sept    $2,500
c – Elocution (by Mutakddim)     Barretts (Del Mar)     Aug     $22,000
c – Elusive Hope (by Elusive Quality)     Keeneland     Sept    withdrawn
f - Fifth Avenue Doll (by Marquetry)     Tattersalls     Nov     23,000gns
f – Find The Humor (by Sharp Humor)     Keeneland     Sept    $200,000
f - Galileo's Star (by Lil E. Tee)     Fasig-Tipton KY    Oct    ​not sold
f – Gingham And Lace (by Kris S)     Keeneland     Sept    $7,200
c – Gozen's Gold (by First Samurai)     Keeneland     Sept    withdrawn
c – Informative Style (by Dayjur)     Keeneland     Sept    $57,000
f – Jinny Jump Up (by Jump Start)     Keeneland     Sept    $65,000
f – Katy Smiles (by Limit Out)     Keeneland     Sept    $14,000
c – La Laja (by El Prado)     Keeneland     Sept    $75,000
f – Lesseroftwoevils (by Dixie Union)     Keeneland     Sept    $20,000
f – Love Torch (by El Prado)     Keeneland     Sept    $3,200
f - Lovely Reward (by Gulch)     Fasig-Tipton KY    Oct    $14,000
c – Maggie d'Oro (by Medaglia d'Oro)     Keeneland     Sept    $13,000
c – Magical Kid (by Lemon Drop Kid)     Keeneland     Sept    $10,000
c – Malaysia (by Quiet American)     Keeneland     Sept    $20,000
f – Mankai Blossom (by First Samurai)     Keeneland     Sept    $1,200
f – Maria's Legend (by Maria's Mon)     Keeneland     Sept    $20,000
f – Mirjah (by Elusive Quality)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     withdrawn
f – Miss Clare (by Johannesburg)     Keeneland     Sept    not sold
f – Miss Patchouli (by Bernardini)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     $90,000
c – Miz Topgallant (by Mizzen Mast)     Keeneland     Sept    $42,000
f – Nicer Then Ever (by Pulpit)     Keeneland     Sept    $1,500
c – Nippy (by Pulpit)     Keeneland     Sept    $180,000
c – Nite In Rome (by Harlan's Holiday)     Keeneland     Sept    $75,000
f – On The Map (by Eddington)     Keeneland     Sept    $77,000
f – Patronus Charm (by Lear Fan)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     $10,000
c – Pilamaya (by Grand Slam)     Fasig-Tipton NY     Aug     $100,000
f – Pizza Lady (by Dance With Ravens)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     not sold
f - Pizza Lady (by Dance With Ravens)     Fasig-Tipton KY    Oct    $33,000
c – Pleasant Aspect (by Pleasantly Perfect)     Keeneland     Sept    $27,000
c – Pleasant Lyrics (by Pleasant Tap)     Keeneland     Sept    not sold
c – Pun (by Pulpit)     Keeneland     Sept    not sold
f – Redverse (by Menifee)     Keeneland     Sept    $3,500
c – Remoulade (by Lemon Drop Kid)     Keeneland     Sept    $1,200
c – Robust (by Conquistador Cielo)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     not sold
f – Rule One (by Street Cry)     Keeneland     Sept    $10,000
f – Runaway Eleanor (by Runaway Groom)     Keeneland     Sept    not sold
c – Safe Haven (by A.P. Indy)     Keeneland     Sept    $10,000
c – Sally Slew (by Slew City Slew)     Keeneland     Sept    $35,000
c – Seeking Silence (by Seeking The Gold)     Keeneland     Sept    not sold
f - Silvertonguediva (by Arch)     Fasig-Tipton KY    Oct    not sold
c – Simsational (by Johannesburg)     Keeneland     Sept    not sold
f – Smart Catomine (by Smart Strike)     Fasig-Tipton KY     July     $60,000
f - Smokin' Greida (by Smoke Glacken)     Fasig-Tipton KY    Oct    not sold
c – Sobinka (by Sadler's Wells)     Keeneland     Sept    $2,000
c – Soleil Rouge (by E Dubai)     Keeneland     Sept    $90,000
f – Starship Cruiser (by Golden Missile)     Keeneland     Sept    $7,000
f – Starship Serena (by Put It Back)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     withdrawn
f – Stroll By (by Stroll)     Keeneland     Sept    withdrawn
c – Stunning Image (by Kris S)     Keeneland     Sept    $27,000
f – Successful Year (by Successful Appeal)     Keeneland     Sept    $2,500
f - Sunset Cocktail (by Precise End)     CTHS Ontario     Sept     ​CAN$75,000
c – Surf City Susie (by Old Trieste)     Fasig-Tipton NY     Aug     $60,000
c – Swingaway (by Tapit)     Ocala Breeders' Sales Co     Aug     $30,000
f – Thine (by Pulpit)     Keeneland     Sept    $4,500
c - Tremendous One (by Point Given)     Barretts Sales Del Mar     Oct    ​$1,200
f – Trophy Wife (by Giant's Causeway)     Keeneland     Sept    $62,000
f – Ultimata (by Tale Of The Cat)     Keeneland     Sept    not sold
f – Undo (by Flatter)     Keeneland     Sept    $40,000
c – Vivo Per Lei (by Empire Maker)     Keeneland     Sept    not sold
c – Waverly Place (by Awesome Again)     Goffs UK     Aug     withdrawn
f – Well Revered (by Red Ransom)     Keeneland     Sept    $6,000
c – Wildcat Melody (by Unbridled's Song)     Keeneland     Sept    not sold
f – Winter Trek (by Northern Spur)     Keeneland     Sept     $3,500

Winner of his only two juvenile outings in France, late-season events on the artificial tracks, Declaration Of War joined the Ballydoyle team and won two of his three starts as a three-year-old, notably the Group 3 Diamond Stakes over 10 and a half furlongs at Dundalk.

First time out at four he won a mile listed contest on soft ground at Leopardstown, and although a beaten favourite in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes the following month, he bounced back to beat Aljamaaheer by three-parts of a length in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

He then chased home Al Kazeem in the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes, was third behind Toronado and Dawn Approach in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes and fourth behind Moonlight Cloud in the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Arqana.

His final two starts were in the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York and the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita, the former seeing him defeat the tragically ill-fated Irish Derby hero Trading Leather by one and a quarter lengths, and the latter defeat by a nose and a head, by Mucho Macho Man and Will Take Charge.

Declaration Of War is among the early stallion sons of Claiborne Farm sire War Front (by Danzig), others being Data Link, The Factor and War Command, and there is every reason to hope that at least some of the War Front horses will become Grade/Group 1 sires.

Out of three-times scorer Tempo West (by Rahy), he is a full-brother to the Grade 1-placed Grade 3 winner War Correspondent and a half-brother to the Grade 2-placed stakes winner Vertiformer (by Dynaformer), and his dam's siblings include Lane's End Farm stallion Union Rags (by Dixie Union).

A leading juvenile who won the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes and Grade 2 Saratoga Special Stakes and was runner-up in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Union Rags went on to take the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes and Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes as a three-year-old. His yearlings have made up to $430,000, he had a breeze-up two-year-old make $975,000 in early March, and his first crop has produced a few winners from his early runners.

The third dam of Declaration Of War is the Terpsichorist (by Nijinsky), a Grade 2-winning full-sister to the unfortunate Group 2 scorer Gorytus and daughter of 1968's 1000 Guineas heroine Glad Rags (by High Hat).

There is a variety of stakes and graded winners who descend from Terpsichorist, and those who descend from other daughters of Glad Rags include Grade/Group 1 stars Colonial Affair (by Pleasant Colony), Prince Of Birds (by Storm Bird), Ball Dancing (by Exchange Rate), Sudan (by Peintre Celebre), Sheikhzayedroad (by Dubawi), and Dreams Gallore (by Silver Ghost), although the relationship of those horses to Declaration Of War is remote.

He stood his first season at Coolmore Stud and then moved to their US division, Ashford Stud. He had 113 foals in his first crop, so should have plenty of representatives running in Europe in 2017 and 2018, and although some will be successful as two-year-olds and perhaps even pick up some blacktype at that age, his own racing profile suggests that his best results may come with three-year-olds and older horses, mostly at around a mile to 10 furlongs.

DECLARATION OF WAR (USA) – b.2009 – War Front - Tempo West, 7 wins inc Juddmonte International Stakes (Gr1), Queen Anne Stakes (Gr1), Diamond Stakes (Gr3), Heritage Stakes (L), 2nd Coral-Eclipse Stakes (Gr1), 3rd Breeders' Cup Classic (Gr1), Sussex Stakes (Gr1). Sire in Ireland & USA. First foals in 2015.

YEARLINGS CATALOGUED (updated)
bc – Acts of Grace (by Bahri)     Tattersalls     Oct     65,000gns
bc – Another Storm (by Gone West)     Tattersalls     Oct     250,000gns
bc – Athenian Way (by Barathea)     Tattersalls     Oct     withdrawn
bc - Athenian Way (by Barathea)     Tattersalls     Nov     30,000gns
chc – Autumn Leaves (by Muhtathir)     Tattersalls     Oct    70,000gns
bf - Banderille (by Red Ransom)     Arqana     Oct     not sold
bc – Blast Furnace (by Sadler's Wells)     Tattersalls     Oct     40,000gns
bf – Bunood (by Sadler's Wells)     Tattersalls     Oct     130,000gns
bc – Call This Cat (by One Cool Cat)     Goffs     Oct     €165,000
bf – Caphene (by Sakhee)     Tattersalls     Oct     85,000gns
chc – Cedar Sea (by Persian Bold)     Goffs     Oct    not sold
bc - Circumstances (by Galileo)     Keeneland     Sept     $80,000
bf – Cochabamba (by Hurricane Run)     Goffs     Oct     €350,000
bf – Crystal Crossing (by Royal Academy)     Goffs     Oct    €52,000
bf - Danehill Music (by Danehill Dancer)     Fasig-Tipton Saratoga     Aug     withdrawn
chc – Danetime Out (by Danetime)     Tattersalls     Oct     290,000gns
chc – Dealbata (by Dubawi)     Arqana     Aug     €100,000
bf – Deep Winter (by Pivotal)     Goffs     Oct    €30,000
bf - Delicieuse Lady (by Trempolino)     Arqana     Oct     €55,000
chf – Desert Quiet (by Desert Story)     Tattersalls     Oct     3,000gns
bc – Di Moi Oui (by Warning)     Tattersalls     Oct     38,000gns
bc – Dowager (by Groom Dancer)     Goffs     Oct     €200,000
bc – Dusty In Memphis (by Broken Vow)     Arqana     Aug     €90,000
chc - Elusive Pearl (by Medaglia d'Oro)     Keeneland     Sept     $150,000
chf – Emily Blake (by Lend A Hand)     Tattersalls     Oct     not sold
bc – Fashion Statement (by Rainbow Quest)     Tattersalls     Oct     not sold
chc – Flamingo Sea (by Woodman)     Goffs     Oct    €140,000
bc - Floating Away (by Gone West)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
bf – Foolish Act (by Sadler's Wells)     Goffs     Oct    €240,000
chc - Golden Causeway (by Giant's Causeway)     Keeneland     Sept     $60,000
chc - Golden Causeway (by Giant's Causeway)     Fasig-Tipton KY    Oct    withdrawn
chc – Greek Goddess (by Galileo)     Tattersalls     Oct     50,000gns
bc – Guantanamera (by Sadler's Wells)     Tattersalls     Oct     (p/s) 90,000gns
bc - I'm in Love (by Zafonic)     Keeneland     Sept    not sold
bf - Impressionist Art (by Giant's Causeway)     Keeneland     Sept     withdrawn
bf - Inkling (by Seeking The Gold)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
bf - Inkling (by Seeking The Gold)     Fasig-Tipton KY    Oct    $52,000
c – Invisible Ash (by Invincible Spirit)     Goffs     Oct    €35,000
bf - Kimono (by Bernardini)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
bf – La Conquerante (by Hurricane Run)     Goffs     Oct    €90,000
bc - La Conseillante (by Exclusive Quality)     Keeneland     Sept     $20,000
bf – Lady Aquitaine (by El Prado)     Arqana     Aug     €90,000
bc – Mary's Daughter (by Royal Applause)     Goffs     Oct     €28,000
bc – Means Of Assent (by Empire Maker)     Arqana     Aug     €65,000
bc - Miss Childrey (by Dr Fong)     Fasig-Tipton Saratoga     Aug     $200,000
chf – Miss Mediator (by Consolidator)     Goffs UK     Aug     not sold
bf – Mount Crystal (by Montjeu)     Tattersalls     Oct     100,000gns
bf – Mubashera (by Medaglia d'Oro)     Arqana     Aug     (p/s) €70,000
bf – Mysteriousness (by Beat Hollow)     Goffs     Oct    €4,500
bc - Nabat Seif (by Street Sense)     Keeneland     Sept    $170,000
bf - Nasty Storm (by Gulch)     Fasig-Tipton Saratoga     Aug     $250,000
chc – Needles And Pins (by Fasliyev)     Goffs     Oct    €105,000
bf - Never Busy (by Gone West)     Arqana     Oct     €40,000
chc – Notable (by Zafonic)     Tattersalls     Oct     withdrawn
chc - Notable (by Zafonic)     Tattersalls     Nov     65,000gns
chf - O' Bella Ballerina (by Fusaichi Pegasus)     Keeneland     Sept     $150,000
bc - On Point (by Pulpit)     Arqana     Oct     €8,000
bc - Phiz (by Galileo)     Arqana     Oct     withdrawn
bc – Prima Luce (by Galileo)     Goffs     Oct     €60,000
bf – Princess Desire (by Danehill)     Goffs     Oct     €200,000
chf – Quartz (by Muhtathir)     Arqana     Aug     not sold
bc - Quite Honestly (by Lion Heart)     Keeneland     Sept    $130,000
bf - Rapid Ransom (by Red Ransom)     Keeneland     Sept     $100,000
bf – Rare Tern (by Pivotal)     Goffs     Oct    €25,000
chc - Red Carpet Miss (by Malibu Moon)     Keeneland     Sept     $400,000
bc – Rochitta (by Arch)     Tattersalls     Oct     105,000gns
bf – Sandglass (by Zafonic)     Goffs     Oct    €50,000
chf - Scenica (by Interprete)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
bc – Sea Paint (by Peintre Celebre)     Tattersalls     Oct     50,000gns
chc – She's My Dandy (by Holy Roman Emperor)     Tattersalls     Oct     60,000gns
chc – Shibina (by Kalanisi)     Tattersalls     Oct     60,000gns
bc – Silver Star (by Zafonic)     Tattersalls     Oct     380,000gns
bf – Sindjara (by Include)     Goffs     Oct     withdrawn
bc – Singing Diva (by Royal Academy)     Goffs     Oct     (p/s) €32,000
bc - Sky Garden (by Acclamation)     Keeneland     Sept    not sold
bc – Sleeping Beauty (by Oasis Dream)     Goffs     Oct     €475,000
bf – Slow Sand (by Dixieland Band)     Tattersalls     Oct     85,000gns
chf – So Belle (by Singspiel)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     €8,000
chc – Solar Event (by Galileo)     Tattersalls     Oct     180,000gns
b/brc – Special Assignment (by Lemon Drop Kid)     Goffs     Oct    €70,000
bf - Spira (by Sadler's Wells)     Arqana     Oct     €37,000
bc – Spirit Of Tara (by Sadler's Wells)     Goffs     Oct     €50,000
bc – Sri Kandi (by Pivotal)     Tattersalls     Oct    44,000gns
bc - Strategy (by Machiavellian)     Keeneland     Sept     $350,000
bc – Sugar Mint (by High Chaparral)     Goffs     Oct     €100,000
bc – Super Pie (by Pivotal)     Arqana     Aug     €100,000
chc - Sushi Tuna (by Halling)     Arqana     Oct     €57,000
bc – Tarfshi (by Mtoto)     Tattersalls     Oct     150,000gns
bc – T'as D'beaux Yeux (by Red Ransom)     Arqana     Aug     (p/s) €100,000
bf – Thewaytosanjose (by Fasliyev)     Goffs     Oct     €24,000
bc – Three Moons (by Montjeu)     Tattersalls     Oct    (p/s) 8,000gns
bc - Tibaldi (by Motivator)     Keeneland     Sept     $15,000
bc – Titivation (by Montjeu)     Tattersalls     Oct     40,000gns
bc – Tobiano (by Mt Livermore)     Tattersalls IRE     Sept     not sold
bf – Top Crystal (by Sadler's Wells)     Arqana     Aug     €17,000
bf - Vallee des Reves (by Kingmambo)     Keeneland     Sept     not sold
chc – Verbose (by Storm Bird)     Tattersalls     Oct     30,000gns
grf – Warling (by Montjeu)     Tattersalls     Oct     ​40,000gns