Nicking is a concept in Thoroughbred breeding that refers to the compatibility of bloodlines when mating a stallion with a mare. The goal of nicking is to produce a foal with superior racing potential by matching bloodlines that have historically produced successful racehorses. While nicking is just one aspect of the complex art and science of horse breeding, it can play an important role in enhancing the likelihood of breeding a champion or choosing to invest in a thoroughbred with a higher likelihood of success.
1. Understanding the Basics of Bloodlines
Thoroughbred horses have pedigrees that trace back many generations, often to foundation sires and dams who are known for passing on desirable traits, such as speed, stamina, or soundness. A horse’s pedigree is typically divided into two halves: the sire line (paternal side) and the dam line (maternal side). Nicking focuses on how these two lines interact when combined in a foal.
2. What is Nicking?
Nicking is the practice of pairing a stallion with a mare based on the historical success of similar pairings. Specifically, it looks at the performance of offspring that share common ancestors within their pedigrees, particularly in the first few generations. If a certain combination of bloodlines has produced successful racehorses in the past, it is considered a “good nick.” Conversely, if the combination has been less successful, it might be seen as a “bad nick.” Opponents of nicking suggest that past results or previously unmatched pairings may not inform future success, and this is why nicking should always be used with other more traditional bloodstock techniques, including seeking the advice of bloodstock agents. Edge’s bloodstock agent is Mr Neil Jenkinson FBAA.
3. How Nicking is Evaluated
Nicking is often evaluated using nicking services, which analyse historical data on breeding outcomes. These services assign a “nick rating” to potential pairings, which can range from A++ (very successful) to C or lower (less successful). The rating is based on the success of horses bred from similar bloodlines in terms of racing performance, particularly in stakes races. All of Edge’s horses have nick ratings of A or better. Indeed, our Edge Peoples Horse for 2024 – Highland Reel x Cruz De Vega (2022) has an A++ nicking with a variant of >150 which indicates an extremely high success is previous pairing on this cross with limited opportunity.
4. How do I interpret Nicking Results
Most nicking services produce ratings based on calculating Sire Improvement Index (SII)(which is a comparison of the percentage of stakes winners from a sire with mares from a specific broodmare sire as compared to all other mares) with Broodmare Sire Improvement Index (BSII) (which is a comparison of the percentage of stakes winners produced by daughters of a particular sire with the percentage of stakes winners from the same mares when bred with other sires).
The outcome of these calculations is a stakes winner to starter production rate compared with other lines.
Some of the best nicking services maintain updated databases to recalculate results every day with new foals, new starters and new stakes winners – ensuring that ratings are always current.
An example from TrueNicks on the scoring approach is as follows:
– A SII of 2.0 indicates a sire (or sire line) that has twice the percentage of stakes winners out of mares by the broodmare sire/sire line as he does when bred to other mares.
– A BSII of 3.0 indicates that the percentage of stakes winners out of mares by the broodmare sire/sire line when bred to the chosen sire/ sire line is 3.0 times as high as the percentage of stakes winners produced by that group of mares when bred to all other stallions.
– A TrueNicks rating is calculated by multiplying the SII x BSII. In this example a TrueNicks score of 6.0 would be recorded which is an A++ TrueNicks rating.
The scale for TrueNicks is not linear but is formed as follows, along with the relationship to Edge horses:
5. What are the nicking stats?
Only 13% of the entire Thoroughbred population earn “A” ratings (A to A++) while 37% of stakes winners rate as “A’s.” Horses rated “B” or better (B to A++) represent just 30% of the entire population, yet three out of four (77%) stakes winners rate “B” or better. Almost half of Thoroughbreds population — 44% — are on the low end of the scale (rated “C” through “F”), yet only two in 25 stakes winners (8%) have these lower ratings. At Edge, we love having the odds in our favour. This is why we will only promote horses with an A rating or better.
6. The Role of the Dosage Index
The Dosage Index (DI) is another important tool in Thoroughbred breeding that complements nicking. It measures the balance of speed and stamina in a horse’s pedigree by analysing the presence of certain influential ancestors known as “chefs-de-race.” A well-balanced DI can indicate a horse that is likely to excel over a variety of distances. When considering a nick, breeders also evaluate how the potential foal’s DI might turn out based on the combination of the sire and dam.
7. Importance of Broodmare Sires
The broodmare sire (the sire of the mare) plays a critical role in nicking. Certain broodmare sires are known to “nick” well with particular sire lines. This relationship is often the focus of nicking analysis, as it can indicate the potential for producing a successful racehorse. For example, if a particular sire line consistently produces successful offspring when crossed with daughters of a specific broodmare sire, this combination is considered a good nick. In Australia, Redoute’s Choice is regarded as one of Australia’s elite Broodmare Sires with > 10% stakes horses to runners as a broodmare sire.
Edge has a range of horses with Broodmare sire linage from Redoute’s Choice including:
– Pierre Cardinnigan
– Zousain x Fancy Liquor 2022
– Zousain x True Kisses 2022
8. Beyond Nicking: Considering Conformation and Physical Traits
While nicking focuses on pedigree compatibility, it’s important to remember that breeding also involves the physical traits of the stallion and mare. Conformation (the physical structure of the horse), temperament, and soundness are all critical factors in breeding decisions. A well-nicked pedigree won’t necessarily compensate for physical mismatches, such as breeding a very large stallion to a small, delicate mare, which might produce a foal with conformation issues.
9. Balancing Nicking with Other Breeding Factors
While nicking can be a valuable tool, it’s important not to rely on it exclusively. Successful breeders consider a variety of factors when planning a mating, including:
– Inbreeding: Assessing the degree of inbreeding in the pedigree to avoid excessive concentration of certain bloodlines, which can lead to health and performance issues.
– Outcrossing: Introducing new bloodlines to increase genetic diversity and potentially enhance performance.
– Linebreeding: A more moderate form of inbreeding, where breeders aim to reinforce desirable traits from specific ancestors without concentrating them too closely.
10. Practical Steps for Beginners
If you’re new to nicking, some practical steps to assist include:
– Study Successful Nicks: Research and learn about famous successful nicking combinations in Thoroughbred history. This will give you a sense of what works and why.
– Use Nicking Services: Utilise online nicking services like TrueNicks, Werk Nick Rating or similar to get a basic understanding of potential pairings. Edge utilises all these services on a regular basis.
– Consult Experts: Work with a bloodstock agent or FBAA who can provide professional insights into the nicking process and help you make informed decisions. Edge works with Mr Neil Jenkinson FBAA to provide advice on potential breeding and thoroughbred conformance. Beginners should always reach out to a registered bloodstock agent for advice.
Nicking is a valuable tool that can help increase the chances of producing a successful racehorse by matching compatible bloodlines. However, it should be used in conjunction with a broader understanding of genetics and conformation.