The Dan OSullivan trained Demographic made an impressive,
although inexperienced debut at Victoria Park on Saturday winning the Nuclear Debate
Handicap. With her ears pricked inquisitively on the line, Demographic completed the
straight 1000 metre course 1 ¾ lengths clear of her nearest rival, the royally bred
Defiant (Danehill from Ruffles) with a further ¾ of a length to the Anabaa filly
Anacarde.A three-year-old chestnut filly, Demographic is by Gold Brose from Special
Sal, a daughter of sprinting sensation Special. Her straight course ability should come as
no surprise when one considers her grand dam Special dominated the Flemington Straight Six
in 1988 with wins in the Group One VRC Gadsen, Lightning and Newmarket Stakes. Gold Brose
too shared this particular talent winning the VRC Linlithgow Stakes as a three-year-old.
Demographic is built very much in the mould of her father Gold Brose, a stallion I had
the opportunity to view whilst on a Stud Tour of New Zealand hosted by the South
Australian Thoroughbred Breeders.
At the time of our visit in September 2000 Gold Brose headlined the Westbury Stud
stallion roster having produced the stakes winners Buzz Lightyear, Catamarca, Party Queen,
Butterscotch, Joans Best, Coup Wood, Mine dOr and Cryptavia since his entry to
stud just five years prior.
Fitted with a special shoe to support a hind leg, Gold
Brose appeared in extremely good health at the time of our visit and whilst Westbury did
their best to manage the same injuries that plagued his racetrack career, Gold Brose died
shortly after our visit.
Demographic, a member of Gold Broses penultimate crop, was purchased by the South
Australian breeding outfit Brandon Farm at the 2001 New Zealand Premier Sale, presumably
with her broodmare potential in mind. She was, in actuality, an astute purchase given the
encouraging performances of her full sister, Chalonnaise at the time. Under the guidance
of Tony McEvoy, Chalonnaise had won in Adelaide and been placed in the Group Three SAJC
Smoke-Free Stakes and listed VRC Cadbury Roses Stakes.
Special Sal, the dam of Demographic, is by Alzao from the aforementioned Special by
Habituate. Whilst Specials accomplishments on the racetrack alone are enough to send
the printer running for more ink, her lesser-performed daughters are set to surpass
her broodmare record.
Lady Special, a full sister to Special Sal, is fast
emerging as the star producer of the family. Her first foal, none other than Bomber Bill,
is a dual Group One winner of over $900,000. Her second foal Camargue, a Group Three
winner of the VATC Thoroughbred Club Stakes is now a broodmare herself and has a 2001 colt
by Flying Spur.
In Demographics pedigree both Gold Brose and Specials sire Habituate
represent the Habitat sire line. She is therefore inbred to that horse 4m x 4m. Habitat is
by Sir Gaylord a son of the Princequillo mare Somethingroyal and therefore a half-brother
to the immortal Secretariat. Demographic carries another strain of Sir Gaylord via Sir
Ivor, the sire of Alzao and interestingly, Gold Brose himself traces in direct female to
Somethingroyals dam Imperatrice.
Demographic is also inbred 5m x 4m to Northern Dancer through Nijinsky (sire of Yeats,
dam sire of Gold Brose) and Lyphard (the sire of Alzao).