Peter Ebdon putting his faith in a Dominant stud performance

He launched Designer Pedigrees, which offers in-depth analysis of mares and recommendations of genetically compatible sires, two years ago and has been instrumental in launching the stallion career of St Leger hero Harbour Law at Batsford Stud in Gloucestershire.

Dominant, his latest project, was bred in Ireland by Newhall Ltd out of the winning Inchinor mare Es Que, dam of three other stakes winners in Es Que Love, Listen In and Zhui Feng. His sire is Man O'War Stakes and Manhattan Handicap hero Cacique, a son of Danehill and one of five top-flight winners out of blue hen Hasili along with Banks Hill, Champs Elysees, Heat Haze and Intercontinental.

Another son of Danehill and Hasili, Dansili was six-times Group 1-placed and is a leading sire on the international stage, having supplied world champion Harbinger, celebrities Flintshire, Rail Link and The Fugue and Australian elite winners Foreteller and Grand Marshal plus Caulfield Cup runner-up Dandino.

Cacique suffered from subfertility but from depleted crops managed to deliver three Group/Grade 1 winners – Dominant, Mutual Trust and Slumber.

Dominant was originally campaigned in Britain, where he won a valuable sales race and finished third to Twice Over in the York Stakes, before his sale into the stables of legendary Hong Kong trainer John Moore, for whom he won back-to-back renewals of the Queen Mother Memorial Cup and pulled off a shock victory over The Fugue, Dunaden and Red Cadeaux in the Hong Kong Vase in 2013.

Dominant, who was retired aged eight with five victories from 39 starts to his credit, will stand under the guidance of respected stallion master Clinton Thompson at Palm Valley Thoroughbreds, where it is hoped he will fill the void left by the renowned Queensland stallion Real Saga who died in February. His introductory stud fee has been set at $4,400.

Dominant (centre) beat The Fugue and Dunaden in the 2013 Hong Kong VaseCredit: Vince Caligiuri

"I answered a post that Rhonda placed regarding Dominant after she asked what sort of mares might suit him," said Ebdon, explaining how he came to be involved with a stallion on the other side of the world. "We're both members of a thoroughbred breeding forum, run by top professional New Zealand pedigree consultant Ken Beer.

"Ken was a student of the legendary Harold Hampton, who selected Australasian champion Bonecrusher from the yearling sales. Ken has used his pedigree knowledge to select Group 1 horses like Anabandana, Bondeiger, Nacho Man, the stallion Odyssey Moon, Rocanto and more recently Tasmanian super filly Mystic Journey, although his client decided against buying her when she sold for only $11,000."

Shedding light on why he thinks Dominant is entitled to succeed as a stallion, he added: "He won first time out at two over 1400 metres, so with compatible mares, I believe he has every chance of breeding two-year-old stakes horses. He became a Group 1 winner over 2400 metres in Hong Kong and was incredibly tough, sound and genuine, to such an extent that he was still competitive in Group 1 company at the age of eight.

"He descends from the famous 5-h family, like Nureyev and Sadler’s Wells, as well as Lorenzaccio, Val De Loir, the damsire of Green Dancer, and at a deeper level, Charles O’Malley, the damsire of Blenheim, damsire of the breed-shaping Nasrullah.

"Mares carrying these strains should suit him very well indeed, as should mares carrying strains of Lyphard, Blushing Groom, Nijinsky, Storm Bird, The Minstrel, Roberto, Buckpasser, Le Fabuleux, Mill Reef and Riverman. If we choose to reinforce Danehill, we would prefer to do that via female strains, if at all possible."

Ebdon has been advising Currie on what he considers to be genetically compatible concubines for Dominant and they have been purchasing mares specifically to visit the stallion in the last few months, including some from weekly online auctions.

Many of the mares have been acquired for the purpose of doubling up some of the illustrious ancestors named above, and a number of damsires have been pinpointed as being of particular importance.

"I’m particularly excited by the genetic potential of foals by Dominant out of mares by Americain, Animal Kingdom, Canford Cliffs and Tavistock," Ebdon said. "Taking a very pro-active stance with regard to getting compatible mares for the sire – which I believe is so important for the chances of success – I've been encouraging Rhonda to offer free nominations to the four broodmare sires above.

"I'll also seriously consider recommending the same for mares by Shamardal, Iffraaj, Street Hero, Per Incanto, O’Reilly, Falbrav, Mossman, Swiss Ace, Bernardini, Dubai Destination, Lonhro, Encosta De Lago, Street Sense, Shocking, Rail Link, Footstepsinthesand, Viscount and Statue Of Liberty.

"There will be others, of course, but this gives some idea of his genetic potential to breed high-class stakes horses. Australian mares hold particularly fascinating potential for Dominant, as further back in their pedigrees they have rare strains, via full-siblings and other closely related ancestors, to horses that are omnipresent in European pedigrees. Those strains, for example, would include ancestors that are within the pedigrees of Star Kingdom, Silly Season and their descendants."

Ebdon revealed that Currie is also receiving assistance from Amanda Smith of Muskoka Farm and Caroline Moore, daughter of Dominant's trainer John, as she launches the stallion into the Central Queensland market.

"With John relocating back to Australia, we’re very hopeful that he’ll get the chance to train some of Dominant’s progeny," he said. "If they take after Dominant they’ll be tough, strong, correct, classy, will train on and have excellent temperaments too."

More news:

Classic-placed Southern France sold to Australia as Melbourne Cup bid looms

Dam of Winx has Deep Impact foal to continue champion mare's dynasty

Godolphin go all out at Baden-Baden as Sea The Stars filly sets a new record