IN recent weeks, Pricewise Tom Segal has, in his Weekender column, lamented the latest “trend” in breeding, that being the loss of the horse that was bred solely for middle distances.

While many may dismiss it as irrelevant coming from someone more interested in betting, it’s an interesting trend to examine in contest to this weekends classics.

There is a general opinion that the desire to breed for speed has weakened the thoroughbred in the US, a country once famed for tough racehorses who competed at the top level for three seasons, those of the Affirmed, Seattle Slew, Exceller era over four decades ago.

Until American Pharoah, it was rare enough to find a horse still in training through the three legs of the Triple Crown, never mind win each leg.

In Europe, there is an increase in horses retiring to stud having not raced at three, never racing over further than a mile and these sires, are becoming tremendously popular. They are doing what a stallion is expected to do, replicate himself on the racecourse.

First season sires, and fast horses to make an impact are regularly those who can produce a Royal Ascot winner. Royal Ascot is increasingly a market place, the meeting is international and to be screened in the US next year.

Galileo and Dubawi are head and shoulders above the rest as current sires of classic middle-distance performers. But examine the dam side of the Derby field and the move away from stamina pedigrees is obvious.

Draw a comparison with the Derby at the turn of the century in 2000, when Sinndar (Grand Lodge/Lashkari) beat Sakhee (Bahri/Sadler’s Wells) and favourite Beat Hollow (Sadler’s Wells/Dancing Brave) in a field of 15. Sadler’s Wells dominated then as his son Galileo did then though he never won over a mile and a half, he eliminated any stamina issues in his progeny.

In 2000 the Mill Reef bloodline was still strong with Shirley Heights (3 times) Lashkari and Darshaan all appearing as dam sires. That solid mile and a half line has disappeared. American and Australian influences were represented by the appearance of General Assembly and Sir Tristram as dam sires.

Notably in today’s field, on the dam side we have grandson of sprinters Choisir, Acclamation, Danehill, Danehill Dancer, Fastnet Rock, the milers Cape Cross and Kingmambo, Xaar also feature.

To refer back to the gene test, six furlong winners must be a C category and their progeny close to a CT, so their ability to stay a mile and a half is slim.

Among the top 10 sires in Europe (A34) are Invincible Spirit, Dark Angel, Elusive City, Kodiac, Fastnet Rock and Acclamation, none of whom won over a mile. Dubawi, Paco Boy and Cape Cross were milers, while Shamardal, Lope De Vega and Le Harve were mile and a quarter horses. The move to speed is clear, and if the Derby is to remain the stallion making race is once was, it should be a concern.

There is only one horse in the Derby with a proven mile and a half pedigree by virtue of his sire and dam sire.

With Derby winner Galileo combined with French Derby (mile and a half) and Arc winner Dalakhani, a win for US Army Ranger would be one for the old school.