Midshipman, the Champion Cementing His Reputation as a Sire from South America

While standing at Darley at Jonabell in Kentucky, USA, the nine G1 winners he has sired to date are all the result of his shuttling trips to this part of the world.

Midshipman is a sire with outstanding cost-benefit value / DARLEY

Por Diego H. Mitagstein

Midshipman is a truly unique case. A champion on the track and a well-regarded sire in the United States, he has solidified his reputation in breeding through his multiple journeys to South America.

A true model of consistency, the chestnut stallion currently standing at Darley at Jonabell in Lexington, Kentucky, recently made headlines at the Sporting Club in Viña del Mar. There, his progeny Lucky Red, Ponteau, and Cassis Violeta delivered an extraordinary and unprecedented 1-2-3 finish in El Derby, the third leg of Chile's Triple Crown and the most prestigious race of the year at the stunning Valparaíso racecourse.

This result only reaffirmed how well Midshipman adapts to the Southern Hemisphere. Having shuttled to Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay, his offspring have excelled in the first two countries, while those foaled in Uruguay are debuting during the current season.

The numbers speak for themselves: Midshipman is the sire of nine G1 winners, all of whom were bred in South America. These include Royal Ship, Succeso, Fortino, Tanganyka, Gran Dalí, Tweet, the aforementioned Cassis Violeta, and The Goat, who was crowned Champion 3-Year-Old at Hipódromo Chile in 2024 after a stellar campaign that concluded with a victory in the St Leger (G1).

But there’s more. Midshipman’s offspring in South America have shown remarkable aptitude for staying distances, despite the stallion himself being known for speed and precocity during his racing days.

On the track, Midshipman captured the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and the Del Mar Futurity (G1), placed second in the Norfolk Stakes (G1), and finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1). His victories spanned distances between 5 1/2 furlongs and 1 1/16 miles.

Yet, as evidenced by El Derby, his progeny have excelled over extended trips. The Derby was contested over 2400 meters (12 furlongs), while The Goat and Fortino also shone at similar distances. Succeso triumphed in the Club Hípico de Santiago (G1), and Tanganyka claimed the Grande Prêmio Zélia Gonzaga Peixoto de Castro (G1) over 2400 meters at Gávea. Meanwhile, Tweet, Royal Ship, and Gran Dalí secured their G1 victories at distances ranging from 1500 meters to a mile.

Midshipman has proven to be an outlier in supporting the Unbridled’s Song sire line, which initially struggled to gain traction but has since reversed that perception through other standout sons like the late Arrogate, Liam’s Map, and Cross Traffic, this one delivering excellent results from limited crops.

Many sires have thrived in one hemisphere but failed to replicate their success in the other. Legends of South American breeding like Southern Halo (Halo), Candy Stripes (Blushing Groom), Roy (Fappiano), and Easing Along (Storm Cat) made only modest impacts when shuttling north of the equator. Others, such as the exceptional Hussonet (Mr. Prospector), launched their careers in Chile—like Roy—before achieving global recognition in Australia, where he stood for several seasons.

Midshipman had solid support in Brazil during his stint there but did not dominate in Chile, where Haras Don Alberto imported him. He shared the stallion barn with other top sires, including Constitution (Tapit) and Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy).

Thanks to his success in South America, coupled with strong performers in the Northern Hemisphere, Midshipman now boasts 42 black-type winners. Attention will now turn to Uruguay, where Haras Phillipson, which stood the stallion, hopes to replicate the success achieved in Brazil and Chile.

At a fee of $15,000 in Kentucky, Midshipman appears to be a safe bet for breeders looking toward the upcoming season.