LAHORE, Dec 26: The year 2012 has been notable to throw in to limelight Assassin as the undisputable best four-year-old thoroughbred colt.

No one questions, the USA sire Assassi’s son, Assassin’s ability, who became the top-rated racehorse scoring eight wins out of eight runs in two years of racing at the Lahore Racecourse.

His best performances were recorded in 2012.

He was, however, unlucky to carry forward his winning streak further when he stumbled and had a fall during a race at the Karachi Racecourse on Dec 9 while he was in the midst of preparation for a shot at the Quaid-i-Azam Gold Cup.

In his tally of eight wins, Assassin also triumphed in the Pakistan Derby Trials and the Pakistan Derby 2012 to make 2,400 metres, smashing the course record by clocking the fastest timing of two minutes 35 2/5 seconds over the gruelling distance.

Every year, there are one or two sires whose progenies do astonishingly and exceedingly well and the year under review brought Assassi in the fore-front among the sire’s performance table.

Replay a couple of years back would be an obvious example while standing at the Qasir Abad Stud Farm.

During the year under review, Replay, had been surpassed by Assassi, because of Assassin and a few other progenies’ marvellous performances.

Interestingly, Assassi is by English sire Danzig from the world famous bloodline of Northern Dancer, a Canadian bred sire, whose progenies have spread out world-wide.

A noted expert on pedigrees of horses, Edwards L. Bowen in his book highlighted Danzig’s extraordinary rate of success, which was basically due to his being from the Northern Dancer’s bloodline.

During the year 2012, the thoroughbred market in Pakistan continued on its record-breaking way with the Baig stud’s bred colts and fillies in great demand.

Its bred colt Assassin was sold for a top price of Rs2.1 million. This sale indicated that the breeding industry in Pakistan is in healthy state.

Assassin’s sire, Assassi was imported from New Market, England for a bargain price and has now risen as one of the remarkable bearing on the pedigrees.

It was by a rare chance that Assassi fell to the lot of Baigs.

He was put to sale in the New Market but was withdrawn for some reason.

Later through his agent Baig contacted his owner and ultimately through a successful deal Baig got the four-legged-diamond.

Another sire to invite attention during the year was Blue Stone from the English origin.

His colt Prince Of Fatehpur won four races and was a runner-up in the Pakistan Derby 2012, beaten by Assassin to second spot.

Other notable progenitors during the year were: Putra, Dubai Addition and Dunhill Star also with the bearing of English bloodlines.—A.G.