Always a Classic (CAN)
June 1, 1993 – May 20, 2019
Deputy Minister (CAN) x No Class (CAN), by Nodouble (USA)
Family 23-b
June 1, 1993 – May 20, 2019
Deputy Minister (CAN) x No Class (CAN), by Nodouble (USA)
Family 23-b
The last of the great Canadian matron No Class' six stakes winners, Always a Classic was slow to get his racing career under way but finished out his dam's production record with a bang by becoming a Grade 1 winner as a 4-year-old. He was exported to Turkey in 1999 after siring one crop in the United States and has been a good sire and broodmare sire in his adopted country.
Race record
8 starts, 6 wins, 1 second, 1 third, US$388,648
1997:
As an individual
A handsome chestnut, Always a Classic has the good shoulder and strong hindquarters typical of his sire, Deputy Minister, and the prominent withers of his dam, No Class. His hocks are slightly out behind him and his pasterns are long, but his cannons are short. He stands a shade over 16 hands.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Always a Classic has sired three stakes winners by international standards as of November 1, 2020.
Sire rankings
According to the Jockey Club of Turkey (www.tjk.org/EN):
Notable progeny
Mahalle Çocuğu (TUR)
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Always a Classic was bred and owned by Sam-Son Farms. He entered stud in 1998 at Brookdale Farm near Versailles, Kentucky. He was exported to Turkey in 1999 and thereafter stood at Karacabey Pension Stud near the city of İzmit. He died in May 2019.
Pedigree notes
Always a Classic is inbred 5x5 to two-time English champion sire Nearco and 5x5 to Polynesian. His dam No Class was the 1985 Canadian Broodmare of the Year and is the dam of 1984 Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Classy 'n Smart (by Smarten), later a Canadian Broodmare of the Year whose produce included 1991 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old filly Dance Smartly (by Danzig) and two-time American leading sire Smart Strike (by Mr. Prospector). No Class is also the dam of 1985 Canadian champion 2-year-old male Grey Classic (by Grey Dawn II); 1987 Canadian champion 2-year-old male Regal Classic (by Vice Regent); three-time Canadian champion Sky Classic (by Nijinsky II), who was also the American champion turf male of 1992 and proved a good sire; and multiple stakes winner Classic Reign (by Vice Regent), dam of Canadian stakes winner Treasureinmyhand (by Seeking the Gold). In addition, No Class produced Classic Slew (by Seattle Slew), dam of Grade 2-placed stakes winner Surging River (by Gone West) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Silver Ticket.
No Class is a half sister to stakes winners Baraquillo (by Barachois; dam of multiple Australian stakes winner Chingquillo, by Bletchingly) and Money by Orleans (by L'Enjoleur). She is also a half sister to That's a Kennedy (by Kennedy Road), dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Storm on the Loose (by Lyphard) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Shrike, and to Written Word (by Vice Regent), dam of listed stakes winner Thesaurus (by With Approval).
Last updated: November 1, 2020
Race record
8 starts, 6 wins, 1 second, 1 third, US$388,648
1997:
- Won Early Times Turf Classic Stakes (USA-G1, 9FT, Churchill Downs)
- Won Explosive Bid Stakes (USA-G3, 9FT, Fair Grounds)
- Won Mardi Gras Handicap (USA-L, 7.5FT, Fair Grounds)
- 3rd Manhattan Handicap (USA-G1, 10FT, Belmont)
As an individual
A handsome chestnut, Always a Classic has the good shoulder and strong hindquarters typical of his sire, Deputy Minister, and the prominent withers of his dam, No Class. His hocks are slightly out behind him and his pasterns are long, but his cannons are short. He stands a shade over 16 hands.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Always a Classic has sired three stakes winners by international standards as of November 1, 2020.
Sire rankings
According to the Jockey Club of Turkey (www.tjk.org/EN):
- 2nd on the Turkish general sire list in 2003; 6th in 2004; 7th in 2005 and 2008; 9th in 2006.
- 2nd on the Turkish broodmare sire list in 2011; 3rd in 2015; 4th in 2012-2014 and 2018; 5th in 2017; 6th in 2016 and 2019; 8th in 2010
Notable progeny
Mahalle Çocuğu (TUR)
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Always a Classic was bred and owned by Sam-Son Farms. He entered stud in 1998 at Brookdale Farm near Versailles, Kentucky. He was exported to Turkey in 1999 and thereafter stood at Karacabey Pension Stud near the city of İzmit. He died in May 2019.
Pedigree notes
Always a Classic is inbred 5x5 to two-time English champion sire Nearco and 5x5 to Polynesian. His dam No Class was the 1985 Canadian Broodmare of the Year and is the dam of 1984 Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Classy 'n Smart (by Smarten), later a Canadian Broodmare of the Year whose produce included 1991 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old filly Dance Smartly (by Danzig) and two-time American leading sire Smart Strike (by Mr. Prospector). No Class is also the dam of 1985 Canadian champion 2-year-old male Grey Classic (by Grey Dawn II); 1987 Canadian champion 2-year-old male Regal Classic (by Vice Regent); three-time Canadian champion Sky Classic (by Nijinsky II), who was also the American champion turf male of 1992 and proved a good sire; and multiple stakes winner Classic Reign (by Vice Regent), dam of Canadian stakes winner Treasureinmyhand (by Seeking the Gold). In addition, No Class produced Classic Slew (by Seattle Slew), dam of Grade 2-placed stakes winner Surging River (by Gone West) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Silver Ticket.
No Class is a half sister to stakes winners Baraquillo (by Barachois; dam of multiple Australian stakes winner Chingquillo, by Bletchingly) and Money by Orleans (by L'Enjoleur). She is also a half sister to That's a Kennedy (by Kennedy Road), dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Storm on the Loose (by Lyphard) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Shrike, and to Written Word (by Vice Regent), dam of listed stakes winner Thesaurus (by With Approval).
Last updated: November 1, 2020