Storm Bird (CAN)
April 19, 1978 – December 3, 2004
Northern Dancer (CAN) x South Ocean (CAN), by New Providence (CAN)
Family 4-j
April 19, 1978 – December 3, 2004
Northern Dancer (CAN) x South Ocean (CAN), by New Providence (CAN)
Family 4-j
Storm Bird had talent of a high order but was derailed from potential greatness by his own high-strung temperament, coupled with human malice. After going unbeaten as a juvenile, he was subjected to a bizarre attack by a disgruntled stable employee at the New Year. While he was not harmed physically (the attack consisted of hacking away the hair of his mane and tail), the experience apparently damaged his trust in humans and pushed his disposition to the breaking point so far as racing fitness went. His stable also reported a hind leg injury and a respiratory illness as reasons for his passing on the 1981 Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1), for which he would likely have started as favorite, and the Derby Stakes (ENG-G1). Storm Bird ended up making only one more start, in which he showed nothing of his earlier form, and was retired to stud. There he was a noted success and begot several good sire sons. His line now persists primarily through the sons and grandsons of Storm Cat.
Race record
6 starts, 5 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds, £72,594
1980:
Honors
Assessments
Earned a Timeform rating of 134 pounds as a 2-year-old.
Highweighted atop the International Classification for European 2-year-olds of 1980, 1 pound above To-Agori-Mou.
In their book A Century of Champions (1999, Portway Press Ltd.), British experts John Randall and Tony Morris rated Storm Bird 27th among juveniles trained in England or Ireland in the 20th century.
As an individual
A tall, rangy, well-balanced bay horse standing 16.1 hands, Storm Bird was athletic but high-strung. He was reportedly good-natured as a youngster but later developed a nasty disposition that worsened as he aged.
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Storm Bird sired 377 winners (53.9%) and 62 stakes winners (8.9%) from 699 named foals. He typically transmitted speed more than stamina. He was not the most fertile of stallions, and some observers noted a higher than usual rate of respiratory issues among his progeny.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Times (previously Thoroughbred Record):
Notable progeny
Acushla (IRE), Balanchine (USA), Bluebird (USA), Classy Mirage (USA), Combsway (USA), Dear Birdie (USA), Indian Skimmer (USA), Lonely Bird (USA), Magical Wonder (USA), Mukaddamah (USA), Pacific Squall (USA), Personal Hope (USA), Prince of Birds (USA), Storm Cat (USA), Summer Squall (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Avanzado (ARG), Bird Town (USA), Birdstone (USA), Commentator (USA), Court Vision (USA), Danendri (AUS), Dublin (USA), Flanders (USA), Forever Bond (BRZ), India Brava (USA), Medicean (GB), Running Flame (IND), Sand Springs (USA), Stay Thirsty (USA), Storm Tower (USA), Thunder Gulch (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Canada, Storm Bird was bred by E. P. Taylor's Windfields Farm. He was owned by Robert Sangster, who purchased the colt for US$1 million from the 1979 Keeneland July yearling sale. He was trained by Vincent O'Brien. Storm Bird was syndicated at a valuation of US$30 million and entered stud in Kentucky in 1982 at Ashford Stud, then owned by Dr. William Lockridge and Robert Hefner. John Magnier and his Coolmore partership bought Ashford in 1984, but Storm Bird remained at the farm throughout his stud career. He was pensioned in 1999 and was humanely destroyed due to colic on December 3, 2004.
Pedigree notes
Storm Bird is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to two-time Canadian champion filly Northernette, dam of 1986 Flower Bowl Handicap (USA-G1) winner Scoot and Irish Group 2 winner Gold Crest (both by Mr. Prospector) and third dam of English Group 2 winner Sendmylovetorose and Chilean Group 3 winner Individual Dance. He is also a full brother to stakes-placed South Sea Dancer, dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Signal Tap (by Fappiano), second dam of six stakes winners including Grade 2 winner Cool Coal Man and English Group 3 winner Winter Romance, and third dam of 2010/2011 Chilean champion sprinter Desert Power. Another full sister to Storm Bird, Oceana, is the dam of multiple Japanese stakes winner Biwa Shinseiki (by Forty Niner), the second dam of three stakes winners including Grade 3 winner Lindsey Jean, and the third dam of Grade 3 winner Indian Ocean.
Storm Bird is also a half brother to stakes winners Let's Go South (by Northern Dancer's champion son One for All) and Ocean's Answer (by the Northern Dancer horse Northern Answer). The last-named mare is the second dam of nine stakes winners including 1994 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, FR-G1) winner Green Tune), 1996 Shadwell Stud Cheveley Park Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Pas de Reponse, and French Group 2 winner Didyme and is the third dam of multiple Grade 2 winner A. P. Warrior, multiple Australian Group 2 winner Whispering Brook, French Group 3 winner Snowday, and 2007 Jamaican champion imported 3-year-old male Who's Stayin On. In addition, Storm Bird is a half brother to stakes-placed Stormette (by Assert), dam of 1998 Hollywood Turf Handicap (USA-G1) winner Storm Trooper and multiple Group 3 winner Marillette (both by Diesis) and third dam of Grade 3 winners Stupendous Miss and Closing Range.
Storm Bird's dam South Ocean won the 1970 Canadian Oaks and is a half sister to Belles Oreilles (by Nentego), second dam of New Zealand Group 3 winner Prieur Way, and to Canadian Sun (by Canebora), dam of stakes winner Canadian Babe (by Northern Answer). The next dam in the tail-female line, Shining Sun (by Chop Chop), is a full sister to 1958 Breeders' Stakes winner Dr. Em Jay and a half sister to stakes winners Men At Play (by Ménétrier), Solar Park (by Chop Chop's champion son Victoria Park) and Solometeor (by Victoria Park).
Books and media
Storm Bird is one of 75 stallions profiled in Tony Morris' Thoroughbred Stallions (1990, The Crowood Press).
Fun facts
Last updated: February 28, 2023
Race record
6 starts, 5 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds, £72,594
1980:
- Won William Hill Dewhurst Stakes (ENG-G1, 7FT, Newmarket)
- Won National Stakes (IRE-G2, 7FT, The Curragh)
- Won Larkspur Stakes (IRE-G3, Leopardstown)
- Won Anglesey Stakes (IRE-G3, 6f+63yT, The Curragh)
Honors
- English champion 2-year-old male (1980)
- Irish champion 2-year-old male (1980)
Assessments
Earned a Timeform rating of 134 pounds as a 2-year-old.
Highweighted atop the International Classification for European 2-year-olds of 1980, 1 pound above To-Agori-Mou.
In their book A Century of Champions (1999, Portway Press Ltd.), British experts John Randall and Tony Morris rated Storm Bird 27th among juveniles trained in England or Ireland in the 20th century.
As an individual
A tall, rangy, well-balanced bay horse standing 16.1 hands, Storm Bird was athletic but high-strung. He was reportedly good-natured as a youngster but later developed a nasty disposition that worsened as he aged.
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Storm Bird sired 377 winners (53.9%) and 62 stakes winners (8.9%) from 699 named foals. He typically transmitted speed more than stamina. He was not the most fertile of stallions, and some observers noted a higher than usual rate of respiratory issues among his progeny.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 4th on the English/Irish general sire list in 1988; 6th in 1994.
- 8th on the American broodmare sire list in 2005; 9th in 2003.
Per Thoroughbred Times (previously Thoroughbred Record):
- 4th on the English/Irish general sire list in 1988; 6th in 1994.
Notable progeny
Acushla (IRE), Balanchine (USA), Bluebird (USA), Classy Mirage (USA), Combsway (USA), Dear Birdie (USA), Indian Skimmer (USA), Lonely Bird (USA), Magical Wonder (USA), Mukaddamah (USA), Pacific Squall (USA), Personal Hope (USA), Prince of Birds (USA), Storm Cat (USA), Summer Squall (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Avanzado (ARG), Bird Town (USA), Birdstone (USA), Commentator (USA), Court Vision (USA), Danendri (AUS), Dublin (USA), Flanders (USA), Forever Bond (BRZ), India Brava (USA), Medicean (GB), Running Flame (IND), Sand Springs (USA), Stay Thirsty (USA), Storm Tower (USA), Thunder Gulch (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Canada, Storm Bird was bred by E. P. Taylor's Windfields Farm. He was owned by Robert Sangster, who purchased the colt for US$1 million from the 1979 Keeneland July yearling sale. He was trained by Vincent O'Brien. Storm Bird was syndicated at a valuation of US$30 million and entered stud in Kentucky in 1982 at Ashford Stud, then owned by Dr. William Lockridge and Robert Hefner. John Magnier and his Coolmore partership bought Ashford in 1984, but Storm Bird remained at the farm throughout his stud career. He was pensioned in 1999 and was humanely destroyed due to colic on December 3, 2004.
Pedigree notes
Storm Bird is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to two-time Canadian champion filly Northernette, dam of 1986 Flower Bowl Handicap (USA-G1) winner Scoot and Irish Group 2 winner Gold Crest (both by Mr. Prospector) and third dam of English Group 2 winner Sendmylovetorose and Chilean Group 3 winner Individual Dance. He is also a full brother to stakes-placed South Sea Dancer, dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Signal Tap (by Fappiano), second dam of six stakes winners including Grade 2 winner Cool Coal Man and English Group 3 winner Winter Romance, and third dam of 2010/2011 Chilean champion sprinter Desert Power. Another full sister to Storm Bird, Oceana, is the dam of multiple Japanese stakes winner Biwa Shinseiki (by Forty Niner), the second dam of three stakes winners including Grade 3 winner Lindsey Jean, and the third dam of Grade 3 winner Indian Ocean.
Storm Bird is also a half brother to stakes winners Let's Go South (by Northern Dancer's champion son One for All) and Ocean's Answer (by the Northern Dancer horse Northern Answer). The last-named mare is the second dam of nine stakes winners including 1994 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, FR-G1) winner Green Tune), 1996 Shadwell Stud Cheveley Park Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Pas de Reponse, and French Group 2 winner Didyme and is the third dam of multiple Grade 2 winner A. P. Warrior, multiple Australian Group 2 winner Whispering Brook, French Group 3 winner Snowday, and 2007 Jamaican champion imported 3-year-old male Who's Stayin On. In addition, Storm Bird is a half brother to stakes-placed Stormette (by Assert), dam of 1998 Hollywood Turf Handicap (USA-G1) winner Storm Trooper and multiple Group 3 winner Marillette (both by Diesis) and third dam of Grade 3 winners Stupendous Miss and Closing Range.
Storm Bird's dam South Ocean won the 1970 Canadian Oaks and is a half sister to Belles Oreilles (by Nentego), second dam of New Zealand Group 3 winner Prieur Way, and to Canadian Sun (by Canebora), dam of stakes winner Canadian Babe (by Northern Answer). The next dam in the tail-female line, Shining Sun (by Chop Chop), is a full sister to 1958 Breeders' Stakes winner Dr. Em Jay and a half sister to stakes winners Men At Play (by Ménétrier), Solar Park (by Chop Chop's champion son Victoria Park) and Solometeor (by Victoria Park).
Books and media
Storm Bird is one of 75 stallions profiled in Tony Morris' Thoroughbred Stallions (1990, The Crowood Press).
Fun facts
- “Storm bird” is a nickname for the channel-billed cuckoo of Australia, also known as the Pacific koel. It gets this name from its habit of calling more frequently when stormy weather is approaching.
- Storm Bird was the indirect cause of the Coolmore acquisition of Ashford Stud, as Ashford owners William Lockridge and Robert Hefner had gone into substantial debt to buy into the colt and ended up passing Ashford to John Magnier and Coolmore as part of the debt settlement.
Last updated: February 28, 2023