Big Shuffle (USA)
February 25, 1984 – December 29, 2009
Super Concorde (USA) x Raise Your Skirts (USA), by Elevation (USA)
Family 7-e
February 25, 1984 – December 29, 2009
Super Concorde (USA) x Raise Your Skirts (USA), by Elevation (USA)
Family 7-e
While he was the best Irish sprinter of 1988, Big Shuffle never won above the Group 3 level, and his sire Super Concorde was considered a disappointment as a sire considering the quality he had shown as a juvenile. Not much was expected from Big Shuffle when he went to Germany as a stallion, but there, the speedy horse became an outcross for a heavily stamina-laden mare population. As when Phalaris provided an injection of quality speed into Lord Derby’s classically-oriented breeding program in the early 20th century, the results far exceeded expectations. Big Shuffle led the German general sire list seven times and begot a worthy successor in four-time German sire champion Areion.
Race record
17 starts, 4 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$167,483 (Includes converted English, French, and Irish earnings)
1986:
1987:
1988:
Honors
Irish champion sprinter (1988)
Assessments
Rated at 122 pounds by Timeform.
As an individual
Lengthy, good-bodied, and muscular, the dark bay or brown Big Shuffle had powerful hindquarters but was somewhat light on bone below the knee.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Big Shuffle sired 584 winners (61.4%) and 73 stakes winners (7.7%) from 951 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (https://www.arion.co.nz/LeadingSires/LeadingSires.aspx):
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage,com):
Notable progeny
Areion (GER), Feuerblitz (GER), Turfrose (GER)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Big Shuffle was bred by Moyglare Stud Farm. He stood at Gestüt Auenquelle, Germany. He died on December 29, 2009, after being shipped to the Univserity of Hanover for treatment of a leg problem.
Pedigree notes
Big Shuffle is inbred 5x5 to 1947 American champion sprinter Polynesian. He is the only winner from seven foals produced from multiple Grade 3 winner Raise Your Skirts, whose sire Elevation is a winning son of Raise a Native. Raise Your Skirts is a half sister to stakes winner Cold Buns (by Far North), dam of 1989 E.B.F. Meld Stakes (IRE-G3) winner Slender Style (by Alleged) and 1994 Ancient Title Breeders’ Cup Handicap (USA-G1) winner Saratoga Gambler (by Saratoga Six) and second dam of 1997 Hungarian champion older male Power Moves. She is also a half sister to Trolling (by Sir Gaylord), dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Coastal Voyage (by Coastal).
Raise Your Skirts and her siblings are out of the unraced Tudor Minstrel mare Strings Attached, whose half sister Milka (by Ace of Aces) is the dam of multiple stakes winner Romilk (by Romeo). The dam of Strings Attached, Timalin (by Court Martial) is a half sister to 1959 Preakness Stakes winner Royal Orbit (by Royal Charger). She is also a half sister to Klondike Annie (by Arctic Prince), dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Yukon Eric (by Tudor Minstrel) and third dam of 1987 Indian Oaks winner Slipstream; to Taratan (by Summer Tan), dam of Grade 3 winner The Messanger (by Big Spruce); and to Lady Bellaston (by Tudor Minstrel), third dam of Grade 2 winners Richman and Journalism. Produced from the War Admiral mare Admirals Belle, Timalin is also a half sister to Corner Table (by Sword Dancer), dam of multiple stakes winner Fling Ding (by Jungle Savage; dam of four minor stakes winners) and third dam of two-time Peruvian champion turf male Zeide Isaac.
Last updated: November 1, 2025
Race record
17 starts, 4 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$167,483 (Includes converted English, French, and Irish earnings)
1986:
- Won Tetrarch Stakes (IRE-G3, 7FT, The Curragh)
- Won Cork and Orrery Stakes (ENG-G3, 6FT, Ascot)
- 3rd Keeneland Sprint Stakes (IRE-G3, 6FT, Phoenix)
1987:
- Won CBA Greenlands Stakes (IRE-G3, 6FT, The Curragh)
- 2nd Norcros July Cup (ENG-G1, 6FT, Newmarket)
- 3rd Prix de la Forêt (FR-G1, 1400mT, Longchamp)
1988:
- 2nd Greenlands Stakes (IRE-G3, 6FT, The Curragh)
Honors
Irish champion sprinter (1988)
Assessments
Rated at 122 pounds by Timeform.
As an individual
Lengthy, good-bodied, and muscular, the dark bay or brown Big Shuffle had powerful hindquarters but was somewhat light on bone below the knee.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Big Shuffle sired 584 winners (61.4%) and 73 stakes winners (7.7%) from 951 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (https://www.arion.co.nz/LeadingSires/LeadingSires.aspx):
- Led the German general sire list in 2009, 2011, and 2012; 3rd in 2010 and 2013; 8th in 2014.
- Led the German broodmare sire list in 2015 and 2024; 2nd in 2013; 3rd in 2009, 2011-2013, 2016, and 2020; 6th in 2021; 8th in 2010.
- 7th on the Italian general sire list in 2012.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the German general sire list in 1998, 2003, and 2005; 2nd in 1999, 2001, and 2004; 3rd in 2000 and 2002; 4th in 1997.
- Led the German broodmare sire list in 2002; 2nd in 2018; 3rd in 2017 and 2019; 4th in 2022 and 2023.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage,com):
- Led the German general sire list in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2009.
Notable progeny
Areion (GER), Feuerblitz (GER), Turfrose (GER)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Big Shuffle was bred by Moyglare Stud Farm. He stood at Gestüt Auenquelle, Germany. He died on December 29, 2009, after being shipped to the Univserity of Hanover for treatment of a leg problem.
Pedigree notes
Big Shuffle is inbred 5x5 to 1947 American champion sprinter Polynesian. He is the only winner from seven foals produced from multiple Grade 3 winner Raise Your Skirts, whose sire Elevation is a winning son of Raise a Native. Raise Your Skirts is a half sister to stakes winner Cold Buns (by Far North), dam of 1989 E.B.F. Meld Stakes (IRE-G3) winner Slender Style (by Alleged) and 1994 Ancient Title Breeders’ Cup Handicap (USA-G1) winner Saratoga Gambler (by Saratoga Six) and second dam of 1997 Hungarian champion older male Power Moves. She is also a half sister to Trolling (by Sir Gaylord), dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Coastal Voyage (by Coastal).
Raise Your Skirts and her siblings are out of the unraced Tudor Minstrel mare Strings Attached, whose half sister Milka (by Ace of Aces) is the dam of multiple stakes winner Romilk (by Romeo). The dam of Strings Attached, Timalin (by Court Martial) is a half sister to 1959 Preakness Stakes winner Royal Orbit (by Royal Charger). She is also a half sister to Klondike Annie (by Arctic Prince), dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Yukon Eric (by Tudor Minstrel) and third dam of 1987 Indian Oaks winner Slipstream; to Taratan (by Summer Tan), dam of Grade 3 winner The Messanger (by Big Spruce); and to Lady Bellaston (by Tudor Minstrel), third dam of Grade 2 winners Richman and Journalism. Produced from the War Admiral mare Admirals Belle, Timalin is also a half sister to Corner Table (by Sword Dancer), dam of multiple stakes winner Fling Ding (by Jungle Savage; dam of four minor stakes winners) and third dam of two-time Peruvian champion turf male Zeide Isaac.
Last updated: November 1, 2025