The late Deputy Minister is widely regarded as one of the more influential sires of recent times in North America. His influence has certainly been well felt this year and this last weekend in particular.

His son Go Deputy won the Bowling Green Hcp (Gr2) last month and landed his first Gr1 win on Saturday when easily accounting for a strong field in the Sword Dancer Invitational Hcp (Gr1). A half-brother to dual Gr1 winner Dare and Go (Alydar), Go Deputy won the Sword Dancer by a shade under two lengths from his Pan American Hcp (Gr3) conqueror Silver Whistle (Alphabet Soup) with the smart three-year-old Grand Couturier (Grand Lodge) finishing third. The favourite for the race, last year's Canadian International (Gr1) hero Relaxed Gesture, was a well beaten fifth.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, who is enjoying a red hot streak at Saratoga, Go Deputy has now won six times and over $500,000. Go Deputy's damsire, Secretariat, was also in the news this weekend as the sire of Phoenix Stakes hero Holy Roman Emperor.

Sunday saw the running of the Monmouth Breeders' Cup Oaks (Gr3).

Deputy Minister's granddaughters Mo Cuishle (out of a Deputy Minister mare) and Gasia (by Silver Deputy) ran 1-2. Mo Cuishle (Saint Ballado) is unbeaten in three starts to date. The Monmouth Oaks has been won by some top-class fillies in the past, ie the likes of Breeders Cup winners Unbridled Elaine and Spain both won, whilst Kentucky Oaks heroines Blushing K D and Silverbulletday are also on the winners list.

Deputy Minister is also broodmare sire of this year's Belmont Stakes winner Jazil and the sire of smart three-year-old filly Miss Shop, who ran third in the CCA Oaks (Gr1). His son Awesome Again is currently fifth on the general sires list, whilst Deputy Minister occupies the same place on the broodmare sires list.