After many years of thought and pit evaluation, fewer breeds have proven consistent winners. These breeds also mixed and matched so well with each other producing good to excellent battlefowl. These are the Old Time Hulsey Lemons, Doc Robinson Hatch, Lacy Roundheads and Sweater Yellow Leg Hatch. Breedng on the side, I acquired Asils, Spanish Game, and some Ashura Shamo.

1) Old Time Duke Hulsey Lemon : From the time of the Legendary Duke Hulsey to the present, the yellow legged and green legged, pea and straight combed Lemons have proven themselves in tough competition. These are deadly accurate in cutting, fast, powerful, and game. They are perhaps the only fowl whose intelligent and accurate fighting style can negate the awesome onslaught of the Yellow Legged Hatch, or the Sweaters for that matter. The Old Time One Minutes are still bred "pure" as possible.

2) Doc Robinson Hatch : The Bob Parker bloodlines were green legged, with pea and straight combs. From James Pope came pea combs in both green legs and yellow legs. These are fast Hatches. They are a bit hot-headed, too aggressive, but their superior speed and good cutting help overcome and overwhelm their opponents. They however fight close, so they also get hurt in a give-and-take situation. A cross with Roundheads improves headyness and winnability without sacrificing speed. A cross with Lemons have produced for us some of the cuttingest fowl we have bred. Deadly. Lately, some Docs also came from Pops Donathan, both straight and peacombed stocks. A bit smarter, but just as fast. Just as strong.

3) Roundheads : These strains reach out farther by fully extending their long legs when they hit their opponents. Deadly cutters with speed, breaking prowess, gameness and power. Bloodlines came from James Pope (George Lay, RIP) and Jerry Hamlin. Some Boston Roundheads with good looking white colored tail streamers, sometimes looking like yellow legged spangled roosters, were also acquired and have proven good. They blend well with Doc Robinsons, Lemons, Sweaters. And, yes, Asils!!!

4) Sweaters : Original trio of "Machineguns" came from James Pope, some brood stags/Cock came from Andy Miller, and from Filipino breeders who imported bloodlines from Sue Wilson, Johnny Jumper, Carrol Nesmith, also came some selected brood material. Recently, 2 stags of Albany-Sweater bloodline of Newton Wade breeding were acquired for me by my California resident cocker-friend. Pops Donathan also shared with me his Sweaters, and his Sweater-Kelso blends. With the help of Pareng Fred, I was able to get 6 Sweater brood pullets from Bruce Barnett, and through Serge, Dink's Sweater blood. Salamat.

5) Orientals : The Jerry Hamlin Asil grades were fought as halves with a good 3-1 win percentage. They become steel game at 17 months, although some were game at 15 months. The best crosses were with Roundheads and with Wingates. Quarter and eight grades are being bred and they show a lot of promise. An Ashura Shamo stag, a blinker and a one time winner was also acquired from a Russian naked heel cocker from California. From James Mac White, and thru Eddie Araneta, and the late Totoy de la Cruz, I was able to acquire two Asil-Grey cocks, brothers of which won for Mac White a big Sunset derby in 1997, scoring 9-1 for a solo win. In the Philippines, the only loss we had with the offspring of these two cocks was a draw!!! Zero loss!!! From Matt McDaniel came Asils of Bobby Boles bloodlines, 9 stags and 2 pullets. Later, 2 Black roosters of the Manziel-Boles Squeak Black bloodlines. One particular Asil stag was a "frisky" one, fighting and moving like no asil stag I have seen or bred in the past. Fast, alert, constantly moving. He has since won twice against Sweaters, much taller than him. He is old, but we still use him in the broodpens. He still produces some good Asil grades. Excellent when bred over RedFox Greys from which we imported 2 trios before. As well as 2 trios of RedFox McLeans.

6) Slim Benoist Silver Bullets : MR Slim Benoist was kind enough to share some of his famous "Silver Bullets, white fowl said to be White Kelsos. My friend, Kim Lapus, based in Texas was also able to get some Red Kelsos, and some Joe Goode Greys off Slim, and some were "parked" in my farm. These are natural long knife fowl. Good cutters and good flyers, and very game!!! They also blend well with Hatches and Lemons, and Roundheads.

The above bloodlines are already plenty. In fact, breeding Lemons, Doc Robinsons, Roundheads and Sweaters are already complete to be competitive for a long time. They blend so well with each other that no other strain is needed. However, breeding Orientals is such a pleasure due to their hardiness, good disposition, robust health and unorthodox fighting style. The Hamlin halves have also shown the Oriental grades can hold their own in tough competition. As quarters and eights, we will see how they fare. Winning 3 for every one lost isn't bad.

CULLED AND ELIMINATED :

Not all high priced fowl are good. Culled was a family of expensive Blue Brazilian purchased from a breeder from California. Also culled was a cold blooded family of pure Joe Goode Greys from a breeder who was once from Coolidge, Texas. James Pope was in the Philippines when the Goode Grey was fought. Pope was the one who heeled the rooster, and the rooster quit! Later, two brothers also quit. So, that was the end of that line. 27 roosters and 24 pullets and hens were culled. It was a good 3 years of learning and spending. To be fair, the Goode Greys from this man were very good cutters. But not game when bred pure.

DARK FOWL AND NEW BLOOD :

MIRABELLA continues to breed the dark fowl that came from Michael Middleton. Wingates and Jungle Fowl. For a 6 cock derby at Roligon we prepared 4 cocks very confident that we would win with only 4. We entered the 2 cock finals, winning the first 3. All the vassal cocks won. But the ones previously fought and which had some damage lost. Lost, but very game. Score: 4 wins, 2 losses out of 4 cocks that were fought 6 times!!! Friend Mimi Itchon bred some of the Black Jungle Fowl and won many fights with the bloodline from Metro Manila to Bicol. We have also bred some dark fowl from Mayor Bunoy Ramos, blended with Liepers from Pops Donathan, they produced 3 time and more winners. Fast and deadly. Also produced were our signature line of ASWANGS Dark fowl with Asil infusion. Ugly like vampires, but real good cutters.

JESSE HORTA'S FOWL :

Jesse Horta is a real good breeder. He produces roosters that are competitive anywhere in the world. His fowl are not cheap. And he is selective to whom he shares his fowl. His white legs, are superior fowl. His Horta Blacks are very good cutters. In his farm, I also saw Chets, and many types of Asil blends, yellow legs, white legs, dirty feet. It was real good to have met Jesse, and his fowl are at home in Mirabella. I have many cars, but I do not have Jesse's 1955 yellow Thunderbird!!! WOW!

POPS DONATHAN

Pops is very unassuming as a person. Very kind hearted, and fun to be with. He also raises some mean roosters. Greys, Spangled Hatches, Sweaters and Sweater-Kelsos. Butchers and Butcher-Roundheads, as well as his Docs. Very few old cocks in his yard. All sold out as stags. Always a pleasure to visit with Pops.