Where Are The Queens of 2018?

[Wandering Eyes]

With the latest renewals of Europe’s major breeding stock sales well and truly upon us, it is worth taking a moment to look back at some of the leading ladies of 12 months ago.

Last year’s sale-topping mares may have vacated the spotlight, at least for now, to make way for a new wave of gems up for grabs this time around, but these genetic goldmines aren’t likely to stay hidden for long, thanks in part to the quality coverings they have received.

The offering of a select group of mares and foals to dissolve partnerships between Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar generated plenty of headlines last fall, not least when Pearling (Storm Cat), the dam of that pair’s triple middle-distance Group 1 winner Decorated Knight (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), was offered at Tattersalls carrying a full-sibling to Decorated Knight. Al Sagar bought out his partner in the full-sister to Giant’s Causeway and You’resothrilling for 2.4-million gns, and though she unfortunately slipped the Galileo foal she was carrying, the 13-year-old mare is back in foal to Coolmore’s champion sire.

Pearling was followed through the ring two lots later during last year’s Tuesday session at Tattersalls by her then 5-year-old daughter Ambrosia (GB) (Frankel {GB}), carrying her first foal by Siyouni. Ambrosia was the pick of WinStar Farm after they were among the underbidders on her dam, and she foaled a filly last winter in Kentucky before being bred back to Triple Crown winner Justify in his first season at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud.

When Luke Lillingston signed the ticket on blueblooded stakes winner Bound (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) at 2.2-million gns on behalf of Lordship Stud at Tattersalls last year, he said she was headed to Dubawi (Ire) and that indeed proved true. That was certainly not a surprising cross for the half-sister to three stakes winners out of a three-quarter sister to Dylan Thomas (Ire), nor was her mating last year to Dark Angel, to which she produced a filly. The stakes-winning She’s Complete (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}), the top lot at Goffs last year when bought by Yulong Investments for €350,000, produced a filly by Sea The Stars (Ire) before herself being bred back to Dark Angel (Ire).

Another stakes-winning Galileo mare who headed the way of Dubawi this year was Beautiful Morning (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). Originally a 650,000gns yearling at this venue and a particular headline grabber as the first foal out of Date With Destiny (Ire)– the only progeny of champion George Washington (Ire)– Beautiful Morning was bought as a maiden last year by Hugo Lascelles for 1.4-million gns. Her dam also visited Dubawi this year.

Another high-class maiden mare out of Tattersalls for Dubawi was the GI Matriarch S. winner Off Limits (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who was bought by Peter and Bonnie McCausland, who are developing Erdenheim Farm in Pennsylvania in the U.S. as a fledgling Thoroughbred operation, for 1.2-million gns. Erdenheim Farm also took home Billesdon Bess (GB) (Dick Turpin {Ire}), whose dam Coplow (GB) (Manduro {Ger}) will be one of the star turns of this year’s sale, for 800,000gns. Billesdon Bess, a half-sister to G1 1000 Guineas winner and G1 Sun Chariot S. winner Billesdon Brook (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), was bred to Kingman for her first mating this year. The 925,000gns Earring (Dansili {GB}) also visited Kingman after foaling a Lope De Vega (Ire) filly for Watership Down Stud.

One of the top offerings from Arqana December last year, the German Group 3 winner Peace In Motion (Hat Trick {Jpn}), also visited Dubawi for her first cover having been bought by Bertrand le Metayer on behalf of Samuel de Barros for €860,000. Arqana was last year dominated by the younger stock, with the 2-year-old fillies Lily’s Candle (Fr) (Style Vendome {Fr}) (€1.1-million) and Solage (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (€1-million) both staying in training this year.

Galileo, of course, was not without his share of suitors from last year’s sales. Coolmore followed its trend of farming fast mares for its star sire-think Marsha (GB), Quiet Reflection (GB) and Different League (Fr) just the year before-and last year signed for, among others, the G2 Queen Mary S. victress Heartache (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) for 1.3-million gns at Tattersalls, putting her on Galileo’s book for her first cover. Phoenix Thoroughbreds’s 1.1-million gns purchase Pocketfullofdreams (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) produced a Galileo filly this year and was bred back to him, while Grade I winner Daddys Lil Darling (Scat Daddy), bought by MV Magnier for $3.5-million as a maiden at Fasig-Tipton, was exported to Ireland and bred to Galileo.

Barronstown Stud spent a combined $2.2-million on a pair of mares at Fasig-Tipton November last year, and both visited Justify after foaling out in Kentucky this year: Appealing Zophie (Successful Appeal), the $1.2-million dam of GI Belmont S. winner Tapwrit, produced a filly by Tapit, while Hopeoverexperience (Songandaprayer), the $1-million dam of the Coolmore partners’ G3 Balanchine S. winner So Perfect (Scat Daddy), this year foaled an Into Mischief colt. Both of those foals were offered at Keeneland November this year, the Into Mischief colt making $550,000 from China Horse Club and Maverick Racing (an associated stable of WinStar Farm), while the Tapit filly was bought back for $475,000.

While Martini Glass (Kitalpha) relatively flew under the radar at Fasig-Tipton’s Night of the Stars last year when bought by Flaxman Stables for $500,000, it is interesting to see what the Niarchos Family has done with the multiple graded stakes winner. The 6-year-old is by Kitalpha, himself a Niarchos homebred son of the great Miesque who ended up at stud in Zimbabwe. Martini Glass was bred to Camelot (GB) this year, and thus the resulting foal will be inbred 4×3 to Miesque.

The post Where Are The Queens of 2018? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article