With the elite pedigrees on offer at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, buying plans can be as much about a long-term strategy as the yearling's immediate future. With that in mind, TDN asked breeders and agents for their pick of the catalogue when it comes to finding a potential foundation mare.
Trevor Stewart, breeder: Lot 155
“This is a solid fast Group 1/Group 2 family over a mile on the dam's side now with the influence of Galileo (Ire) on top. Miss France (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) has a Dubawi (Ire) foal and in foal to Lope De Vega (Ire) which is important to know going forward as a breeder.
“This filly is bred on the Sadler's Wells/Danehill cross which has been so successful in the past. When you look at the third dam, Mini Luthe (Fr) is by Klairon (Fr), a French 2000 Guineas winner and, more importantly to me, the sire of Lorenzaccio (GB) who in turn was the sire of Ahonoora (GB), who was the grand sire of my own foundation mare Cassandra Go (Ire).
Jill Lamb, bloodstock agent: Lot 336
“She may seem an obvious choice given her page, but the Dubawi (Ire) filly out of Waldlerche (GB) ticks so many boxes.
Her distaff pedigree–she is from the famed German 'W' family first developed at Gestut Ravensburg–has depth and class. Every generation has been notable for its middle-distance quality and quantity, even going back to before this filly's third dam Wurftaube (Ger) proved herself a top-class runner and then one of the 'blue hens' of European breeding.
“By Dubawi and out of a stakes-winning Monsun (Ger) mare, the filly's racing potential is evident–the same cross having produced the likes of recent top-class siblings Yibir (GB) and Wild Illusion (GB)–and there will be plenty of top stallion options open to her in the future.
“The Sadler's Wells/ Galileo line is already a proven outcross success at the highest level, her Galileo half-brother Waldgeist (GB) winning the 2019 Arc, and her New Approach (Ire) half-sister successful in the G2 Prix de Malleret. The latter now has foals by Kingman (GB) and Siyouni (Fr) on the ground.
Her dam Waldlerche is in foal to Frankel (GB), and he could look an ideal future mate for this filly in due course, or she could prove well matched for up-and-coming stallions such as Wootton Bassett (GB) and Siyouni.”
Philippa Cooper, breeder: Lot 155
“It wasn't easy but my pick would be the Galileo (Ire) filly out of Miss France (Ire) (Dansili {GB}). I should imagine the first foal is unraced but that wouldn't worry me, as she will have a lot of fillies to run for her. It is a wonderful deep Wildenstein family, and I know Diane Wildenstein rears her stock, at Coolmore, so they are getting the best of everything.
“Is she a foal share? If she was, then why didn't she buy out the filly? These are all questions that one has to check out when approaching the sales. She's still a young mare, a Classic winner, so if the filly didn't make it on the racecourse, she would have residual value, and one could still breed from her.
“I have met Diane, her owner, and I like her, which is important to me, as we are all trying to help one another, as breeders.”
Jamie McCalmont, bloodstock agent: Lot 42
“I feel this filly ticks all the boxes when looking for a foundation broodmare. She's by a top stallion in Kingman (GB) out of the winning Galileo (Ire) mare Galileo Gal (Ire), who is a half-sister to three Group 1 winners, which is not seen very often in any yearling catalogue.
“The family is as good as any in modern pedigrees, with many Group 1 winners and Breeders' Cup winners that don't even appear on the page. It is a pedigree also that will cross well with many of the leading sires standing today, and it is attractive that all the best horses on the page are milers.”
John Hayes, breeder: Lot 127
My criteria are:
- Family
- Speed sire, following Stonestreet's Barbara Banke's stated strategy
- Damsire rating
- Conformation
- Dam a full-sister to or from the family of a top sire
- Complete outcross to Northern Dancer line, so Dark Angel (Ire), Acclamation (GB), Mehmas (Ire), Dubawi (Ire), Tamayuz (GB)
- Family more important than individual.
On my list would be lot 119, by Dark Angel, a full-sister to Group 2 winner and sire Birchwood (Ire) and from the family of Rumble Inthejungle (Ire), a Group 3 winner and sire G3w, speed on speed. I also like the Lope De Vega (Ire)-Lawman (Ire) cross for lot 152, while lot 42, is Kingman (GB) grand-daughter of Alpha Lupi (Ire) from the family of Kingmambo.
But my first choice would be lot 127, a daughter of Dubawi (Ire) who is inbred 4×4 to Shirley Heights (GB) and from the family of Lando (Ger).
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