Great Fillies at Stud

There is no question that world racing will be all the poorer in 2021 without those marvelous mares, Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). For all of us with a keen interest in breeding, their future careers will be watched with great interest, Enable starting off with a visit to Kingman (GB) and Magical going to Dubawi (Ire).

But how have brilliant racemares fared in their second career down through the years? They are certainly a select bunch with only 42 having attained a Timeform mark of 130 or higher since the 1970s. Predictably, many–just like Enable–have earned their high ranking by winning or going close in Europe's premier middle-distance race, the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. No fewer than 15 among our 42 have won or finished runner up in the Longchamp feature. Dual winners Enable and Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) take pride of place, but they are not the best Arc-winning females in the past 50 years according to Timeform.

The great Allez France (Sea-Bird {Fr})–one of five fillies on our list that raced for Daniel Wildenstein–achieved a rating of 136, two pounds above the 134 of Enable, Treve and All Along (Fr) (Targowice). In fact, only four from the group of 42 have risen higher than 134, the brilliant sprinter Habibti (Ire) (Habitat) matching Allez France's 136, while dual King George heroine Dahlia (Vaguely Noble {Ire}) and brilliant Pebbles (GB) (Sharpen Up {GB}) peaked at 135.

Several fillies, such as Balanchine (Storm Bird), Salsabil (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and Triptych (Riverman), were talented enough to beat their male counterparts in traditionally male-only Classics such as the Irish Derby and Irish 2000 Guineas. There have also been top milers like triple Breeders' Cup Mile heroine Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa) and even a few 2-year-olds have made the list, with Phoenix S. winner Cloonlara (Sir Ivor), Prix Morny heroine Broadway Dancer (Northern Dancer), plus Cawston's Pride (GB) (Con Brio II {GB}) making it to the exalted 130 mark.

In assessing this group of brilliant fillies as broodmares, along with Enable, we can also discount speedster Marsha (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) another yet to have runners, while a few more, including Treve and even Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}), are only at the dawn of their broodmare careers. We are also obliged to leave out two more on account that they never produced any foals. The outstanding Habitat filly, Flying Water (Fr), rated 132 by Timeform after a career that included victories in the 1000 Guineas, Prix Jacques le Marois and Champion S., died in an accident at Belmont Park as a 5-year-old, while Triptych, a sometimes brilliant but always tough daughter of Riverman, lost her life in a paddock accident while carrying her first foal by Mr. Prospector.

That leaves 36–all foaled more than 15 years ago–whose stud records can be examined. This group had a combined 260 runners, an average of 6.5 per mare. This low number is a clue in itself as to how they have fared in their second careers. Some struggled with their fertility while others simply couldn't produce the goods. Given that these were all top-class fillies, their owners might have expected at least a group winner from their prized broodmare prospects. In the event, 20 of the 36 produced at least one group winner. Moreover, the sum total of 38 group winners produced by the 36 mares made up 14.6% of the 260 runners, a pleasing return no doubt.

Less impressive is the fact that only 14 produced a Group 1 winner and only three had more than one Group 1 winner. But the most disappointing aspect of all is that only a single Timeform 130-plus female in the past 50 years of European racing has produced a runner good enough to join the Timeform 130-plus club. That mare was Cawston's Pride, the Champion 2-Year-Old Filly of 1970 and dam of the brilliant Vincent O'Brien-trained sprinter Solinus (GB) (Comedy Star), who set the summer of 1978 alight with consecutive victories in the King's Stand S., July Cup and Nunthorpe S., or William Hill Sprint Championship as it was known then.

Of all the group's produce records, Dahlia's is easily the best. Though none of her foals approached anywhere near her own ability, four won at the highest level with three requiring American turf races to secure their Group 1 status. The brilliant miler Miesque (Nureyev) produced influential sire Kingmambo (Mr. Prospector), a 125-rated three-time Group 1 winner, plus Classic winner East of the Moon (Private Account), who won the French Guineas and Oaks, plus the Jacques le Marois during a rich vein of form as a 3-year-old in 1994.

The only other dam of two or more Group 1 winners in the group was the brilliant sprinter Marwell (Ire) (Timeform 133), one of four 130-plus Habitat fillies on our list. She was responsible for Lomond's daughter Marling (Ire), who scored in the Cheveley Park S., Irish 1000 Guineas, Coronation S. and Sussex S. Meanwhile, Marling's Caerleon half-brother Caerwent (Ire) secured a Group 1 victory in the National S. at The Curragh.

The fact that the 36 top-class European racemares since 1970 collectively managed but a single horse in their own class may seem disappointing, but it's perhaps better to hang on to the 14.6% group winner figure. All the more so when we learn that fillies and mares rated between 125 and 129 by Timeform typically produce 7.2% group winners to runners–an excellent return, but only half the rate of their more-talented peers.

There are numerous examples of brilliant racemares that failed completely at stud. The first five foals produced by Pebbles never even saw a racecourse despite being by the best sires of the day. She ended up with only two minor winners from 11 foals. Indian Skimmer (Storm Bird) was another who failed to fire a shot, her first six foals being unraced, before her last foal won six sprint races over a period of eight years. The brilliant Habibti had only two winners from 12 foals with no sign of class whatsoever. Arc heroines, Ivanjica (Sir Ivor) and Akiyda (GB) (Labus {Fr}) were also bereft of stakes horses, as were Oaks and St Leger winner Dunfermline (GB) (Royal Palace {GB}), King George heroine Pawneese (Ire) (Carvin II {Fr}), April Run (Ire) (Run the Gauntlet), Milligram (GB) (Mill Reef) and Luth Enchantee (Fr) (Be My Guest). Even the great Allez France struggled, her best offspring being Group 3 scorer Action Francaise (Nureyev).

Of course, some made amends for their lackluster produce records and went on to establish good legacies. Pawneese is ancestress of Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) while Lianga (Dancer's Image)–dam of a single stakes winner–is in the direct female line of important sires Danehill Dancer (Ire) (Danehill) and Street Sense (Street Cry {Ire}), while Milligram has her own vibrant dynasty at Meon Valley Stud with Oaks winner Anapurna (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Speedy Boarding (GB) (Shamardal) listed among her best descendants.

Of course, this study by design excludes many fine fillies and mares than went on to have great careers at stud. Perhaps the two most worthy of mention are the 126-rated pair Urban Sea (Miswaki) and Detroit (Fr) (Riverman), Arc winners who produced Arc winners. And there is none with a more profound influence on the modern-day breed than Urban Sea.