By Heather Anderson
In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of La Mehana in the GIII Waya Stakes in New York.
Al Wukair Mare Takes Waya
LSU Stables' La Mehana (Fr) (Al Wukair {Ire}) broke her American duck in the GIII Waya Stakes during the Belmont at the Big A meeting last week (video). Trained by Christophe Clement, the bay was third in both the GIII Orchid Stakes and GIII Sheepshead Bay Stakes earlier this year.
Bred by Haras du Mezeray, La Mehana was a €55,000 buy-back out of the Arqana September Sale and she placed at two for Henri-Alex Pantall in the colours of the Moussac Family in 2021. She would go on to take the Listed Prix Michel Houyvet in 2023 for Jean-Claude Rouget and Selina Fernandez-Shaw Alvarez & Noir and Or Elevage. Kept in training at four, she added the Listed Prix Pawneese, Listed Prix des Tourelles and placed third in the G1 Prix de Royallieu last autumn before heading back through the Deauville ring and selling for €400,000 to Clement.
Her dam, Oceanie (Fr) (Dansili {GB}), has also foaled German Group 3 winner Ocean Fantasy (Fr) to the cover of Make Believe (GB). Oceanie, herself, is a half-sister to multiple Group 2 winner and sire Watar (Ire) (Marju {Ire}).
Haras de Bouquetot's Al Wukair has sired three starters and three winners in the U.S. La Mehana is the best of them.
'Charm'ing Win For Minoushka
Ecurie des Charmes runner Minoushka (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) cruised to a Keeneland allowance win on Oct. 10 (video). Previously trained by Carlos and Yann Lerner, she changed hands for €170,000 as an Arqana October yearling when selected by Meridian International.
Bred by Le Thenney – Pearl Champs Elysses, the daughter of Mouille Point (GB) (Motivator {GB}) placed in both the Listed Prix Volterra and G3 Prix de la Grotte this year before moving to the U.S. This is the family of German Group 3 winner Turning Light (Ger) (Fantastic Light) and her son, stakes-winning son Surrey Star (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was placed three times at group level. G1 German Oaks third Noble Heidi (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) is also under the second dam.
Coolmore's Starspangledbanner is responsible for 14 winners from 27 runners (52%) in America. His seven stakes winners in that jurisdiction are anchored by Grade I winners Rhea Moon (Ire) and young stallion State Of Rest (Ire).
Thread the needle to victory with @Tyler_Gaff aboard Minoushka Ride in the fifth race at @keeneland for trainer Brendan Walsh. 🪡 #JockeyCam #HelmetCam@JockeysGuild l @FanDuelTV l @PDJFund pic.twitter.com/oHj7KhmTCA
— JockeyCam (@JockeyCam) October 10, 2024
French Import Takes New York Affair
Brisbane (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}) closed to take a Belmont at the Big A race for Chad Brown, Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb and Michael Kisber (video). The Haras d'Haspel-bred bay was purchased for €170,000 out of the Arqana October Yearling Sale by David Redvers and Meridian International.
Already a half-sister to the stakes winner Be Beautiful (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), Brisbane is out of Be Released (Ire) (Three Valleys), while her dam is a half-sister to three-time Group 1 winner Gordon Lord Byron (Ire) (Byron {GB}). She made four starts for Francois Rohaut and owner Laurent Dassault, winning two of them, including her April 2023 French finale.
Zelzal, who stands at Haras de Bouquetot, has four winners from nine runners (44%) in America. His pair of stakes winners there have both won at Grade III level–Dolce Zel (Fr) and Ouraika (Fr).
Zoffany Colt Gets It Done In Lexington
James and Donna Daniell's Half Dome (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) made his third start a winning one at Keeneland on Thursday (video). He made his first two starts at Ellis Park.
The Michael McCarthy trainee was bred by Rockhart Trading, Ltd. and sold to West Bloodstock for €110,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale in 2022. The second foal for Tissiak (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), the bay is from the extended family of G3 Prix de Flore winner In Clover (GB) (Inchinor {GB}), the dam of no less than seven stakes winners, among them a quartet of Group 1 winners including Friendly Soul (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who won the G1 Prix de l'Opera on Sunday.
The late Zoffany has sired 30 winners in North America from 59 runners (50%). His quintet of stakes winners contain four graded winners with GII Hollywood Turf Cup winner Oscar Dominguez (Ire) the best of the lot so far.
(6) Half Dome (IRE) commands the night cap, giving Flavien Prat back-to-back wins! (5) Fort Thomas and (4) Fayette Spirit follow. pic.twitter.com/uSlL5MnyEN
— Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) October 10, 2024
No Nay Never Filly Prevails In Delaware
Brindi (Ire) (No Nay Never) graduated at Delaware Park for trainer Christophe Clement on Oct. 9 (video). A colourbearer for Bridlewood Farm, eFive Racing Thoroubhreds, Madaket Stables and Michael Dubb, the daughter of Salamah (Ire) (Shamardal) was making her third start.
A product of the Framont, Ltd. breeding programme, the second foal of her dam was an €180,000 Arqana August yearling. Granddam Spirit Of Dubai (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) also foaled Salamah's full-brother Emaraaty Ana (GB) (Shamardal), who won the G1 Sprint Cup and was second in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, G1 Nunthorpe Stakes and another edition of the Sprint Cup Stakes.
Coolmore Stud's No Nay Never is credited with 54 winners from 97 runners (55%) in the U.S. His trio of graded winners include GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Meditate (Ire) and multiple group winner Nay Lady Nay (Ire), who was also third in the GI Flower Bowl Stakes.
Repeat Winners:
eFive Racing Thoroughbreds' Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) took his third graded stakes on the bounce in Keeneland's GI Turf Mile Stakes on Oct. 5 (video) for Chad Brown. The 'TDN Rising Star' broke his maiden at Gulfstream last year.
Another repeat winner is John Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock Services' Rebel Red (GB) (Frankel {GB}). The Cherie DeVaux trainee added a Keeneland allowance to his ledger on the same day (video).
Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables combined to win a Belmont at the Big A contest with Unit Economics (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) (video). The son of Cherubic (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) first came on the U.S. scene with a maiden win in New York in June.
Watch the full replay as Carl Spackler (IRE) prevails in the @coolmoreamerica Turf Mile (G1) and earns a spot in the starting gate at the @BreedersCup Mile! pic.twitter.com/Vit58HJKAz
— Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) October 5, 2024
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