Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
There are not huge numbers of American-bred mares making their way to Australia each season but they are certainly making their mark, in 2023 producing three locally bred Group 1 winners, as well as one high-class imported galloper.
The G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Little Brose (Per Incanto {USA}), a $200,000 Magic Millions graduate bred by David Wallace is a son of the Listed winner Mohegan Sky (USA) (Straight Man {USA}), half-sister to the Listed winner Vous (USA) (Wild Rush {USA}) - grandam of the Group 1 winner Ruby Love (Chi) (Scat Daddy {USA}).
His family goes back to the early 1900s in the United States and all but one of his first six broodmares sires are American-bred. His breeder was quoted after the Blue Diamond as thinking Mohegan Sky - a mare at her best over sprinting trips - would be best suited by speed type stallions.
This has been a common theme with those buying American-bred mares over the years - the idea that the way they race in America; fast from gate to post - is a good fit for speed stallions in this part of the world.
Backing a win in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas with success in this year's G1 Australasian Oaks at Morphettville, Affaire A Suivre (NZ) (Astern) was bred by Courtney and Mandy Howell and purchased for NZ$75,000 by First Light Racing, Paul Willetts, Ciaron Maher Racing and David Eustace at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
She is by Astern, an Australian-bred son of the American horse Medaglia d'Oro (USA) out of the placed Laurelling (USA) (Highest Honor {Fr}) who is a granddaughter of the great American-bred broodmares in Fall Aspen (USA) (Pretense {USA}).
Affair A Suivre (NZ), winner of the G1 Australasian Oaks | Image courtesy of Racing SA
Her Listed Scone Cup-winning half-brother Laure Me In is by an American-bred stallion in the shape of Ad Valorem (USA) and she has also produced the dual city winner Saquon by the American-bred horse No Nay Never (USA).
Another descendant of Fall Aspen is King Colorado (Kingman {GB}), the G1 JJ Atkins S. winner bred by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum who remains in the ownership.
His dam is the Listed winner More Aspen (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}), half-sister to the Listed winner Jade Master (USA) (Master Command {USA}) out of a daughter of Fall Aspen's G1 Gamely H. winner Northern Aspen (USA) (Northern Dancer {Can}).
The imported Group 1 winner out of an American bred mare is the G1 Metropolitan H. winner Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a 300,000gns (AU$595,500) purchase for McKeever Bloodstock and Waterhouse-Bott Racing at the 2022 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale.
He is out of the three-time winner Bint Almatar (USA) (Kingmambo {USA}) whose stakes-winning dam Firth Of Lorne (USA) (Danehill {USA}) also produced the G1 Woodbine Mile winner Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and three other stakes winners including the G3 UAE Oaks winner Falls of Lora (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}) whose son Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) is a triple Group 1 winner in Australia.
It is interesting to note all four horses hail from American sire lines - Little Brose's sire Per Incanto (USA) bred in the US, Affaire A Suivre's sire Astern being a son of Medaglia D'Oro whilst King Colorado and Just Fine are by both by grandsons of the American-bred Green Desert (USA).
Per Incanto (USA) | Standing at Little Avondale Stud
The line-breeding patterns of each horses are American in flavour as well, Little Brose boasting duplications of Halo (USA) whilst Affaire A Suivre is line-bred to the American-bred Sadler's Wells and the G1 Kentucky Oaks heroine Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}).
King Colorado and Just Fine are both line-bred to Mr Prospector (USA) with the former also carrying crosses of Lyphard (USA) and Almahmoud (USA) (Mahmoud {Fr}) whilst the latter is also 4 X 4 Danzig (USA).
Another two of his year's Group 1 winners have American-bred mares as their grandams - Newgate's G1 Canterbury S. winner Artorius being a grandson of the Group 1 placed Listed winner Grace And Power (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}).
And the recent G1 Caulfield Cup winner Without A Fight's (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) grandam is Princess Manila (USA) (Manila {USA}), dam of two stakes winners including Without A Fight's Group 3 and dual Listed winning dam Khor Sheed (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).
Again both of these horses have further American influence to their pedigrees, Artorius being a grandson of Artie Schiller (USA) and Without A Fight a great-grandson of Sadler's Wells. Both have nice female line-breeding to American mares - Artorius boasting a cross of Somethingroyal (USA) (Princequillo {Fr}) and Without A Fight line-bred to Victoriana (USA) (Windfields {USA}).
“American breeding has certainly made its way into Australian stallions,” said Performance Genetics' Byron Rogers, “so pedigree factors in regards to commonality do come into play.”
But it is the speed inherent in American mares that Rogers believes is key to their success in Australia.
“American horses have to have great gate speed - and that speed is an inheritable trait.
“American mares have very good hind leg so they can ping out of the barriers and whilst overall they are the same shape as Australian stallions, they tend to be slightly bigger which makes them a good physical fit.”
“American mares have very good hind leg so they can ping out of the barriers and whilst overall they are the same shape as Australian stallions, they tend to be slightly bigger which makes them a good physical fit.” - Byron Rogers
“There are some obscure American pedigrees but Australian breeders tend to avoid them and focus on what fits the local mold.”
Milburn Creek have been regular buyers of broodmares in America with Scott Holcombe looking forward to his upcoming trip, his fifth.
“Generally speaking, we like to see a bit of speed in the mares we buy but what we really like about the American sales is the variety and the value.”
“Generally speaking, we (Milburn Creek) like to see a bit of speed in the mares we buy but what we really like about the American sales is the variety and the value.” - Scott Holcombe
“Obviously, with so many mares on offer you really have to do your work but we find that even though our dollar is rubbish you can still buy well.
“Their stakes winners are very competitively priced compared to the Australian market,” he said, noting that Milburn have been extremely happy with the foals their American-bred mares have been producing.
“We have found that they are leaving types that really suit Australia,” he said.
“We (Milburn Creek) have found that they (American mares) are leaving types that really suit Australia.” - Scott Holcombe
Amongst the mares Milburn have secured in the United States in recent years are Soft Kiss (USA) (Bernardini {USA}) whose Exceed And Excel colt fetched $400,000 at Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale this year and Chocolate Martini (USA) (Broken Vow {USA}) whose Snitzel filly sold for $300,000 at the same sale.
The yet to be named Exceed And Excel was purchased by Magus Equine, Hong Kong whilst the Snitzel named Cantarito (in the Chris Waller stable) - was bought by Star Thoroughbreds and Randwick Bloodstock (FBAA).
It is interesting to note that both of those stallions have fared well with American-bred mares - three of the 18 Group 1 winners by Exceed And Excel being out of them... Mr Stunning, Queen Supreme (Ire) and Gold Trip's (Fr) sire, Outstrip (GB).
And of Snitzel's 19 Group 1 winners, four - Russian Revolution, Hot Snitzel, Wild Ruler and Heavenly Blue - are out of American-bred mares.
Gallery: Some of the Group 1 success Snitzel has acheived through matings with American-bred mares
Of course a breeder who goes to the trouble and expense of importing an American mare is firstly going to ensure that she has excellent performance and/or pedigree, and secondly that she will visit successful and/or commercial stallions.
Let's have a look at the eleven American-bred mares imported to Australia from America last spring:
Always In The Munny (USA) (Munnings {USA}): a Listed winning half-sister to two stakes winners, she foaled a colt by Written Tycoon.
Channeled's Lady (USA) (Channeled {USA}): a placed half-sister to the Group 1 placed Listed winner Grace And Power (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}), the dam of the G1 Darley Classic winner Delectation (Shamardal {USA}) and grandam of the dual Group 1 winner, Artorius.
Excessivespending (USA) (Shackleford {USA}): a Listed-winning half-sister to the Listed winner Sweet Marini (USA) (Marino Marini {USA}), in turn dam of the Listed winner Sweet Harmony (USA) (Bayern {USA}), she foaled a colt by Stay Inside.
Fairouz (USA) (Dubawi {Ire}): a mare who raced just once, she is out of the triple Group winner Guapaza (Chi) (Seeking The Dia {USA}) - she foaled a colt by The Autumn Sun.
I'llhandlethecash (USA) (Point Of Entry {USA}): a Listed-winning daughter of a Listed-winning daughter of the Canadian Champion 3YO Filly Too Late Now (Can) (Raj Waki {USA}) , she foaled a Stay Inside filly.
Inthemidstofbiz (USA) (Fed Biz {USA}): a Group 2-winning daughter of a Listed winner, she foaled a colt by Home Affairs.
Ippodamia's Girl (USA) (Stormy Atlantic {USA}}: a dual stakes-winning daughter of a Listed winner who also produced the G2 Del Mar Futurity winner Georgie Boy (USA) (Tribal Rule {USA}), she foaled a colt by Snitzel.
Karak (USA) (Karakontie {Jpn}): a dual Listed winning half-sister to the five-time Listed winner Aqua Frio (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}), she foaled a filly by Stay Inside.
Lakerball (USA) (Lakerville {USA}): a dual Listed winner out of a half-sister to the Group 1 galloper Ultra Blend (USA) (Richly Blended {USA}), she missed to Trapeze Artist.
Lenzi's Lucky Day (USA) (With Distinction {USA}): a two-time Listed-winning daughter of a two-time Listed winner, she foaled a colt by Xtravagant.
Moonlight Romance (USA) (Liaison {USA}): a Listed winner out of a half-sister to the Listed winner Torey Ridge (USA) (Danzatore {Can}), she was served by Extreme Choice.
