As a Group 1 winner Arapaho Miss (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) came with a hefty price tag and her value has been significantly raised by the emergence of her daughter Miami Bound (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}).
High-profile breeding and racing identity Gerry Harvey paid $650,000 for Arapaho Miss at the 2011 Magic Millions Gold Coast Broodmare Sale when the G1 VRC Oaks winner was offered by Amarina Farm.
She was initially based at Baramul Stud and her first foal De Little Engine (Encosta de Lago) won eight races, including the Listed Andrew Ramsden S. for Flemington trainer Danny O’Brien, who is now hoping for a case of like mother like daughter with Miami Bound (NZ).
Miami Bound (NZ)
The filly has won three of her six starts and rocketed into contention for this week’s G1 VRC Oaks with her defeat of Vegas Jewel (NZ) (Shocking) in Saturday’s G2 Wakeful S.
“The Wakeful been a wonderful lead-up to the Oaks and both of those two are going to be hard to beat come Thursday,” said Russell Warwick, General Manager of Harvey’s Westbury Stud where Arapaho Miss is now resident.
“You’d think that anything that finished further back than second on Saturday can’t win the Oaks, they’ll only be the newcomers and these two that have winning chances. You’d think that, but I’m just a studmaster and not a tipster.”
“The Wakeful been a wonderful lead-up to the Oaks and both of those two are going to be hard to beat come Thursday.” – Russell Warwick
Between De Little Engine and Miami Bound, Arapaho Miss left the winners Arapahoe Moon (Lonhro) and the brothers High Street (Street Cry {Ire}) and Out Of Kilter before she was sent to New Zealand.
“Gerry sent her to me in foal to All Too Hard and that foal made NZ$100,000 to Pat Carey, who trained Arapaho Miss, and she’s been a winner as De Little Sister,” Warwick said.
“Gerry has retained a Swiss Ace filly and she’s in Australia and the mare has got an absolutely cracking full brother to Miami Bound at foot.
“She’s in foal to Tarzino now and, colt or filly, hopefully as a 3-year-old it will be running at the Melbourne spring carnival in the Derby or the Oaks.”
Miami Bound (NZ) as a yearling
Miami Bound was purchased at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale by O’Brien for NZ$120,000.
Arapaho Miss is a half-sister to the G1 Thousand Guineas runner-up and Wakeful placegetter Heartsareforlove (Hussonet {USA}).
Their dam Happy Heart (Fr) (Exit To Nowhere {USA}) was a multiple winner and stakes performer and is also a three-quarter sister to the dam of the G2 Woodbine Canadian S. winner Minakshi (Fr) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}).
