This is just a small sample that is representative of plenty more opportunity among this deep catalogue.
American mares have proven to be a strong influence on Australian pedigrees in recent times and subsequently, Southern Hemisphere buyers have been significant players at the big US sales - such as the 2022 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale which kicks off on Monday, November 7.
A massive catalogue spanning 10 sessions sees not only broodmares on offer but also weanlings, racehorses, stallions/stallion prospects and shares in horses. An incredible 3704 hips (lots) are due to go under the hammer which is why Keeneland can justify its claim as being "the world's most important auction of its type."
Mares with form at stakes level are, of course, always in great demand. Danehill (USA)-line mares have proven their worth and there are a number of well-related members of his line on offer - but Danehill-free mares are also popular with Australian buyers seeking well-bred mates for the many highly credentialled Danehill-line horses standing at stud locally.
Keeneland asked TDN AusNZ to take a close look at a group of mares that will be of particular interest to Australian breeders - a lovely variety of well-related prospects from the Danzig (USA), Storm Cat (USA), Gone West (USA) and A.P. Indy (USA) sirelines and a few by stallions not so well known to Australians but who boast standout pedigrees.
Each of these mares are stakes performed, several of them competitive at Group 1 level (noting that whilst Group 1 fourths are displayed on Australian catalogue pages, they are not in America). And, they have shown speed, that vital ingredient local, commercial breeders are always on the look-out for.
Hip 122 - Neige Blanche (Fr) (Anodin {Ire} x Bianca Neve {USA})
Here is a mare who really loves her racing, winning nine of her 21 starts; finishing in the placings four times. Successful at two of her three juvenile outings, she was a Group 3 winner and Listed placed in France at three before heading to the US.
Contesting Group 1 races at her first three American outings, she was fourth in the Del Mar Oaks and third in the Belmont Oaks. Racing in great heart at four, she won the G3 Santa Barbara S., the Listed Thoroughbred Owners Of California S. and the G3 Red Carpet H.
Watch: Neige Blanche (Fr) wins the G3 Santa Barbara S.
And she is in great form this year - winning the G3 Astra S., a second G3 Santa Barbara S. and the Listed Perfectly Possible S.
Neige Blanche's (USA) sire Anodin - a Group 3 winning full brother to Goldikova (Ire) - has had only small representation but has sired eight stakes winners. He is by Anabaa (USA) who fared so well in Australia where eight of his 15 Group 1 winners were bred.
Being sold as a racing or broodmare prospect, Neige Blanche is one of six winners produced by her winning dam, a half-sister to the Group 3 winner Blanche (Fr) (Loup Solitaire {USA}), dam of the Listed winner Indigo (Fr) (Falco {USA}).
Hip 442 - Magic Circle (USA) (Kantharos {USA} x Magic Humor {USA})
Lightly raced with plenty of ability, Magic Circle (USA) won at her two-year-old debut - impressive enough to be tried at Group 1 level at just her second start, finishing fourth in the Frizette S. won by Echo Zulu (USA) (Gun Runner {USA}} who was in the middle of a Group 1 winning streak.
Listed and Group 2 placed at her next two starts, Magic Circle won the Listed Busanda S. at her first three-year-old outing, next time out third in the Listed Busher S.
Watch: Magic Circle (USA) wins the Listed Busanda S.
Going through the ring as a broodmare prospect, Magic Circle is a daughter of undefeated G2 Saratoga Special S. winner Kantharos, the sire of 31 stakes winners who already has a dual stakes winner amongst the first nine winners as a broodmare sire.
Magic Circle is the first foal for Magic Humor (USA) (Distorted Humor {USA}) whose dam is the dual stakes winner Barracks Road (USA) (Elusive Quality {USA}).
Barracks Road is one of five stakes winners produced by Padmore (USA) (French Deputy {USA}) - also dam of the Canadian Champion 3YO Filly Leigh Court (USA) (Grand Slam {USA}) - winner of four Group races, the Group 2 winner King Of Sydney (USA) (Diesis {GB}), the Group 3 winner Flying Scotsman (USA) (English Channel {USA}) and the Listed winner Bon Raison (USA) (Raison D'Etat {USA}).
Hip 743 - First Star (USA) (First Dude {USA} x Via Regina {USA})
Showing early speed, First Star (USA) won her first two starts at two, at her next two starts proving competitive in strong company - finishing second in the G2 Raven Run S. and fourth in the G1 La Brea S.
Also performing consistently at three - in the placings on three occasions, First Star is believed to be in foal having been served by Triple Crown champ American Pharoah (USA) whose progeny are really starting to find their form in Australia.
Watch: First Star (USA) runs fourth in the G1 La Brea S.
This American Pharoah/A.P Indy (USA) cross is working well - six of the 46 winners to date being stakes winners including the Group 1 winner Harvey's Lil Goil (USA).
A daughter of the G1 Hollywood Gold Cup winner First Dude, sire of 14 stakes winners including the Group 1 winner Shamrock Rose (USA), First Star is out of the young unraced mare Via Regina (USA) whose sire is the US Champion Older Male Turf Horse English Channel (USA) - sire of 13 Group 1 winners.
Via Regina's dam is a half-sister to the five times stakes placed Powerful Package (USA) (Star de Naskra {USA}), dam of the Group 3 winner Derwin's Star (USA) (Wildcat Heir {USA}) from the family of the G1 Travers S. winner Carr De Naskra (USA), successful sire of 24 stakes winners.
Hip 796 - Joy’s Rocket (USA) (Anthony's Cross {USA} x Queenie's Pride {USA})
Being sold as a racing or broodmare prospect, Joy's Rocket (USA) is a mare who really knows how to find the line - winning five races with a further six placings amongst her 15 starts. A brilliant two-year-old winner of four of her six starts - three at Listed level - she was also fourth in the G1 Frizette S.
Twice placed from just three runs at three, she has been in great form this year - at her most recent outing winning the 1200 metres Listed Skipat S. at Pimlico.
Watch: Joy's Rocket (USA) run fourth in the G1 Frizette S.
The Danehill (USA) free Joy's Rocket is a daughter of the lightly used Group 2 Indian Charlie (USA) stallion Anthony's Cross (USA) who, from limited opportunities has also sired the stakes winner Kelsey's Cross (USA).
Her unraced dam Queenie's Pride (USA) (Special Rate {USA}) - also dam of the stakes placed six times winner Zippy (USA) (Morning Line {USA}) - is a full sister to the dual stakes winner Patty's Pride (USA) and half-sister to the twice stakes placed La Estrellita (USA) (Crypto Star USA}).
Also, hailing from this family are the Group 1 winners K One King (USA) (Apalachee {USA}) and Best Bob (Arg) (Lode {USA}) as well as the multiple Group winners World Appeal (USA) (Valid Appeal {USA}), Royal Ninja (USA) (Aly North {USA}), Federal Trial (USA) (Skip Trial {USA}) and Naked Glory (USA) (Naked Sky {USA}).
