After sweeping both of the United Arab Emirates' filly Classics at Meydan Racetrack earlier this spring, Shahama crossed the Atlantic in a bid to become the first filly to take the Longines Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1) after going through her winter and spring preparations in Dubai. She was unsuccessful, finishing sixth, but after a second-place finish behind up-and-coming Gerrymander in the Mother Goose Stakes (USA-G2) on June 25, she came through on July 31 with a professional score in the Monmouth Oaks (USA-G3). After pressing the pace of Grade 1 winner Juju's Map early, the Munnings filly quickened in a matter of strides to take the lead coming off the far turn. After that, she was never threatened and finished two and a half lengths clear of Shotgun Hottie's belated bid. Shahama completed the mile and one-sixteenth on a fast track in a brisk 1:41.54.
Shahama is a great-great-granddaughter of Sleek Dancer, an unraced Northern Dancer mare whose younger half brother Pleasant Brook (by Intentionally) was a minor stakes winner as a 7-year-old. By that time, Sleek Dancer was already well into what proved a highly successful broodmare career. Her son Northern Prospect (by Mr. Prospector) won three sprint stakes at 3 before becoming a useful sire of speed, and her daughter Sue Babe (also by Mr. Prospector) won two juvenile stakes and was second in the 1980 Sorority Stakes (USA-G1) before producing 1987 Budweiser Irish Derby (IRE-G1) winner Sir Harry Lewis (by Alleged), Grade 1-placed multiple restricted stakes winner Sir Richard Lewis (by Carr de Naskra), and Grade 2-placed restricted stakes winner Cyrano (by Seattle Slew). Sue Babe is also the second dam of Grade 1-placed Grade 3 winner Champagneforashley (by Track Barron).
Sleek Dancer's daughter Sleek Belle (by Vaguely Noble) never made it to the track but is the dam of 1984 Pucker Up Stakes (USA-G3) winner Witwatersrand (by Mr. Prospector) and stakes winners Sleek Gold (by Mr. Prospector), Chic Belle (by Mr. Prospector), and Sleek Feet (by Seattle Slew). She is also the second dam of five stakes winners including 1994 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) winner Chokai Carol (by Brian's Time) and 1994 Ark-La-Tex Handicap (USA-G3) winner Nelson (by Seattle Slew). Another daughter of Sleek Dancer, Babes Sis (by Raise a Native), is the second dam of 2000 Ramona Handicap (USA-G1) winner Caffe Latte (by Seattle Dancer).
Sharp Belle (by Native Charger) was Sleek Dancer's best performer on the track, winning the 1978 Monmouth Oaks (USA-G1) but produced no stakes winners, although her eight winners from nine foals included two stakes-placed performers. The most important of her foals is Regal Feeling (by Clever Trick), runner-up in the Bay Meadows Lassie Stakes (USA-L) at 2 and dam of 1995 Pucker Up Stakes (USA-G3) winner Grand Charmer (by Lord Avie), who in turn is the second dam of 2006 American champion 3-year-old filly Wait a While (by Maria's Mon). Regal Feeling is also the dam of the winning Belong to Me mare Private Feeling, dam of two-time American champion Lookin At Lucky (by Smart Strike), multiple Grade 2 winner Kensei (by Mr. Greeley), and Shahama. Still in production at age 23, Private Feeling produced a Catalina Cruiser colt in 2021 and was most recently bred to Tom's d'Etat.
Although Shahama has some catching up to do if she is to come anywhere close to the records of her elder brothers, her current status as a beautifully bred multiple Grade/Group 3 winner will be more than enough to grant her access to top sires when her time comes to retire to the breeding shed. In the meantime, she has now proven her ability to handle good North American competition, and one can hope that she will be seen dancing at least a few more dances in good company before she goes to the paddocks.
Shahama is a great-great-granddaughter of Sleek Dancer, an unraced Northern Dancer mare whose younger half brother Pleasant Brook (by Intentionally) was a minor stakes winner as a 7-year-old. By that time, Sleek Dancer was already well into what proved a highly successful broodmare career. Her son Northern Prospect (by Mr. Prospector) won three sprint stakes at 3 before becoming a useful sire of speed, and her daughter Sue Babe (also by Mr. Prospector) won two juvenile stakes and was second in the 1980 Sorority Stakes (USA-G1) before producing 1987 Budweiser Irish Derby (IRE-G1) winner Sir Harry Lewis (by Alleged), Grade 1-placed multiple restricted stakes winner Sir Richard Lewis (by Carr de Naskra), and Grade 2-placed restricted stakes winner Cyrano (by Seattle Slew). Sue Babe is also the second dam of Grade 1-placed Grade 3 winner Champagneforashley (by Track Barron).
Sleek Dancer's daughter Sleek Belle (by Vaguely Noble) never made it to the track but is the dam of 1984 Pucker Up Stakes (USA-G3) winner Witwatersrand (by Mr. Prospector) and stakes winners Sleek Gold (by Mr. Prospector), Chic Belle (by Mr. Prospector), and Sleek Feet (by Seattle Slew). She is also the second dam of five stakes winners including 1994 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) winner Chokai Carol (by Brian's Time) and 1994 Ark-La-Tex Handicap (USA-G3) winner Nelson (by Seattle Slew). Another daughter of Sleek Dancer, Babes Sis (by Raise a Native), is the second dam of 2000 Ramona Handicap (USA-G1) winner Caffe Latte (by Seattle Dancer).
Sharp Belle (by Native Charger) was Sleek Dancer's best performer on the track, winning the 1978 Monmouth Oaks (USA-G1) but produced no stakes winners, although her eight winners from nine foals included two stakes-placed performers. The most important of her foals is Regal Feeling (by Clever Trick), runner-up in the Bay Meadows Lassie Stakes (USA-L) at 2 and dam of 1995 Pucker Up Stakes (USA-G3) winner Grand Charmer (by Lord Avie), who in turn is the second dam of 2006 American champion 3-year-old filly Wait a While (by Maria's Mon). Regal Feeling is also the dam of the winning Belong to Me mare Private Feeling, dam of two-time American champion Lookin At Lucky (by Smart Strike), multiple Grade 2 winner Kensei (by Mr. Greeley), and Shahama. Still in production at age 23, Private Feeling produced a Catalina Cruiser colt in 2021 and was most recently bred to Tom's d'Etat.
Although Shahama has some catching up to do if she is to come anywhere close to the records of her elder brothers, her current status as a beautifully bred multiple Grade/Group 3 winner will be more than enough to grant her access to top sires when her time comes to retire to the breeding shed. In the meantime, she has now proven her ability to handle good North American competition, and one can hope that she will be seen dancing at least a few more dances in good company before she goes to the paddocks.
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