Uvira II (IRE)
1938 – 1964
Umidwar (GB) x Lady Lawless (IRE), by Son-in-Law (GB)
Family 3-l
1938 – 1964
Umidwar (GB) x Lady Lawless (IRE), by Son-in-Law (GB)
Family 3-l
A product of the Aga Khan's breeding program, Uvira II went through an unusually high number of owners for a mare of her racing and breeding class. She proved profitable for nearly every one of them. Although she produced five stakes-winning colts, her real gifts to her breed were her daughters, who lacked racing talent but made their dam a great foundation mare whose family continues to thrive today.
Race record
11 starts, 5 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third
1941:
Assessments
Uvira II was widely considered the best 3-year-old filly in Ireland in 1941.
As an individual
A dark bay mare, Uvira II was coarse and not very attractive in appearance but was said to have had excellent action.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Uvira II produced 13 named foals, of which 11 started and 10 won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Uvira II was bred by the third Aga Khan at his Sheshoon Stud in Ireland. She was purchased from the 1939 Newmarket December sales for 510 guineas by the Vicomte de Fontarce. After disappointing in both her juvenile starts, Uvira II changed hands again, becoming the property of Sir Thomas Dixon, and raced in his colors throughout her 3-year-old season. The filly was bought by Mr. and Mrs. Emerson Woodward late in 1941 and imported to the United States. She arrived at the Woodwards' Texas farm in very poor condition and failed to show any of her previous form while racing as a 4-year-old. Following the Woodwards' deaths an an accident in 1942, Uvira II next passed to the hands of Henry Knight of Almahurst Farm. After breeding Colonel O'F from her, Knight, in turn, sold her to C. C. Tanner, who sold the mare on to Crispin Oglebay in 1944. Oglebay died in October 1949, and A. B. “Bull” Hancock of Claiborne Farm went to a sales-topping US$61,000 for her at the Keeneland November mixed sale on behalf of John S. Phipps. On Phipps' death in 1958, Uvira II was inherited by his son Michael Phipps, who bred her last four foals.
Pedigree notes
Uvira II is inbred 5x5 to the important English matron Black Duchess. A half sister to English stakes winner La Gaiete (by Gainsborough) and French stakes winner Machi Mia (by Salmon-Trout) , she was produced from juvenile stakes winner and 1926 Irish Oaks runner-up Lady Lawless, a daughter of the noted stayer and sire of stayers Son-in-Law. Lady Lawless was bred by Richard Dawson at his Cloghran Stud and is out of Entanglement, by 1906 Derby Stakes winner Spearmint.
Fun Facts
Last updated: February 28, 2023
Race record
11 starts, 5 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third
1941:
- Won Irish Oaks (IRE, 12FT, The Curragh)
- Won King's Plate (IRE, 16FT)
Assessments
Uvira II was widely considered the best 3-year-old filly in Ireland in 1941.
As an individual
A dark bay mare, Uvira II was coarse and not very attractive in appearance but was said to have had excellent action.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Uvira II produced 13 named foals, of which 11 started and 10 won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Colonel O'F (1944, by Teddy's Comet) won three stakes races as a juvenile. He sired only two minor stakes winners from 149 foals.
- Obedient (1945, by Mahmoud) won 4 of 26 starts. She produced 1961 San Juan Capistrano Handicap and San Luis Rey Handicap winner Don't Alibi (by Alibhai) and Iron Ruler (by Never Bend), a good stakes winner at 2, 3, and 4 and a quite useful sire. She is the third dam of Grade 2 winner Answer, multiple Grade 3 winner Nice Catch, and Italian Group 3 winner Sweet Mas.
- Noble Impulse (1946, by Bull Dog) won four stakes races as a juvenile and was also a stakes winner at 3 and 4. He was a failure at stud.
- General Staff (1948, by Mahmoud) won the 1952 Pimlico Special and five other stakes races, all at age 4. He sired four minor stakes winners from 107 foals.
- Parnassus (1950, by War Admiral) won the 1954 Bougainvillea Turf Handicap. Like his half brothers, he was a disappointing sire, getting just one stakes winner from 87 foals.
- Navira (1953, by Nasrullah) produced multiple stakes winners Royal Comedian (by Tom Fool) and Cheateauvira (by Chateaugay). She is the second dam of multiple stakes winner Tanagra and the third dam of Grade 3 winners Trokhos and Foligno.
- Purdah (1954, by Nasrullah) produced Scatter Plan (by Quadrangle), dam of three stakes winners.
- Missy Baba (1958, by Tulyar or My Babu) produced six stakes winners as well as 1991 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Toll Booth and is the head of the most vigorous branch of Uvira II's family.
- Blarney Bess (1959, by Tulyar) is the second dam of 1994 Dubai Champion Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Dernier Empereur and European Group 3 winners Petipa, Prattle On, and Sarasota Spring. She is also the third dam of Canadian Grade 2 winner Ascot Yael.
- Francis U. (1963, by Francis S.) won the 1967 Donn Handicap and four other stakes races. He was exported to Argentina in 1968 and was not notably successful in his adopted country.
- Oonagh (1964, by Sword Dancer) produced multiple Grade 2 winner Hunza Dancer (by Hawaii).
Connections
Uvira II was bred by the third Aga Khan at his Sheshoon Stud in Ireland. She was purchased from the 1939 Newmarket December sales for 510 guineas by the Vicomte de Fontarce. After disappointing in both her juvenile starts, Uvira II changed hands again, becoming the property of Sir Thomas Dixon, and raced in his colors throughout her 3-year-old season. The filly was bought by Mr. and Mrs. Emerson Woodward late in 1941 and imported to the United States. She arrived at the Woodwards' Texas farm in very poor condition and failed to show any of her previous form while racing as a 4-year-old. Following the Woodwards' deaths an an accident in 1942, Uvira II next passed to the hands of Henry Knight of Almahurst Farm. After breeding Colonel O'F from her, Knight, in turn, sold her to C. C. Tanner, who sold the mare on to Crispin Oglebay in 1944. Oglebay died in October 1949, and A. B. “Bull” Hancock of Claiborne Farm went to a sales-topping US$61,000 for her at the Keeneland November mixed sale on behalf of John S. Phipps. On Phipps' death in 1958, Uvira II was inherited by his son Michael Phipps, who bred her last four foals.
Pedigree notes
Uvira II is inbred 5x5 to the important English matron Black Duchess. A half sister to English stakes winner La Gaiete (by Gainsborough) and French stakes winner Machi Mia (by Salmon-Trout) , she was produced from juvenile stakes winner and 1926 Irish Oaks runner-up Lady Lawless, a daughter of the noted stayer and sire of stayers Son-in-Law. Lady Lawless was bred by Richard Dawson at his Cloghran Stud and is out of Entanglement, by 1906 Derby Stakes winner Spearmint.
Fun Facts
- Uvira is a port city on Lake Tanganyika in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Uvira II's importation to the United States was newsworthy enough to be reported in the New York Times of September 9, 1941.
- Uvira II's sixth owner, Crispin Oglebay, came into Thoroughbred racing and breeding via the show ring. On first seeing Uvira II (he had bought her sight unseen), Oglebay reportedly sniffed, "I should never have bought her if I had seen her first."
Last updated: February 28, 2023