Awaasif (CAN)
April 27, 1979 – May 2004
Snow Knight (GB) x Royal Statute (CAN), by Northern Dancer (CAN)
Family 22-b
April 27, 1979 – May 2004
Snow Knight (GB) x Royal Statute (CAN), by Northern Dancer (CAN)
Family 22-b
Awaasif lacked the brilliant turn of foot seen in the very best European runners, but she had no shortage of stamina and was always dangerous in a strongly run race over a wide, galloping course. She distinguished herself as a broodmare as well, producing an Oaks Stakes (ENG-G1) winner and two Grade 3 winners.
Race record
13 starts, 3 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third, $179,818 (includes converted English and French earnings)
1982:
1983:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 139 pounds on the 1982 European Free Handicap for 3-year-olds over 11-plus furlongs, 7 pounds below highweighted Golden Fleece and 2 pounds below the top-rated filly, Akiyda.
Rated at 133 pounds on the 1983 European Free Handicap for 4-year-olds and up over 11-plus furlongs, 11 pounds below highweighted All Along.
Earned Timeform ratings of 130 pounds at 3 and 127 pounds at 4.
As an individual
An attractive, neatly made, well-balanced mare, Awaasif was at her best over courses suited to a strong gallop. She needed a good pace to run at and was not well suited to firm or hard going. She was thoroughly genuine as a racehorse.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Awaasif produced 12 named foals. Of these, eight started and six won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Awaasif was bred by E. P. Taylor, who sold her for US$325,000 through the 1980 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling sale. She was owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum and trained by John Dunlop. She remained in Sheikh Mohammed’s ownership throughout her broodmare career. Her last foal, the Machiavellian filly Subtle Charm, was foaled in 2000, and Awaasif died four years later.
Pedigree notes
Awaasif is inbred 5x5 to English and French champion sire Pharos, winner of the 1924 Champion Stakes, and to six-time English/Irish champion sire Hyperion, winner of the 1933 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes. She is a half sister to Group 1-placed Konafa (by Damascus), dam of 1994 Premio Umbria (ITY-G2) winner Proskona (by Mr. Prospector), 1999 Jacobs Goldene Peitsche (GER-G2) winner Keos (by Riverman), 1985 Prix Chloe (FR-G3) winner Korveya (by Riverman), and stakes winner Carnet Solaire (by Sharpen Up); second dam of 1986 One Thousand Guineas winner and European champion 3-year-old filly Bosra Sham (by Woodman), 1990 French champion 2-year-old male and 1991 Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, FR-G1) winner Hector Protector (by Woodman), 1992 Poule d’Essai des Poulains winner Shanghai (by Procida), 2003 San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap (USA-G1) winner Passineti, and Grade/Group 2 winners Calista and Gaudeamus; and third dam of three-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty, champions California Memory and Rituss, and Grade/Group 1 winners Ciro, Internallyflawless, and Red Giant.
Aside from Konafa, Awaasif is also a half sister to 1981 Fountain of Youth Stakes (USA-G3) winner Akureyri (by Buckpasser) and to 1984 Premio Bagutta (ITY-G3) winner Royal Lorna (by Val de l’Orne), dam of 2000 Prix du Lys (FR-G3) winner Lycitus (by Lycius) and Australian listed stakes winner Forlorna (by Nashwan) and second dam of 2002 Premio Roma (ITY-G1) winner Sunstrach and English Group 3 winner Music Box. In addition, Awaasif is a half sister to Baederwood (by Tentam), a useful regional sire in the Mid-Atlantic region and to Royal Stance (by Dr. Fager), dam of multiple Group 3 winner Majuscule (by Majestic Light), 1987 Falls City Handicap (USA-G3) winner Royal Cielo (by Conquistador Cielo), and multiple listed stakes winner Luhuk (by Forty Niner; an important sire in Argentina). Finally, Awaasif is a half sister to Victoress (by Conquistador Cielo), second dam of 2011 Derby Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Pour Moi and Group 3 winners Dawn Patrol and Gagnoa.
Awaasif and her siblings were produced from the winning Northern Dancer mare Royal Statute. A full sister to three-time Canadian champion Dance Act and juvenile stakes winner North of the Law, Royal Statute is also a full sister to Falafel, dam of 1985 Premio Parioli (Italian Two Thousand Guineas, ITY-G1) winner Again Tomorrow (by Honest Pleasure) and 1992 St. James’s Palace Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Brief Truce (by Irish River) and third dam of multiple Japanese Group 3 winner Makoto Brillar. She is a half sister to juvenile stakes winner Down North (by Victoria Park) and to 1963 Canadian Oaks winner Menedict (by Ménétrier), second dam of 1988 Canadian champion 2-year-old male Mercedes Won and third dam of 2000 New Zealand Oaks (NZ-G1) winner She’s Country and Australian Group 3 winner Country Lane. Royal Statute is also a half sister to Canadian stakes winners Epic Queen (by Epic) and Court Royal (by Chop Chop) and to stakes-placed Queen’s Law (by Queen’s Own), dam of Canadian stakes winners Queen’s Splendour (by Impressive) and Queen’s Answer (by Northern Answer), second dam of Grade 2 winner With the Flow, and third dam of multiple Venezuelan Group 1 winner Mantle.
Queen’s Statute, the dam of Royal Statute and her sibs, was imported to Canada in 1956 after being purchased for E. P. Taylor for 3,500 guineas from the 1955 Tattersalls October yearling sale. Sired by 1946 Prix d’Arenberg winner Le Lavandou (by Djebel) out of the Son-in-Law mare Statute, she never raced but is a full sister to English stakes winner Grand Statute.
Last updated: May 7, 2026
Race record
13 starts, 3 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third, $179,818 (includes converted English and French earnings)
1982:
- Won Yorkshire Oaks (ENG-G1, 12FT, York)
- 3rd Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (FR-G1, 2400mT, Longchamp)
1983:
- Won Gran Premio del Jockey Club (ITY-G1, 2400mT, San Siro)
Honors
- English champion 3-year-old filly (1982)
- Italian champion older female (1983)
Assessments
Rated at 139 pounds on the 1982 European Free Handicap for 3-year-olds over 11-plus furlongs, 7 pounds below highweighted Golden Fleece and 2 pounds below the top-rated filly, Akiyda.
Rated at 133 pounds on the 1983 European Free Handicap for 4-year-olds and up over 11-plus furlongs, 11 pounds below highweighted All Along.
Earned Timeform ratings of 130 pounds at 3 and 127 pounds at 4.
As an individual
An attractive, neatly made, well-balanced mare, Awaasif was at her best over courses suited to a strong gallop. She needed a good pace to run at and was not well suited to firm or hard going. She was thoroughly genuine as a racehorse.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Awaasif produced 12 named foals. Of these, eight started and six won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Snow Bride (1986, by Blushing Groom) won the 1989 Gold Seal Oaks Stakes (ENG-G1) on the controversial disqualification of the apparent winner, Aliysa, following a drug positive. She is the dam of 1995 European champion 3-year-old male Lammtarra (by Nijinsky II), 1998 Prix d’Aumale (FR-G3) winner Saytarra (by Seeking the Gold), and multiple stakes winner Kammtarra (by Zilzal). She is also the second dam of 2012 Prix Jean Prat (FR-G1) winner Aesop’s Fables, 2017 Sydney Cup (AUS-G1) winner Polarisation, and French Group 3 winner Powder Snow and is the third dam of Grade/Group 3 winners Beautiful Love and Flying Honours.
- Jarraar (1987, by Mr. Prospector) won the 1992 New Orleans Handicap (USA-G3). Sent to Brazil, he sired 11 stakes winners from 106 named foals of racing age, headed by 2000/01 Brazilian champion miler Jarrinho and 2000/01 Brazilian champion older female Tale e Quale.
- Ibn Al Haitham (1999, by Zafonic) won the 2002 Saranac Handicap (USA-G3) and died the following year.
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Awaasif was bred by E. P. Taylor, who sold her for US$325,000 through the 1980 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling sale. She was owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum and trained by John Dunlop. She remained in Sheikh Mohammed’s ownership throughout her broodmare career. Her last foal, the Machiavellian filly Subtle Charm, was foaled in 2000, and Awaasif died four years later.
Pedigree notes
Awaasif is inbred 5x5 to English and French champion sire Pharos, winner of the 1924 Champion Stakes, and to six-time English/Irish champion sire Hyperion, winner of the 1933 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes. She is a half sister to Group 1-placed Konafa (by Damascus), dam of 1994 Premio Umbria (ITY-G2) winner Proskona (by Mr. Prospector), 1999 Jacobs Goldene Peitsche (GER-G2) winner Keos (by Riverman), 1985 Prix Chloe (FR-G3) winner Korveya (by Riverman), and stakes winner Carnet Solaire (by Sharpen Up); second dam of 1986 One Thousand Guineas winner and European champion 3-year-old filly Bosra Sham (by Woodman), 1990 French champion 2-year-old male and 1991 Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, FR-G1) winner Hector Protector (by Woodman), 1992 Poule d’Essai des Poulains winner Shanghai (by Procida), 2003 San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap (USA-G1) winner Passineti, and Grade/Group 2 winners Calista and Gaudeamus; and third dam of three-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty, champions California Memory and Rituss, and Grade/Group 1 winners Ciro, Internallyflawless, and Red Giant.
Aside from Konafa, Awaasif is also a half sister to 1981 Fountain of Youth Stakes (USA-G3) winner Akureyri (by Buckpasser) and to 1984 Premio Bagutta (ITY-G3) winner Royal Lorna (by Val de l’Orne), dam of 2000 Prix du Lys (FR-G3) winner Lycitus (by Lycius) and Australian listed stakes winner Forlorna (by Nashwan) and second dam of 2002 Premio Roma (ITY-G1) winner Sunstrach and English Group 3 winner Music Box. In addition, Awaasif is a half sister to Baederwood (by Tentam), a useful regional sire in the Mid-Atlantic region and to Royal Stance (by Dr. Fager), dam of multiple Group 3 winner Majuscule (by Majestic Light), 1987 Falls City Handicap (USA-G3) winner Royal Cielo (by Conquistador Cielo), and multiple listed stakes winner Luhuk (by Forty Niner; an important sire in Argentina). Finally, Awaasif is a half sister to Victoress (by Conquistador Cielo), second dam of 2011 Derby Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Pour Moi and Group 3 winners Dawn Patrol and Gagnoa.
Awaasif and her siblings were produced from the winning Northern Dancer mare Royal Statute. A full sister to three-time Canadian champion Dance Act and juvenile stakes winner North of the Law, Royal Statute is also a full sister to Falafel, dam of 1985 Premio Parioli (Italian Two Thousand Guineas, ITY-G1) winner Again Tomorrow (by Honest Pleasure) and 1992 St. James’s Palace Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Brief Truce (by Irish River) and third dam of multiple Japanese Group 3 winner Makoto Brillar. She is a half sister to juvenile stakes winner Down North (by Victoria Park) and to 1963 Canadian Oaks winner Menedict (by Ménétrier), second dam of 1988 Canadian champion 2-year-old male Mercedes Won and third dam of 2000 New Zealand Oaks (NZ-G1) winner She’s Country and Australian Group 3 winner Country Lane. Royal Statute is also a half sister to Canadian stakes winners Epic Queen (by Epic) and Court Royal (by Chop Chop) and to stakes-placed Queen’s Law (by Queen’s Own), dam of Canadian stakes winners Queen’s Splendour (by Impressive) and Queen’s Answer (by Northern Answer), second dam of Grade 2 winner With the Flow, and third dam of multiple Venezuelan Group 1 winner Mantle.
Queen’s Statute, the dam of Royal Statute and her sibs, was imported to Canada in 1956 after being purchased for E. P. Taylor for 3,500 guineas from the 1955 Tattersalls October yearling sale. Sired by 1946 Prix d’Arenberg winner Le Lavandou (by Djebel) out of the Son-in-Law mare Statute, she never raced but is a full sister to English stakes winner Grand Statute.
Last updated: May 7, 2026