Konafa (CAN)
April 19, 1973 – c. 1995
Damascus (USA) x Royal Statute (CAN), by Northern Dancer (CAN)
Family 22-b
“GENETIC GEM”
April 19, 1973 – c. 1995
Damascus (USA) x Royal Statute (CAN), by Northern Dancer (CAN)
Family 22-b
“GENETIC GEM”
Konafa showed enough ability on the race course to become the runner-up in the One Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1), a Classic race first contested in 1814. She was better still as a broodmare, producing four stakes winners. Three were talented enough to win Group races, and through the outstanding producer Korveya and other daughters, Konafa became a major influence on Classic pedigrees in Europe.
Race record
8 starts, 1 win, 2 seconds, 1 third, £20,335
1976:
Assessments
Earned a Timeform rating of 118 pounds at 3.
As an individual
An attractive, well-made filly, Konafa showed exceptional determination when racing even though often in over her head.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Konafa produced 13 named foals. Of these, 12 started and 11 won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Konafa was bred by E. P. Taylor and was sold to Leonardo Gatto-Roissard for US$57,000 through the 1974 Saratoga August yearling sale. She produced her first two foals for Gatto-Roissard before becoming the property of Stavros Niarchos, who bought her (then in foal to Mr. Prospector) for US$625,000 from the 1980 Keeneland November mixed sale. He bred her remaining foals either in his own name or in that of his Flaxman Holdings. Her last foal, the Mr. Prospector filly Kamaina, was born in 1995.
Pedigree notes
Konafa is inbred 4x4 to two-time French champion Djebel, who led the French general sire list at least three times. She is a half sister to 1982 English champion 3-year-old filly and 1983 Italian champion older female Awaasif (by Snow Knight), dam of 1989 Gold Seal Oaks (ENG-G1) winner Snow Bride (by Blushing Groom), 1992 New Orleans Handicap (ENG-G3) winner Jarraar (by Mr. Prospector), and 2002 Saranac Handicap (USA-G3) winner Ibn al Haitham (by Zafonic) and second dam of 1995 European champion 3-year-old male Lammtarra and French Group 3 winner Saytarra. Konafa 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, Konafa 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, Konafa 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.
Konafa 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.
Fun facts
Last updated: April 10, 2026
Race record
8 starts, 1 win, 2 seconds, 1 third, £20,335
1976:
- 2nd One Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1, 8FT, Newmarket)
Assessments
Earned a Timeform rating of 118 pounds at 3.
As an individual
An attractive, well-made filly, Konafa showed exceptional determination when racing even though often in over her head.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Konafa produced 13 named foals. Of these, 12 started and 11 won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Proskona (1981, by Mr. Prospector) won the 1994 Premio Umbria (ITY-G2). She is the dam of 2002 Canadian Handicap (USA-G2) winner Calista (by Caerleon), the second dam of French Group 3 winner Synopsis, and the third dam of multiple Group 1 winners Act One, Mawj, and Modern Games. Proskona’s more distant descendants include 2025 American champion turf female She Feels Pretty and Grade/Group 3 winners Aktabantay, Lord Gold, Reina Madre, and Solo Album.
- Korveya (1982, by Riverman) won the 1985 Prix Chloe (FR-G3). She is the 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), and 1992 Poule d’Essai des Poulains winner Shanghai (by Procida). She is the second dam of multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Ciro, 2009 Del Mar Oaks (USA-G1) winner Internallyflawless, French Group 3 winner Utrecht, and Canadian Grade 3 winner Rosberg. Korveya is also the third dam of multiple Japanese Group 2 winner Trailblazer and of Kremlin Captain, the 2014/15 Horse of the Year in Mauritius. Korveya’s more distant descendants include Japanese Group 3 winner Ablaze and Grade 3 winner Dream It Is.
- Carnet Solaire (1983, by Sharpen Up) won the listed Outstandingly Stakes as a juvenile. She is the second dam of 2008 Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship Stakes (USA-G1) winner Red Giant and Grade 3 winner Wyomia and the third dam of German Group 3 winner Chopin.
- Talon d’Aiguille (1985, by Big Spruce) was Group 3-placed in France. She is the dam of French listed stakes winner Stikine (by Slickly) and the second dam of French Group 3 winner Gruntled.
- Leo’s Lucky Lady (1987, by Seattle Slew) was stakes-placed as a 3-year-old. She is the dam of 2006 Debutante Stakes (IRE-G2) winner Gaudeamus (by Distorted Humor), the second dam of three-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty, and the third dam of 2018 Slovakian champion 2-year-old filly O’Ffensive and Grade/Group 3 winners King Zachary and O’Juke.
- Cloelia (1990, by Lyphard) was unplaced in four starts but is the dam of 2003 San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap (USA-G1) winner Passineti (by Slew o’ Gold).
- Keos (1994, by Riverman) won the 1999 Jacobs Goldene Peitsche (GER-G2).
- Kamaina (1995, by Mr. Prospector) won one of her seven starts. She is the second dam of 2013 Hong Kong champion stayer California Memory, 2007 Spanish champion imported 2-year-old colt Rituss, and multiple Australian Group 3 winner Mouro.
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Konafa was bred by E. P. Taylor and was sold to Leonardo Gatto-Roissard for US$57,000 through the 1974 Saratoga August yearling sale. She produced her first two foals for Gatto-Roissard before becoming the property of Stavros Niarchos, who bought her (then in foal to Mr. Prospector) for US$625,000 from the 1980 Keeneland November mixed sale. He bred her remaining foals either in his own name or in that of his Flaxman Holdings. Her last foal, the Mr. Prospector filly Kamaina, was born in 1995.
Pedigree notes
Konafa is inbred 4x4 to two-time French champion Djebel, who led the French general sire list at least three times. She is a half sister to 1982 English champion 3-year-old filly and 1983 Italian champion older female Awaasif (by Snow Knight), dam of 1989 Gold Seal Oaks (ENG-G1) winner Snow Bride (by Blushing Groom), 1992 New Orleans Handicap (ENG-G3) winner Jarraar (by Mr. Prospector), and 2002 Saranac Handicap (USA-G3) winner Ibn al Haitham (by Zafonic) and second dam of 1995 European champion 3-year-old male Lammtarra and French Group 3 winner Saytarra. Konafa 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, Konafa 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, Konafa 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.
Konafa 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.
Fun facts
- Konafa, or knafeh, is a traditional Arab dessert. It consists of spun pastry dough (kadayif) layered with cheese and soaked in a sugary syrup (attar).
Last updated: April 10, 2026