After a disappointing eighth-place finish in the Premio Nacional Ricardo Lyon (CHI-G1) on September 29, Stud Doña Lili’s filly Cassis Violeta was freshened for nearly three months. The result was a stunning turnaround. Sent after the last Classic race on the 2024 Chilean calendar, Las Oaks Fasig-Tipton (CHI-G1), on December 27, Cassis Violeta galloped along in leisurely fashion through the opening stages but produced a sharp burst in the final 100 meters to sweep around four opponents and win going away. It was the filly’s second win at the top level, following a score in the Premio Arturo Lyon as a 2-year-old, and improved her lifetime record to four wins and two seconds from eight starts. The victory was also another Classic win for a glittering Chilean family.
Bred by Haras Don Alberto, Cassis Violeta was the second Classic winner of 2024 for her sire Midshipman, who had sent out Premio St. Leger (CHI-G1) winner The Goat earlier in the month. Currently third on the 2024 Chilean general sire list by progeny earnings, Midshipman is leading all Chilean stallions by number of Group stakes winners for the year with nine. In the United States, the champion juvenile male of 2008 has had a solid if underappreciated career and has gained a reputation as a solid breed-to-race sire who can also get some attractive youngsters for the auction ring.
Cristolina, the dam of Cassis Violeta, was also bred by Haras Don Alberto. She is a winning daughter of Henrythenavigator (by Kingmambo), winner of the 2008 Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) and Irish Two Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) but a disappointing sire who ended up being exported to Russia. Her dam Crystal City, also a winner, is by the multiple Group 2-winning Sadler’s Wells horse Dushyantor. A great sire in Chile, Dushyantor is credited by the Stud Book de Chile as having won sire titles in 2008-2010 and broodmare sire titles in 2015-2020, 2022, and 2003 and has a comfortable lead in the 2024 Chilean broodmare sire standings.
Crystal Clear, the next dam in Cassis Violeta’s tail-female line, won the 2002 Las Oaks and was the co-champion 3-year-old filly of her crop. She was sired by Golden Voyager, a winning son of Mr. Prospector and three-time Canadian champion La Voyageuse (by Tentam) who proved a good sire and broodmare sire in Chile. Crystal Clear’s dam, 1990 Las Oaks winner and two-time Chilean champion Cristalline, also produced 1999 Chilean Horse of the Year Crystal House, a full sister to Crystal Clear and the dam of Desert Fire (by Cape Cross), a Group 2 winner in Dubai.
Sired by the winning Northern Dancer horse Northair out of Calderina (by Carral), Cristalline is also the dam of Potosina (by Cactus Ridge), a multiple stakes winner in the United States and the dam of 2015 Premio Santiago Luro (ARG-G2) winner Portal del Alto (by Malibu Moon), now a promising young stallion in Argentina. Another daughter of Cristalline, Cristal (by Semenenko), is the dam of Chilean champion and multiple Group 1 winner Crisantemo (by Fappavalley) and 2005 Gran Premio El Derby (CHI-G1) winner Cefalú (by Dushyantor). In addition, Cristalline is the dam of Costa Azul (by Semenenko), dam of multiple Chilean Group 1 winner Santiago Matias (by Golden Voyager). Finally, Cristalline is the dam of Costa Norte (by Fappavalley), dam of 2007 Las Oaks winner Candy Doll (by Dushyantor) and multiple Chilean listed stakes winners Caucus and Costa Nortena (both by Dushyantor). The last-named mare is, in turn, the dam of 2023 Premio Francisco Baeza S. winner Costa del Norte (by Ivan Denisovich) and listed Chilean stakes winner Surco (by Mastercraftsman).
Cassis Violeta’s immediate course is uncertain, for although the Southern Hemisphere breeding season will not commence for another seven months, the filly is an extremely valuable broodmare prospect. If a Northern Hemisphere buyer makes a serious pursuit of her, money may well end up doing the talking. Otherwise, Stud Doña Lili has a decision to make: further racing, or the breeding shed? From an owner’s viewpoint, there are worse dilemmas to have.
Bred by Haras Don Alberto, Cassis Violeta was the second Classic winner of 2024 for her sire Midshipman, who had sent out Premio St. Leger (CHI-G1) winner The Goat earlier in the month. Currently third on the 2024 Chilean general sire list by progeny earnings, Midshipman is leading all Chilean stallions by number of Group stakes winners for the year with nine. In the United States, the champion juvenile male of 2008 has had a solid if underappreciated career and has gained a reputation as a solid breed-to-race sire who can also get some attractive youngsters for the auction ring.
Cristolina, the dam of Cassis Violeta, was also bred by Haras Don Alberto. She is a winning daughter of Henrythenavigator (by Kingmambo), winner of the 2008 Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) and Irish Two Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) but a disappointing sire who ended up being exported to Russia. Her dam Crystal City, also a winner, is by the multiple Group 2-winning Sadler’s Wells horse Dushyantor. A great sire in Chile, Dushyantor is credited by the Stud Book de Chile as having won sire titles in 2008-2010 and broodmare sire titles in 2015-2020, 2022, and 2003 and has a comfortable lead in the 2024 Chilean broodmare sire standings.
Crystal Clear, the next dam in Cassis Violeta’s tail-female line, won the 2002 Las Oaks and was the co-champion 3-year-old filly of her crop. She was sired by Golden Voyager, a winning son of Mr. Prospector and three-time Canadian champion La Voyageuse (by Tentam) who proved a good sire and broodmare sire in Chile. Crystal Clear’s dam, 1990 Las Oaks winner and two-time Chilean champion Cristalline, also produced 1999 Chilean Horse of the Year Crystal House, a full sister to Crystal Clear and the dam of Desert Fire (by Cape Cross), a Group 2 winner in Dubai.
Sired by the winning Northern Dancer horse Northair out of Calderina (by Carral), Cristalline is also the dam of Potosina (by Cactus Ridge), a multiple stakes winner in the United States and the dam of 2015 Premio Santiago Luro (ARG-G2) winner Portal del Alto (by Malibu Moon), now a promising young stallion in Argentina. Another daughter of Cristalline, Cristal (by Semenenko), is the dam of Chilean champion and multiple Group 1 winner Crisantemo (by Fappavalley) and 2005 Gran Premio El Derby (CHI-G1) winner Cefalú (by Dushyantor). In addition, Cristalline is the dam of Costa Azul (by Semenenko), dam of multiple Chilean Group 1 winner Santiago Matias (by Golden Voyager). Finally, Cristalline is the dam of Costa Norte (by Fappavalley), dam of 2007 Las Oaks winner Candy Doll (by Dushyantor) and multiple Chilean listed stakes winners Caucus and Costa Nortena (both by Dushyantor). The last-named mare is, in turn, the dam of 2023 Premio Francisco Baeza S. winner Costa del Norte (by Ivan Denisovich) and listed Chilean stakes winner Surco (by Mastercraftsman).
Cassis Violeta’s immediate course is uncertain, for although the Southern Hemisphere breeding season will not commence for another seven months, the filly is an extremely valuable broodmare prospect. If a Northern Hemisphere buyer makes a serious pursuit of her, money may well end up doing the talking. Otherwise, Stud Doña Lili has a decision to make: further racing, or the breeding shed? From an owner’s viewpoint, there are worse dilemmas to have.
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