By a sprinter and from the family of a champion sprinter would not ordinarily sound like the pedigree of a two-turn horse, but Munning’s daughter Muhimma had no difficulty justifying her 2-5 favoritism in the 9-furlong Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G2) on December 7. Controlling the tempo throughout, the hulking gray filly needed some mild shaking up in the stretch but never appeared to be in serious danger as she scored a one-length win over Ballerina d’Oro to keep her unbeaten record intact at 3-for-3. The US$700,000 2023 Keeneland September purchase from breeder Three Chimneys Farm has now earned US$279,460 for Shadwell Stable.
Although Munnings was a capable sprinter in his own right and has been a good sire of speed, he has been a versatile sort fully capable of getting a two-turn runner when put to the right mare—not really surprising for a horse whose first four damsires are Holy Bull, Lord At War, Secretariat, and Hail to Reason. As for the champion sprinter from whom Muhimma takes her descent, What a Summer certainly had speed, but there was a bit more to her than that.
Sired by the Bold Ruler horse What Luck—a full brother to 1964 American champion 2-year-old filly Queen Empress and 1968 Pimlico-Laurel Futurity winner King Emperor—What a Summer was produced from Summer Classic (by Summer Tan x Classic Music, by Stymie), a full sister to 1963 Chicagoan Handicap winner B. Major and a half sister to Classicist (by Princequillo), maternal granddam of 1986 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Danzig Connection. Further back, this is the family of 1947 Belmont Stakes winner and American champion 3-year-old male Phalanx and 1939 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Johnstown.
This was something of a “could be anything” pedigree, and What a Summer successfully stretched her speed to win the 1976 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (USA-G2) over 8.5 furlongs. She was campaigned primarily over sprint distances at 4 (when she won the Eclipse Award as American champion sprinter) and 5, whipping males in the Fall Highweight Handicap (USA-G2) during both years, but stayed well enough to run second in the 10-furlong Beldame Stakes (USA-G1) in 1977.
What a Summer produced eight winners from her nine named foals. Of those, Gather the Clan was by far the most important. An Irish-bred daughter of Secretariat’s Travers Stakes-winning son General Assembly, Gather the Clan won the 1989 Violet Handicap (USA-G3) over 8.5 furlongs and produced multiple Grade 1 winner Pure Clan (by Pure Prize) and 2004 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (USA-G2) winner Greater Good (by Intidab). Gather the Clan is also the dam of Swift Girl (by Unbridled), dam of 2008 Frizette Stakes (USA-G1) winner Sky Diva (by Sky Mesa), and of Gather the Day (by Dayjur), second dam of 2018 Madison Stakes (USA-G1) winner Finley’sluckycharm (by Twirling Candy).
Pure Clan’s top-level wins included the 2008 American Invitational Oaks over a mile and one-quarter and the 2009 Flower Bowl Handicap at the same distance, and she was also second in the 2009 Emirates Airlines Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (USA-G1). She was clearly an exception to the miler proclivities of What a Summer’s other prominent descendants, and Princesa Carolina, her 2016 filly by Tapit (whose many distinctions as a sire include begetting four Belmont Stakes winners) was equally clearly bred to go a distance. Proving that she had bred true to expectations, Princesa Carolina scored her biggest win in the 2019 Fifth Third Insurance Dueling Ground Oaks, going 10.5 furlongs in a course-record 2:08.85. Muhimma is Princesa Carolina’s second foal.
As a mare whose forte was carrying a high cruising speed over a distance, Princesa Carolina was a good candidate for a mate who could supply a bit more tactical speed, which seems to have been the goal of the mating to Munnings that produced Muhimma. Since then, Princesa Carolina has visited Gun Runner twice and has produced a yearling colt that went for US$2.2 million at the 2024 Keeneland September sale and a weanling colt. She was bred back to Gun Runner for 2025.
Muhimma picked up 10 points toward a starting berth in the 2025 Longines Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1) with her win in the Demoiselle, and she is now proven at the 9-furlong Oaks distance. She will have to prove that she can handle more formidable opposition—not least her own stablemates, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly (USA-G1) winner Immersive and Golden Rod Stakes (USA-G2) winner Good Cheer—but on speed figures, she is right up there with the best of her crop, and she has the breeding to develop further as she takes the first steps along the Lily Lane to Churchill Downs.
Although Munnings was a capable sprinter in his own right and has been a good sire of speed, he has been a versatile sort fully capable of getting a two-turn runner when put to the right mare—not really surprising for a horse whose first four damsires are Holy Bull, Lord At War, Secretariat, and Hail to Reason. As for the champion sprinter from whom Muhimma takes her descent, What a Summer certainly had speed, but there was a bit more to her than that.
Sired by the Bold Ruler horse What Luck—a full brother to 1964 American champion 2-year-old filly Queen Empress and 1968 Pimlico-Laurel Futurity winner King Emperor—What a Summer was produced from Summer Classic (by Summer Tan x Classic Music, by Stymie), a full sister to 1963 Chicagoan Handicap winner B. Major and a half sister to Classicist (by Princequillo), maternal granddam of 1986 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Danzig Connection. Further back, this is the family of 1947 Belmont Stakes winner and American champion 3-year-old male Phalanx and 1939 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Johnstown.
This was something of a “could be anything” pedigree, and What a Summer successfully stretched her speed to win the 1976 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (USA-G2) over 8.5 furlongs. She was campaigned primarily over sprint distances at 4 (when she won the Eclipse Award as American champion sprinter) and 5, whipping males in the Fall Highweight Handicap (USA-G2) during both years, but stayed well enough to run second in the 10-furlong Beldame Stakes (USA-G1) in 1977.
What a Summer produced eight winners from her nine named foals. Of those, Gather the Clan was by far the most important. An Irish-bred daughter of Secretariat’s Travers Stakes-winning son General Assembly, Gather the Clan won the 1989 Violet Handicap (USA-G3) over 8.5 furlongs and produced multiple Grade 1 winner Pure Clan (by Pure Prize) and 2004 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (USA-G2) winner Greater Good (by Intidab). Gather the Clan is also the dam of Swift Girl (by Unbridled), dam of 2008 Frizette Stakes (USA-G1) winner Sky Diva (by Sky Mesa), and of Gather the Day (by Dayjur), second dam of 2018 Madison Stakes (USA-G1) winner Finley’sluckycharm (by Twirling Candy).
Pure Clan’s top-level wins included the 2008 American Invitational Oaks over a mile and one-quarter and the 2009 Flower Bowl Handicap at the same distance, and she was also second in the 2009 Emirates Airlines Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (USA-G1). She was clearly an exception to the miler proclivities of What a Summer’s other prominent descendants, and Princesa Carolina, her 2016 filly by Tapit (whose many distinctions as a sire include begetting four Belmont Stakes winners) was equally clearly bred to go a distance. Proving that she had bred true to expectations, Princesa Carolina scored her biggest win in the 2019 Fifth Third Insurance Dueling Ground Oaks, going 10.5 furlongs in a course-record 2:08.85. Muhimma is Princesa Carolina’s second foal.
As a mare whose forte was carrying a high cruising speed over a distance, Princesa Carolina was a good candidate for a mate who could supply a bit more tactical speed, which seems to have been the goal of the mating to Munnings that produced Muhimma. Since then, Princesa Carolina has visited Gun Runner twice and has produced a yearling colt that went for US$2.2 million at the 2024 Keeneland September sale and a weanling colt. She was bred back to Gun Runner for 2025.
Muhimma picked up 10 points toward a starting berth in the 2025 Longines Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1) with her win in the Demoiselle, and she is now proven at the 9-furlong Oaks distance. She will have to prove that she can handle more formidable opposition—not least her own stablemates, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly (USA-G1) winner Immersive and Golden Rod Stakes (USA-G2) winner Good Cheer—but on speed figures, she is right up there with the best of her crop, and she has the breeding to develop further as she takes the first steps along the Lily Lane to Churchill Downs.
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