Classic races are not usually total runaways, but exceptions come to mind. Secretariat in the 1973 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) and his son Risen Star 15 years later. Rachel Alexandra blowing away the 2009 Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1). Smarty Jones winning for fun in the 2004 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1). Another has just been added to the list. On November 9, Reine d’Amour made a laugher of the 2000-meter Premio Alberto Solari Magnasco (CHI-G1), the third leg of Chile’s Triple Crown for fillies. Turning on the jets in the upper stretch at Hipódromo Chile, the daughter of 2016 American champion 2-year-old male Classic Empire ran her unbeaten record to four-for-four by 13½ lengths, leaving her rivals in another zip code.
Classic Empire is now in Korea, but Reine d’Amour’s female family continues to do good service for Chilean breeder Haras Jockey, which has developed this family for at least five generations, beginning with Stefanella. A 1988 daughter of the important Chilean sire Mocito Guapo (a paternal grandson of 1955 American Horse of the Year Nashua), Stefanella distinguished herself by producing 1996 Tanteo de Potrancas (CHI-G1) winner Cindyrella to a cover by the stakes-winning Danzig horse Royal Danzig, whose dam is a full sister to 1982 American champion 2-year-old filly Landaluce.
Cindyrella produced 2005 Premio Paddock Stakes (CHI-G3) winner Budha (by seven-time Chilean champion sire Hussonet), who was third in that year’s Premio St, Leger (CHI-G1), as well as Group 3-placed Prince Charming (by Jeune Homme). She also produced Budha’s full sister Wolfie, who won one of her three starts before retiring to the paddocks. There, she produced 2011 Chilean Horse of the Year Ascot Prince (by Sir Cat) and Diane (by Lookin At Lucky), winner of the 2018 Premio Mil Guineas (CHI-G1).
Arabel, an unraced full sister to Ascot Prince, continued the family tradition of top-level production with her daughter Reine de Arabie (by Mastercraftsman), who won the 2019 Premio Polla de Potrancas (CHI-G1). Reine de Arabie’s winning full sister Rose d’Arabie produced Reine d’Amour as her second foal.
Reine d’Amour’s tail-female line is typical of many top South American families, which have been bred in South America for many generations but have been repeatedly crossed to Northern Hemisphere-bred sires. This trend has been accelerated by the vast expansion of the shuttle market in South America but is also impacted by the increased market in Dubai and Hong Kong for ready-made racehorses, which has removed a fair number of Argentine and Chilean Group 1 winners from the pool of possible sires in their native countries. (While good Chilean and Argentine horses are often taken to the United States for further racing, they stand a better chance of remaining intact and being repatriated for stud duty in South America; the ones sent to the Asian markets usually end up as geldings.)
Because of the relatively depressed prices for South American bloodstock as compared to the market in North American and Europe, many a good South American race mare has also ended up being exported, and this may well be Reine d’Amour’s fate given the dazzling display she put up on Saturday. Regardless of where she ends up, it is to be hoped that she will not only distinguish herself further on the track but will prove a queen of her breed when the time comes for her retirement.
Classic Empire is now in Korea, but Reine d’Amour’s female family continues to do good service for Chilean breeder Haras Jockey, which has developed this family for at least five generations, beginning with Stefanella. A 1988 daughter of the important Chilean sire Mocito Guapo (a paternal grandson of 1955 American Horse of the Year Nashua), Stefanella distinguished herself by producing 1996 Tanteo de Potrancas (CHI-G1) winner Cindyrella to a cover by the stakes-winning Danzig horse Royal Danzig, whose dam is a full sister to 1982 American champion 2-year-old filly Landaluce.
Cindyrella produced 2005 Premio Paddock Stakes (CHI-G3) winner Budha (by seven-time Chilean champion sire Hussonet), who was third in that year’s Premio St, Leger (CHI-G1), as well as Group 3-placed Prince Charming (by Jeune Homme). She also produced Budha’s full sister Wolfie, who won one of her three starts before retiring to the paddocks. There, she produced 2011 Chilean Horse of the Year Ascot Prince (by Sir Cat) and Diane (by Lookin At Lucky), winner of the 2018 Premio Mil Guineas (CHI-G1).
Arabel, an unraced full sister to Ascot Prince, continued the family tradition of top-level production with her daughter Reine de Arabie (by Mastercraftsman), who won the 2019 Premio Polla de Potrancas (CHI-G1). Reine de Arabie’s winning full sister Rose d’Arabie produced Reine d’Amour as her second foal.
Reine d’Amour’s tail-female line is typical of many top South American families, which have been bred in South America for many generations but have been repeatedly crossed to Northern Hemisphere-bred sires. This trend has been accelerated by the vast expansion of the shuttle market in South America but is also impacted by the increased market in Dubai and Hong Kong for ready-made racehorses, which has removed a fair number of Argentine and Chilean Group 1 winners from the pool of possible sires in their native countries. (While good Chilean and Argentine horses are often taken to the United States for further racing, they stand a better chance of remaining intact and being repatriated for stud duty in South America; the ones sent to the Asian markets usually end up as geldings.)
Because of the relatively depressed prices for South American bloodstock as compared to the market in North American and Europe, many a good South American race mare has also ended up being exported, and this may well be Reine d’Amour’s fate given the dazzling display she put up on Saturday. Regardless of where she ends up, it is to be hoped that she will not only distinguish herself further on the track but will prove a queen of her breed when the time comes for her retirement.
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