Moyglare Stud mines a familiar seam with Keeneland November purchases

Moyglare Stud has long practiced the art of infusing its European breeding programme with the blood of American mares, and bloodstock advisor Fiona Craig returned to that well for more during the Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

Craig acquired two proven stakes-performing fillies for the Irish stud for a total of $860,000 by the end of the sale’s third session on Wednesday, and indicated both will continue to race in the near future.

“Eva would like to have a bit of fun, a bit of racing,” Craig said, referring to Eva-Maria Bucher Haefner, who took over the operation of Moyglare in County Kildare following the passing of her father, stud founder Walter Haefner, in 2012.

“This is actually easier than buying yearlings or foals or broodmares,” Craig added, noting that she knows exactly what she has purchased with the pair of four-year-olds, both of whom have won this year.

View full Keeneland November Sale results

During Wednesday’s session, Craig paid $460,000 for Homeland Security, a daughter of Smart Strike out of an unraced Giant’s Causeway half-sister to US champion filly Farda Amiga and from the family of European Horse of the Year and Irish Derby winner St Jovite.

Racing for Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence and trained by Chad Brown, Homeland Security won two stakes races on grass this year at Belmont Park, most recently prevailing in the $125,000 Zagora Stakes over 12 furlongs in late-October.

“A mile and a half turf mare - that’s at least one thing we’re familiar with,” Craig quipped after signing the sale ticket. “She’s a very nice individual with a lovely pedigree.”

Homeland Security in the Keeneland sales ringCredit: Keeneland Photo

Homeland Security likely will join Moyglare’s longtime US-based trainer Christophe Clement in Florida, Craig said. Gulfstream Park’s 2019 winter stakes schedule includes races such as the Grade 3, 12 furlong La Prevoyante for fillies and mares on the Pegasus World Cup programme in January.

“Honestly, a mile and a half [races] aren't that competitive over here [in America]. We don’t have one to send over and historically we’ve done very well in those races. Christophe is very good there too,” Craig said. “Chad has had her and done a brilliant job with her, but you know we have a good relationship with Chris and it goes back over 20 years now. He’s won lots of those races for us so we just thought we’d give it a go.”

During the previous session, Craig acquired My Arch Enemy for $400,000, and by the next day the filly already was on the way to join the Clement stable in Florida.

A half-sister to millionaire multiple Grade 2 winner Win Willy and from the family of German Classic winner Royal Abjar, My Arch Enemy has placed in two Grade 3 races on all-weather surfaces this year while competing for Gary Barber and trainer Mark Casse.

Both fillies could eventually wind up in the Moyglare broodmare band, with Craig indicating she is sure My Arch Enemy will be retained for breeding, although Homeland Security may be resold at some point.

Many of Moyglare’s prominent runners have been bred in Ireland from US-bred mares or high-quality American families.

When Haefner passed away, Moyglare issued a statement that described the stud founder as “a firm believer that the strength in the pedigree comes from the quality of the broodmare”.

The statement went on to say: “He acquired, often in the USA, top-class racemares such as Grenzen (ancestress of Refuse To Bend and Casual Conquest), Talking Picture (ancestress of Trusted Partner, Dress To Thrill and Group winner Sapphire) and Aptostar (who founded the family of Irish St Leger winner Royal Diamond, Royal Ascot Group 2 winner Irresistible Jewel and Irish 1,000 Guineas runner-up Mad About You).”

In recent years, Moyglare paid $2.55 million for Grade 1 winner Celestine at the 2016 Keeneland November sale and $2.4m for Grade 1 winner Discreet Marq at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton November sale. Both continued to race with some success, with Celestine winning two stakes, one a Grade 2 event, and Discreet Marq placing in two Grade 1 races.

A daughter of Discreet Cat, Discreet Marq has joined the Moyglare broodmare band and has produced a yearling filly and a weanling colt, both by Galileo. Celestine, by Scat Daddy, last raced in March.

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