Great racemares don't all make great broodmares - as this tale of woe shows

Fillies and mares have been grabbing the headlines this week. There was the sad loss of Ouija Board and the record-breaking prices at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, where Alcohol Free topped proceedings when selling for 5.4 million guineas.

Ouija Board was a wonderful racemare and was also pretty successful at stud having given birth to Derby winner Australia among five offspring who made it to the course. However, a word of warning to those who have paid big money this week: superstar fillies don't all make great broodmares like her.

Since the introduction of Racing Post Ratings in 1988, Ouija Board sits joint-23rd in a list of the best European-based fillies and mares. The top ten is headed by Goldikova, followed by Treve, Bosra Sham, Balanchine, Zarkava, Enable, In The Groove, Miss Alleged, Danedream and Salsabil, nine of whom have had runners hit the track. So what became of them?