Miesque, one of the most remarkable mares in history, made her mark at Royal Ascot – and not for the first time.
Breeders’ Cup dual winner Miesque
A ten time Gr1 winner, whose victories included both the 1987 and 1988 Breeders’ Cup Mile, Miesque and her descendants have been enjoying a rich vein of success in 2018, and this streak continued at Ascot last week.
Alpha Centauri (Mastercraftsman), who won Friday’s Gr1 Coronation Stakes in record breaking time is a great-granddaughter of the mighty Miesque. Also victorious in the recent Gr1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas, the 3yo Alpha Centauri’s second dam is Miesque’s French 1000 Guineas/French Oaks winning daughter East Of The Moon (Private Account). Now deceased, East Of The Moon is also granddam of Gr3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes winner Autocratic (Dubawi) and Gr3 Horris Hill Stakes hero Evasive (Elusive Quality).
Remarkably, Miesque’s own dam Pasadoble also featured as the ancestress of a major winner at Royal Ascot this year. Old Persian (Dubawi), winner of Friday’s Gr2 King Edward VII Stakes, stamped himself a potential St Leger contender by landing the 12 furlong contest by one and three quarter lengths .
Old Persian traces back directly to Pasadoble (his fourth dam), who is remarkably ancestress of no fewer than three Breeders’ Cup Mile winners in Miesque (Nureyev), Karakontie (Bernstein) and Six Perfections (Celtic Swing) respectively.
Kingmambo, Miesque’s triple Gr1 winning son –who was victorious at Royal Ascot when landing the Gr1 St James’s Palace Stakes in 1993 – also kept the family flag flying high last week. He is broodmare sire of hugely promising stallion Camelot (Montjeu) who made headlines with a pair of Royal Ascot winners. Camelot, who is showing promise of becoming his great sire’s finest sire son, was responsible for both 4.5 length Gr3 Hampton Court Stakes winner Hunting Horn and Listed Chesham Stakes winner Arthur Kitt.
Camelot – a cracking start
Camelot, one of two Investec Derby winners produced by Kingmambo mares, has made a cracking start with his first crop (now three) also including French Gr2 winner Fighting Irish and Italian 2000 Guineas winner Wait Forever.
Kingmambo’s 2000 Guineas winning son King’s Best is damsire of Friday’s Sandringham Stakes winner Agrotera (Mastercraftsman), while another standout son of Kingmambo, Lemon Drop Kid, is damsire of unbeaten rising star Without Parole – winner of Tuesday’s Gr1 St James’s Palace Stakes. Kingmambo himself featured as damsire of last week’s Gr2 Ribblesdale Stakes third Sun Maiden (Frankel).
This was not the first time that Kingmambo had made his presence felt at Royal Ascot, however. His son Dubai Destination, broodmare sire of 2018 Dubai World Cup hero Thunder Snow, won the Gr1 Queen Anne Stakes in 2003 (downing, among others, South Africa star Victory Moon), while his son Malhub captured the Gr1 Golden Jubilee Stakes in 2002. Kingmambo was also responsible for fellow Royal Ascot group winners Russian Rhythm (Coronation Stakes), Campanologist (King Edward VII Stakes) and Henrythenavigator (St James’s Palace Stakes).
Duke Of Marmalade – during his racing days
He is also broodmare sire of the now Drakenstein Stud based Duke Of Marmalade who romped to a four length victory at Royal Ascot in 2008 when landing the Gr1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes. Duke Of Marmalade (Danehill) went on to make more Ascot history when his son Big Orange landed the Gr1 Gold Cup in 2017. Kingmambo is also damsire of 2005 Gr1 Coronation Stakes winner Maids Causeway (Giant’s Causeway).
Remarkably, Kingmambo’s dam Miesque is also granddam of 2018 French Derby winner Study Of Man (Deep Impact) and her legacy seems set to continue for generations to come.
Miesque is well represented in South Africa by her A P Indy sired son Judpot, whose recent big race winners include Gr1 Premier’s Champions Challenge hero (and Vodacom Durban July hope) Coral Fever and recent Gr2 Post Merchants winner Sniper Shot.
Kingmambo has also made his mark in this country, both as a broodmare sire and as a sire of sires.
Kingmambo is broodmare sire of Saturday’s Gr3 Track And Ball Oaks winner Witchcraft, while his speedy daughter Kelly’s Olympics is dam of graded stakes winning 2yos Olympic Owen and Speedy Suzy.
Olympic Owen wins the Protea Stakes
His sons Parade Leader, Mambo In Seattle, and Ideal World have all sired Gr1 winners in South Africa. Deceased sire Parade Leader, whose best include champion Laverna and Gr1 winners Pierre Jourdan and Rudra, is damsire of 2018 Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks winner Secret Potion, while Mambo In Seattle (a ¾ brother to five time Gr1 winner Lemon Drop Kid) is the sire of a leading 2018 Vodacom Durban July contender in the form of Gr1 Daily News 2000 runner up Majestic Mambo.
Ideal World has enjoyed a superb season thanks to unbeaten son and rising star Rainbow Bridge and promising 2yos Inverroche and Helen’s Ideal. Out of a champion own sister to pensioned top sire Dansili, Ideal World had previously made his mark with Equus Champions Smart Call and Hermoso Mundo.
Miesque’s Approval (Miesque’s Son – Win Approval)
Miesque’s Gr1 Prix de la Foret runner up son Miesque’s Son (whose son Whipper is responsible for 2018 Gr1 Prix d’Ispahan winner Recoletos) is also represented by a son at stud in South Africa-namely US champion and Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Miesque’s Approval.
