Described by many as the most influential mare ever to go to stud in North America, La Troienne continues to make her mark today, through numerous high class descendants.
La Troienne
Placed twice in seven outings for famed owner-breeder, Marcel Boussac, La Troienne, whose French Oaks winning ¾ sister, Adargatis, is ancestress of Kentucky Derby winner, Spend A Buck, spent her entire stud career,after fetching 1250 guineas at the 1930 December Sale, in Newmarket.
This proved a fair price, as she produced the outstanding racemare, Black Helen – who beat males to win the 1935 Florida Derby – and champion, Bimelech, who subsequently became a top class sire and broodmare sire.
California Chrome
The influence of La Troienne has been felt throughout the world, thanks to leading sires, Caerleon, Buckpasser, Private Account, Woodman and Pleasant Tap. Dual US Horse Of The Year, California Chrome – whose first foals are born this year – has a remarkable seven strains of this great mare. Descendants of La Troienne have won the Kentucky Derby four times –Sea Hero, Go For Gin, Smarty Jones and Super Saver- and have landed the Preakness Stakes four times.
The influence of this breed changing blue hen is still felt in major races today. Elate, winner of both the Gr1 Alabama Stakes and Gr1 Beldame Stakes in 2017, is a direct descendant of La Troienne as is Dickinson who was victorious in last year’s Gr1 Jenny Wiley Stakes. Interestingly, both Elate and Dickinson are daughters of Medaglia D’Oro.
Listed below are some of the main conduits for La Troienne in recent times.
Flatter, Congrats
The two successful own brothers, Flatter and Congrats, are descended from La Troienne through Big Hurry. Congrats, sire of Saturday’s Silverbulletday Stakes winner, Stronger Than Ever, was North America’s Leading Sire in 2010 and his offspring have included 2017 Indiana Oaks winner, Overture.
Full brother, Flatter, a winner of four of six outings, is the sire of last season’s outstanding US 3yo, West Coast, a winner of six of nine outings, including the G1 Travers Stakes and G1 Pennsylvania Derby. The siblings are out of Mr Prospector mare, Praise, who is a granddaughter of former Broodmare Of The Year, Glowing Tribute. The latter is also dam of Kentucky Derby winner, Sea Hero, and G1 winner, Hero’s Honor, damsire of champion sire, Elusive Quality.
Bernstein, Sky Mesa
Bernstein
Now deceased, Bernstein left his mark on the breed through Breeders’ Cup winners, Karakontie and Tepin, and the former champion sire in Argentina is also broodmare sire of another Breeders’ Cup winner in the form of US champion, Champagne Room (Broken Vow). His full sister, Caress, is the dam of Gr1 Hopeful Stakes winner, Sky Mesa, whose 60 stakes winners include 2017 Gr1 Breeders’ Cup F&M Sprint runner up, Ami’s Mesa, as well as Gr1 winners, General Quarters and Sky Diva.
Bernstein and Sky Mesa, damsire of Gr1 winner, Harmonize, descend from La Troienne through Businesslike, who is also second dam of the champion and outstanding broodmare sire, Buckpasser. Businesslike is also fourth dam of former SA sire, Complete Warrior, the broodmare sire of champion South African sire, Captain Al.
Meghan’s Joy
Closely related to Flatter and Congrats, the broodmare, Meghan’s Joy, was herself an excellent producer. A stakes placed winner of four, the daughter of A P Indy is responsible for an impressive five individual graded stakes winners, Norumbega (Brooklyn Hcp), Ironicus (Dixie Stakes), Hunting (Stuyvesant Hcp), On Leave (Sands Point Stakes) and Quiet Harbor (Violet Stakes). She is also granddam of G3 Commonwealth Oaks winner, Onus (Blame). She is another descended from the great mare Glowing Tribute – who traces back to La Troienne’s daughter Big Hurry.
Super Saver
This former Kentucky Derby winner made a great splash with his first crop, including three Gr1 winners, headed by Breeders’ Cup Sprint champion, and Claiborne Farm sire, Runhappy.
Super Saver, who has some smart 3yo’s representing him in 2018, had another black type winner, when his son, Inside Straight, won the Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile Handicap this weekend. One of two Kentucky Derby winners sired by Maria’s Mon, Super Saver traces back to the great mare through Baby League, with his close relatives including the outstanding stallion, Private Account.
Mineshaft
The former Horse Of The Year has a consistently successful record at stud and is also shaping up as a broodmare sire of considerable potential. The son of A P Indy is the sire of more than 40 stakes winners to date, including very promising sire and Florida Derby winner, Dialed In. Mineshaft is damsire of Kentucky Oaks winner, Cathryn Sophia, and 2018 US classic hope, Enticed, and his offspring have earned over $54 000 000.
More Than Ready
Directly descended from La Troienne’s daughter, Belle Of Troy, More Than Ready (whose broodmare sire, Woodman, is another descended from the blue hen) continues to enjoy consistent success at the highest level and is also a successful sire of sires (through the likes of Sebring and Gimmethegreenlight) and broodmare sire.
One of the greatest shuttle sire success stories, More Than Ready looks to have a strong hand in the 2018 US classics with his son, Catholic Boy, and unbeaten daughter, Rushing Fall. The latter is one of five Breeders’ Cup winners for More Than Ready, whose son, Roy H, won the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
More Than Ready
Munnings
Promising Ashford Stud sire, Munnings (Speightstown) made his mark in 2017 as the sire of Gr1 Alfred G Vanderbilt winner, El Deal. Munnings, also sire of triple Gr1 winner, I’m A Chatterbox, was a high class performer, who won a trio of graded races and was second in the Gr1 Champagne Stakes.
He is descended from La Troienne through her daughter, Big Hurry, with Munnings’ Gr1 winning fourth dam, Priceless Gem, also responsible for Arc winning champion, Allez France.
