Azeri and Australia
January 11th 2009 05:32
The running of the Magic Millions carnival at the Gold Coast this weekend - in a piece of serendipitous timing - links one of the placed daughters in the Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic (of 1991) with the upcoming sale of one of the greatest mares of American racing.
This Monday the champion US mare Azeri will be auctioned at the Keeneland January Horses of all Ages Sale on January the 12th.
Azeri was American Horse of the Year in 2002 and three times (2002,2003,2004) American Champion Older Female Horse.
Azeri’s dam, Zodiac Miss, was bred in Australia by John Messara's Arrowfield Stud. Prominent Australian bloodstock agents Brian King & James Bester, together with Californian based agent Denny Boultinghouse, recommended and sold Zodiac Miss to Paulson, and the filly was subsequently shipped to U.S.A. to race there for her new owner. At the end of her racing career Allen Paulson sent Zodiac Miss to the breeding shed.
Azeri’s first foal—the A.P. Indy colt Vallenzeri—was bought back for a record $7.7-million at the 2008 Keeneland September yearling sale by Michael Paulson, son of Allen E Paulson who bred the magnificent mare, but was to die in 2000 when Azeri was then an unraced 2 year old. Michael is now manager of the Allen E. Paulson Living Trust which is offering this mare for sale.
“I know Michael Paulson has stated his emotional attachment to Azeri, and it’s an obvious question given what happened with the yearling, but it’s a non-issue. Azeri is here to be sold. If she wasn’t, she wouldn’t be here. The experience of the yearling—that was then and this is now.” - John Sikura, owner of Hill’n’Dale Sales Agency who has a consignment of nine horses (including Azeri) to sell on behalf of Paulson.
“Azeri is going to be sold to the highest bidder. We discussed that prior to bringing her here, candidly. Somebody is going to buy a great, great mare.” - Sikura.
Bred in Kentucky by Allen Paulson, 11-year-old Azeri is by Jade Hunter out of the Ahonoora mare Zodiac Miss (Aus). The three-time Eclipse Award winner as champion older female won 17 of 24 starts and earned $4,079,820 from 2001 through 2004. Medium-sized and correct, Azeri is in foal to 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper.
“She’s a Horse of the Year in foal to a Horse of the Year. She’s the kind of mare that has everything you could ask for and more. For a mare to be Horse of the Year is virtually impossible to achieve, and she achieved it.” - Sikura.
The fortunes of horseracing are difficult to plot. From The Magic Millions on the Australian Gold Coast to Kentucky. A mare of moderate ability was to produce a champion of American racing . Zodiac Miss would only ever have one foal grace a racetrack before her early demise. A younger brother to Azeri would die in 1996, and an older half-brother (by Theatrical) would die in 1999. A hal-brother to Azeri, Simon Bray (by Blushing John) would never race. It is a breeding history of tragedy - apart from one shining light: Azeri.
1st dam: ZODIAC MISS (Aust), ch, 1989-1999. Bred by Tasman Breeding Venture No.
1 (Aust.). Raced 3 yrs in Aust and NA, 10 sts, 3 wins, $213,381. Won Coca-Cola
Classic (Aust-III), Great Western Champagne S; 2nd Magic Millions Two-Year-Old
Classic, Flemington S. Dam of 2 named foals, 1 rnr, 1 wnr, 1 sw.
1996: F, by Jade Hunter. Died 1996.
1997: Simon Bray, ch c, by Blushing John. Unraced.
1998: AZERI, ch f, by Jade Hunter. ($110,000 keesep yrlg).
At 4: Horse of the Year and champion older female. Won Breeders’ Cup Distaff
(gr. I), Apple Blossom H (gr. I), Santa Margarita Invitational H (gr. I), Van-
ity H (gr. I), Milady Breeders’ Cup H (gr. I), Clement L. Hirsch H (gr. II),
Lady’s Secret Breeders’ Cup H (gr. II); 2nd La Canada S (gr. II).
At 5: Champion older female. Won Apple Blossom H (gr. I), Vanity H (gr. I), Mi-
lady Breeders’ Cup H (gr. I), Clement L. Hirsch H (gr. II); 2nd Lady’s Se-
cret Breeders’ Cup H (gr. II).
At 6: Won Overbrook Spinster S (gr. I), Apple Blossom H (gr. I), Go for Wand H
(gr. I); 2nd Personal Ensign H (gr. I), Humana Distaff H (gr. I).
1999: F, by Theatrical (Ire). Died 1999.
The 2002 Breeders’ Cup Distaff:
Azeri
This Monday the champion US mare Azeri will be auctioned at the Keeneland January Horses of all Ages Sale on January the 12th.
Azeri was American Horse of the Year in 2002 and three times (2002,2003,2004) American Champion Older Female Horse.
Azeri’s dam, Zodiac Miss, was bred in Australia by John Messara's Arrowfield Stud. Prominent Australian bloodstock agents Brian King & James Bester, together with Californian based agent Denny Boultinghouse, recommended and sold Zodiac Miss to Paulson, and the filly was subsequently shipped to U.S.A. to race there for her new owner. At the end of her racing career Allen Paulson sent Zodiac Miss to the breeding shed.
Azeri’s first foal—the A.P. Indy colt Vallenzeri—was bought back for a record $7.7-million at the 2008 Keeneland September yearling sale by Michael Paulson, son of Allen E Paulson who bred the magnificent mare, but was to die in 2000 when Azeri was then an unraced 2 year old. Michael is now manager of the Allen E. Paulson Living Trust which is offering this mare for sale.
“I know Michael Paulson has stated his emotional attachment to Azeri, and it’s an obvious question given what happened with the yearling, but it’s a non-issue. Azeri is here to be sold. If she wasn’t, she wouldn’t be here. The experience of the yearling—that was then and this is now.” - John Sikura, owner of Hill’n’Dale Sales Agency who has a consignment of nine horses (including Azeri) to sell on behalf of Paulson.
“Azeri is going to be sold to the highest bidder. We discussed that prior to bringing her here, candidly. Somebody is going to buy a great, great mare.” - Sikura.
Bred in Kentucky by Allen Paulson, 11-year-old Azeri is by Jade Hunter out of the Ahonoora mare Zodiac Miss (Aus). The three-time Eclipse Award winner as champion older female won 17 of 24 starts and earned $4,079,820 from 2001 through 2004. Medium-sized and correct, Azeri is in foal to 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper.
“She’s a Horse of the Year in foal to a Horse of the Year. She’s the kind of mare that has everything you could ask for and more. For a mare to be Horse of the Year is virtually impossible to achieve, and she achieved it.” - Sikura.
The fortunes of horseracing are difficult to plot. From The Magic Millions on the Australian Gold Coast to Kentucky. A mare of moderate ability was to produce a champion of American racing . Zodiac Miss would only ever have one foal grace a racetrack before her early demise. A younger brother to Azeri would die in 1996, and an older half-brother (by Theatrical) would die in 1999. A hal-brother to Azeri, Simon Bray (by Blushing John) would never race. It is a breeding history of tragedy - apart from one shining light: Azeri.
1st dam: ZODIAC MISS (Aust), ch, 1989-1999. Bred by Tasman Breeding Venture No.
1 (Aust.). Raced 3 yrs in Aust and NA, 10 sts, 3 wins, $213,381. Won Coca-Cola
Classic (Aust-III), Great Western Champagne S; 2nd Magic Millions Two-Year-Old
Classic, Flemington S. Dam of 2 named foals, 1 rnr, 1 wnr, 1 sw.
1996: F, by Jade Hunter. Died 1996.
1997: Simon Bray, ch c, by Blushing John. Unraced.
1998: AZERI, ch f, by Jade Hunter. ($110,000 keesep yrlg).
At 4: Horse of the Year and champion older female. Won Breeders’ Cup Distaff
(gr. I), Apple Blossom H (gr. I), Santa Margarita Invitational H (gr. I), Van-
ity H (gr. I), Milady Breeders’ Cup H (gr. I), Clement L. Hirsch H (gr. II),
Lady’s Secret Breeders’ Cup H (gr. II); 2nd La Canada S (gr. II).
At 5: Champion older female. Won Apple Blossom H (gr. I), Vanity H (gr. I), Mi-
lady Breeders’ Cup H (gr. I), Clement L. Hirsch H (gr. II); 2nd Lady’s Se-
cret Breeders’ Cup H (gr. II).
At 6: Won Overbrook Spinster S (gr. I), Apple Blossom H (gr. I), Go for Wand H
(gr. I); 2nd Personal Ensign H (gr. I), Humana Distaff H (gr. I).
1999: F, by Theatrical (Ire). Died 1999.
The 2002 Breeders’ Cup Distaff:
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