The late Steve Brem told the story about his first meeting with the star racehorse and champion broodmare Hunza, who is the fifth dam of a filly vying to become the 100th stakes-winner for the great Savabeel in Saturday’s Group 1 Schweppes Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville.
Hunza established herself as a top-class filly in the early 1970s, winning five races at two, including the VRC Bloodhorse Breeders Plate.
In 1985 Brem was the managing director of Waikato Stud and he recalled receiving a phone call from a stud owner saying he was sending Hunza back to Waikato Stud after, none to flatteringly, describing her as small, badly conformed, in poor condition and difficult to get in foal.
The daughter of Pakistan II had already taken her success on the track to the broodmare paddock with her first named foal Lost Valley (Decies) a Group III winner as was her second foal Fixed Flush (Brigand).
Her third foal Minidece (Decies) was a 7-time winner who was runner-up in the Group II VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes while her fourth foal Hunza's Ace (Ace of Aces) was a 13-time winner who placed in the Group 1 VRC Australian Guineas.
While Brem was deciding on the next mate for Hunza, who was receiving some tender loving care, Hunza’s fifth foal Benazir (Vice Regal) won three races in Brisbane, but we will get back to her.
Brem said that his suggestion to send Hunza to Waikato Stud’s resident stallion Pompeii Court (USA) was not overly enthusiastically received.
A son of the unheralded Round Table stallion Tell, Pompeii Court (USA) was standing at a fee of $6,000.
But boy didn’t that decision have an impact on the breed.
Her first cover by Pompeii Court (USA) produced the Golden Slipper and Blue Diamond Stakes winner Courtza who became the dam of the champion racehorse and sire O’Reilly.
At best, a once every other season mare, Hunza has two more foals, both by Pompeii Court (USA).
Our Pompei was a top-class performer. On the go from two to eight he chalked up four stakes win among his seven wins including the Group 1 Adelaide Cup twice and the Group 1 South Australian Derby. He was also stakes-placed a further eight times including the VRC Blamey Stakes, VATC Chirnside Stakes J.J. Liston Stakes VRC Craiglee Stakes and the VATC St George Stakes.
The final named foal of Hunza was Hunza Court who a 3-time Listed stakes-winner.
So, Hunza had an extraordinary five stakes-winners and two-stakes-placed winners from her eight foals, which left Benazir (Vice Regal) as something of the black sheep of the family.
Of Hunza’s three fillies, we have already noted that Golden Slipper heroine Courtza produced the champion, O’Reilly.
The Group II VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes runner-up Minidece produced the Listed winner Tiszae but she did not have a filly to continue the line.
So, this brings us back to Benazir who upheld the family tradition as the dam of the 4-time stakes-winner Critic (Centaine).
A mating with Pompei Court (USA) seemed a natural fit for Benazir and it left the very handy mare Eastern Princess who was a 6-time winner in Melbourne.
While she did not distinguish herself at stud, leaving just two winners from six foals, Eastern Princess is the granddam of the Group 1 ARC Easter Handicap winner and Group 1 NZ Derby runner-up Prince Kaapstad.
One of Eastern Princess’ two winners was the Zabeel mare Sayyida who was purchased for $160,000 by Roger James at the 2002 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale on behalf of Brent and Cherry Taylor from Trelawney Stud.
Sayyida took the family to new heights as the dam of the 5-time Group 1 winner and Horse Of The Year Ocean Park.
We have said it before, no stallion has done more to advance his cause this season than the Waikato Stud-based son of Thorn Park.
Sayyida’s winning daughter Ruqqaya (Van Nistelrooy) is also distinguishing herself at stud.
Her first four to the races are all winners led by the Group 1 VRC Australian Guineas and Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes winner Grunt who being a son of O’Reilly has Hunza on the top and bottom part of his pedigree.
Grunt was very popular at his debut season at Yulong Stud last spring covering 178 mares at a fee of $13,750.
Ruqqaya’s daughter Zayydani earned Breednet One To Watch status when she made a hugely impressive winning career debut at Seymour over 1600 metres back in October last year. She backed that up with another win over the same course and distance a month later.
Off the scene for fourth months, the David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained filly was favoured to make a winning return over 1600 metres at Moonee Valley on March 13 but she was never a factor after being pushed wide on the turn she struggled into sixth.
But there was a lot more to like about her most recent start when she finished resolutely for second behind Naivasha at Sandown over 1600 metres and that daughter of Starcraft franked the form by winning her next start at Flemington.
Despite the quantum leap in class to Saturday’s Group 1 Schweppes Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville., the step-up in distance on Saturday should be in Zayydani’s favour.
Sporting the famous Trelawney silks, and with the in-form Paul Gatt in the saddle from barrier seven, Zayydani looks a lot better chance than her $71 odds indicate.
Trelawney consigned a colt out of Ruqqaya at Karaka in January who was the highest price lot from the first crop of Tivaci when Bruce Perry Bloodstock shelled out $500,000.
After foaling a full-sister to Zayydani last October, Ruqqaya was bred back to Tivaci.
