Many Australian fans would have fond memories of the Lloyd Williams import The United States (IRE), who won the 2016 Group 1 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill.
The strikingly handsome chestnut was exported to South Africa in 2017 to take up residence at Moutonshoek Stud.
The son of Galileo if off to a flyer with his first runner, Sheela winning the Listed Storm Bird Stakes which was run over 1000m at the Vaal, after being transferred from Turffontein.
Ridden by S’manga Khumalo, Sheela came from the tail of the field with a barnstorming finish to defeat Social Image by a widening three and three-quarter lengths in a time of 56.69 secs.
A homebred for Drakenstein Stud, the Adam Azzie-trained filly is out of the stakes placed Trippi mare, Trip To India. The latter hails from the family of European Group 1 winners Continent and Zambezi Sun.
A Group III winner in Ireland for Aidan O’Brien before heading to Australia, The United States has all the attributes to make a success at stud.
He is a brother to dual Group 1 winner Hydrangea and the Group 1 1000 Guineas and Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Hermosa, and a half-brother to multiple Group III winner Free Lilly (Dansili) who was runner-up in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes and Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac.
They are out of the Group II Prix du Gros Chene winner Beauty Is Truth (Pivotal).
Second dam Zelding (Warning) also produced the stakes-winning Singspiel mare Glorious Sight who placed in the Group 1 Poule
D’Essai des Pouliches and Group 1 Prix de Diane.
Third dam Zelda (Caerleon) is a half-sister to five black-type winners headed by the Breeders’ Cup Mile-winner and international stud success sire Last Tycoon (Ire).
