Saturday’s Group III The Schweppervescence (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens has thrown up a capacity field of progressive two-year-olds whose price as yearlings range from $900,000 to $20,000.
We recently highlighted the win of the imported mare Con Te Partiro (USA) in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic after she returned to racing following a failed attempt in the breeding shed.
Alverta achieved a similar feat in the same race in 2010.
Another outstanding mare who went on to achieve great things on the track after failing to conceive when she first went to stud was Maybe Mahal.
The magnificent daughter of Maybe Lad had a very busy two-year-old season in 1974-75 winning seven and placing in a further four of her 12 starts.
Her wins were highlighted by the VRC Bloodhorse Breeders' Plate, SAJC South Australian Stakes, PARC Oaklands Stakes and Port Adelaide Sires' Produce Stakes.
After a winless three-year-old season, Maybe Mahal’s owner-breeder Doug Reid sent her to his St John’s Lane Stud at Digger’s Rest for a mating with his newly acquired stallion Ridan (USA).
A superbly bred and well-performed son of Nantallah out of the breed-shaping mare Rough Shod, Ridan was already an old horse when he landed and Maybe Mahal wanted nothing to do with him. She would not get another chance as Ridan (USA) died after his first season.
So Maybe Mahal was sent back to Bart Cummings and what a decision that turned out to be. She made it three wins on the trot in the VRC Craven 'A' Stakes, George Adams Hcp and Lightning Stakes before adding the Doomben 10000.
In her final three starts at five, Maybe Mahal reeled off wins in the VRC Lightning Stakes, Newmarket Hcp and AJC Doncaster Hcp.
Maybe Mahal was a disappointment at stud. Her dam Faithfully Yours (Todman) was a half-sister to Faithful Affair whose line is still thriving today through the likes of the Group 1 VRC Makybe Diva Stakes winner and $2 million earner Gatting and Saturday’s Group III The Schweppervescence aspirant I Am Swerving.
Now trained by team Hawkes, the son of I Am Invincible has been placed in his only two starts to date for Kris Lees.
After not having much luck as his career debt over 1100 metres at Canterbury on February 28, I Am Swerving finished third behind Prague and Kumasi in the Group III ATC Todman Stakes.
A $375,000 purchase by Lees Racing Pty Ltd/Orbis Bloodstock out of the Yarraman Park at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, I Am Swerving is a half-brother to five winners out of the Brisbane winning Commands mare Unswerving.
Yarraman Park has consigned a weanling colt by Denman out of Unswerving to the 2017 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, making $50,000 to the bid of James Bester.
Consigned by Lime Country Thoroughbreds to the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the Denman colt hot it out of the park when bringing a final bid of $220,000 by Upper Class Bloodstock.
Named Prophet Said, he is yet to race but won a trial in January.
Another son of Unswerving is the Domesday gelding Dogmatic who added some black-type when third in the Group III Launceston Cup back on February 9.
Unswerving is now in the paddocks of Australian Bloodstock after being purchased for $22,000 at the 2016 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale when carrying her Denman colt.
After foaling a Hellbent filly last spring, Unswerving was covered by Australian Bloodstock’s Group 1 MRC Futurity Stakes and Group 1 MVRC Manikato Stakes winner Brave Smash (JPN).
Unswerving is a half-sister to the dual Group III winner Firm (Night Shift), who is the dam of Group III winner Trim (Lonhro) and granddam of the Group III MRC How Now Stakes winner Manicure (Exceed And Excel).
Trim’s sister Stubborn is the dam of Gatting (Hard Spun).
