Mehmas caught the eye when he made a winning debut over five furlongs at Chester in early May. The performance came just a few weeks after he fetched 170,000gns at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale, and although by a stallion often associated with speed and precocity, the distaff side of his family paints a very different picture.
With what Al Shaqab Racing's Richard Hannon-trained colt achieved after that, it was clear that he is very much his father's son rather than typical of his dam's relations, and that made him an interesting racing prospect. However, his career ended at the end of his juvenile season. He chased home Caravaggio in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes, then beat Intelligence Cross by half a length in the Group 2 Arqana July Stakes. In post-race interviews, Hannon noted the colt's size and said that unless the bay would grow by another couple of inches then he would be likely to struggle as a three-year-old. He appeared to run out of stamina when runner-up to Churchill in the Group 1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at the Curragh and was below par when only third to The Last Lion in the Group 1 Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes, on what would be his final start. He is by the sire of Dark Angel and Equiano, retired to Tally-Ho Stud, has covered more than 170 mares in each of his first two season, and has 130 registered foals in his first crop.
Running only at two made him a somewhat unusual member of his family. The best of several winners out of an unraced mare called Lucina (by Machiavellian), he was bred by Epona Bloodstock Ltd and his dam is a half-sister to 10 winners, four of whom deserve mention.
Lundy's Lane (by Darshaan) was runner-up in the Group 3 Craven Stakes and third in the Group 1 Derby Italiano, Rugged Cross (by Cape Cross) is a pattern-placed stakes winner in Australia, and the prolific Blue Monday (by Darshaan), who won two editions of the Group 3 Arc Trial at Newbury, was third in both the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes and Group 1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes. The fourth notable sibling is Jakarta (by Machiavellian). A full-sister to Lucina, she won just once, the best of her progeny is the Group 2-placed Puggy (by Mark Of Esteem), and that filly is the one who gave us the French champion Avenir Certain (by Le Havre). Placed in the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet and in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes on her final two starts last year, that Jean-Claude Rouget-trained bay was unbeaten at two and extended her winning run to six when taking the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas), Group 1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) and Group 2 Prix de la Nonette in 2014. Lunda (by Soviet Star), the grandam of Mehmas, was unplaced in three starts, but six of her siblings were winners and five of those were blacktype horses. Indeed, four members of that quintet were considerably more than just that bare description. Luana (by Shaadi) won three times, earned her bold type when finishing third in the Listed Bentinck Stakes at Newmarket, and the best of her progeny are the Group 3 Jockey Club Cup scorer Tastahil (by Singspiel) and his half-brother Hattan (by Halling). That colt won the Group 3 Chester Vase, the Group 3 Winter Derby and the Group 3 September Stakes, he was only beaten by a nose by Sudan in the Group 1 Gran Premio di Milano, chased home Cherry Mix in the Group 1 Premio Roma, and was placed in a string of other pattern events. Her half-sister Cloud Castle (by In The Wings) won the Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes, was only beaten by three-parts of a length by Leggera in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille, and was third to Catchascatchcan in the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks. Although neither performance counted for blacktype, it is, nonetheless, worth noting that this Clive Brittain-trained bay finished fourth in both the 1000 Guineas and Oaks. Cloud Castle went on to produce a string of winners at stud, including the Listed scorers Reverie Solitaire (by Nashwan) and Urban Castle (by Street Cry) and the Group 3 Winter Hill Stakes winner Queen's Best (by King's Best). The three other talented racehorses out of Listed Sweet Solera Stakes winner Lucayan Princess (by High Line) were all well-known colts. Needle Gun (by Sure Blade) won the Group 2 Gallinule Stakes and Group 3 Meld Stakes, he was runner-up in the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes, and got some winners as a National Hunt sire, most notably the dual listed-chase scorer Yes Sir. Luso (by Salse), who won the Group 1 Derby Italiano, Group 1 Deutschlandpreis and two editions of the Group 1 Aral-Pokal, went on to become a good sire of staying chasers with dual Grade A Thyestes Chase winner Preists Leap, Grade 2 winner and Cheltenham Festival scorer Chicago Grey, and the tragically ill-fated Grade A Irish Grand National hero Hear The Echo his standout performers. Warrsan (by Caerleon) was the most popular member of the family, and arguably the most talented. Saeed Manana's homebred globetrotter was trained by Clive Brittain, he won the Group 1 Coronation Cup as a five-year-old, beat Doyen easily in the same race 12 months later, followed that with victory in the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Baden and, at the age of seven, won a second edition of that 12 furlong prize, this time beating dual Group 1 star Gonbarda by one and a quarter lengths. He won nine of his 43 starts, was placed in 13, earned over £1.65 million, and he ran in England, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Dubai, Hong Kong and Japan. He was retired in April 2006, at the age of eight, but before a stud place could be arranged for him he died from what was reported as “complications resulting from a tumour.” There are also two unraced daughters of Lucayan Princess who have made a contribution to the family's reputation. Mantesera (by In The Wings), a full-sister to Cloud Castle, is the dam of the Group 3 Winter Derby winner Nideeb (by Exceed And Excel) and of Suegioo (by Manduro), a gelding who was third in the Ebor Handicap and in the Group 2 Doncaster Cup. Maskunah (by Sadler's Wells) is responsible for the Group 3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes winner Laaheb (by Cape Cross) and for the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes runner-up Ruwaiyan (by Cape Cross). But Mehmas was only a juvenile sprinter. It would appear that Acclamation's speed combined with that of Lucina's sire or broodmare sire – Machiavellian (by Mr Prospector) and Soviet Star (by Nureyev) – and it's a pity that he was unable to try to develop his profile at three. He was rated 115 by Timeform and looks likely to get sprinters and milers. MEHMAS (IRE) – b.2014 – Acclamation – Lucina, 4 wins inc July Stakes (Gr2), Richmond Stakes (Gr2), 2nd National Stakes (Gr1), Coventry Stakes (Gr2), National Stakes (L), 3rd Middle Park Stakes (Gr1). Sire in Ireland. First foals in 2018.
FOALS CATALOGUED:
Bc - Alexander Alliance (by Danetime) Goffs November €12,000 Bc - Aqlette (by Aqlaam) Goffs November €14,000 Bf - Bruno Maris (by Bachelor Duke) Goffs November withdrawn Bf - Calorie (by Sea The Stars) Goffs November withdrawn Bf - Cancan Katy (by Canford Cliffs) Goffs November not sold Bc - Coin Case (by Frozen Power) Goffs November €12,500 Chf - Crystal Snowflake (by Danehill Dancer) Goffs November not sold Chc - Darsan (by Iffraaj) Goffs November €16,000 Bf - Dash Back (by Sahm) Tatts IRE November not sold Bf - Dominatrix (by Whipper) Tattersalls December not sold Bc - Ehteyat (by Thewayyouare) Arqana December €16,000 Bc - Empress Ella (by Holy Roman Emperor) Tattersalls November not sold Bc - English Queen (by Makfi) Tattersalls November not sold Bc - Entreat (by Pivotal) Tattersalls November withdrawn Brc - Faddwa (by Arcano) Goffs November €38,000 Bc - Fast Pick (by Fastnet Rock) Goffs November not sold Bc - Flashing Blade (by Inchinor) Goffs November not sold Bf - Fondled (by Selkirk) Goffs November €15,000 Bf - Foreplay (by Lujain) Goffs November withdrawn Bf - Furnival (by Street Cry) Tatts IRE November €2,000 Bc - Glamorous (by Red Ransom) Goffs November €20,000 Bc - Golden Legacy (by Rossini) Goffs November €42,000 Bc - Guajira (by Mtoto) Tattersalls November withdrawn Bf - Heavenly Song (by Oratorio) Goffs November €1,000 Bf - Helebore (by Red Ransom) Goffs November withdrawn Chf - Il Palazzo (by Giant’s Causeway) Tattersalls November 42,000gns Chc - Just Silca (by Teofilo) Goffs November withdrawn Bf - Lauren’s Girl (by Bushranger) Goffs November withdrawn Bc - Lillebonne (by Danehill Dancer) Goffs November €50,000 Bc - Looks Great (by New Approach) Goffs November €35,000 Chc - Mad About The Girl (by Excellent Art) Goffs November not sold Bf - Maridiyna (by Sinndar) Goffs November not sold Chc - Masela (by Medicean) Goffs November withdrawn Bf - Moment Of Truth (by Teofilo) Goffs November withdrawn Bf - Motheeba (by Mustanfar) Goffs November not sold Chc - Naias (by Namid) Goffs November €32,000 Chf - Obsara (by Observatory) Tattersalls November 20,000gns Bc - Oonagh (by Arakan) Goffs November €28,000 Bc - Pardoven (by Clodovil) Tattersalls November 85,000gns Bc - Prom Dress (by Mount Nelson) Goffs November €1,000 B/brc - Rahlah (by Dansili) Tattersalls November 23,000gns Chf - Ready's Legend (by More Than Ready) Goffs UK December withdrawn Bc - Rip Van Music (by Rip Van Winkle) Goffs November €22,000 Bc - Royal Majestic (by Tobougg) Goffs November €57,000 Bc - Rublevka Star (by Elusive Quality) Goffs November withdrawn Bc - Saucy Spirit (by Invincible Spirit) Goffs November not sold Bf - Scarlet Pimpernel (by Sir Percy) Goffs November €10,000 Bf - Seinellanima (by Oratorio) Goffs November not sold Bc - Seminova (by Cape Cross) Goffs November €7,000 Bc - Senadora (by Tertullian) Goffs November €30,000 Bc - Sodashy (by Noverre) Goffs November €60,000 Bf - Soft Drink (by Lemon Drop Kid) Tattersalls November 1,000gns (p/s) Chc - Spirit Of Success (by Invincible Spirit) Goffs November €3,000 Bf - Supreme Quest (by Exceed And Excel) Goffs November not sold Bf - Symbol Of Peace (by Desert Sun) Goffs November €8,000 Bf - Tarried (by Observatory) Tattersalls November not sold Bc - Truly Magnificent (by Elusive Quality) Tattersalls November 8,000gns Bc - Urban Beauty (by Sea The Stars) Tatts IRE November €11,000 Bc - Ventura Ice (by Oratorio) Arqana December not sold Chf - Virgin Queen (by Iffraaj) Goffs November €10,000 Bc - Walaaa (by Exceed And Excel) Tattersalls November 16,000gns Chf - Western Sky (by Barathea) Tattersalls November 12,000gns Bf - Zenara (by Sea The Stars) Goffs November €6,500 |
Archives
November 2018
Sires of Stallions
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