Masterstroke a Group 2-winning grandson of Urban Sea

MASTERSTROKE (USA) - 2009 bay horse

Winner of a mile newcomers' race on soft ground at Saint-Cloud on his only start as a juvenile, Masterstroke went on to become an Arc-placed Group 2 scorer. He is by the sire of the Group 1-winning successful sires Manduro, Samum and Shirocco, he stands for just €3,000 at Haras du Logis, in France, and with the distaff line he represents, there would be no surprise at all if can come up with one or more Group 1 performers.

His siblings include the Group 3 scorer Moonlight Magic (by Cape Cross), his dam is the dual Oaks-placed stakes winner Melikah (by Lammtarra), and she is among the string of notable winners out of the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Urban Sea (by Miswaki), one of the greatest broodmares of all time.

Her brilliant sons Galileo (by Sadler's Wells) and Sea The Stars (by Cape Cross) are outstanding stallions, her dual Group 1 scorer Black Sam Bellamy (by Sadler's Wells) has sired pattern winners, and her top daughter, My Typhoon (by Giant's Causeway), was a Grade 1 winner in the USA.

Group 3 scorer Urban Ocean (by Bering) has sired winners from limited opportunities, classic-placed stakes winner Born To Sea (by Invincible Spirit) is a successful freshman sire in 2016, her classic-placed pattern-winning daughter All Too Beautiful (by Sadler's Wells) is the dam of dual Oaks-placed stakes winner Wonder Of Wonders (by Kingmambo), and her pattern-placed filly Cherry Hinton (by Green Desert) is responsible for Group 1 Irish Oaks heroine Bracelet (by Montjeu).

And, as those late-night infomercials say, that's not all!

Urban Sea's classic-winning half-brother King's Best (by Kingmambo) is the sire of Derby and Arc hero Workforce, among many other notable performers, and those who are out of or descend from her half-sisters include the Group 1-sires Tertullian (by Miswaki), Anabaa Blue (by Anabaa) and Tamayuz (by Nayef), the latter pair having been Group 1 winners on the track too.

There are many other talented horses to be found in just these first few generations of the pedigree, including classic-placed Group 2 Greenlands Stakes winner Mustajeeb (by Nayef), who has completed his first season at Overbury Stud.

Masterstroke's pedigree and race record will also attract the attention of those in the National Hunt sector, but there is every reason to hope that he can get good flat horses too, including one or more who can perform with credit at the highest level.

MASTERSTROKE (USA) – b.2009 – Monsun – Melikah, 4 wins inc Grand Prix de Deauville (Gr2), Prix Frederic de Lagrange (L), 2nd Prix Hocquart (Gr2), Prix du Lys (Gr3), 3rd Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr1). Sire in France. First foals in 2015.

YEARLINGS CATALOGUED (updated)
bf - Aline (by Tiger Hill)     Arqana     Oct     ​€11,000
bf – Alkeste (by Nebos)     Baden-Baden     Sept     €26,000
bf - Be In Motion (by Motivator)     Arqana     Nov     withdrawn
chf - Bealli (by Bering)     Arqana     Nov     withdrawn
bc - Best Tune (by King's Best)     Baden-Baden     Oct    €15,000
bf - Bird Of Honour (by Mark Of Esteem)     Osarus     Nov     not sold
chf - Chi Chi De Boitron (by Chichicastenango)     Arqana     Nov     not sold
bf – Denissa (by Second Set)     Baden-Baden     Sept     €15,000
bf – Fleur Enchantee (by Marchand De Sable)     Osarus     Sept     not sold
bc – Intschu Tschuna (by Lando)     Baden-Baden     Sept     not sold
bc - Jookhasi (by Kahyasi)     Arqana     Nov     (p/s) €14,000
bc – Lilac Moon (by Dr Fong)     Baden-Baden     Sept     ​€17,000
bf - Makarie (by Redback)     Arqana     Nov     €3,000
bc - My Fair Lady (by Poliglote)     Arqana     Nov     €7,500
bc - Shawnee's Best (by King's Best)     Osarus     Nov     €5,000
bf - Tekoa (by Zieten)     Arqana     Nov     withdrawn
bf - Wonderful Life (by Tiger Hill)     Arqana     Oct     not sold