Stratheden Stud’s Marheine family have lost their champion broodmare Sommes Sound in the lead-up to the Magic Millions yearling sale.

Sommes Sound (USA) died aged 26 at Stratheden Stud’s home base in Tamworth last week.  The Marheines bought her for $90,000 at the Newhaven Park dispersal sale in 1996.

Not long after Sommes Sounds changed hands, her top class Zeditave filly Assertive Lass emerged to win the G1 AJC Flight Stakes and STC Coolmore Classic.

Sommes Sound also foaled Assertive Lad (Zeditave) and he claimed the Magic Millions 2YO Classic before adding G1 victories in the AJC Champagne Stakes, Sires’ Produce Stakes and Doncaster Handicap.

Sommes Sound (Assert) was a minor winner at 1700m in North America and her half-sister First Approach (Northern Fling) was a G1 winner of the Flower Bowl Hcp in New York.

Named after a bay in Maine, USA, Sommes Sound produced a total of 9 winners.  Her first foal Colony Sound was bred and raced in North America to win 21 races

Assertive Lass carried on the line producing three stakes winners including Zabeel’s Group 1 winner Reset who is now one of Darley’s best sires.

Sommes Sound has left a solid legacy for Stratheden.  Her daughter Assertive Sound has a Sebring colt catalogued as Lot 462 at this week’s Magic Millions.

And her grand-daughter Sounds Assertive has a Casino Prince colt catalogued as Lot 771.  Both youngsters are being colt on behalf of the Marheines by Riversdale Farm under the banner of Southern Cross Breeders.