Woodside Park Stud upgraded its broodmare ranks with several quality acquisitions at the recent Arqana and Tattersalls Sales.

Among the Woodside buys in France was Takenja at 70,000 euros (AUD 105,830).  The German-bred mare was purchased by Damon Gabbedy of Belmont Bloodstock on behalf of Woodside Park owner Mark Rowsthorn.

Takenja (4f Dubawi – Taita by Big Shuffle) won by 8 lengths over 1600m at Hanover last September and also earned black-type when beaten a head in a Listed event in Cologne in May.  She is a half-sister to Tai Chi (High Chaparral), a German juvenile stakes winner who was also Group 1 placed in the 2011 Critérium de Saint-Cloud.

“Dubawi mares with black-type are very valuable and she’s a magnificent type,” Gabbedy said.  “I bought four mares for Woodside and they will all be covered by Zoustar next season.”

The Aga Khan homebred Keena (Fr) was another Arqana purchase at 90,000 euros (AUD 136,070).  She won at Deauville and was placed at Maisons-Laffitte from six starts this year.

Keena (3f Acclamation – Kerasha by Daylami) is a younger half-sister to G3 Prix du Bois winner Keratiya who was exported to Australia in 2011.  She has a yearling filly by Manhattan Rain.

At Tattersalls, Gabbedy bought Fialka for 110,000gns (AUD 222,020) and Dutch Romance for 85,000gns (AUD 170,090).

Fialka (3f Cape Cross – First by Highest Honor) is an unraced half-sister to the stakes winners Perfect Stride (Oasis Dream), Au Revoir (Singspiel) and Law Lord (Diktat).

Dutch Romance (3f Dutch Art – Endless Love by Dubai Destination) won a Salisbury nursery last year and was then beaten a head and a nose when third in the LR Radley Stakes at Newbury.

“There could be an important update to the pedigree next year,” Gabbedy predicted.  “Her brother Dutch Connection is being spoken about as one of the leading hopes for the classics next year.”

Dutch Connection won a Goodwood maiden in August and then stepped straight up to a Group 3 victory in the Acomb Stakes at York.  Sent to the Curragh for the G1 National Stakes, he hit the front at the furlong and fought back for a game third behind Gleneagles (Coolmore) and Toscanini (Godolphin).

Trained by Charles Hills for owner-breeder Susan Roy, Dutch Connection is priced at 25-1 by Ladbrokes for the G1 English 2000 Guineas on May 2.

Zoustar is just finishing his initial book at Widden Stud for a $44,000 (inc gst) service fee and the Group 1 Golden Rose – Coolmore Stud Stakes winner will stand alternate seasons at Woodside Park.

Mark Rowsthorn is lining up his best mares for Australia’s hottest stallion prospect when Zoustar joins the roster next year alongside Written Tycoon.

TAKENJA
Dubawi filly wins by 8 lengths in Germany