A Galaxy of Encosta Stars

17th November 2008

Reigning champion sire Encosta de Lago has upped the ante in recent years covering some stellar books of mares and his current crop of foals includes a gorgeous filly from Australia’s most expensive mare Milanova.

A full sister to dual Group One winning two year-old and popular young sire Holy Roman Emperor, Milanova was offered for sale earlier this year at the Inglis Broodmare Sale where she sparked global interest and was eventually knocked down to Michael Kirwan of Coolmore Stud for an Australian record price of $5million.

In foal to Encosta de Lago, Milanova produced this strongly built filly (pictured) on August 18 and will now be sent back to Ireland for a tryst with champion sire Galileo in the New Year.

Milanova will be following in the footsteps of her 22 year-old mother L’On Vite, who has been a frequent flyer throughout her long career at stud producing foals in both hemispheres and stakes-winners in Australia, Europe and Japan.

Another recent acquisition for Coolmore has been Group One SAJC South Australian Oaks winner Larrocha, the prized daughter of Danehill purchased for $1,375,000 from the Inglis conducted Swettenham Dispersal of mares earlier in the year.

She is now the dam of a Group Two winner in VRC Wakeful Stakes heroine Rocha and produced a full sister to Rocha on September 28.

The Best in Show family has been in the headlines of late with celebrated producer Better Than Honour setting a world record of $14 million when sold at the recent Fasig-Tipton Sale in North America, but in Australia the Best in Show family is best known through champion sire Redoute’s Choice and his three-quarter sister Twyla is the dam of this handsome bay colt by Encosta de Lago.

A half-brother to stakes-winner Murjana and a full brother to promising filly Movin’ Out, who was the top priced filly sold in Australia in 2007 when she made $2.2 million at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, this colt is closely related to this season’s much vaunted unraced two year-old Manhattan Rain.

Being prepared by Gai Waterhouse, Manhattan Rain is a half-brother by Encosta de Lago to Group One winners Redoute’s Choice and Platinum Scissors from Shantha’s Choice.

Bred to be a classic style of Encosta is this leggy filly from Group One QTC Queensland Oaks winner Vouvray, a daughter of champion sire Zabeel.

Click here to see more star foals for Encosta.