Star Foals for Encosta

25th September 2007

Sensational sire Encosta de Lago is back doing what he does best at Coolmore Australia in the Hunter Valley and also has some phenomenal foals arriving this spring including the half-brother to champion sire Redoute’s Choice.

Celebrated broodmare Shantha’s Choice gave birth to a stunning bay Encosta de Lago colt (pictured) late last week at Coolmore, the tenth foal of the Canny Lad mare who has already left champion sire Redoute’s Choice, Group One winner Platinum Scissors and unbeaten Group Three winner Sliding Cube for her owner Mr Muzzafar Yaseen.

This year’s foal is a full brother to her yearling colt also by Encosta de Lago, the pair bred on a proven Group One cross with former star Encosta de Lago filly Mnemosyne also out of a Canny Lad mare.

Shantha’s Choice is booked back to Sliding Cube’s sire Rock of Gibraltar (IRE), who is enjoying a sensational run with recent European stakes-winners including Unilateral, Rock of Rochelle, Fashion Rocks and Anna’s Rock, plus smart Australian winners such as Gamble Me and Pillar of Hercules.

Another new arrival for Mr Yaseen is this Encosta de Lago filly from Group Two placed Monsoon Wedding (a full sister to Redoute’s Choice), whose first foal, a filly by Fusaichi Pegasus (USA), was sold by Coolmore as agent for $1million at the 2007 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale with renowned bloodstock agent John Foote signing the docket.

This is a family that has never been hotter with the emergence of glamour Northern Hemisphere fillies Peeping Fawn (Europe) and Rags to Riches (USA) adding further lustre to one of the world’s best thoroughbred dynasties.

Another eye-catching baby for Encosta de Lago is this powerful bay filly from the Vain mare Bespoken, dam of dual Group One winner Bel Esprit.

Bespoken also has a yearling full brother to this foal and her two year-old colt by Fusaichi Pegasus (USA) sold exceptionally well at Magic Millions this year for Coolmore making $600,000 to the bid of Rob McAnulty.