Andrew Caulfield, June 19, 2012-Valyra (GB) PEDIGREE INSIGHTS B Y A N D R E W C A U L F I E L D Sunday, Chantilly, France PRIX DE DIANE LONGINES-G1, i1,000,000, Chantilly, 6-17, 3yo, f, 1 5/16mT, 2:10.11, gd/sf. 1--s@#VALYRA (GB), 126, f, 3, by Azamour (Ire) 1st Dam: Valima (Fr) (SW-Fr), by Linamix (Fr) 2nd Dam: Vadlawysa (Ire), by Always Fair 3rd Dam: Vadlava (Fr), by Bikala (Ire) O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan=s Studs SC; T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Johnny Murtagh. Lifetime Record: 3 starts, 3 wins, i593,900. *1/2 to Valasyra (Fr) (Sinndar {Ire}), GSW-Fr, $114,623; Valiyr (Ire) (Alhaarth {Ire}), SW & GSP-Fr. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: D. Racing Post chart or the free brisnet.com catalogue- style pedigree. Click for Equidia video. To use a rather non-PC-sounding idiom, there=s more than one way to skin a cat. This is perfectly highlighted by the histories of two of today=s outstandingly successful breeding operations. The two I have in mind are those developed by Prince Khalid Abdulla and HH The Aga Khan, who between them have bred five of the last 12 Arc winners. Although these two breeders are very similar in that they rarely acquire new bloodlines at auction, their policies differ considerably. Whereas the Prince derives the greatest satisfaction from developing the families descending from mares purchased early in Juddmonte=s history, such as Frankel=s third dam Rockfest, the Aga Khan believes it is beneficial to occasionally introduce new families. The latest infusion of new blood into the Aga Khan=s broodmare band came in March 2005, when he completed the purchase of the bloodstock empire built by the late Jean-Luc Lagardere. Within months the Aga had started to reap rich dividends from his sizeable investment, with Vadawina, Valixir and Carlotamix all becoming Group 1 winners. The Aga=s purchase of the Lagardere bloodstock was further vindicated on that remarkable Arc weekend in 2009, when his colors were carried to victory to an astonishing total of seven group races, including five at Group 1 level. No fewer than four of the seven were produced by mares or fillies which were part of the Lagardere package, these winners being Varenar (G1 Prix de la Foret), Manighar (G2 Prix de Chaudenay), Siyouni (G1 Prix Jean-Luc lagardere) and Rosanara (G1 Prix Marcel Boussac). It therefore came as no surprise that Lagardere mares were responsible for two of the Aga=s three runners in the Prix de Diane--or that both these broodmares were daughters of Linamix, the remarkable stallion who justified all the opportunities that Lagardere gave him. Caulfield cont. Sagawara had already become a Group 1 winner, in In addition to Valyra they include the Group 3 winner the Prix Saint-Alary, but much less was known about Columbian and the group-placed Mandistana. Two of Valyra, who was making her stakes debut after winning the three have no inbreeding in their first five both her starts. We now know that Valyra is a highly generations and Valyra=s only inbreeding is a fairly talented filly, who may one day prove herself worthy of routine 3x5 to Northern Dancer. I suspect this mention in the same breath as the imperious Zarkava, combination owes its success partly to their who ranks alongside Shemaka, Vereva, Zainta, Daryaba complementary conformation. At 16.2 hands, Azamour and Sarafina as one of the Aga=s six previous Diane is a big, powerful individual capable of putting some heroines. strength into Linamix=s more refined daughters. In becoming the first to beat the excellent Beauty Linamix=s story was an unusual one. When he retired to Parlour, Valyra also provided a valuable reminder that his breeder=s stud in France he labored under the her sire, Azamour, deserves wider support than he has handicap of being the only high-class winner sired by sometimes received. For example Valyra, together with Mendez during his short innings in France. Mendez was the group-placed Mandistana, is one of only 32 dispatched to Japan, as was Mendez=s sire Bellypha, members of Azamour=s 2009 crop and he has only 43 after he failed to maintain the high quality he achieved 2-year-olds this year. with his first few crops. Consequently Linamix wasn=t Fortunately, Azamour=s first crop did well, with four popular with breeders and the onus was therefore on of its 101 members becoming group/graded winners. Lagardere to help him prove his worth. Lagardere did so Their achievements restored breeders= faith in a horse by buying quite a few mares at the sales, and many of who had initially earned their respect with a very solid them enjoyed tremendous success with Linamix. The racing record. The versatile son of Night Shift had stallion=s legacy consists of 13 winners at Group 1 level, 12 at Group 2 and 17 at Group 3, with the followed up an unbeaten juvenile career with Group 1 majority of them bred by Lagardere. His total of more victories over a mile (St James=s Palace S.), a mile and a than 70 stakes winners represented more than 8% of quarter (Irish Champion S. and Prince of Wales=s S.) and his output. Linamix=s broodmare daughters now have a mile and a half (King George VI and Queen Elizabeth nine Group 1 winners to their credit in the Northern S.). Hemisphere, with Valyra following Clodovil (Poule Azamour=s second crop, born in 2008, has maintained d=Essai des Poulains), Natagora (1,000 Guineas) and his momentum. Among this crop=s 52 foals were Blue Bunting (1,000 Guineas and Irish Oaks) as their another four group winners, including the Group 2 fourth Classic winner. Another of their Group 1 winners, winner Shankardeh, the Classic-placed Native Khan and Montmatre, was an impressive winner of the Grand Prix this year=s Group 3 winner Columbian. Altogether this de Paris, a race considered by many to be a more crop has produced eight stakes winners, with another accurate equivalent to the Derby than the Prix du two being placed at group level, which amounts to a Jockey-Club. Another Linamix mare is the dam of the considerable achievement. 2-year-old Be Be King, winner of a Group 1 in Brazil The renewed faith in Azamour resulted in a book of earlier this month. 132 mares in 2010 and more than 150 in 2011, so the Valyra=s dam Valima was good enough to win the Prix Gilltown Stud stallion will again have numbers on his Imprudence and she has made a tremendous start as a side from next year. A remarkable aspect of Azamour=s broodmare, as Valyra is her third foal and third stakes record is that he has only four foals of racing age out of winner. Watch out for her 2010 Nayef colt, who is in Linamix mares. training with Alain de Royer-Dupre. Valyra=s Group VALYRA (GB), f, 2009 2-winning half-sister Valasyra started her broodmare career in 2011 with a visit to the mighty Sea The Stars, Nearctic Northern Dancer who also covered Valima last year. Valima was by no Natalma Night Shift means Linamix=s first success story from a family which Chop Chop Ciboulette came into the Lagardere studs with the purchase of Windy Answer Azamour (Ire) Valyra=s fourth dam Vadsa, a Halo mare bred by Roberto Lear Fan E.P. Taylor. Linamix was mated to Vadsa=s daughter Wac Asmara Vadlava to produce Vadlamixa, a listed winner who Darshaan (GB) Anaza (Ire) became the dam of Valixir (G1 Prix d=Ispahan and Azaarika (Ire) G1 Queen Anne S.) and second dam of Vadawina Bellypha (Ire) Mendez (Fr) (G1 Prix Saint-Alary). Linamix also did well with Vadsa=s Miss Carina (Fr) Linamix (Fr) daughter Vadsa Honor, with their son Vahorimix going Breton (GB) Valima (Fr) Lunadix (Fr) on to win the G1 Poule d=Essai des Poulains and G1 Prix SW Lutine (GB) Jacques le Marois (both on disquaifications). This family 4Fls, 1G1SW, Danzig is arguably best known, though, for Val Royal. This 2GSW, 3SW Always Fair Vadlawysa (Ire) Carduel half-brother to Valyra=s second dam Vadlawysa won the 8Fls, 1SW Vadlava (Fr) Bikala (Ire) Breeders= Cup Mile before siring the dual 2,000 Guineas 13Fls, 1GISW, Vadsa winner Cockney Rebel. 4SW .