Sadly, Mokulua, the Best On Breeding, will not take her place in Saturday’s Queensland Oaks when she was lame in the left fore on Thursday morning. Radiographs diagnosed a thin slab fracture to 3rd carpal bone.
There have been stages in Mokulua’s career where she has shown glimpses of being up with the best three-year-old fillies.
Disappointingly, she let her supporters down on more occasions than not.
Trained by Clarry Connors, the John Singleton homebred carries a record of one win in 14 starts to Saturday’s $700,000 Group 1 Channel 7 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm (Since scratched).
That came in the Group II Fillies Classic (1600m) at Moonee Valley last October.
The daughter of Redoute’s Choice showed she might be back on track when a close up third behind Barb Raider and Argentia in the Kewney Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in March.
Mokulua beat just two of the 14 runners home in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes at Newcastle two weeks later. Then followed a third in the Listed Princess Stakes at Doomben, sixth in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet and seventh in the Group III Fred Best Stakes (1400m) last week at Eagle Farm. Hardly a traditional Oaks warm-up over 1400m.
The late great Redoute’s Choice has eight Oaks winners, while Mokulua dam Dear Demi won the 2012 Group 1 VRC Oaks and the Group 1 ATC Surround Stakes.
Mokulua (image Grant Courtney)
The daughter of Dehere (USA) was runner-up in the ATC Australian Oaks, LKS Mackinnon Stakes, Champagne Stakes and Thousand Guineas, and third in the Caulfield Cup, Flight Stakes, and Underwood Stakes.
Racing for the same connections as her daughter, Dear Demi gains some stamina from her dam Shirley, an unraced daughter of Zabeel.
A half-sister to the South African Group II winner Merlene de Lago (Encosta De Lago), Shirley is the daughter of the Group 1 Golden Slipper winner Merlene (Danehill).
Merlene is a half-sister to Group 1 VRC Newmarket Handicap and Group 1 MVRC Australia Stakes winner Miss Pennymoney and a half-sister to Group III VATC Blue Diamond Preview winner Compulsion.
They are daughters of the crack racemare Bold Promise.
Trained by Sterling Smith, the daughter of Luskin Star won her first two starts in Sydney before creating history at the Magic Millions.
Bold Promise defeated a future dual Group 1 winner, Electrique, at her career debut. The pair would meet many more times over two seasons.
At her second, Bold Promise beat the subsequent Group III Sweet Embrace Stakes winner Shadea, who would earn lasting fame as the dam of Lonhro.
After keeping her record perfect when earning $250,000 in the fillies division of the Magic Millions 2yo Classic, Bold Promise would become the first and only filly to complete the Magic Millions double when banking $1,000,000 for the 2yo Classic.
The Magic Millions reverted to a single race the following year.
After making it five straight in the Group II Reisling Slipper, Bold Promise met her waterloo when fifth in the Golden Slipper won by Tierce.
Bold Promise continued to race at the highest level at three with wins in the Group II Tea Rose Stakes and listed Furious Stakes. She came closest to success at the highest level when edged out by her old sparring partner Electrique in the Group 1 Flight Stakes.
Frankel x Dear Demi colt
Dear Demi has been given every chance to make her mark at stud.
After missing to Redoute’s Choice in his final season, Dear Demi boarded a plane for a visit with Frankel. She foaled a colt, which Strawberry Hill consigned to the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale with a $1,000,000 price on his head. After failing to make his reserve, he will likely sport John Singleton’s royal blue, white crossed sashes.
After foaling a Pierro filly last spring, Dear Demi was covered by Zoustar.
