Best On Breeding - Hawkesbury

Mark Smith - Wednesday August 21

Thursday's Listed Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury features a descendent of a mare that has a truly remarkable story.

Long before the great Shergar and the hugely influential broodmare Fanfreluche hit the headlines after being kidnapped, a filly by the Australian champion Noholme went missing from the stables of Italian trainer Luigi Turner.

This was no ordinary filly. It was the 1975 Italian Oaks and Fred Darling Stakes winner Carnauba owned by the Texan oil tycoon Nelson Bunker Hunt.

Advertisement

Hunt received a ransom note for $300,000 for Carnauba's safe return but he refused to pay and despite the price being lowered the answer was always the same, no deal. Eventually the kidnappers were apprehended but Carnauba was still missing until one day Luigi's son Frank tracked her down to a slaughterhouse.


Apparently, the classic winner had been taken to a riding academy attached to a girl's school. She had her mane cut right down and shoes removed. The ruse didn't work as the flighty 16-hand thoroughbred didn't fit in and she was quickly dispatched by the riding school.

Looking a long way off the sleek thoroughbred she was, Carnauba was only recognised by Frank Turner through her distinctive markings. She was less than 24 hours away from being killed.

Though she never raced again, Carnauba went on to live a long and productive life at Bunker Hunt's Blue Grass Farm in Kentucky.

She had 11 foals, 8 raced and 7 were winners led by the stakes-winner Valid Carnauba who had two stakes winners of her own as did her half-sisters Lyphard's Holme and Rich And Riotous.

The latter is the dam of Group II Prix d'Astarte winner Shaanxi, who placed in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp and Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, while Rich And Riotous's stakes-winning daughter Kraemer is the granddam of Group III Jersey Stakes winner Ouqba who ran Paco Boy to a neck in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes.

A winning sister to Valid Carnauba, Carnival Appeal is the granddam of Love Valentine (Fruits Of Love) who is the dam of the Rowley Mile topweight Duca Valentinois (IRL).


A son of the former Coolmore and Aquis shuttler Holy Roman Emperor (IRE), Duca Valentinois (IRL) was originally purchased by Johnny Murtagh from the Drumbaragh Stud draft for €21,000 at Tattersalls Ireland in 2013. Two year's later he was knocked down to John Ferguson on behalf of Godolphin for £190,000 at Goffs.

A two-time winner at the Curragh, Duca Valentinois (IRL) is typical of the type of horse that would be slogging around for a pittance in Europe that can accumulate a small fortune in Australia.

The 8yo gelding has banked over $706,000 with a Group III win in the BRC Lord Mayor's Cup and three Listed stakes.

The spritely veteran won the Listed Munn Stakes (1820m) at Eagle Farm on June 22 and was far from disgraced when beaten less than two lengths in the Listed Winter Challenge (1550m) at Rosehill on July 22.

He should have no problem with the Hawkesbury track having won the Listed Ladies Day Cup (1400m) in 2017.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Top Sales for Holy Roman
Some very good stallions always seem undervalued by the local marketplace and one of those is high class shuttler Holy Roman Emperor (IRE), who had two youngsters offered and both sold at the NZB Ready to Run Sale of 2YO’s this week for $240,000 and $200,000.
Group Double for Holy Roman Emperor
What a shame Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) will not be returning to Aquis Farm this year as he had a red-letter day at The Curragh on Saturday with Romanised winning the Group II Minstrel Stakes while the 2yo colt Roman Turbo keeping his record at a perfect two for two in the Group III Anglesey Stakes.
One to Watch – Sha Tin
A full brother to a Group I winner, this promising two year-old has won two of three starts and appears to have many more wins in store.
NZB Breeze Up Footage Now Available to View Online
The highly anticipated Breeze Up videos for NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale are now available to view online at nzb.co.nz.
Early Return Home for Cogburn
Group I winning Not This Time son Cogburn (USA) will return to WinStar Farm in Kentucky earlier than planned after disappointing fertility results during his first Australian covering season at Widden Stud.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
The Rosehill trials on Friday morning featured a couple of juvenile heats and both winners came out of the Widden Stud draft at Magic Millions with one topping the sale at $2.8million and the other selling for a modest $150,000.
Melbourne Cup Next for UK Raider Onesmoothoperator
Winner of the Group III Geelong Cup last year at his first Australian appearance, UK trained stayer Onesmoothoperator (USA) had not won a race since then but was back in the winning groove last night take out the $750,000 Group II MVRC Moonee Valley Cup (2500m).
Sires With Winners - Friday October 24
Here is the full list of 60 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Second Wootton Bassett Son Added to Coolmore Stallion Roster for 2026
Set to join Camille Pissarro as the second G1 winning son of Wootton Bassett on the stallion roster for Ireland in 2026 is Henri Matisse, who this time last year was about to claim his first G1 victory at the Breeders Cup meeting at Del Mar.
Magic Millions First Digital Sale - Opportunities Aplenty
Bidding is now open for the first Magic Millions Digital Sale with opportunities across all levels of the market for prospective buyers.