RaceHorseHeroes

jejquade · Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 6:58 pm Post subject: Onaga

By Bloodstock World Staff3.35PM 26 AUG 2009

ONAGA, dam of four individual offspring who were sold at auction for in excess of $1million each, died in Kentucky on August 14 - just three days after her most expensive yearling to date, a son of Storm Cat, was bought by John Ferguson for $2.8 million at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale.

The daughter of Mr Prospector, who was aged 15 this year, was a half-sister to Poule d'Essai des Pouliches runner-up Sha Tha and to the dam of Group 1-winning juvenile One Cool Cat.

Her best racecourse perfomer was Breeders' Cup Mile hero Aragorn, who stands at Lane's End Farm and whose first crop are yearlings this year.

At the time of her death, Onaga was owned by Jane and Frank Lyons of Summer Wind Farm in Kentucky, who purchased her privately after she failed to reach her reserve at $1,475,000 at the 2003 Keeneland November sale.

The mare had previously been purchased, in foal to Seattle Slew, by Alex Scrope for $1,700,000 at the same sale four years earlier.

The resultant Seattle Slew filly kickstarted an exceptional sale record for her dam when sold at Keeneland September for $1.4m. Four years later Shadwell purchased her Storm Cat half-sister for $1.1m in the same sale ring - she was later named Kaseema and won on her debut.

In 2007 Keeneland September also saw Onaga's yearling filly by Giant's Causeway - making her a sister to Aragron - sell to Brushwood Stable for $1.5m.

Onaga did not produce a live foal this year, but was believed to be carrying to last year's Breeders' Cup Classic winner Raven's Pass.