Imari's Firstborn Named

Curragh Mon is the name of Imari's first foal, a two-year-old grey colt by Maria's Mon.

Imari is a daughter of Forty Niner out of a Sunday Silence granddaughter. She was bred in Japan by Nishikawa Co Ltd. Imari's dam, Western Sharp, was a winner in Japan. I first noticed her in the Keeneland September Yearling Sales Catalogue of 2002. Her breeding really caught my eye. I mean, Forty Niner and Sunday Silence! So into my first stable she went. She sold for $285,000 to Amerman Racing.

She didn't show that much promise in her 3yo year, but managed to win her two races at 4. Her last race was in February 2005, in time for her to be bred for a 2006 foal! I am not sure whether there was an injury or whether her owners decided she was never going to get blacktype. Anyway, she was bred to Maria's Mon on 7 April 2005. She once again entered the Keeneland sales ring in November 2005, pregnant with her Maria's Mon foal. She was sold to Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey for $100,000, a bargain if you ask me!

On 19 March 2006 she gave birth to her first foal. She was then bred to Ramsey Farm's own Kitten's Joy. I wonder, was she bought with Kitten's Joy in mind? Her Kitten's Joy foal was born on 11 April 07, a chestnut colt.

I am looking forward to Curragh Mon, he should be an interesting race horse. He brought a meagre price of $9,000 at the Keeneland Yearling Sale last year when he was bought by Crupi's New Castle Farm, but I hope that he can run. I have added him to my 2006 crop.

(Imari (JPN) - 2001 dkbr mare - Forty Niner x Western Sharp, by Sunday Silence)
(Curragh Mon (USA) - 2006 gr colt - Maria's Mon x Imari, by Forty Niner)