Two-time champion Ashado, whose $9-million price once was a record for a broodmare or broodmare prospect sold at public auction, will be bred this year to Street Cry. John Ferguson purchased the daughter of Saint Ballado for Sheikh Mohammed during the 2005 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. Street Cry was bred and raced by Sheikh Mohammed, who stands the stallion at his Darley operation near Lexington. Street Cry is the sire of 2007 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Street Sense, who also stands at Darley.
Raced by the partnership of Starlight Stables, Paul Saylor, and Johns Martin, Ashado was the champion 3-year-old filly of 2004 and the champion older female of 2005. She captured seven grade I events, including the 2004 editions of the Breeders' Cup Distaff presented by Nextel (gr. I), the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I),and the Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I). The 7-year-old mare earned $3,931,440.
Ashado produced a colt by Storm Catin 2007, and she was bred back to the same stallion later in the year.
Playful Act, the current world record holder as the most expensive broodmare or broodmare prospect sold at public auction, also is owned by Sheikh Mohammed and also is being bred this year to Street Cry. Ferguson bought the mare for $10.5 million last November at Keeneland.
