Balistroika, Dam of Russian Rhythm, Dies

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Successful Brushwood Stable broodmare Balistroika, dam of English classic winner Russian Rhythm, died at age 24 on Oct. 7 after colicing.

Brushwood owner Betty Moran reported the death of her homebred mare. Balistroika lived at Brushwood near Malvern, Pa., where she spent much of her time with paddock pal Strategic Maneuver, a grade I-winning 21-year-old Cryptoclearance mare.

By Nijinsky II, unraced Balistroika produced four winners from her first four starters, including grade III-placed Ive Gota Bad Liver. She reached new heights with Russian Rhythm, a Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Kingmambo who was born at Brushwood.

Russian Rhythm won the 2003 Sagitta One Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) and three other group I races that season. At 2, she won the Peugeot Lowther Stakes (Eng-I), and at 4 she defeated males in the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes (Eng-I).

Two seasons later Balistroika would produce another English group stakes winner in Perfectperformance, a son of Rahy that won the Hackney Empire Royal Lodge Stakes (Eng-II).

To date Balistroika has produced nine winners who have earned $2,434,539. Her 2010 foal, Paskha, by Street Cry, has not yet raced.

Balistroika was a half sister to two-time group I winner Park Appeal, dam of grade I winner Cape Cross, a leading sire in England and France; Irish classic winner Alydaress; English group I winner Desirable, dam of English classic winner Shadayid; and Irish highweight Nashamaa.

Moran added that Strategic Maneuver is doing well despite the loss.

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