Better Than Honour, the most expensive Thoroughbred broodmare ever sold at public auction, is carrying a Street Cry filly that is scheduled to be born this spring, said trainer Eric Guillot of Southern Equine Stables Jan. 12 during Keeneland’s horses of all ages sale.
“I want to say April, the end of April,” said Guillot when asked when Better Than Honour was expected to foal. “She (the foal) will be Zenyatta Jr.”
(Champion Zenyatta, a 2009 Horse of the Year finalist, is by Street Cry.)
A 14-year-old grade II-winning daughter of Deputy Minister, Better Than Honour is boarded at Walmac Farm near Lexington. She was Kentucky’s Broodmare of the Year in 2007. Her offspring include 2006 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Jazil, 2007 Belmont winner and champion Rags to Riches, grade II winner Casino Drive, 2009 Breeders’ Cup Marathon winner Man of Iron.
Better Than Honour brought her world record price in 2008 when Southern Equine and John Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms dispersed the horses they owned in partnership during the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November select mixed sale. Southern Equine, operated by Mike Moreno and Guillot, already owned 75% of Better Than Honour and bought out Hill ‘n’ Dale’s 25% interest in the mare, who was not pregnant at the time. Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency consigned Better Than Honor to the auction.
Southern Equine plans to breed Better Than Honour back to Street Cry in 2010.
"We saw her a couple of days ago, and she looked spectacular," said Guillot of the mare.