Fusaichi Pegasus Breeding to Aid Katrina Victims

Ashford Stud will donate a nomination to Fusaichi Pegasus to be auctioned at Fasig-Tipton's Kentucky Selected Mixed Sale on Nov. 6, with the proceeds directed to the American Red Cross to aid their work with the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The terms of the nomination are no guarantee, with the right to revisit the stallion in 2007 if a foal does not result from the 2006 cover. The sale includes mortality insurance.

The money raised will be included in the $1 million matching commitment made by Bill and Susan Casner during the Keeneland September Sale. The Casners committed to matching up to $1 million donated during that sale, and have extended the commitment to include the money raised through the sale of this nomination.

The donation was the outcome of discussions between Coolmore Stud, which had expressed a desire to help in the relief efforts, and Barry Weisbord, publisher of the Thoroughbred Daily News.

"The tragedy in the Gulf Coast region has touched the entire world," said Coolmore's director of sales Aisling Duignan. "If the measure of a great society is the way in which it treats its least fortunate members, we'd like to demonstrate that the Thoroughbred industry is exactly that kind of society."

Said Casner: "The generosity demonstrated by Coolmore is admirable, and Susan and I were only too happy to include the money raised from this nomination in the funds we would match."

Fusaichi Pegasus stood the 2005 breeding season at Ashford for a fee of $150,000. His 2006 fee has not yet been announced.

He is the sire of two Grade I stakes winners from his first crop: Haskell winner Roman Ruler, who was also the winner of the GII Dwyer, and Bandini, six-length winner of the Blue Grass Stakes.

A yearling by Fusaichi Pegasus brought the top price for a filly at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Sale this August, selling for $2 million to Stonestreet Stables.

The nomination will be offered at the end of the Nov. 6 session.

Weisbord said that, in the event a farm or syndicate would like to donate a nomination to a stallion of Fusaichi Pegagus's calibre to be auctioned off as well, Coolmore would be happy to share the limelight. "There aren't too many like Fusaichi Pegasus out there," said Weisbord, "nor many with Coolmore's generosity. But I have a feeling we'll be pleasantly surprised."

Interested parties should direct inquiries to Weisbord at 732-747-8060.