Group Winner Elle Seule, Daughter of Fall Aspen, Dies

Elle Seule, a French group II winner and one of nine stakes winners out of the Pretense mare Fall Aspen, died Feb. 21 because of a ruptured aneurysm at Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Farm near Lexington, Ky. The 22-year-old daughter of Exclusive Native was not in foal at the time of her death.

Shadwell bought Elle Seule for $1.5 million at the 1990 Keeneland November breeding stock sale from Walmac International, agent. In foal to Nureyev at the time, Elle Seule provided Shadwell with a quick return. Her offspring from that mating, Mehthaaf, won the 1994 Airlie Coolmore Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) and was an Irish champion miler. As a broodmare, she produced Italian champion Najah (by Nashwan).

Elle Seule produced additional champion Elnadim (by Danzig), plus English stakes winners Khulood (by Storm Cat) and Ashraakat (by Danzig). Elnadim was a two-time champion sprinter in England. He stands at stud at Derrinstown Stud in Ireland. Khulood's big win came in the Shadwell Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes (Eng-III).

Bred in Kentucky by Spendthrift Farm and Francis Kernan, Elle Seule began her racing career in France for David Smaga. She won two stakes, including the Prix d'Astarte (Fr-II). Returned to the United States in the fall of her 3-year-old season in 1986, she ran in the Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) and finished unplaced in what was her last race. She retired with three wins from 16 races and earnings of $101,478.

Elle Seule produced 11 named foals. Her first two foals, Only Seule and Toujours Elle, both by Lyphard, became stakes producers. Only Seule's daughter Occupandiste was a French champion miler. Elle Seule's youngest foal is an unnamed colt by Aljabr, who stands at Shadwell.

Elle Seule's half-siblings included Eclipse Award winner and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Timber Country and Irish champion Bianconi. Elle Seule was buried at Shadwell. Fall Aspen, who was 1994 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, died in February of 1998.