Go Angellica's Stonehenge Win: Another Oasis for Green Desert Line

Go Angellica sauntered through the stretch to win the Weatherbys Bloodstock Insurance Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury Aug. 31. Bred by Rabbah Bloodstock in Ireland, the chestnut filly is owned by Ahmed Jaber and trained by David Simcock. Ridden by Eddie Ahern, Go Angellica took the mile event by a half-length. Califante (by Kyllachy) finished second and Timoneer (Elusive Quality), third.

Out of the Elusive Quality mare Areyaam, Go Angellica becomes the 13th career stakes winner for her sire Kheleyf. She is also the second 2012 juvenile stakes winner for the 11-year-old son of Green Desert, a U.S.-bred son of Danzig out of the Sir Ivor mare Foreign Courier (from the family of broodmare of the year Courtly Dee).

Recently pensioned, Green Desert has established himself as quite the patriarch with sons such as Oasis Dream, Cape Cross (2009 leading sire in Great Britain and France), and Invincible Spirit in Europe; and six-time leading sire Volksraad in New Zealand.

Bred from the Mr. Prospector mare Society Lady, Kheleyf is not the only son of Green Desert to have added trophies to the family mantel during the week. On Aug. 29, Watsdachances, a 2-year-old daughter of Diamond Green (Green Desert—Diamonaka, by Akarad), won the listed P. G. Johnson Stakes at Saratoga. On the other side of the Atlantic, Gordon Lord Byron, a 4-year-old gelding by Byron (Green Desert—Gay Gallanta, by Woodman), took the listed Betfred City of York Stakes.

Go Angellica descends in tail female from the C.V. Whitney mare Silver Spoon, a champion at 3, through her stakes-winning daughter Inca Queen (Hail to Reason). Go Angellica’s granddam, Yanaseeni, is a full sister to multiple group I winner Germany (Trempolino—Inca Princess, by Big Spruce).

Inbred 3x4 to Mr. Prospector, 4x5x5 to Northern Dancer, and 4x5 to Sir Ivor, Go Angellica also appeals to Rasmussen factor fans. She carries a 5x5 cross to Tamerett through Tentam (the sire of Kheleyf’s third dam La Voyageuse) and through Secrettame, dam of Elusive Quality’s sire, Gone West.